The best Black Friday tablets of 2022 | Tech Reddy

Most phones are bigger than ever these days, but you still can’t beat the flexibility and power of one of the best Android tablets. With Black Friday right around the corner, it’s the best time of year to pick up a new slate or upgrade your current one. Whether you’re looking for a budget tablet designed to stream movies around the house or a full-fledged laptop replacement, there could be a deal on the perfect device for you.

The best Black Friday Android tablet deals you can buy right now

The best Black Friday Samsung Galaxy Tab deals

When it comes to Android tablets, you really can’t beat Samsung. Much like their phone line, Samsung has a slate at almost every price point. The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is one of the largest tablets you can buy today, with a 14.6-inch widescreen display that makes it ideal for productivity and media consumption. It’s pretty expensive, but we expect the price to drop further ahead of Black Friday.

The Galaxy Tab S7 FE is a good experience for the average consumer. That’s a $50 discount right now, but don’t be surprised if it drops even further given how fierce the competition is in the mid-range tablet space. The Tab S7 FE isn’t Samsung’s newest 12-inch slate — that honor goes to the Tab S8+ — but it’s powerful enough for most users. Only the 128GB variant is currently on sale, but given that it packs 6GB of RAM over the 4GB, it’s worth the upgrade.

While both are no longer available, we’ve recently seen deals on the latest additions to Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A series. Like the phone line of the same name, the Tab A tablets are a low-cost alternative to devices like the Amazon Fire line. Unlike these slates, you don’t need to download the Play Store to get full access to your favorite apps. Not only does this save frustration down the road, it also makes for safer gifts for tech-savvy shoppers.

We recently saw the Galaxy Tab A8 and the smaller Galaxy Tab A7 Lite go on sale, but both are currently listed at full price. We highly recommend holding off on buying one of these tablets in the days leading up to Black Friday — both should be on sale on the big day.

The best Black Friday Amazon Fire deals

Amazon’s tradition is that the entire Fire lineup goes on sale for the holidays. Whether you’re looking for an affordable Fire 7, a premium experience in the Fire HD 8, or a large display perfect for media consumption in the Fire HD 10, Amazon has something for everyone at an affordable price, but they’re not here yet this year.

Even with their non-discounted prices, the most expensive slate in the Fire line starts at just $150. Don’t be surprised to see the top-of-the-line Fire HD 10 for as low as $100, and the entry-level Fire 7 for as low as $35. Amazon has finally updated these devices with USB-C and newer versions of Android, making them great options for the whole family. Keep in mind that Fire OS does not include the Play Store. While it is possible to download the Play Store on the latest Fire tablets, Amazon has always worked to prevent users from downloading their favorite Google apps.

The best Black Friday Apple iPad deals

Before you blaspheme us, hear us out. Despite some big screen improvements introduced by Android 12L and Android 13, Apple remains the king of tablets. Many Android users prefer the iPad over all of its competitors, to say nothing of the iPhone user in your life. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a loved one, we don’t judge.

If you’re looking for an iPad, the Pro line is your best bet for deals. Apple recently upgraded its 11-inch and 12.9-inch models with new processors, but the M1-powered versions provide plenty of speed. Both are on sale for $100 off at most retailers, but we could see even lower prices as Black Friday approaches.

Although it’s currently only $40, we’ve seen the iPad Mini drop to $100. Apple’s 8-inch slate is a fun and convenient size, perfect for people who find larger screens a little overwhelming. We’ve been seeing this price for a few months and expect it to come back before the Thanksgiving leftovers are gone.

Apple’s list doesn’t end there, but its sales might. The 5th generation iPad Air is a recent release that we don’t necessarily expect to see on sale, but has the potential to hit the door in the morning. The 10th generation iPad isn’t new, but Apple just released it, and that means a price hike for the line. If you can live with older hardware, the 9th generation iPad is still worth having. It’s usually $329, but prices can drop as low as $250, making it competitive with the Samsung Galaxy Tab A series.

The best Black Friday Lenovo tablets

Samsung, Amazon and Apple are the current rulers of the tablet space, but if you’re looking for an alternative, look no further than Lenovo. The Tab P12 Pro was one of the best ways to experience last year’s Android 12L beta, and while Google has assured us that tablet-specific updates won’t be happening this year, it’s still a great way to stay on the cutting edge of Android.

Lenovo sells the P12 Pro with a bundled keyboard dock and separately, with slight storage and RAM differences between the two. Neither is currently on sale, but Best Buy recently dropped prices ahead of Black Friday for a three-day sale, and we expect those prices to drop again. Be sure to check these out.

Lenovo also makes some of the best ChromeOS tablets you can buy today. While Google has taken a 180-degree turn and focused on Android slates, hybrid Chromebooks are a great option if you want more flexibility in your device. We recently spotted the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 and Duet 3 on sale, and expect those prices to drop ahead of Black Friday.

The Duet 5 features a wide 13.3-inch OLED panel, while the cheaper Duet 3 uses an 11-inch LCD. If you’re between the two, the Duet 5 is the laptop, especially if you’ve got 8GB of RAM. Even at standard prices, both Chromebooks are available for less than $500, and as the number of discounts continues to increase, that price tag is only trending lower.

The best Black Friday budget tablet deals

It’s hard to shop for Android tablets without noticing a lot of budget options; in fact, we’ve already highlighted a few on this list. Amazon’s entire lineup falls into this category, as does Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A series and possibly Apple’s 9th generation iPad. However, if you’re after something a little more unusual, you should check out Nokia’s T20 tablet. While buying a device like this comes with some drawbacks — we wouldn’t expect a consistent or lengthy update schedule — for just $180, this tablet is a great value. It’s a surprisingly solid slate, with a large 10.4-inch display and incredible battery life. Now a year old, it should remain on sale through the holiday season.