iPad deals are hard to score this month. Now that the holiday season is here, iPads are selling out fast. For instance, the base 10.2-inch iPad is seeing shipping dates that go as late as January (when you find it in stock).
Meanwhile, iPad deals on the 10.9-inch iPad Air are selling out as fast as they appear. The tablet hit $489 in September, but is now selling for $569. (If you’re lucky and fast enough to grab that deal).
As a result, we’re recommending you snatch up any iPad deals you see right now before other models run out of stock. So what are the best cheap iPad deals right now? We’re here to show you which sales are worth your time.
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Today’s best iPad deals at a glance
Currently, the best cheap iPad deals come courtesy of Amazon. The retailer has the new 10.2-inch iPad (256GB/2021) on sale for $449. That’s the cheapest price we’ve seen for this tablet and it’s one of the best iPad deals ever. (This deal has been coming in and out of stock repeatedly). Alternatively, Amazon has the 10.9-inch iPad Air on sale for $539. That’s $60 off and its cheapest price right now, although we expect it to get cheaper in the coming days. Both iPads are coming in and out of stock. So make sure to check the links again if they’re unavailable.
Best iPad deals and sales
Best iPad deals — accessories
Best iPad deals — refurbs
Which iPad should I buy?
Apple’s iPad family is now bigger than ever. Currently, these are the models that Apple offers:
The 10.2-inch iPad is the tablet for everyone. The mainstream tablet is not only the most affordable iPad, but it’s also the best value for your dollar. The tablet uses Apple’s A10 Fusion chip. That shouldn’t be a deal breaker though. While the A10 Fusion chip is indeed dated, it still packs enough power for streaming movies and playing some Apple Arcade.
It can also be used for sketching and drawing, thanks to its Apple Pencil (1st gen) support. For the first time, you can also pair the 10.2-inch iPad with Apple’s Smart Keyboard. Check out our new iPad (2020) review to see why we love Apple’s latest tablet.
True to its name, the iPad mini is the smallest tablet in Apple’s lineup. It houses Apple’s A12 Bionic chip with an M12 coprocessor. (That’s the same CPU found in the iPhone XS family). It happens to be the tablet we own and we love it for everything from streaming Netflix to playing Mario Kart. However, keep in mind that it’s long overdue a refresh from Apple. Once it’s been refreshed, there will likely be better iPad deals on this tablet.
If you want unrivaled power, you’ll want to check out the new iPad Air or iPad Pros. The latter come in 11-inch and 12.9-inch flavors and use Apple’s new M1 CPU. They will be available for sale in the second half of May. As for the 2020 iPad Pros, you’ll find great iPad deals on those tablets. The base models are currently up to $100 off.
Guide to finding the best iPad deals
Where to find the best deals: Generally speaking, Amazon tends to offer the best iPad deals. On any given day of the week you’ll typically find discounts that run the gamut from $50 to $200 off. Other retailers like Best Buy, B&H Photo, and Walmart tend to offer similar prices. However, it’s rare that they undercut Amazon’s iPad deals. That said, in the case of the new iPad Pro 2021 tablets, Walmart was taking $50 off a few models, whereas Amazon has yet to offer them on sale.
Check all colors: Amazon tends to give different color iPads different prices. For instance, the base iPad 32GB tablet in black might sell for a discounted $299 price, but the white model might sell at full price. So when looking for iPad deals at Amazon, it’s worth checking various colors for the lowest price.
Beware the iPad Air: The iPad Air is now one of the oldest iPads in Apple’s lineup. There are also strong rumors that it could be updated with an iPad Air 5 complete with a new A15 Bionic CPU and OLED display. As a result, you might want to wait before buying this model.
