When you need something bigger than your phone but smaller than a laptop, a great tablet is a common solution. Most of us already have high-end smartphones and quality laptops, so spending extra cash on a tablet might be hard to justify. That's why it's a good idea to wait to buy a tablet until there's a good sale, like during Amazon's upcoming Prime Big Deal Days sales event. You can choose from a lot of quality options, from Samsung Galaxy tablets to iPads. Although the official Prime Day 2023 sale has passed, the Prime Big Deal Days sale will bring similar deals to tablets and other devices. Here's what you need to know about the sale, which will be a preview of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
What we know about Amazon's upcoming sales event
The announcement of Prime Big Deal Days last month revealed that Amazon's upcoming sale will be held in October, spanning October 10 through October 11. It'll be the second time it has had a second sales event in the same year and the third time it has held an October event. Amazon didn't share the exact dates of Prime Big Deal Days in its initial announcement, but we expect to learn more information soon. Last year, the company held a Prime Early Access Sale that offered "early access" to sales set to come during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This sale isn't returning, but Prime Big Deal Days should offer similar discounts, with thousands of products in various categories going on-sale.
When and where will Prime Big Deal Days be held?
Although there aren't official dates available yet, we know that Prime Big Deal Days will take place sometime in October. The sale isn't available everywhere, and it's restricted to 19 select countries. Prime members in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the U.S., and the UK can take advantage of sales during Prime Big Deal Days.
Do you need to be a Prime member to save on Prime Big Deal Days?
All of Amazon's major sales events are exclusive to Prime members, including Prime Big Deal Days. A membership costs $139 per year or $15 per month and includes perks like free two-day shipping on most purchases. However, if you don't want to pay for a subscription, new users can start a 30-day free trial within a month before Prime Big Deal Days start. Make sure you wait to start your trial though, because we don't know when Prime Big Deal Days will be held in October.
Prime Big Deal Days vs. Prime Day: What’s the difference?
Amazon Prime Day is the company's flagship sales event that is typically held in July, and lasts 48 hours. By comparison, Prime Big Deal Days is designed to provide early access to sales that will be available during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Prime Day typically offers a greater number of discounts, but Amazon's secondary events still offer massive discounts as well. We expect devices like tablets so see significant sales, so it's best to hold off on purchasing until Prime Big Deal Days roll around.
Will there be a second Prime Day in 2023?
The main Prime Day 2023 event was held from July 12 to July 13, 2023. By definition, Prime Big Deal Days is not a second Prime Day, and Amazon will not hold another Prime Day in 2023. However, when Amazon has held a second sales event in the past, it has followed the typical pattern of Prime Day. We expect Prime Big Deal Days to be similar to Prime Day in the sense that plenty of products will go on sale, for a limited time.
FAQ
Q: How much should I spend on a tablet during Prime Day?
That depends on what you're planning to use your tablet for. If you're just looking to watch videos, scroll the web, or reply to emails, you don't need a lot of performance out of your new tablet. That means you can spring for either the ninth-generation iPad or the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite for just a few hundred dollars and be just fine. But if you're trying to get real work done, like content creation or digital art, you might want to spend $400–$700 on a more powerful tablet. For that use case, look to the iPad Mini or the Galaxy Tab S8.
Q: Should I choose an iPadOS or Android tablet?
This choice comes down to preference but also what kind of integration you're looking for outside your tablet. If you own an Apple or Android phone, you might want to grab a tablet from the same manufacturer for continuity. That way, you can sync your media between devices with ease. If that isn't a priority, you can simply choose whichever tablet fits your workflow and budget best.
Q: Are these the best deals of the year, and how long will they last?
Many of the tablet deals on this list meet or are the lowest prices we've seen for these products ever. They'll last until Prime Day ends on July 12 or until stock runs out, and it's unlikely that we'll see these kinds of discounts for some time after the event ends. Though a lot of the tablets on this list are frequently discounted, it's usually by tens of dollars, not hundreds of dollars. If you're thinking about buying a tablet, Prime Day is the best time to do so.