Reading List

Here are the best iPad deals right now from The Verge - All Posts RSS feed.

Here are the best iPad deals right now

A 10th-gen iPad in an Apple Magic Keyboard Folio.
iPads go on sale quite frequently, but some discounts on more powerful models are getting harder to find. | Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

While the best iPad deals usually land during major sale events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon’s various Prime Days, many of the best iPad deals from the holiday season have persisted into 2024. The discounts come and go like changing winds, but you can still take advantage of sales on many models today, particularly on the more affordable iPads. What’s more, prices are likely to drop even further when Apple ushers in a new slate of iPad Pro and iPad Air models, which will reportedly happen in May.

Forthcoming models aside, it’s difficult to know where exactly you can find the most notable iPad deals unless you’re scouring the major retailers on a daily basis. But that’s often what our deal hunters at The Verge are doing each and every day, so let us help you out. Below, we’ve listed the best deals you can get on each iPad model that is currently available, from the cheapo ninth-gen iPad of 2021 to the latest models equipped with Apple’s powerful M1 and M2 chips.

The best iPad (2021) and iPad (2022) deals

Announced alongside the iPhone 13, the 2021 iPad is Apple’s aging entry-level tablet that still makes a fine device for doing the basics today. The ninth-gen model starts at $329 with 64GB of storage, though the base configuration with Wi-Fi is available right now for $249 ($80 off) at Amazon and Walmart, which is just $20 shy of its lowest price to date.

As for the 256GB model that normally retails for $479, Amazon and Walmart are both selling it for $379 ($100 off), which matches its second-best price to date. If you prefer your iPad to include cellular connectivity, the LTE model is also often on sale. We’re not seeing the 64GB LTE model discounted at the moment, but if you’re looking for the 256GB edition, the step-up model is available at Amazon in silver for $529.99 ($80 off) after clipping the coupon or in space gray for $579 ($30 off).

The last-gen iPad uses an A13 Bionic processor and a 12MP wide-angle camera with Center Stage, a feature designed to keep you framed up and centered while on video calls. The tablet also carries over a number of features from its predecessor, such as the 10.2-inch display, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the home button, and a Smart Connector for connecting a Smart Keyboard.

Although the newer 10th-gen iPad came out in late 2022, the last-gen model is still an excellent tablet — one we consider to be a better value in most instances. The latest iPad modernizes the design with a switch to USB-C, uniform bezels with no home button, a side power button with a fingerprint sensor, and a larger display, but it excises the headphone jack and retails for a much steeper $449. That’s not much of an entry-level price, so hopefully, the ninth-gen model sticks around and continues to see moderate discounts.

As for the 10th-gen model, you can often find it for as much as $100 off. In fact, that’s how much you can save on the 64GB base model right now at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, all of which are offering it for around $349.Amazon and Best Buy are also both discounting the 64GB LTE configuration to $499 ($100 off), while the 256GB model is now $649 ($100 off) at Amazon and Best Buy.

The best iPad Mini (2021) deals

The sixth-gen iPad Mini has a larger screen than its predecessor, along with a top-of-the-line processor, support for USB-C, and options for 5G. It has forfeited its 3.5mm headphone jack and dedicated home button in the process, but overall, it’s a solid device that brings a fully refreshed design to Apple’s small tablet form factor.

The changes and refinements to the newest iPad Mini come at a heftier price, however, and the 64GB Wi-Fi model now starts at $499. Electing 256GB of storage brings the price up to $649, while the 5G cellular models are $649 for 64GB and $799 for 256GB. These are some big numbers for a small iPad, and the larger iPad Air might be worth considering if you prefer your dollar to go further with more screen real estate. But if you want the latest and greatest from Apple in a smaller format, this is where the action is.

As of right now, Amazon and Best Buy are both selling the iPad Mini in its 64GB base configuration for $399.99 ($100 off). If you need additional storage, the 256GB model is on sale in several colors at Amazon for $539.99 ($110 off) when you clip the on-page coupon or at Best Buy for $549.99. As for the cellular version, you can find the 64GB model with 5G on sale for $549.99 ($100 off) at Best Buy. If you want the step-up 256GB version with LTE, however, it’s on sale at Amazon and Best Buy for $699.99 ($100 off).

The best iPad Air (2022) deals

The latest iPad Air usually costs $599, but right now, it’s on sale for $499.99 ($100 off) at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy, matching its all-time low. The fifth-gen Air is our top iPad recommendation for most people thanks to its speedy M1 processor, modern design, and midrange price. For those who crave more storage, the 256GB variant is also available for $649.99 ($100 off) at Amazon, Target, and Best Buy.

You can also find savings on cellular iPad Air models right now. The LTE-equipped iPad Air with 64GB of storage is down to $649.99 ($100 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The 256GB cellular model is seeing a similar discount at Amazon and Best Buy, where you can get it for $799.99 ($100 off).

The 2022 iteration of Apple’s lightweight tablet is similar in terms of its capabilities when measured against the previous-gen model but still offers a handful of iterative upgrades. The most pronounced improvement is the M1 processor, which offers better performance, and the front-facing 12MP camera comes equipped with Apple’s Center Stage feature that helps to keep a moving subject centered when recording video or during video calls.

The best iPad Pro (2022) deals

The latest generation of iPad Pros looks a whole lot like the prior model from 2021, as the changes are primarily on the inside. The newer Pros still come in 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, with the better-looking Mini LED panel once again reserved for the larger model, though both now pack Apple’s newer M2 CPU for even better processing power.

The striking resemblance to the prior generation aside, there are a few reasons to opt for a Pro over something like an Air, such as Face ID unlocking and additional base storage. If display quality is the most important factor in your purchasing decision, the 12.9-inch version is the way to go, as its Mini LED display achieves deeper blacks and better contrast, much like an OLED panel.

Aside from that, as well as a nifty new hover feature that shows where your second-gen Apple Pencil’s tip will land before you touch the screen, they’re very similar to the older models from 2021. The 128GB base models even start at the same price — the 11-inch and 12.9-inch models retail for $799 and $1,099, respectively, and go up from there. As for 5G cellular versions, the 11-inch model starts at $999 and the 12.9-inch model at $1,299.

Deals on either configuration of the M2 iPad Pro are scarce, but there are a few available. For instance, B&H Photo is selling the 11-inch model with 128GB of storage for $749 ($50 off). That same $50 discount extends to select configurations of the 256GB (now $849) and 512GB ($1,049) models. B&H Photo also has the 12.9-inch model on sale starting at $1,029 for 128GB of storage ($70 off), $1,119 for a 256GB model ($80 off), and a 512GB model for $1,349 ($50 off).