Here we go again: Another holiday, another chance to browse the tablets on sale.
While phones can often be a personal choice and laptops can stick around for years, tablets slide into a perfect holiday gift territory for their sometimes-low prices and family-friendly status. They’re also things that many people might think of getting, but don’t actually get.
The field of tablets has shrunk even further this year, with Google backing off Android tablets and Apple still not updating its top-of-the-line iPad Pro in 2019. Our advice: Spend as little as possible. Expect many of these to be on sale around Black Friday.
Do you want a casual iPad, an even-less-expensive Fire tablet or a Microsoft Surface? Here are your choices.
All of these products (or previous versions thereof) have been fully reviewed or anecdotally tested by CNET editors. Note that CNET may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.
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Apple’s small refresh to its entry-level iPad increases the screen size just a bit and adds support for smart connector-attached keyboards. Older processor aside, this is a perfectly good iPad, and it’s already on sale. But for an even better deal, consider Apple’s 2018 9.7-inch iPad, which has nearly identical hardware specs (aside from a screen that’s an inch smaller) — you can often snag the 128GB version of that model for $300, which is a great deal. Read our Apple iPad 10.2-inch 2019 review.
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Apple refreshed the Mini in the spring with Apple Pencil support and an A12 processor that outperforms the bigger 10.2-inch basic iPad. Confusing, huh? Just know that this is a great little tablet, especially for games, but its smaller size may not suit people who want to use it as a laptop replacement. iPad Mini review.
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Apple’s Face ID-enabled, USB-C iPad Pro has the best processor and best design, and works with Apple’s improved, newer Pencil from 2018. It also may be on sale this holiday. But you may also consider an IOU and wait for the next version if it arrives early-to-mid 2020. Read our Apple iPad Pro (2018) review.
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Amazon’s rock-bottom tablet prices are always shocking, and this year’s Fire 7 is a solid pick for basic video/game/kid needs. As always, Amazon Prime lets you get a lot more out of it content-wise, and Amazon’s Fire ecosystem is more limited than Android. But if you’re buying for a child, definitely invest in the Kids Edition, which includes a rubberized case, a free year of kid-friendly FreeTime Unlimited content — and a no-questions-asked two-year replacement warranty for damaged units. Read our Amazon Fire 7 (2019) review.
Amazon
The 10-inch Fire tablet Amazon just released is faster and better than the 7 and 8-inch Fire tablets, and it’s still a pretty low $150 (or less). It also charges via USB-C now. Fire HD 10 gets an upgrade.
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Microsoft has a newer Surface Pro 7, but last year’s 6 is still good, and sometimes comes in a great bundle with its keyboard. Anyone looking for a work tablet or a tablet that can become a full PC, look no further. Read our Microsoft Surface Pro 6 review.
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It’s getting almost impossible to find Android tablets from name-brand manufacturers, but Samsung still makes them. The Tab S6 is expensive, but it’s compact and has an optional keyboard with trackpad, and connects to monitors using Samsung’s DeX technology. Galaxy Tab S6 hands-on.
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For the right price, the Chromebook X2 could be one of the best deals of the bunch. A functional Chromebook laptop that’s also a detachable tablet, and it can also play Android apps. Read our HP Chromebook x2 review.
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