Black Friday iPad deals: the best early sales and what to expect

an image of an iPad on a purple and blue background showing TechRadar Black Friday iPad deals
(Image credit: Future)

Sound the alarm! Black Friday is right around the corner (again), meaning it's almost time to pick up one of Apple's best iPads for a cut price.

Unlike iPhones, iPads are often the subject of meaty discounts over Black Friday because they're often bought as standalone products, rather than as part of lengthy payment plans. Indeed, you can already pick the 9th-generation iPad for $100 less than usual at Amazon in the US right now, while in the UK, Currys is offering a discount on the brand-new 13-inch iPad Air.

In this guide, we'll be rounding up the best Black Friday deals on Apple's most popular tablets as they appear throughout November. We've also included some guidance on what to look out for if you're keen to go the bargain hunt alone.

Today's best iPad deals in the US

Today's best iPad deals in the UK

Today's best iPad deals in Australia

Axel Metz
Axel Metz

As TechRadar's Phones Editor, I've been reviewing and writing about the best mobile devices (iPads included) for several years; you'll find my byline on over 1,500 TechRadar articles. As such, I'm well-placed to tell you which iPad deals are worth your time, and which so-called 'discounts' are better left to the clearance aisle.

Black Friday iPad deals: FAQs

Four iPad models on a green background

(Image credit: Future / Apple)

When will the Black Friday iPad deals start in 2024?

In short: they already have. Black Friday lands on November 29 this year, but retailers are already starting to offer deals on iPads and other tech products as momentum towards the day itself builds. Expect to see 'Black Friday' tags on retailer websites and in stores well before November 29.

We're in the midst of 'deals season' following Amazon's second Prime Day sale in October, which inspired rival sales such as Best Buy's 48-hour flash sale. With plenty of iPad models available, and even more discontinued units for retailers to clear out, we're expecting to see a healthy supply of iPad deals from now through to the end of November.

Is Black Friday the best time to buy an iPad?

Black Friday typically presents a great opportunity to buy an iPad. While Apple isn't known for cheap prices, the capability to price ratio across the iPad range has generally increased each year, and with Black Friday savings it may be possible to snag an incredibly powerful tablet for a very reasonable price.

We'll likely see the hefty price tags of the iPad Air and iPad Pro lines moderated by Black Friday savings, while the lower end iPad and iPad mini could hit truly budget prices. So long as you know what to expect from each model, it's hard to go wrong with an iPad – Apple's lineup absolutely dominates our list of the best tablets, and our picks for the best iPads come from all over the price spectrum.

What Black Friday iPad deals do I want to see in 2024?

Black Friday iPad deals tend to cover the entire range of Apple tablets, but the most impressive offers come towards the lower end of the price range. I'd love to see the base model iPad fall below $300 / £300, which would make it a great buy for those looking for a casual or family device. Furthermore, discounts of around $150 / £150 on the 11-inch iPad Air would make it an easy choice for students thanks to its powerful M2 chipset.

As for the higher-end iPads – the 13-inch Air and both iPad Pro models – I'd expect to see more moderate discounts to sweeten these tablets' hefty price tags. I'm optimistically hoping to see the 13-inch iPad Pro fall below $1,100 / £1,100, which would be a rather reasonable price for Apple's best tablet. As per last year's Amazon sale, I'd expect to see discounts of $100 on the 11-inch iPad Pro and the 13-inch iPad Air, which would offer some serious value for money.

The higher-end iPads won't be cheap even with these savings, but if you're thinking of buying one for professional work or creativity (or just want the best of the best) Black Friday will likely be your chance to save some serious money. Check back to this page closer to Black Friday for the latest updates.

Why trust TechRadar this Black Friday

TechRadar has reviewed and extensively tested almost every Apple iPad since their introduction in 2010, so we know what we're talking about when imparting advice on which iPad model to buy.

Similarly, we keep our eyes firmly locked on sales events throughout the year (think Prime Day, Memorial Day, and, of course, Black Friday), and track the lowest prices of the most popular products (iPads included), so we know a good discount when we see it. This combination of product expertise and sales knowledge means we're well-placed to advise you on this year's best Black Friday iPad deals.

Last year's best Black Friday iPad deals in the US

Apple iPad 10.2 (2021): $329.99$249 at Walmart

Apple iPad 10.2 (2021): was $329.99 now $249 at Walmart
If the above Amazon deal on the 2021 standard iPad is sold out, then Walmart has your back with the same tablet for the same attractive price. Even if this iPad deal goes out of stock it's worth keeping an eye on for sudden restocks.

Apple iPad 10.9 2022 (64GB):  $449$429 at Walmart

Apple iPad 10.9 2022 (64GB): was $449 now $429 at Walmart
Walmart's Cyber Monday deals include the 2022 iPad on sale for a record-low price of $399. Compared to the 2021 iPad, the latest entry-level tablet comes with a larger 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, Apple's powerful A14 Bionic chip for laptop-like speed, upgraded cameras with 4K video, and all-day battery life. It's a fantastic tablet at a great price, especially with today's $50 discount.

Apple iPad mini (2021): $499$399 at Amazon

Apple iPad mini (2021): was $499 now $399 at Amazon
With $100 off its ticket price on the pink model, this iPad mini deal is a bit of a steal. So it's worth snapping up now, especially as it's a great little tablet with a neat design and plenty of power, and works well as a portable gaming machine too.

Apple iPad Air 2022 (64GB): $599.99 $559.99 at Amazon

Apple iPad Air 2022 (64GB): was $599.99 now $559.99 at Amazon
If you're looking for a powerful iPad in the Cyber Monday Apple deals, Amazon has the latest iPad Air on sale for a record-low price of $499.99. The iPad Air 5 packs a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, Apple's powerful M1 chip, which delivers laptop-like speed and performance and provides an all-day battery life.

Magic Keyboard:$299$215 at Walmart

Magic Keyboard: was $299 now $215 at Walmart
To complement an 11-inch iPad Pro or iPad Air, Apple's Magic Keyboard offers a smart combination of keyboard, trackpad and tilting stand to transform an iPad into a pseudo computer. It's an essential accessory for people who want to be productive on Apple's tablets, but it's a pricey outlay on top of your tablet, so this $75 saving is a deal not to be missed.

Magic Keyboard Folio for iPad:$249$169 at Walmart

Magic Keyboard Folio for iPad: was $249 now $169 at Walmart
Users of the 10th-gen standard iPad can turn it into a bit of a writing machine by adding the Magic Keyboard Folio. It provides a solid keyboard with a cover as well, and has a trackpad, and at this discounted price of just $169 it's a lot more affordable than usual.

Last year's best Black Friday iPad deals in the UK

Apple iPad 10.2 2021 (64GB): £369£299 at Very

Apple iPad 10.2 2021 (64GB): was £369 now £299 at Very
Not the lowest price ever for this iPad, but enough of a discount to make this entry-level iPad worth your consideration. The savings are a good amount to invest in a selection of App Store apps and games.

Apple iPad mini (2021): £569£519 at Amazon

Apple iPad mini (2021): was £569 now £519 at Amazon
A saving of £42 isn't mind-blowing, but it's still a handy discount on an already keenly-priced iPad. The refreshed design holds a great Retina display and a powerful A15 Bionic chip, which is still plenty powerful nearly two years later. As Apple has seemingly forgotten about the iPad mini, don't expect to see discounts that beat this one.

5th-gen Apple iPad Air (64GB):£699£628 at Very

5th-gen Apple iPad Air (64GB): was £699 now £628 at Very
This is one of the best tablets on the market, though its price pre-sale may have kept people away. But thanks to this price drop this is a great tablet to invest in. It has a 10.9-inch liquid retina display, 64GB, Wi-Fi 6, 12MP front/12MP back camera, and more.

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2022): £1,249£1,179 at Amazon

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2022): was £1,249 now £1,179 at Amazon
Even discounted, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is hardly cheap in the UK. But you are paying for one of the very best tablet experiences around. You can also save £110 on the 512GB model and £100 on the 1TB version. And as we don't expect the discounts to get much more generous than this, an iPad Pro with £55 to £110 shaved off its price tag isn't to be sniffed at.

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2022): £1,429£1,328 at Very

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2022): was £1,429 now £1,328 at Very
Over at Very the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with 128GB of storage has been cut by a decent £99. It's not exactly cheap but that's still a nice little discount on the latest and greatest iPad.

Axel Metz
Phones Editor

Axel is TechRadar's UK-based Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site's Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion.  Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.

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