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The 14 best holiday tablet deals: Save on Apple, Samsung, and more

ZDNET found the best holiday tablet deals from popular brands, including tablets for kids.
Written by Allison Murray, Staff Writer
Apple iPad Air (5th generation) | Save $99
Apple iPad Air (5th generation)
Apple iPad Air (5th generation)
Save $99
View now View at Amazon
Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra | Save $400
samsung-galaxy-tab-s8-ultra-3
Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra
Save $400
View now View at Best Buy
Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle | Save $125
kindle-scribe-81
Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle
Save $125
View now View at Amazon

The holiday shopping season is officially here. If you're looking to buy or gift a tablet this year, tablets from popular brands like Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, and more are heavily discounted right now. 

Also: The best holiday deals: Apple products, TVs, laptops, and more

ZDNET scoured retailers and found the best tablet deals so you can check one more thing off your holiday shopping list. 

Best holiday tablet deals

Best holiday kids tablet deals

  • Current price: $500
  • Original price: $600

For $99 off, you can get the 5th-generation iPad Air, which boasts an M1 processor and 5G connectivity. This model also works with the Magic Keyboard and 2nd-generation Apple Pencil. 

  • Current price: $700
  • Original price: $1,100

Samsung's Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is clearly built for productivity, and Samsung pushes Android to its limits with optimization of its apps and DeX support. Plus, it has a large 14.6-inch screen and comes with the Samsung S Pen.

  • Current price: $375
  • Original price: $500

The Kindle Scribe is perhaps the perfect example of part e-reader, part tablet that satisfies your reading and note-taking needs. You can take handwritten notes or underline important quotations within the book you're reading, and your notes are automatically organized in one place for every book.

How did we choose these holiday deals?

ZDNET only writes about deals we want to buy -- devices and products we desire, need, or would recommend. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal is actually on sale and how frequently it drops. 

We also looked over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we're recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing -- in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. 

What is the best tablet?

ZDNET's top pick for the best tablet is the 10th-generation iPad since its lightweight design is perfect for working or streaming movies on the go. Its fairly affordable price tag also makes it a great choice for students who need a mobile work computer. 

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