As seasoned Apple tablet watchers will know, the iPad Pro ditched the home button and went all-in on Face ID in 2018, so it was only a matter of time before the other iPads followed suit – and it looks like Apple is now ready to make the switch.
A couple of leaks over the weekend suggest that the full-screen, thin-bezel, home-button-less look of the iPad Pros is coming to Apple's other slates – perhaps the entry-level iPad, perhaps the iPad Air, or perhaps both.
First up Twitter tipster @duanrui1205 has shared images of what is supposedly the manual for the upcoming iPad Air 4 – the pictures show a design without a home button but also mention Touch ID. USB-C is also referred to.
The assumption is that Touch ID will be built into the power button – something that would maybe help keep the price more affordable, compared with the top-level iPad Pros and their advanced Face ID camera trickery.
iPad Air 4Touch IDvia 小红书 pic.twitter.com/2jc09uAKUYAugust 27, 2020
Next, we have leaked schematics from 91mobiles that purport to show a new 10.8-inch entry level iPad. Again, there is an iPad Pro-style overhaul, with the home button disappearing and USB-C arriving. In this case, Face ID is included, and support for the new Magic Keyboard is also mentioned.
While a 10.8-inch iPad has been tipped for a 2020 launch in the past – by well-respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo no less – it would seem strange for the cheapest iPad to include Face ID while the more expensive iPad Air sticks with Touch ID (albeit on the power button).
It is of course possible that one or both of these leaks aren't accurate or authentic, or that they don't refer to the iPad models that they think they do. That said, it does seem the right time for Apple to bring more uniformity to the design of its iPad range, across all the different models and price points.
Something we can be sure about is that more iPads are on the way, as revealed by regulatory filings spotted last week. Don't be surprised if they come with an iPad Pro look, even if they don't exactly match up with the leaks we've seen here.
MacBook deals that come under £1,000 are a rarity, which is why this weekend's bank holiday sales are so impressive. You'll find a 2019 13-inch MacBook Pro available for just £998 at Currys right now, an excellent price for last year's model packing 8GB RAM and a 128GB SSD.
We've seen this configuration drop down to £1,100 in the past, but it's not seen a price tag below £1,000 yet. Plus, other retailers still have this model pitched at a far more expensive price point, so this offer really won't stick around once the masses get their hands on it.
We don't know how long this MacBook deal will last, but with attention turned to the bank holiday sales we're willing to bet it won't be around much longer. That means we wouldn't sit too long on this excellent offer, although if you would like more options we're also rounding up the best MacBook Pro deals around right here on TechRadar.
You can find more information about this deal just below, with plenty more prices in the US further down the page. Or, check out all the latest bank holiday sales right here.
Today's best MacBook deal in the bank holiday sales
2019 13-inch MacBook Pro:£998.97 at Currys We've seen MacBook Pro deals hitting £1,100 over the last few weeks, but this offer from Currys comes in a cut above the rest. You're picking up an entry level model here, sure, but even an 8GB / 128GB SSD configuration is rare to find under £1,000. View Deal
If you want to size up the competition first, or you're after more MacBook deals in the US or Australia, you'll find all the cheapest prices from around the web in our comparison chart just below.
These MacBook deals are taking the early Labor Day sales by storm this weekend, offering big savings on everything from super cheap MacBook Airs to the best of the MacBook Pro lineup. That means you can secure yourself a discount whether you're looking to spend under $1,000 or well over.
At just $899, this MacBook Air deal is one of the best we've seen yet. All in you're picking up a $100 discount and a free pair of AirPods when you pick up a 256GB / 8GB Air model (but you can also upgrade to a 512GB as well). Apple rarely discounts these latest releases so soon, so the combination of cash off and a free gift makes this a particularly compelling MacBook deal.
However, the Labor Day sales are also seeing plenty of MacBook Pros on offer this weekend as well - perfect if you need a little more power under the hood. You'll find the latest 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro with a $200 discount at Amazon right now. That means you can pick up a 256GB model for just $1,599 or a 1TB build for $1,799. And at this price range, we'd definitely swallow the extra $200 to upgrade.
We're highlighting all these MacBook deals and more just below, but you can also shop plenty more Labor Day sales right here at TechRadar as well. If you're shopping in the UK or Australia, you'll find all the latest prices further down the page.
The best MacBook deals in the early Labor Day sales
2020 MacBook Air | AirPods |$999$899 at Apple Not only will you find the latest 2020 MacBook Air available for $100 less at Apple this weekend, but you can also grab a free pair of AirPods or upgrade to AirPods Pro at the same time. That's excellent value on one of the cheapest MacBooks yet, and you're not even skimping under the hood either - there's 8GB RAM and 256GB of SSD storage in here - hardly entry level specs. View Deal
2019 13-inch MacBook Pro |$1,499$1,199 at B&H Photo You'll find more power available in the 2019 MacBook Pro, however. With the same 8GB / 256GB SSD on offer you're keeping the excellent memory and storage of the MacBook deals above, but this is a slightly more powerful model as well. You're saving $300 at B&H Photo in these early Labor Day sales, and you can save on a range of software bundles at the same time. View Deal
2020 MacBook Pro 13-inch - 512GB:$1,799$1,599 at Amazon The 512GB MacBook Pro is available for $200 less at Amazon right now, offering up the latest MacBook Pro to hit the market for $1,599. You're getting a boosted 2.0GHz i5 processor in here as well, excellent power with extra value in this MacBook deal as well. If you want to upgrade to a 1TB SSD you'll also find the same saving on a larger model, now down to $1,799. View Deal
2020 MacBook Pro 16-inch - 1TB:$2,799$2,499 at Amazon You'll find a $300 saving on this super powerful MacBook Pro 16-inch in this weekend's early Labor Day sales. You're picking up a fantastic spec here as well, with a 1TB SSD and 2.3GHz i9 processor. View Deal
More MacBook deals
Whether you're in the US and simply want to see what else is out there, or you're in the UK or Australia, you'll find plenty more MacBook deals in our price comparison widget below. That means all the cheapest prices from around the web are right here, so you'll never miss out on a sale.
Shop all the best cheap MacBook Air deals right here on TechRadar, or you can take a look at the latest MacBook Pro sales. Plus, we're also rounding up the latest iPad Pro deals if you're looking for something a little more flexible as well.
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Early Labor Day sales are dropping some fantastic iPad Pro deals this weekend, with B&H Photo leading the charge by bundling up some fantastic prices with added extras included as well. These offers sit on the 2018 iPad Pro, but you're only losing out on a few niche features like LIDAR support by picking up the cheaper model this week, and with prices like this that's well worth the cash.
The lowest you can go is on this $799 12.9-inch iPad Pro. We've seen sales put this model at around $899 before, but with a full $350 off this is a standout iPad deal if you're looking for the big screen experience but don't need too much storage.
If you are going to be using your iPad Pro for gaming or bigger apps like Adobe, for example, we'd point you towards this $500 saving on the 1TB model that also adds Audio Technica earbuds to the mix (worth $249.99 by themselves). You're only paying $1,199 for this top of the range iPad, making it an excellent proposition for anyone looking for more power under the hood.
We're rounding up these iPad deals in the early Labor Day sales just below, but you'll find plenty more iPad Pro deals right here on TechRadar as well.
2018 12.9-inch iPad Pro Wifi + Cellular - 64GB |$1,149$799 at B&H Photo Linked here is the 64GB iPad Pro, but you'll find configurations on this page taking you right up to 1TB of storage space with big savings to match. If you're just looking for a cheaper model, however, this is a great shout - or you can upgrade to 256GB for$1,299$929. View Deal
2018 11-inch iPad Pro WiFi + Cellular - 1TB |$1,499$1,149 at B&H Photo Looking for big power in a smaller chassis? This 11-inch iPad Pro comes in with a $350 discount at B&H Photo in early Labor Day sales, bringing a massive 1TB of storage at just over $1,000. View Deal
2018 12.9-inch iPad Pro WiFi + Cellular - 1TB | Audio Technica earbuds |$1,699$1,199 at B&H Photo There's a $500 saving on this iPad Pro deal that also includes a pair of Audio Technica true wireless earbuds worth $249.99. That's an excellent offer if you're one to plug in while working, and you're getting a great amount of storage space here as well. View Deal
2018 12.9-inch iPad Pro WiFi + Cellular - 256GB | Magic Keyboard |$1,648$1,278 at B&H Photo Grab a 2018 iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard included for $1,278 in B&H Photo's Labor Day sales. There's 256GB of storage in here - plenty of space for all your schoolwork with enough to spare for games and streaming. Hurry, though, this offer ends August 31st. View Deal
More iPad Pro deals
If you're shopping in the UK or Australia, you'll find all the cheapest prices on 2018 and 2020 iPad Pro deals just below.
These days, the best laptop cooling pad is practically a necessity. Laptop manufacturers are constantly pushing the boundaries in terms of making machines thinner, and yet more powerful. And while this only benefits the users in so many ways, it brings obvious issues in not just space constraints, but also heat-related problems (of course the two are closely interrelated).
On one hand, huge strides have been made in terms of powering up Ultrabooks and gaming laptops, with the ability to pack near-desktop-level equivalent GPUs into a notebook. On the other, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to innovate with cooling systems and clever fan setups or super-efficient heat-pipes to cool a chunky CPU and GPU. That’s where the best laptop cooling pad comes in – to help these parts stay cool and prevent performance throttling.
Providing cooling with upward-facing fans (and sometimes additional heat dissipation via the metal chassis of the pad), the best laptop cooling pad can help immensely, especially when you’re tackling incredibly demanding tasks. From cooling pads designed for large laptops through to highly portable solutions, wallet-friendly pads, and even models with nifty integrated accessories like built-in speakers, these are the best laptop cooling pads 2020 has to offer.
How laptop cooling pads help with cooling
Any additional cooling the best laptop cooling pad can deliver will help in the battle against throttling. It could also potentially prolong the longevity of your laptop. That CPU and GPU will last longer if they aren’t being constantly run at overly hot temperatures.
So spending a little money on some extra cooling might save you a lot of heartache by avoiding the danger of your notebook giving up the ghost early. The best laptop cooling pad can also provide a convenient place to situate your laptop on those occasions when you’re actually using it in your lap, preventing a warmer notebook from being unpleasantly hot against your legs.
Note that the mileage you get from any cooling pad may vary in terms of the cooling vents present on the bottom of your notebook, and their respective position compared to the location of the fans in the pad. As common sense would dictate, a decent amount of vents on the underside of your laptop is a good thing here – and in general – and preferably these will be (roughly) lined up with the pad’s fans.
Although some laptop cooling pads run with one big fan – or multiple smaller ones – that’ll hit pretty much everything, and there are even modular pads where the fans can be repositioned.
Even unfortunate notebooks with no vents on the bottom can benefit somewhat from having the underside of the chassis cooled as a little bit of help in terms of temperature management.
At any rate, while your mileage may vary somewhat given your exact model of laptop, you’ll likely find some benefit from a cooling pad – and perhaps a considerable one, providing, of course, that you choose the one of the best models around.
Kootek Cooler Pad Chill Mat 5 uses five fans to deliver an impressive amount of cooling.(Image credit: Kootek)
1. Kootek Cooler Pad Chill Mat 5
Best overall laptop cooling pad
Fans: 4 x 70mm, 1 x 120mm | Size of pad: 380 x 300 x 35mm
Impressive level of cooling
Can select which fans are switched on
Six different height settings
Kootek makes a highly impressive laptop cooling pad which uses five fans (the one in the middle is a bigger 120mm model, surrounded by 70mm fans) to deliver an impressive amount of cooling – while still remaining quiet to boot.
The Chill Mat scores strongly in the versatility stakes as you can switch some of the fans off (it’s possible to have one working, four, or all five), plus it can be raised (using a ratchet mechanism, like a deckchair) through six different height settings depending on your preference (you might want to crank it right up when watching a movie, for example).
This cooling pad can take 12-inch to 17-inch laptops, so all common sizes, with a pair of stoppers at the front to prevent the notebook from sliding off. It also boasts a USB hub with two USB 2.0 ports.
In short, this is a high quality cooling pad with flexibility in spades, and it benefits from a reasonable mid-range price tag, making it our top pick for an all-rounder that covers everything without doing too much damage to your wallet.
Cooler Master Notepal XL delivers a very effective level of cooling.(Image credit: Cooler Master)
2. Cooler Master Notepal XL
Best quiet and powerful laptop cooling pad
Fans: 1 x 230mm | Size of pad: 305 x 379 x 47mm
Powerful cooling
Nicely quiet
Not as versatile as some rivals
Cooler Master knows cool, you would hope, and the firm’s Notepal is a winner in our books. Using a single large 230mm fan – which is impressively quiet, we might add – it has a fan speed controller, and is designed to pipe ‘optimal airflow’ through your laptop. Indeed, it shifts an impressive amount of air, being rated at 89.8 cubic feet per minute; a very effective level of cooling.
This device also benefits from a slightly tilted ergonomic design, aiming to give you the best angle to use your notebook’s keyboard, along with nonslip feet for stability when placed on a surface. As an added bonus, there are three USB ports around the back.
The Notepal XL is capable of holding laptops up to 17-inches in size, and to cap things off, it’s reasonably priced for the cooling performance you’re getting here. This product is a very close second to the Kootek, but just loses out on the versatility front. If you can’t find the Kootek outside of the US – in some regions stock seems very thin on the ground – then this is a great alternative for powerful cooling.
Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB can cope with a massive laptop as the name suggests.(Image credit: Thermaltake)
3. Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB
Best laptop cooling pad for large notebooks
Fans: 1 x 200mm | Size of pad: 471 x 354.5 x 46.5mm
Big 200mm fan cools nicely
Nifty RGB lighting
A pricier option
If you need a cooling pad suitable for a hefty notebook, then this Thermaltake product can cope with a massive laptop as the name suggests – it won’t break a sweat with a 17-inch portable, and is even capable of playing host to larger 19-inch gaming laptops.
It has one 200mm fan for cooling (the fan speed is adjustable), and there are three different height settings (up to an angle of 13-degrees). The large fan provides efficient cooling for bigger laptops, plus you also get RGB lighting around the edges of the pad with various different modes (pulsing, blinking, or just static lighting of different colors).
It’s fashioned from plastic and the build quality perhaps isn’t the best you’ll encounter in the cooling pad world, but it’s plenty sturdy enough to do the job of supporting a hefty gaming laptop. Note that the price tag is reasonably hefty here, too.
Enermax TwisterOdio 16 provides solid cooling as well as sound quality.(Image credit: Enermax)
4. Enermax TwisterOdio 16
Best laptop cooling pad with built-in speakers
Fans: 1 x 120mm | Size of pad: 352 x 270 x 52mm
Delivers decent sound quality
Solid cooling chops
Can’t cope with 17-inch notebooks
When thinking about laptop cooling pads which do something a little different from the norm, one possibility is an accessory that doesn’t just keep your notebook from getting too hot, but also comes with built-in speakers. Because aside from dealing with heat, another area that laptops often struggle with is providing a decent level of audio quality and volume.
The Enermax TwisterOdio is only capable of dealing with laptops up to 16-inches in size, but its built-in pair of ‘DreamBass’ 2W speakers are pretty decent (and provide some bass, as the name might suggest).
This pad is fairly thick, naturally enough due to those integrated speakers (which are housed in the cylinder at the rear of the pad), but surprisingly light, and provides solid cooling as well as sound quality. Incidentally, you can turn the speaker on or off, and manually adjust the fan speed.
This is definitely worth considering for those who have poor laptop speakers and want a reasonably priced solution to address that issue and any cooling worries in one fell swoop.
Targus Chill Mat delivers cooling via a pair of fans.(Image credit: Targus)
5. Targus Chill Mat
Best laptop cooling pad with expansive USB hub
Fans: 2 x 2,500 rpm | Size of pad: 354 x 260 x 25mm
Hub with 4 USB ports
Nicely slim
Well-built
For those who want their cooling pad to also provide expansion capabilities to hook up a number of other peripherals, check out the Targus Chill Mat, which is a little bit like a laptop dock crossed with a cooling solution.
The Chill Mat sports a 4-port USB hub (with USB 2.0 ports), and delivers cooling via a pair of fans (although Targus doesn’t specify what size they are – although the maker does state that they can run at up to 2,500 rpm).
This is a well-constructed device which is impressively slim, and can be adjusted between four different height levels. For those with laptops that have few USB ports, this could be a useful solution on twin fronts.
Cooler Master MasterNotepal Maker benefits from an excellent build quality and a ‘sandblasted aluminum’ surface.(Image credit: Cooler Master)
6. Cooler Master MasterNotepal Maker
Best modular laptop cooling pad
Fans: 2 x 80mm | Size of pad: 384.6 x 270 x 59.6mm
Aluminum surface for better heat dissipation
Fully customizable fan positioning
Great cable management
Expensive
Remember at the outset of this piece we discussed that the relative positioning of the vents in the bottom of your laptop and the fans in the cooling pad can be an important consideration? Well, one way you can ensure optimal positioning is by placing the fans yourself – and that’s possible in this modular cooling pad from Cooler Master.
Modular simply means that the fans can be moved to anywhere on the cooling pad, to target exactly where you need air delivering to your laptop. The MasterNotepal Maker also benefits from an excellent build quality and a ‘sandblasted aluminum’ surface – that can also help with heat dissipation – plus this pad can be set at five different angles.
There are other benefits such as excellent cable management, an attachable USB hub, and removable stoppers (to prevent the laptop from being in any danger of sliding off the stand). However, the downside to this top-of-the-range Cooler Master product is that it isn’t cheap, but for those who really want to fully tailor their pad to suit their notebook, it may well be worth the outlay.
The other thing to bear in mind here is that stock seems rather thin on the ground, now, as this product has been out for some time: so if you want one, you may have to move relatively quickly.
Tree New Bee Cooling Pad is a great choice that strikes a commendable balance between price and performance.(Image credit: Amazon)
7. Tree New Bee Cooling Pad
Best affordable laptop cooling pad
Fans: 4 x 110mm | Size of pad: 408 x 287 x 29mm
Good options for adjusting fans
Nicely priced
Only one level of height adjustment
If you want a very affordable solution for laptop cooling duties, well, here it is. Tree New Bee’s product runs with four 110 mm fans with adjustable speeds (the blue LED lights get dimmer as you turn the speed down – you can also turn two of the fans off, if you wish).
This device is nicely priced, pretty quiet, and provides a good amount of (suitably variable) cooling, and it can be raised on a pair of legs at the back for what the makers argue is a more ergonomic typing angle (and improved cooling, with more airflow underneath, of course).
The downside is there’s only one height setting, and it might be a touch steep for some. As you’ve probably seen elsewhere on this page, most products offer a range of different heights.
Still, this doesn’t stop the Tree New Bee Cooling Pad from being a great choice that strikes a commendable balance between price and performance.
TeckNet N8 Laptop Cooling Pad comes with a trio of 118mm cooling fans, which provide a decent level of cooling.(Image credit: TeckNet)
8. TeckNet N8 Laptop Cooling Pad
Best budget laptop cooling pad
Fans: 3 x 118mm | Size of pad: 380 x 280 x 28mm
Temptingly low price
Decent cooling
Not the best build quality
If you want to spend as little as possible on a cooling pad, then TeckNet has a great solution which is priced as cheaply as you’ll see anywhere – and you’re still getting a decent product.
The N8 comes with a trio of 118mm cooling fans which provide a decent level of cooling, plus the device benefits from a highly slim and portable design, too. It has a pair of feet that can be extended to raise it up, and a USB port to plug in an additional device (the N8 connects and is powered via USB, incidentally).
The build quality perhaps isn’t the best, but the N8 is impressively quiet, and quite simply it does the job – and does it very cheaply indeed.
Cooler Master Notepal X-Slim gets the nod due to its quality build.(Image credit: Cooler Master)
9. Cooler Master Notepal X-Slim
Best slim and portable laptop cooling pad
Fans: 1 x 160mm | Size of pad: 380 x 270 x 27.5~46mm
Thin and very lightweight
Whisper-quiet
Cable management chops
If you want a cooling pad which is nicely portable to carry around with you, then the X-Slim fits the bill. It measures only 27.5mm at its thinnest point, and it’s very light with a weight of 700g.
There are other products that come close to this level of portability – Havit’s 12-inch to 17-inch Laptop Cooler, for example – but Cooler Master’s effort gets the nod due to its quality build. It’s also capable of coping with laptops up to 17-inches in size, and the single 160mm fan offers excellent airflow while keeping things whisper-quiet. The X-Slim benefits from nifty cable management facilities, too, to keep things tidy as well as portable.
While the Notepal X-Slim is tidily compact, if you want a truly portable accessory to cool your laptop, check out our final entry below.
Klim Cool is a very effective cooler which comes with a number of different attachments.(Image credit: Klim)
10. Klim Cool
Best portable laptop cooling solution
Fans: 1 x 4,200 rpm | Size: 155 x 82 x 36mm
Reasonably priced
Automatic fan speed adjustment
Highly portable
Won’t work with all laptops
Okay, so we thought we’d throw this one in at the end as a bit of a wildcard, because while it isn’t a laptop cooling pad as such, it’s a fan-based accessory which does a similar thing (albeit via sucking rather than blowing air). And for those who want a really portable solution, this is a truly compact affair – whereas obviously any laptop cooling pad won’t be all that small, given that they all (inevitably) have a notebook-sized footprint.
Note that there is a sizeable caveat here: your laptop will need a vent at the side or rear for one of these devices to be attached. If you only have air vents on the base of your laptop, then we’re afraid you’re out of luck as far as these particular products go.
As mentioned, rather than blowing air into the laptop to cool it, the idea with a so-called ‘vacuum cooler’ is that they suck air out, but that has an equally cooling effect. Some even argue it’s more effective than a traditional cooling pad, but either way, you’re getting the job done as long as you pick a good product from the available solutions out there.
And in this case, our recommendation is Klim Cool, a very effective cooler which comes with a number of different attachments so you’re covered whatever the size of the air vent you’re attaching the device to. It also measures the temperature inside your laptop and automatically adjusts the fan speed for the appropriate level of cooling – pretty nifty indeed.
The manufacturer backs the product with a five-year warranty and a 30-day free return policy, so you can give it a whirl to see how it works with your notebook. A further bonus is that this isn’t an expensive accessory, either, falling in line with the pricing of the more affordable cooling pads.
The world of cheap tablets isn’t as overflowing with options as the world of cheap smartphones, but there are still some great slates that don’t cost the earth.
You’ll find all of these and more below, ranked from best to worst – but even slates at the bottom of this list come highly recommended, so depending on your needs they might be ideal.
Each entry includes a rundown of the key features, its main good and bad points, a full specs list, and a link to our full review, where you can find out even more about them.
But if you’re not sold on any of them, check out our best tablets, best iPad, and best Android tablets guides for other options. And make sure to check back soon, as we’re keeping all of these guides constantly updated.
Weight: 469g | Dimensions: 240 x 169.5 x 7.5mm | OS: iOS 13 | Screen size: 9.7-inch | Resolution: 1536 x 2048 | CPU: Apple A10 Fusion | Storage: 32GB/128GB | Battery: 8827mAh | Rear camera: 8MP | Front camera: 1.2MP
Good screen quality
Powerful for the price
Apple Pencil costs extra
Design unchanged
The iPad 9.7 (2018) is the best cheap tablet you can buy right now.
It may not be the newest entry-level iPad on the market (that's the iPad 10.2) but the iPad 9.7 2018 still has an awful lot going for it - not to mention a lower price tag, which makes it a candidate for this list, while the newer model isn’t quite.
You get a 9.7-inch display, making it marginally smaller than its successor for better or worse, plus plenty of power under the hood for your apps and games, and it's been updated to Apple's newest software - iPadOS 13 - ensuring it's right up to date with the latest features and security patches.
The iPad 9.7 also supports the Apple Pencil for all your sketching needs, and has a high-quality display. And while it’s no longer the newest basic iPad, being an Apple device it’s still likely to be supported with updates for years to come.
Weight: 355g | Dimensions: 202 x 137 x 9.7mm | OS: Fire OS | Screen size: 8-inch | Resolution: 880 x 1280 | CPU: quad-core | Storage: 32GB/64GB | Battery: up to 12 hours | Rear camera: 2MP | Front camera: 2MP
Wireless charging
Can be used like an Echo Show
Poor screen quality
Not swift, even with extra RAM
The Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus is essentially the Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020), but just made a little bit better. It has more RAM at 3GB, supports wireless charging (so you can use it with an optional dock that brings it close to an Echo Show), and comes with a speedier charger than the standard Fire HD 8.
Beyond that it’s much the same as its cheaper sibling, but that in itself makes it faster than the previous generation of the Amazon Fire HD 8, as well as giving you much more storage to play with.
The Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus still isn’t the fastest of slates, but it holds its own for what it costs, and if you want a tablet and smart display all in one it’s a top choice – though for just the tablet part you might want to consider the standard Fire HD 8 (2020) instead.
Weight: 504g | Dimensions: 262 x 159 x 9.8mm | OS: Fire OS | Screen size: 10.1-inch | Resolution: 1920 x 1200 | CPU: octa-core | Storage: 32GB/64GB | Battery: up to 12 hours | Rear camera: 2MP | Front camera: 2MP
Large, clear screen
Dependable battery life
Divisive software
Only okay speakers
The Amazon Fire HD 10 (2019) is the latest and best of Amazon’s big tablets. Having a 10.1-inch 1200 x 1920 screen makes it a good budget option for media in particular, especially if you have an Amazon Prime subscription.
It’s built to last too, and has decent battery life, so this is a slate you can happily take with you wherever you go – as long as the size isn’t an issue.
Its biggest issue is the same issue all Amazon tablets have, namely the software, which is big on pushing Amazon products and services, and lacks access to the Google Play Store. But if you can live with that then the Amazon Fire HD 10 (2019) is a strong cheap choice.
Weight: 355g | Dimensions: 202 x 137 x 9.7mm | OS: Fire OS | Screen size: 8-inch | Resolution: 880 x 1280 | CPU: quad-core | Storage: 32GB/64GB | Battery: up to 12 hours | Rear camera: 2MP | Front camera: 2MP
Super-low price
Great front camera placement
Poor screen quality
Locked to Amazon’s ecosystem
The Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020) is the latest and greatest version of Amazon’s affordable 8-inch slate. It’s 30% faster than its predecessor, has twice as much storage, slightly better battery life, and finally makes the move to USB-C (where the previous model uses micro USB), but otherwise it’s very similar.
So if you’re shopping for your first Amazon slate or have a much older one then this is a good upgrade, but you might want to think twice about upgrading from the previous model.
Other highlights of the Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020) include a 3.5mm headphone port and a cleverly positioned front camera – which is at the top when you hold the slate in landscape, as you likely will during video calls. Plus, of course, it’s very, very cheap.
Weight: 529g | Dimensions: 260 x 161.1 x 8mm | OS: Android 8.1 | Screen size: 10.5-inch | Resolution: 1200 x 1920 | CPU: Snapdragon 450 | Storage: 32GB | Battery: 7300mAh | Rear camera: 8MP | Front camera: 5MP
Has a headphone jack
Long battery life
Design a little bulky
Can be sluggish
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5 is the South Korean firm's answer to Apple's best cheap tablet, which you've seen above.
If you're looking for an Android iPad rival on a budget, this is the slate you should consider. With Google's Android operating system providing plenty of flexibility, coupled with a large HD display, the Tab A 10.5 is great for movies and web browsing.
It also benefits from long battery life, so you can indulge in a movie marathon. It’s not the most powerful slate around and its size makes it slightly less portable than some, but for media and basic app use around the house it’s a strong choice.
Amazon's latest 7-inch slate is a very cheap, very basic tablet
Weight: 286g | Dimensions: 192 x 115 x 9.6mm | OS: Fire OS | Screen size: 7-inch | Resolution: 1,024 x 600 | CPU: 1.3GHz Quad-core | Storage: 16GB/32GB | Battery: up to 7 hours | Rear camera: 2MP | Front camera: VGA
Affordable
Durable build
Disappointing non-HD screen
Poor battery life
Notice the lack of 'HD' in the name of the Amazon Fire 7, compared to the other Amazon slates on this list? That's because the screen quality of the tablet is, well, not HD.
That's a compromise you'll have to make if you're wanting Amazon's latest super-cheap device, as it won't grace your eyes with a stunning display or slick performance. However there is enough power under the hood to get you through basic tasks, like streaming content or shopping.
It's also great as a Kindle device, if you want your Kindle to also come with Alexa and the internet and the best books of all, movies.
Bank holiday sales are always a great option for those looking to pick up a prime deal on a range of cheap tech. Laptops especially are a good addition for the weekend shopping list as many of the UK's top retailers - Amazon, Currys and John Lewis, to name a few - love to compete to offer the best discounts.
The bank holiday laptop deals mean you can pick up everything from super cheap laptops to incredibly powerful machines, with big potential savings looking to soften that high asking price. We've rounded up our favorites this weekend just below, starting at just £179.99 for this cheap and cheerful Asus Chromebook, and ranging all the way to this stunning Apple MacBook Pro for £1,189.
There's plenty to be found in between as well, something for all budgets in fact, so if you've you got a particular budget in mind you should definitely be covered with these excellent bank holiday laptop deals. For those in a hurry, at the top of the page we've also included some super quick links straight to the relevant retailer pages - just in case you wanted to jump straight into the action and see what's available for yourselves.
Of course, it's not just laptops on sale this bank holiday. If you're in the mood to pick up some more cheap tech we recommend heading on over to our main best bank holiday sales page where you'll find not just laptops, but TVs, tablets, headphones, and....well just about anything your tech-loving heart could desire really.
Asus 11.6-inch Chromebook:£209.99£179.99 at Amazon For under £200, This Asus Chromebook is a real steal if you're looking for a cheap laptop for streaming, browsing or online shopping. Inside it's got an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage - not world-beating specs, but fine if you just want something that's a step up from most tablets. View Deal
Acer Aspire 3 A315-4215.6-inch laptop:£399£299.97 at Currys The 256GB SSD makes this Acer Aspire 3 standout from the normal cheap laptops fare. That's a decent chunk of storage at this price point and a drive that will ensure super speedy bootups and load times. The 4GB of RAM is a slight trade-off for the SSD here, but it's still a finely specced machine at this price point considering the AMD Ryzen 3 processor is also brand new. View Deal
HP Pavilion 14 laptop:£549£449 at Currys This HP Pavilion is a good option for people who want something that's a little more premium than the basic laptops normally found below £400. It's featuring a10th gen Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD - really solid baseline specs at this price point and now cheaper thanks to that £100 discount at Currys. View Deal
Asus VivoBook 15.6-inch laptop:£568.99£449.97 at Laptops Direct This Asus VivoBook has a specs sheet and premium look at belies it's (relatively) cheap price tag. Not only does this laptop feature a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, but it's also rocking a near bezel-less display, which is a design appointment normally exclusive to expensive ultrabooks. View Deal
Huawei Matebook D 15.6-inch laptop:£599£499 at Very This Huawei Matebook D is offering an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD for £100 less this weekend at Very. If you're looking for bigger storage, you can pick up a fantastic 512GB SSD version for just £549, but you are dropping down to a 14-inch display to do so. View Deal
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14-inch laptop:£599£549 at Currys A brand new 10th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD make this Lenovo IdeaPad a real performer for the money. While it's only getting a £50 discount right now, the top-end specs sheet and premium looks make this a worthy entry on our list this weekend.
Asus Zenbook 14-inch laptop:£799£599 at Currys This Asus Zenbook is a real stunner, and thanks to a £200 discount and Currys, a great option for those looking for a cheap ultrabook. It's got a 10th gen Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD - specs that aren't mindblowing, but as an overall package this laptop is incredibly thin, stylish, and rocks a near bezel-less display. View Deal
Apple MacBook Pro (2019) 13-inch - 128GB:£1,299£1,129.99 at Very Very is offering a flat £170 discount plus another 10% if you use the code Q4RXX at checkout on a bunch of MacBook Pro deals right now. Featuring an 8th generation i5 processor, 128GB SSD, and 8GB RAM, you're getting the baseline configuration here, but it's still a relatively cheap way to pick up one of these stunning luxury laptops. View Deal
2020 13-inch MacBook Pro:£1,299£1,192 at Amazon Amazon's own MacBook deals are also offering £110 off the latest 13-inch MacBook Pro. This baseline model comes with a 256GB SSD, 8th Gen Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM and the all-new Magic Keyboard. This one's definitely recommended if you're looking for a little more space on that drive, as well as a few more modern design appointments. View Deal
3 year guarantee on selected Windows laptopsat John Lewis John Lewis is known for its generous warranty guarantees, however the latest sales have pushed the typical two-year offering we see up to three years. That's an extra year of peace of mind on your new computer. View Deal
