Black Friday is delivering tablet deals in spades – these are my 6 favourite iPad and Samsung discounts

For anyone after a reliable, cheap tablet that will last at least a few years, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Plus is a no-brainer. Despite its low price, it still includes some premium features, such as its 11-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate and 1200 x 1920 resolution. Great for watching videos, scrolling through socials and playing mobile games, it's a compelling option for older kids who need some portable entertainment.

Easy to recommend to anyone and one of the best tablets you can buy right now, this excellent iPad can cover both casual and high-powered tasks and (by Apple standards) is very competitively priced. While it doesn't offer Apple Intelligence AI features, its improved A16 chip does deliver snappy performance, and its 11-inch display is plenty big enough for entertainment and work.

If you're looking for something that can handle more serious tasks (or demanding gaming) or just want a more portable tablet you can bring (almost) anywhere, the newest iPad mini is an excellent choice. Its A17 Pro chip boasts Apple Intelligence functionality and its screen is only 8.3-inches – that's slightly bigger than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 phone. Originally, it wasn't quite as cheap as we hoped in our iPad mini (2024) review, but with this Black Friday discount it's far more attractive.

Looking for a laptop replacement? From 4K editing to high-powered gaming, the M3-powered iPad Air can take it on, and it's now AU$252 off. We loved its power, display and battery life in our 11-inch iPad Air with M3 review. If you want a larger display from an iPad, the 13-inch model is down 19% to just AU$1,097. Alternatively, if you don't need the extra power, the M2 model is only AU$699.

The iPad Air above is its main competitor, and we didn't think it quite matched the latter performance-wise in our Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus review. Don't write this Samsung slate off just yet, though. It's almost AU$150 cheaper for Black Friday than the M3 iPad Air of the same size. Furthermore, it boasts a waterproof build that's perfect for reading, watching or scrolling in the bath or by the pool. It's a great multi-tasker, too, thanks to its speedy processor and large screen, and the included stylus adds even greater versatility.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a powerful tablet, boasting a huge 14.6-inch AMOLED screen with an impressive 120Hz refresh rate. It's well-designed for browsing online, sketching, or watching your favourite shows, but it's also perfectly capable of being a complete laptop replacement once paired with a keyboard. The S11 Ultra has been out for a little while, but we feel comfortable recommending the older model at this price.