Apple has a reputation for being stingy when it comes to discounts and sales, but you can still enjoy significant savings on iPads this holiday season. Although Black Friday is still a few days away, many Apple iPad models – including those released this year – already appear to be offering some big discounts. The only problem is that these prices fluctuate almost daily, so it’s important to jump on a great deal when you see one. These are just a few of Apple’s Black Friday deals, so check out the rest if you’re part of the Apple ecosystem.
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The list of iPads and their lowest prices can be found above. Read an overview of each iPad model below.
iPad 10th generation 10.9″ 64 GB
iPad 10th generation 10.9″ 64 GB
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The 10th generation iPad was released in 2022 for a launch price of $449, but this is down to $279. This is possibly one of the best iPad deals we’ll see during Black Friday. This model has significant improvements over its predecessor. For starters, it features a larger 10.9-inch screen without increasing the overall size thanks to a thinner bezel. It also has a faster A14 Bionic chip, which delivers a 20% increase in CPU performance and 10% increase in GPU performance over the A13. It’s now compatible with the Magic Folio keyboard, so you can convert it into a mini laptop for a better workflow (making it one of the best iPads for students). better camera and an updated Wi-Fi 6 protocol.
iPad Pro (M4)
iPad Pro (M4) 11″ 256 GB
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iPad Pro (M4) 13″ 256 GB
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The iPad Pro 2024 is the best tablet, iOS or otherwise, thanks to its new M4 processor that’s both powerful and energy efficient. Amazon has dropped the prices by as much as $200 and I think these are the best Black Friday deals we can get on these two models. In our 2024 iPad Pro M4 review, Jacqueline Thomas wrote: “For creative professionals, the 2024 iPad Pro is the most powerful tablet on the market, which will shine when your work revolves around a touchscreen. For the rest of us, though: the iPad Pro is simply the best looking screen you’ll find in a tablet, with hardware powerful enough to be a top device for years to come.”
Compared to the previous generation iPad M2, it performs about 20% better. However, the biggest update to the iPad Pro is not the M4 chip, but the tandem OLED panel that has never been seen before on an Apple product. Tandem OLED is better than traditional OLED in two ways: (1) it’s much brighter and (2) it’s less prone to burn-in. If you’re wondering why this technology hasn’t made its way into TVs, the answer is simply because it’s not cost-effective. The iPad can get away with it because its 11-inch screen is much smaller, but that’s also why the iPad Pro is priced much higher than the other iPads in Apple’s 2024 lineup.
iPad Mini (A17 Pro) 8.3″ 128 GB
iPad Mini (A17 Pro) 8.3″ 256 GB
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The new iPad Mini was released in October 2024 and is already available for purchase. The iPad Mini may be the smallest tablet of the bunch, but that doesn’t mean it’s hampered in any way. This is the most compact and portable iPad and not much bigger than an iPhone Pro Max. It has an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone and P3 Wide Color. It has some pretty significant improvements that are well worth the $50 surcharge over the previous generation model. Upgrades include a more powerful A17 Pro processor, double the base storage capacity, the newer and faster Wi-Fi 6e protocol, a higher bandwidth USB Type-C port, compatibility with the newer Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C) and upcoming Apple Intelligence support in pocket-sized iPad, this is definitely your choice.
iPad Mini 6th generation (A15 Bionic) 8.3″ 64 GB
iPad Mini 6th generation (A15 Bionic) 8.3″ 64 GB
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Even with the release of the new 2024 model, the 2021 6th generation iPad Mini is still relevant and costs $100 less. It’s powered by an Apple A15 Bionic processor which is superior to the A14 Bionic found on the latest standard iPad. It has a USB Type-C port for non-legacy charging and supports the Apple Pencil 2 for better workflow.
iPad Air (M2)
iPad Air (M2) 11″ 128 GB
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iPad Air (M2) 13″ 128 GB
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The 2024 iPad Air is almost as powerful as the iPad Pro, but at a much lower price. It comes in two sizes: an 11-inch screen with a resolution of 2360 x 1640 (264ppi) and a 13-inch screen with a resolution of 2732×2048 (264ppi). The screen is superior to that of the standard iPad model, with more premium features such as P3 Wide Color, True Tone and an ultra-low reflectivity film that helps combat glare and direct sunlight. Upgrades over the previous generation iPad Air include an M2 chip that is 15% faster in CPU performance and 25% faster in GPU performance over the M1, compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard, and adoption of newer connectivity standards such as Wi-Fi 6E and USB Type-C.
Should I wait for better prices on Black Friday?
Black Friday is the best opportunity to score great deals on electronics, and Apple products are no exception. You may be wondering how low these prices can be. While we don’t have direct feedback from Apple itself, we have years of our own historical price trends that support our predictions. Right now, Black Friday is so close that it certainly can’t hurt to wait. I don’t think the iPads will drop in price currently the iPad 10th generation and the iPad Pro. I think the iPads could come down in price are the iPad Mini A17 Pro and the iPad Air. If Amazon isn’t your preferred supplier (or they’re out of stock), I expect these deals will also be available at Best Buy and Walmart. The Apple Store is also hosting its own Black Friday Sale, although these deals won’t be nearly as good as those from third-party retailers.
Looking for more iPad resources?
If you’re not sure which iPad is best for you, we have an iPad guide detailing which iPad is ideal for which use. If you’re planning to purchase an iPad for school work, we also have an iPad guide for students. If you’re looking for options beyond iOS, check out the best Android tablets of 2024.
Eric Song is IGN’s commerce manager responsible for finding the best gaming and technology deals every day. When Eric isn’t looking for deals for other people at work, he spends his free time looking for deals for himself.