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Evening Standard

Lifestyle

Es Best

Best tablet deals in the UK for October 2024: From iPads to Samsung Galaxy tablets

Amazon Samsung Apple Microsoft Currys United Kingdom Huawei Lenovo John Lewis

Since the launch of the first tablet, the iPad, way back in 2010, the popularity of these handheld computers has only grown.

Thanks to the ever-evolving nature of tech, tablet functions and features have continued to help us do, see and watch more, with many using the devices as entertainment back-ups to save their phone’s battery for more vital uses (sending memes to WhatsApp groups).

Yes, tablets are now in high demand - whether it’s students doing degree coursework, commuters catching up on the news, or homeowners using them to link smart appliances together on apps.

The sheer variety can feel overwhelming, and knowing which tablet will suit your needs isn’t easy. So, we’re here to help with a quick guide below:

If you’re studying on a tablet, you may be after a tool that allows you to type quickly and accurately. Look for devices that have a stylus included and plenty of storage space to download apps.
If you’re designing things, then look for gadgets which label themselves as a drawing tablet as these are likely to come with a better stylus and make writing or drawing as easy as using pen and paper.
If you need a tablet for travel, size matters. Look for compact products where the screen fills the front of the tablet so there isn’t an unnecessary chunky border.
If you use a tablet around the house to work smart gadgets or pull up information such as news or recipes, keep an eye out for a bigger screen (upwards of 8 inches) so you can read at a glance/ distance.
If the tablet is for a child, look for a durable, hardwearing product that can cope with drops and jostling. Consider a cheaper model or one with insurance included so you’re not too worried about it getting slightly damaged.

Whatever you’re looking for, we’ve taken the challenge out of finding the best deals for tablets this month below.

Best places to buy a tablet online

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Best deals on Apple Tablets

If you’re looking to buy your first iPad or upgrade to an older model, you’ll want to understand the differences between the four types of products they offer.

Overall, we found the iPad Air to be the best tablet offered by Apple as the fifth-generation model has a faster M1 processor, all-day battery life and a great camera. It is also relatively lightweight and offers 5G.

In contrast, the iPad Mini is great for those on the go and has a 7.9-inch screen that is ideal for e-book reading or casual browsing. It also has a very high pixel density so even though the screen is small, the quality is great.

The iPad Pro boasts either an 11 or 12.9-inch screen and is aimed primarily at creative professionals as it features a great camera and stylus for designing.

Of course, there is also the normal iPad (now on its ninth generation) which has come on vastly since the first tablet launch. The latest generation features a 10.2-inch screen and a front-facing camera. Generally speaking, if you’re looking for a more budget option, then this iPad is your go-to as it’s priced slightly lower than other Apple iPad models.

Apple 10.9" iPad (2022) - 64 GB, Pink

Was: £499

Buy now £349.00, Currys

Apple 10.9" iPad (2022) - 64 GB, Yellow

Was: £499

Buy now £349.00, Currys

Apple 2022 10.9-inch iPad (Wi-Fi, 256GB) - Silver (10th generation)

Was: £349

Buy now £319.99, eBay

Apple iPad 10.9" 64GB WiFi 2022 - Silver

Was: £499

Buy now £319.99, Amazon

Apple iPad (9th Gen, 2021) 64Gb, Wi-Fi, 10.2-inch - Silver

Was: £369

Buy now £299.00, Very

Best deals on Microsoft tablets

If you’re looking for a versatile tablet, then look no further than the Microsoft tablet deals below as many of its Surface products are 2-in-1 tablets and PC. Both the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro X have 13-inch screens so they’re ideal if you’re looking to use the tablet as a laptop regularly.

For students, the Surface Go 3 is highly affordable and thanks to compatibility with the Surface Pen, it works well for note-taking and drawing.

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 - 13 Inch 2-in-1 Tablet PC

Was: £1,099

Buy now £922.55, Amazon

Microsoft Surface Pro 13" Copilot+ PC - 256 GB, Platinum

Was: £1,049

Buy now £919.99, Amazon

Best deals on Amazon Fire tablets

Amazon’s Fire tablets are some of the best-value tablets on the market. They include many of the same features as other brands but for a fraction of the price.

The main thing to note with Fire tablets is that they’re Apple compatible, but many Android apps can be downloaded and used easily.

If you’re shopping for kids or teens, try the 7 tablets: they’re well built, have decent battery life and come in a range of fun colours, with Fire Kids also coming with heaps of free, age-appropriate content.

Older users will appreciate the high performance and screen sizes of Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10, while the former is ideal if you are looking to use a tablet on the go.

Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet with Alexa 1080p Full HD 32GB

Was: £150

Buy now £149.00, eBay

All-new Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet

Buy now £114.99, Amazon

Best deals on Samsung tablets

Samsung’s tablets come at crowd-pleasing prices with something to suit almost all budgets.

If you’re looking for a budget tablet that still works well, the A7 Lite is a sound purchase as it has a display of 8.7 inches and is relatively compact.

But if you’re looking for a top-of-the-range tablet that does it all then the recently launched S8 Ultra is your go-to. With the largest screen yet, at 14.6 inches, the S8 Ultra also comes with intelligent battery life, super fast charging and 4K video recording.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 64GB Grey WIFI

Was: £249

Buy now £185.00, Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 128GB - Silver - WiFi

Was: £689

Buy now £360.00, BackMarket

Best tablet deals and Lenovo, Acer, and more

There are great deals to scoop on other tablet brands too - namely Lenovo, Acer, and Huawei with models that pack a real punch in the specs sphere.

Lenovo’s latest tablet release - Tab P12 Pro - is a particular standout and rivals the likes of Apple and Samsung. It has a 12.6 inch 2K AMOLED display, premium JBL quad-speaker systems and a 120 Hz display refresh rate - perfect for binge-watching your favourite shows, listening to music or gaming. What’s more, the tablet comes with a Precision Pen 3 and the option of a 2-in-1 keyboard.