Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Deals

Best back-to-school tablet deals and sales for 2021

By

The back-to-school tablet deals are in full swing and now is the perfect time to treat yourself to something new. If you’re looking through the back-to-school tablet sales and simply don’t know where to start, don’t worry! We’re here to find all the best offers for you as well as take a look at what to consider before you make a purchase. Whatever your budget or intentions, we’ve got you covered when it comes to finding the best back-to-school tablet deals for your needs. If you can’t decide between Android or iOS, or simply what size tablet you need, we’ll guide you through each step of the process. When it comes to the best tablet deals, we’ve got your back whether you’re looking for cheap iPad deals or cheap Android tablet deals.

Today’s best back-to-school tablet deals

How to choose a tablet for school or college

There’s a lot to consider before you check out the back-to-school tablet deals that are going on right now. We definitely recommend you check out the best tablets out there. Within the list is a tablet for every budget and need. However, there’s a really big decision to consider before you go any further — do you want to go Android or iOS? Both have their pros and cons.

Generally, Android tablets are way cheaper which is why you can pick up some of the best tablets under $100. That goes even more so when it comes to the discounts as part of the back-to-school tablet sales but cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean better.

For instance, the best iPads are far from cheap but they offer exceptional quality for the price. Generally, the back-to-school tablet deals provide you with even better value here. If money is no object, get the iPad Pro. The iPad Pro 12.9-inch has an amazing screen thanks to its use of a mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display and both iPad Pro models offer a silky smooth 120Hz refresh create that makes a huge difference while you’re browsing or streaming content. They’re creative powerhouses, too, which is great for video editing on the move.

Alternatively, there’s the iPad Air which is the best midrange iPad option or the iPad (2020) if you’re on a tight budget, as it still offers some great potential. All are good options depending on your budget and needs. In fact, the Apple iPad Air is our pick of all the best tablets so it’s worth checking out in the back-to-school tablet deals.

If you’re thinking of going Android, the best Android tablets often provide far more storage space for the price, as well as the option to expand it via microSD cards further down the line. They’re generally cheaper, too, with the likes of Samsung tablets working out to a lot less than iPads albeit working out a little slower, too. It’s all to do with what matters most to you.

Options such as the Amazon Fire HD range including the Amazon Fire HD 8 are a good bet if you’re on a budget, especially if you’re keen to get more involved with the Amazon ecosystem such as by using the Kindle app extensively. They’re not as fast as an iPad but nor should you expect that to be the case at these kind of prices.

Don’t overlook Windows tablets either, with the likes of the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 standing up admirably against the likes of the iPad Pro while offering the benefit of a 2-in-1 experience. You get to enjoy a laptop experience as and when needed before switching out to the tablet method further down the line. That’s particularly handy when you need to take notes in class but you’d also like to type up a paper on the same device in the evening.

Confused? Don’t be. The key thing to remember with buying a new tablet in the back-to-school tablet deals is to focus on your budget and go from there. If you can afford to spend a lot, go for it, but only if you need the high-end specs. We might be big fans of the Apple iPad Pro and Apple iPad Air but we appreciate that not everyone needs such power and prowess. Something like the Amazon Fire HD 8 is still good for enjoying streaming shows and similar content in the evenings, providing you’re good with a smaller screen.

If you’ve always had Android devices, stick with Android, and vice versa if you’re an Apple fan. Generally, this works out best for everyone. Remember though — if you’re buying an iPad, you need to commit to your storage options. You won’t be able to upgrade after purchase. That’s where Android tablets have the strongest advantage, whether as part of the back-to-school tablet sales or not.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Jennifer Allen
Jennifer Allen
Deals Writer
Jennifer Allen is a technology writer with over 10 years of experience. She primarily writes about the best deals coverage…
Best iPhone 14 deals: Unlocked and refurbished
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro's camera module

Some of the best Apple deals and best iPhone deals come from the iPhone 14 lineup. While it has been around a couple of years now, the iPhone 14 is still only one generation old as iPhone releases go. This means it still has a lot to offer, including much of what can be found in the newer iPhone 15, but it will often see some impressive price drops. Many of the best iPhone 14 deals we’re seeing right now are on refurbished models, but both new and refurbished models are out there, and each makes for some of the best phone deals going on at the moment. You’ll find all of the information you need to save on an iPhone 14 below, but if you’d like to land yourself the latest and greatest you should also check out the current iPhone 15 deals, Samsung Galaxy S24 deals, and Google Pixel 8 deals.
Apple iPhone 14 -- from $491, was $699

With the Apple iPhone 14 you’re getting what is still one of the most popular smartphones on the market. This is the iPhone 14 model that’s meant for everyone. It holds back a few features you can only get on the Pro model, but it still has an impressive 6.1-inch display, an impressive camera, and dozens of ways to personalize your iOS experience with widgets and fonts. The phone can reach up to 26 hours of battery life on a single charge, and it’s powered by Apple’s A15 Bionic chip. Face ID, emergency SOS via satellite, and super fast 5G cellular connectivity round out the top features of the Apple iPhone 14.
Buy Refurbished at Amazon — from $491

Read more
Best tablet deals: iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Fire, and more
Front face of Samsung Galaxy Tab S8.

Whether for work, play, or anything in between, one of the best tablets can make a nice addition to your tech lineup. But there are way more tablets out there than what’s at the top of the line, and plenty of them offer up capability and some savings. In fact, shopping the best tablet deals can make sense if the going laptop deals are more than you’re looking for and the current phone deals don’t offer enough. And with so many tablet brands and places to buy we decided to round up all of the best tablet deals below. Reading onward you’ll find some big time savings on a new tablet, and if you prefer to shop more specifically you can check out the current Samsung tablet deals, Surface Laptop and Surface Pro deals, and iPad deals. There are even some good Amazon Fire Tablet deals and Kindle deals worth exploring right now as well.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite (64GB) -- $160, was $199

If you need an Android tablet for simple tasks like browsing the internet and watching streaming shows, the affordable Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite may be enough for you. Its 8.7-inch screen is decent with WXGA+ resolution, while maintaining portability so you can easily hold the tablet in one hand. Its internal storage is limited at 32GB, but you can expand it by up to 1TB using a microSD card. For the clumsy ones, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is perfect for you because it's protected by a sturdy metal frame.

Read more
Best 2-in-1 laptop deals: Turn your laptop into a tablet for $349
Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Gen 7 laptop sits on a small desk folded like a tent.

Some of the best 2-in-1 laptops are sometimes hard to differentiate from tablets and outshine even some of the best laptops when it comes to portability. Even better, you don't need to spend hundreds on the best tablets to get a tablet experience while having a lot of power under the hood since 2-in-1 laptops have come a long way in the past few years. So, if you want that extra versatility in your workflow and day-to-day life, then snagging a 2-in-1 laptop is really the way to go.
There are, of course, a ton of great choices out there, but some of the best 2-in-1 laptops can get quite expensive, especially when you're buying them from some of the best laptop brands out there. That's why we've gone out and looked for our favorite 2-in-1 laptop deals to help save you some effort. We've pulled from HP laptop deals, Dell laptop deals, the classic 2-in-1 Surface Pro deals, and more. Check them out below.

Asus Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 -- $400, was $499

Read more