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The best cheap tablet deals in July 2024: iPad, Samsung Galaxy and more
Big screen or small; iOS, Windows or Android, you don’t want to miss these offers
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Louise Thomas
Editor
For years, tech brands such as Apple, Microsoft and Samsung have told us the future of computing is tablets, instead of laptops.
These companies produce tablets with a broad range of screen sizes, features and prices. Some can be bought with detachable keyboards, others have convenient kickstands, and many work with digital styluses to help unleash your inner artist.
Tablets are often lighter, thinner and generally more portable and convenient than a laptop, with a broader price range and smartphone-based operating systems to make them easy enough for anyone to use.
When thinking of tablet computers, it’s easy to jump straight into the Apple Store and pick up an iPad. Yes, the iPad range is larger than ever – with prices stretching from more than £350 for the 9th-generation iPad (from £349, Apple.com), to more than seven times that for a fully loaded 12.9in iPad pro (£2,679, Apple.com) – but there are plenty of alternatives out there, too.
Brands such as Lenovo, Samsung and Microsoft all offer a range of tablets to choose from. If you don’t own any Apple devices, and aren’t in the company’s ecosystem, looking at an alternative manufacturer can be a great idea – and it can potentially save you some money, too.
The best tablet deals for July 2024 in the UK are:
- Samsung Galaxy tab A9: Was £169, now £129, Currys.co.uk
- Microsoft Surface pro 9: Was £1,099, now £878, Amazon.co.uk
- Apple iPad, 10th gen, 2022: Was £349, now £324, Amazon.co.uk
- Apple iPad 9th gen, 2021: Was £369, now £307, Very.co.uk
- Apple iPad Pro, 2022: Was £1,249, now £1,041.87, Amazon.co.uk
Samsung Galaxy tab A9: Was £169, now £129, Currys.co.uk
A steal at less than £150, Samsung’s budget-friendly A-series impressed us with its bright display and premium-feeling metal frame. It runs on a decently powerful chip, and, while you get less storage and RAM than you would in more-expensive tablets, performance never feels sluggish. The design features battery life up to 10 hours and a Dolby Atoms sound system, as well as front and back cameras for taking calls and capturing memories.
Microsoft Surface pro 9: Was £1,099, now £878, Amazon.co.uk
Here’s a 20 per cent discount on the Surface pro 9 tablet. Unlike most other tablets, this one offers the full Windows experience in a portable and lightweight form factor. Able to run the same applications as your desktop PC at home or in the office, it’s the most versatile hybrid device we’ve tested. Keep in mind that the slim pen stylus pictured on Amazon is sold separately (£79.99, Amazon.co.uk).
Apple iPad, 10th gen, 2022: Was £349, now £324, Amazon.co.uk
Here’s a small saving on the 10th-generation iPad from 2022 – the year Apple’s basic-tier tablet got Face ID and a much neater and larger display. “The new design, faster processor, better and bigger display are easily worth the price, and the new iPad is a real rival to the iPad Air, which usually costs £170 more,” our writer said in their review. “This is the best tablet under £500 from any manufacturer, in my opinion.”
Apple iPad, 9th gen, 2021: Was £369, now £307, Very.co.uk
A £60 discount at Very makes this one of the cheapest iPad deals going. The 9th-generation tablet boasts a 10.2in screen and full-sounding stereo speakers. Compatible with the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard, the iPad is complete with a back camera and front camera, for extra versatility.
Apple iPad pro, 2022: Was £1,249, now £1,041.87, Amazon.co.uk
Here’s a discount on the iPad Pro. This is the 2022 model with an 11in display and 512GB of storage. It’s finished in space grey and is powered by Apple’s own, super-speedy M2 processor. Our reviewer gave the tablet a score of 4.5/5 and said: “The M2 is far and away the most effective chip in any tablet, and it is faster than many high-end laptops. Apple says graphics performance is 35 per cent faster than on the previous iPad pro. And that’s the point of the iPad pro – to have the headroom to do anything you need effortlessly, now and in the future.”
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