Black Friday is the perfect time to bag yourself a budget-friendly tablet upgrade – but which should you be looking out for?
There’s no shortage of Android tablets on the market after all, and as we well know, they’re not all created equally.
Well, lucky for you, I’ve spent my year reviewing some of the best Android tablets around, and there are a few exceptional options that you should keep your eyes peeled for this Black Friday – both for the potential discounts and because of the top-end experiences they offer.
OnePlus Pad 3
The OnePlus Pad 3 is the best Android tablet for most people in 2025. It ticks all the boxes; it looks great in its stunning shade of blue, sports a great screen and top-end processing power, all for a distinctly mid-range price.
The screen in particular is a highlight of the Pad 3 experience. The 13.2-inch screen may not boast OLED tech like true high-end tablets, but the 7:5 aspect ratio makes it ideal for split-screen multitasking – something OnePlus’ OxygenOS handles extremely well, especially when paired with the optional keyboard case. It’s also super fast, with a smooth 144Hz refresh rate that’s suited well to gaming.
It has the power to back that claim up too, sporting the top-end Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and the 12,140mAh battery both has the juice to get you through a full day’s use and offer exceptional standby times.
It came out back in June, and it is OnePlus’ latest tablet, so don’t expect massive discounts on the tablet this Black Friday, but considering it has an RRP of £529/$699 and has dropped to £479/$629 in recent months, even a slight discount should make this fantastic tablet worth buying.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra represents the very best technology on the market right now if you’re looking for an Android-based tablet.
The Tab S11 Ultra makes an impression, mostly because of its size. It’s not thick or heavy – in fact, at 5.1mm thick, it’s super-thin – but it boasts a sizeable 14.6-inch, 16:10 AMOLED screen. It’s massive, bright, and vivid, and the widescreen aspect ratio lends itself well to Netflix binges and the like. Paired with the S Pen – which comes in the box, by the way – it’s a fantastic canvas for drawing and note-taking.
Of course, it’s also a fantastic panel for work and play. The Dimensity 9400+ chipset delivers top-notch performance across the board that makes split-screen multitasking a doddle, especially with Samsung’s desktop-style mode with resizable windows, and high-end gaming is just as smooth.
Now, there’s a catch here; the Tab S11 Ultra only came out in September, so there’s only a slight chance that it’ll be discounted this Black Friday.
If it doesn’t drop down quite as far as you’d like – it does have an £1199/$1199 RRP after all – then try looking out for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra. It might be a little older, but it matches the newer model’s key features – including that stunning 14.6-inch display – and likely at a much bigger discount.
Honor Pad V9
Not everyone needs an all-singing, all-dancing tablet – and that’s fine. That’s where more affordable tablets like the Honor Pad V9 come in.
It’s a budget tablet that doesn’t look budget; the aluminium chassis feels suitably premium in the hand, with a solid construction that makes it easy to throw into a rucksack or bag. The 11-inch 144Hz IPS LCD display is suitably bright and detailed, and when combined with the eight speakers (yes, that’s right, eight!), it delivers a great movie-watching experience.
The Dimensity 8350 isn’t the most powerful chipset around by any standards, but it’s still plenty for casual gaming, and in general use across social media and work apps, you’re unlikely to come across any hint of stutter or lag. It won’t play high-end games at maximum graphics too well, but that’s fine for all but the most dedicated gamers.
It launched back in March at £399, and we’ve already seen it drop to around £299, making it great Black Friday discount fodder. If you see this one at a discount and want something for general use, it’s a great budget-friendly option.
Google Pixel Tablet
The Google Pixel Tablet may be a little out of left field as it was released back in 2023 – but that’s what makes it a prime target for Black Friday deals.
It’s a tablet that tries to do two things: be both a tablet and a smart screen for your smart home. It comes with a speaker dock that the tablet connects to via magnets for always-on power and access to a richer, louder sound system, with a UI that shifts from regular tablet mode to something akin to Google’s Nest Hub smart screen.
But, of course, it’s still a tablet. Remove the Pixel Tablet from its stand and it’ll switch right back into its regular tablet mode, complete with Google’s stock approach to Android, ready for a TikTok binge or a bit of work via Google Docs.
The 10.9-inch screen isn’t the largest around by any means, and the Tensor G2 chipset is a little underpowered, but if you want a tablet that fills two needs, the Pixel Tablet should be on your Black Friday list.
