The hottest tablet deals of the season have just landed, and this year we didn’t see discounts on tablets until yesterday, with key retailers cutting up to 55% off Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Amazon Fire, Lenovo and more. If you haven’t yet sprung for a new slate to replace your child’s well-worn one, or if you’re buying for an extended family member who might need a top-tier school-and-streaming machine, now is the time. Inventory is already beginning to shrink at the entry level, and premium models are getting rare price cuts that we generally don’t see outside of peak holiday shopping.
Where the biggest tablet savings are right now
Amazon’s Fire line gets the deepest cuts, typically 45–55% off on Fire HD 8 and kids editions. Samsung’s deals are strongest on its value tiers, like the Galaxy Tab A9+ and FE series, where we’re seeing 20–35% drops, along with occasional deeper promos on bundles that feature an S Pen. Apple deals are thinner but significant: current-gen iPad Air models often hover in the 15–25% range, and older-gen iPads and higher-capacity SKUs have gone even lower as retailers stack gift cards or trade-in credits. Microsoft Surface Pro pricing is getting a bit out of hand, as retailers prepare to move copious amounts of select CPU and storage options.
These cuts are in harmony with larger electronics trends. Adobe Analytics has said year after year that Cyber Monday is when the deepest average online electronics discounts occur, and tablets remain classic doorbusters that retailers have wielded for years to pull in shoppers who then presumably buy into their ecosystems. The result is a rare price elasticity — even for models that don’t often budge the rest of the year.
Notable tablet doorbusters to watch this Cyber Monday
iPad Air deals lead the way for Apple shoppers. Expect mid-$400s prices for the 11-inch model from major retailers, which is strong value for a computer that can legitimately handle photo editing and multi-app workflows. If you don’t need the latest Apple Pencil or a fancy new keyboard, older-gen iPad models still usually come in $100–$150 less than that and are great for streaming, taking notes and playing games on occasion.
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A9+ is the best budget option, with sale tags we’ve seen from reputable retailers coming in just north of $100 for the Wi-Fi model. For creatives or students, the Galaxy Tab S9 FE line comes with an S Pen and regularly drops into the mid-$300s, offering a 90Hz screen and long battery life at a midrange price. So, that combo is a compelling sell if you’re looking for stylus support without going full flagship.
Families should aim for Amazon’s kids editions, which frequently drop to the $100–$110 range for the 10-inch model or sub-$60 for smaller screens after accounting for a rugged case, a year of curated content and its two-year “worry-free” replacement policy. As far as productivity, you can find some of the more powerful Surface Pro variants with 16GB of RAM for hundreds under list during Cyber Monday, and while it won’t replace a laptop (the optional keyboard cover is needed), it’s more than enough power to work. The Microsoft Store has its best deals here.
How to tell when a Cyber Monday tablet discount is fake
Price history matters. When in doubt, compare with price-tracking services or consult retailer charts to verify that a crossed-out list price is indeed the lowest it has ever been. Consumer electronics analysts frequently warn that “was” prices can be artificially inflated; a good deal will level or best previous seasonal lows. Also keep an eye on the fine print that comes with packages — a bundled stylus on Samsung or Lenovo can end up saving you $50–$100 you might otherwise spend later, and Apple’s best values may actually lurk in its higher-capacity models, where the per-gigabyte cost falls off sharply.
Pay attention to support windows and chips, not just screen dimensions. Apple’s tablets usually get at least five years of iPadOS updates. Samsung provides years of updates on most of its newer Galaxy lines, with the flagship tiers getting the longest runway. Performance: With everyday multitasking, Apple’s M series of iPads and midrange Qualcomm or MediaTek chips inside Android slates do a fine job; if you’re going to be editing video, working in layered illustration apps, or gaming at higher frame rates, step up to some newer silicon.
Choose the best tablet for your use case
If you’re a student or someone who spends a lot of time taking notes in meetings, stylus support and a 90Hz or faster display will make for smoother writing. That’s the likes of Galaxy Tab FE models, iPad Air with Pencil support, or Lenovo’s pen-enabled tabs. Creators will value bigger canvases and more powerful processors: the 11- to 13-inch iPad Air and Samsung’s higher-end Galaxy Tabs both provide the headroom necessary for Lightroom, Procreate-style apps and multi-window workflows.
The priorities for families are durability, parental controls and an all-day battery. Amazon’s Fire Kids options are still the price-to-features champions once you get below that $110 mark, with strong cases and included content. If you’re a traveler or just want something for casual streaming, look for models with screen sizes around 10 to 11 inches and at least 64GB storage and microSD expansion, stereo speakers and Wi‑Fi 6 or better for faster downloads.
Why retailers are going this aggressive on tablets now
Tablet makers are jockeying for share in a market that has swung through pandemic highs and an ensuing cooldown. IDC’s shipment estimates have shown intermittent weakness in total tablet volumes, leading both brands and retailers to rely heavily on promotional windows to drive consumer demand. Add to that retailers’ desire to convert shoppers into long-term ecosystem users — app stores, services, accessories, and so on — and suddenly we’re getting Cyber Monday pricing (particularly as it pertains to gateway devices and midrange crowd-pleasers) that’s more provocative than usual.
Bottom line, the juicy deals are all bunched up at the moment. If you spot an iPad Air in the mid-$400s, a Galaxy Tab FE with S Pen in the mid-$300s or a Fire HD for less than $60, those are historically good prices worth locking in before stock flips to backorder. Expect the steepest price cuts to move quickly — and don’t forget to take into account accessories, extended return periods and trade-ins as ways of maximizing the overall value of your upgrade.
