Best early tablet deals for Prime Day 2024: Big sales on iPads, Kindles and Galaxy Tab
Looking for a bargain on your next tablet? You’re in luck because there are some great Prime Day deals going on, even now in the early days before the main event starts. We’re already seeing iPads on sale for more than $100 off and Amazon Fire tablets at downright massive discounts.
I’ve been a consumer technology editor for over 10 years and I’ve been hunting for tech deals for most of my life. Here, I’ve curated the best Prime Day tablet deals based on price histories, my personal experiences, our PCWorld expert reviews, and brand reputations.
Keep reading for all the best tablet deals right now. We also have a Prime Day 2024 deals hub for big savings on other tech, too!
Best early iPad deals for Prime Day 2024
- Apple iPad Air M1 with 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, 10-hour battery, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, Wi-Fi 6 and 5G cellular. $750 ($120 off on Amazon)
- Apple iPad mini (6th Gen) with 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, 10-hour battery, 4GB RAM, 256GB storage, Wi-Fi 6. $550 ($100 off on Amazon)
- Apple iPad (9th Gen) with 10.2-inch Retina display, 10-hour battery, 3GB RAM, 256GB storage. $379 ($100 off on Amazon)
iPads are tough to beat if you’re in need of a versatile tablet for everyday use, doubly so if you’re already hooked into Apple’s ecosystem with an iPhone and/or MacBook.
Between these three awesome iPad deals, I’d personally go for the iPad mini. It strikes the best balance between price and performance, and it looks fantastic with its Liquid Retina screen. But if the 8.3-inch size is too small for you, I’d also be quite happy with the regular iPad.
The M1 iPad Air is a tad pricey because it includes cellular functionality, and most don’t need that. But if you can stomach the price, you’ll definitely feel the upgrade between the 8GB of RAM and M1 chip.
Best early Kindle Fire tablet deals for Prime Day 2024
- Amazon Fire Max 11 (2023) with 11-inch display, 14-hour battery, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, Wi-Fi 6. Includes backpack and Echo Buds. $190 ($145 off on Amazon)
- Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) with 10.1-inch display, 13-hour battery, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage. Includes case with stand. $100 ($75 off on Amazon)
- Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022) with 8-inch display, 13-hour battery, 2GB RAM, 64GB storage. Includes case with stand. $90 ($75 off on Amazon)
- Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids (2022) with 8-inch display, 13-hour battery, 2GB RAM, 64GB storage, parental controls. Includes 1 year of Amazon Kids+, case, and backpack. $87 ($118 off on Amazon)
These are the hottest Fire tablet deals right now, but if you ask me, one stands out above the rest: the Fire Max 11 offers the biggest discount and packs the biggest bang for your buck.
The 11-inch display is perfect for most use cases, and the 4GB of RAM plus octa-core processor offer the most responsive experience. Plus, it has the longest battery life. And let’s not forget the included backpack and Echo Buds! Too bad it doesn’t also come with a case…
If you’re getting this tablet for a young child, though, you probably want a Fire Kids tablet. The bundle deal on the Fire HD 8 Kids is a winner as it comes with the rugged kid-proof case and the backpack (blue backpack version and pink backpack version).
Best early Samsung tablet deals for Prime Day 2024
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus with 12.4-inch AMOLED display, 9-hour battery, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, Wi-Fi 7. Includes S Pen. $799 ($200 off on Amazon)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 with 11-inch AMOLED display, 8-hour battery, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, Wi-Fi 7. Includes S Pen. $699 ($220 off on Amazon)
If you need a powerhouse Android tablet, you can’t go wrong with Samsung’s Galaxy Tab line—and now’s a great time to jump on one because both the Tab S9 and Tab S9 Plus are on sale.
They’re both high-performance devices with beautiful AMOLED screens, 12GB of RAM, and Wi-Fi 7 support. They also both have the same CPU/GPU. The main differences? Screen size and battery life.
For me, I think 11 inches is plenty for anything I’d do on a tablet, so I’d go for the cheaper Tab S9. But if you seek maximum productivity, the extra screen space and battery life could be tangible. Is it worth an extra $100? Well, only you can decide that.
Tablet deals FAQ
Is a tablet the right device for me?
It might be! Tablets are great when you want to do phone stuff but wish you had a much larger screen, or when you need the portability and productivity of a laptop and can make do without specific apps that only run on Windows or Mac laptops.
Tablets are more convenient than phones for writing emails, watching videos, browsing the web, playing mobile games, reading ebooks, and more. Plus, doing all this on a tablet keeps your phone juiced up.
Tablets tend to have longer battery life than most laptops, so you can maintain tablet activity for longer before needing to stop and recharge. Add a wireless keyboard and you can do almost anything a laptop can.
What should I look for when buying a tablet?
Screen size is key as you want a lot more than your phone can offer, but not so much that it hampers portability. Battery life is also important and you’ll want one with at least 8 to 10 hours. CPU and RAM both affect how smooth and responsive it feels to use—the faster, the better.
Screen resolution and image quality can come into play if you’re working on spreadsheets, multitasking, or streaming movies/TV. Storage capacity is important if you intend to download a lot of files (e.g., games, ebooks, music, videos).
What size tablet should I buy?
Tablet sizes range from 7 inches up to 13 inches and beyond, so the right size for you depends on how you intend to use your tablet.
If you’re going to do a lot of work or watch a lot of movies/TV, you can’t go wrong with the biggest screen you can afford. Stick to 10 or 11 inches if you prioritize a balance between portability, performance, and price. Only go below 10 inches if you need utmost portability or you have a tight, strict budget.
How much storage do I need for my tablet?
Most people should be fine with a basic 64GB configuration, especially if all you’re going to do is stream video, browse the web, and answer emails. But more is never bad if you can afford it!
If you’re going to be installing lots of high-end games, downloading lots of video, or working frequently with big files, then you’ll probably need at least 256GB. Is money no object? Go up to 512GB. And if you still need more space? Supplement with an external SSD.
Avoid 32GB models because you’ll likely regret it.
Should I get cellular service for my tablet?
LTE and 5G tablet models only come in handy when you’re away from home, in an area that doesn’t have any Wi-Fi, and you still want internet access. Otherwise, you probably don’t need cellular features.
Note that you can always piggyback any tablet off your phone’s cellular data by enabling your phone’s mobile hotspot feature. This essentially turns your phone into a Wi-Fi point, allowing your tablet to use the internet through your phone’s LTE or 5G data.
If, for whatever reason, you’ll be using your tablet often without Wi-Fi access and without your phone, then cellular might be worth it for you.