How do I tell which generation a tablet is?

Look for the model identifier or the release year rather than the range name — ranges keep several generations on sale at once under near-identical names, and the photographs will not tell you apart.

Is the cellular version worth the extra?

Only if you will use it away from Wi-Fi regularly. It is a consistently large premium and a separate listing, so make sure you are comparing like with like before judging a price.

Should I buy the bigger storage tier?

The jump between tiers is priced well above the cost of the memory, so buy the tier you need rather than the one above it. That single decision is usually the biggest saving available in the category.

Cheapest place to buy a tablet in the UK

The hard part is working out which generation you are actually being sold.

Updated 25 September 2026 · 2 min read

Several generations, all on sale, all named alike

Tablet ranges are unusual in keeping three or four generations available simultaneously. The naming rarely makes the year obvious, the designs change slowly, and photographs are close to useless for telling them apart. A listing that says only the range name could be current stock or three years old.

That ambiguity is where the money goes missing. An older generation at a modest discount can look like a deal while the current one sits elsewhere for less.

Wi-Fi and cellular are different products

The cellular version of the same tablet costs substantially more and is a separate listing. It is easy to compare one against the other by accident and conclude a shop is cheap when it is simply showing you the Wi-Fi model.

Storage tiers carry most of the margin

The step between storage tiers is priced well above what the memory costs, which is why the entry tier is so often the one on offer. If the entry tier genuinely suits you it is usually the best value in the range; if it does not, the jump is where the budget goes.

What actually drives the price

Generation. By far the largest factor, and the hardest to see from a listing.
Connectivity. Wi-Fi versus cellular, a consistent and substantial gap.
Bundled accessories. Keyboards and pens are frequently attached at a price that would be higher bought separately — occasionally lower.
Education and seasonal promotions, which in this category are among the more genuine discounts.

Before you buy

Identify the generation, not just the range name.
Confirm Wi-Fi or cellular before comparing anything.
Check the storage tier above — occasionally it is discounted below the one you wanted.
Price bundled accessories separately to see whether the bundle is real.
Check whether the current generation is cheaper than the discounted older one. It happens more often than it should.