Best October Prime Day Tablet Deals: It’s Not Too Early to Start Saving Big on Apple, Microsoft and More

Amazon’s Prime Day is back again for round two on Oct. 7 and 8. We typically see some of the best deals of the year during Prime Day. And if you’re looking to upgrade your old tablet, you’re in luck. Many of the top tablets from Apple, OnePlus, Samsung and even Amazon are already heavily discounted. Grab what you need now at record-low prices before the rest of the shopping crowd catches on. 

If you’re looking for the best early Prime Day offers to snag today, we’re here to help. CNET’s shopping experts have handpicked top tablet deals you should grab before the offers vanish. We’re also updating this page regularly to keep this list of our favorite bargains current. If you see something you like, now’s the time to make your purchase.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. 

Best October Prime Day iPad deals

Apple 11-inch iPad A16: $299

This 2025 iPad is the latest model in Apple’s flagship lineup, and our top pick for the overall best tablet this year. It features an 11-inch display, 12MP front and rear cameras, Wi-Fi 6 support and an updated A16 processor.

Apple M3 iPad Air (11-inch): $449

Apple’s M3 iPad Air is its fastest yet, and it comes with a stunning 11-inch Liquid Retina display and superfast Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and it’s down to a record low price. 

Apple M4 iPad Pro (13-inch): $1,195

The powerful M4 iPad Pro is a great investment for creatives. The $104 discount offers an excellent opportunity if you’ve been wanting to splurge on this model with a 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR display and 256GB of storage.

Apple iPad 10th gen: $269

An $80 savings brings the previous-gen iPad well under $300. The 10th generation is no longer the latest in Apple’s standard iPad lineup, thanks to the fairly recent addition of the iPad 11th gen, but it’s still an all-around solid tablet. With a 10.9-inch screen, 64GB of storage and a 10-hour battery life, this iPad is a great pick for folks looking for an Apple tablet for everyday browsing, streaming and reading.

Best October Prime Day tablet deals

This Android tablet is a great alternative to some of the major brands out there. The OnePlus Pad is not the latest model from OnePlus, but it does have a nice 11.6-inch display, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It also delivers a sleek and lightweight design at just 552g and 6.54mm thick.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra: $940

A $260 discount on the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra is a massive win for Android fans who love the Galaxy line. This is one of the best deals we’ve seen on a high-end Android tablet. This model also comes with the S-Pen so you can write and take notes easily. Plus, this tablet is also water- and dust-resistant, so you can take it with you on the go. And it comes with Galaxy AI. 

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite: $210

Perfect for someone who isn’t looking for all the latest bells and whistles, this tablet has a 10.4-inch screen and comes in three different colors. It also has dual speakers and comes with an S-Pen. 

More Early October Prime Day tablet deals

Is Amazon’s October Prime Day a good time to buy a tablet?

While the Prime Day deals don’t officially start until Oct. 7, there are already record lows you can snatch. Your needs and preferences will affect which tablet you buy. However, with Black Friday coming up, some tablet options won’t be as competitively priced as others during Prime Day. Amazon’s deals on its Fire tablets are a great place to start if you’re looking for major discounts, but you can also score some serious savings on iPads and models from other brands. If you have an older tablet you can trade in, you can potentially save even more through trade-in programs at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy on eligible models.

Do you need a membership for Prime Day tablet deals?

To access the vast majority of Prime Day deals, you’ll need to be a Prime member. If you’ve always yearned for the benefits of Prime but haven’t made the jump, now’s a great time to subscribe. Subscribing could lead to significant savings because tariffs are expected to raise prices on many goods. While Prime Day has ended, there are still some Prime-exclusive deals going on now.

Read more: How to Sign Up for a Prime Membership

Are other retailers offering high-quality tablet deals?

Yes. In response to Prime Day, many of Amazon’s competitors also lowered prices across the board, including on tablets. Best Buy and Walmart are offering plenty of savings, with competing sales that will run during the week of Amazon’s October Prime Day sale. Walmart has already announced a sale from Oct. 7-12. Target has similarly announced its sale will run from Oct. 5-11. You may also spot deals directly at Dell, HP and Samsung.

Did tariffs affect this year’s Prime Day deals on tablets?

Tariffs are on the minds of many Americans and may have impacted how companies and consumers approach this year’s Prime Day event. Prices on items like electronics could very well increase soon, with companies like Apple trying to avoid this by moving manufacturing operations elsewhere. Meanwhile, a recent CNET survey found that 64% of shoppers were racing to make tech purchases before tariff price hikes could take effect.

How does CNET select the best Prime Day offers?

Our team of expert shoppers and deal hunters has spent years helping buyers understand which major sales and deals are legitimately good and which are more routine. That includes Black Friday, Prime Day, Memorial Day and countless other shopping events. We’ve become very good at weeding out scams and superficial deals on all sorts of tech, so you see only the best offers on items, like tablets. 

At CNET, we look for real discounts, quality reviews and remaining sale time when choosing a deal to show you. 

• Real discounts mean exactly that. We look at the price history for that product to ensure no manufacturers are inflating prices to make the discount seem more substantial than it is.
• Quality reviews are important for any product, but especially for deeply discounted items. Tablets can vary, so whether you’re looking for something cheap and easy to stream on or something more substantial for productivity or creative ventures, you’ll want to get the specs you need to do the things you want. If you don’t get enough mileage out of your purchase, the discount wasn’t worthwhile. 
• Remaining sale time is a big part of our vetting process. If a deal is likely to be short-lived or limited to remaining stock, we’ll let you know upfront — so you’re not disappointed if you check back later and find it’s gone.