Tablet deals from Apple, Samsung, and TCL are already live ahead of Black Friday

Best early Black Friday tablet deals at a glance Best Apple iPad deal Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $399 (save $50) Get Deal Best Amazon fire tablet deal Amazon Fire HD 8 $79.99 (save $50) Get Deal Best Samsung tablet deal Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 $899.99 (save $100) Get Deal Best TCL deal TCL TAB A1 Plus $299 (save $50 with on-page coupon) Get Deal

We all have a phone that we rely on to survive. Most of us also have a laptop, whether we use it for work, school, or booking flights. But a tablet is the perfect middle ground between the two. It's larger than a phone but usually more portable than a laptop. Plus, many can double as a great e-reader.

Well ahead of the official Black Friday date, we're already seeing tablets on sale. They range from budget Amazon models to top-tier Apple iPads.

If you're shopping for a new tablet before the holidays, check out our favorite deals below.

Best Apple iPad deal

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $399 at Amazon
$449 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

Mashable's favorite budget iPad is already on sale well before Black Friday. And in even better news, it's down to the same sale price of $399 that we saw during October Prime Day. The 11-inch Apple iPad is powered by the A16 chip and has 12MP cameras on the back and front, which is great news if you'll be using the tablet for FaceTime over the holidays.

Best Amazon tablet deal

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 $79.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $50.00   Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

Mashable's rating of the best tablets lists the Amazon Fire HD 8 as the top pick for an Amazon Fire tablet. Between the compact display size of eight inches, clear resolution, and incredible sale price, it's hard to go wrong with the Amazon tablet. The $79.99 sale price applies to the model with 64GB storage, which gives you space to download movies, shows, and music for upcoming holiday travel.

Best Samsung tablet deal

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 $999.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

It's not the newest model, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 is still well worth considering. The generous 11-inch display size could be awesome for watching movies in bed, and the AMOLED display offers impressive crispness. If you'll be out in the sun with the tablet, rest assured it can reach up to 1,600 nits of brightness. Plus, there's a microSD slot for increasing onboard storage. Samsung also includes the S Pen with the tablet.