Amazon’s iPad mini 6 deal just got better – but not for the reason you might think

(Image credit: Future / Apple)

Earlier this week, I drew attention to Amazon’s ongoing post-Black Friday deal on the iPad mini (2021), which sees Apple’s latest pint-sized tablet discounted to $469 in the US and £531 in the UK (from $499 and £569, respectively). I caveated that piece, however, with a note about the potentially imminent arrival of a new iPad mini model in March 2024.

Now, though, we’re hearing (via Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman) that Apple’s upcoming crop of next-generation iPads won’t include a new iPad mini, with Apple instead set to refresh its tablet lineup with an M3-equipped iPad Pro and iPad Air. Why does this matter? Well, for prospective iPad mini buyers, the potential benefits of this news are two-fold.

Firstly, given the now-presumed absence of a new iPad mini model in March, there’s no reason to believe that Apple and/or Amazon will cut the price of the iPad mini (2021) even further come March 2024 (in the same way that, say, the iPhone 14 became cheaper following the release of the iPhone 15).

Secondly, you needn’t worry about missing out on game-changing tablet features by picking up Apple’s current-gen iPad mini model today because, well, it now looks like there isn’t going to be a new, game-changing iPad mini in 2024. Incidentally, the same is true of the company’s entry-level iPad 10.9 (2022), which is also on sale at Amazon right now.

Of course, we can’t be 100% certain that Apple won’t throw a new iPad mini model (or indeed a new entry-level iPad) into the mix come March next year. However, given Gurman’s impressive track record when it comes to Apple announcements – especially those that are only a few months away – we’re inclined to believe that the world’s best small tablet will remain the world’s best small tablet for at least another year.

Today's best iPad mini (2021) deal

Apple iPad mini 2021 (64GB)
US: was $499 now $469 at Amazon
UK: was £569 now £531 at Amazon
Apple's latest iPad mini was on sale for a slightly better price over Black Friday, but today's $30 / £38 discount is still a welcome saving on an otherwise keenly-priced iPad. This tablet's refreshed design holds a great Retina display and a powerful A15 Bionic chipset, which is still plenty powerful nearly two years later. You'll find similar prices at rival retailers, though certain color variants are slightly more expensive.

For more holiday and Christmas gift ideas, check out our guides to the best Christmas sales in the US and Boxing Day sales in the UK. Oh, and be sure to follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings, and unmissable deals!

More holiday sales

Amazon: 70% off Kindle, TVs, tablets & clothing
Apple: AirPods, Apple Watch & iPads from $79
Adidas: 40% off running shoes & clothing
Beauty: 51% off makeup, skincare & hair tools
Best Buy: $800 off TVs, laptops & headphones
Cheap TVs: big-screen 4K TVs from $269.99
Christmas: 40% off decor, pajamas & trees
Dell: cheap laptops and desktops from $259
DreamCloud: 40% off all mattresses
Gaming: console bundles from $289.99
Lenovo: 76% off laptops, desktops & printers
Lululemon: up to 30% off sitewide
Nectar: mattress deals starting at $359
Nordstrom: 40% off Nike, Levi's & UGGs
Patagonia: pullovers starting at $64.99
Saatva: $400 off mattresses over $1,000
Samsung: $2,000 off TVs, $800 off Galaxy S23
Target: 40% off Christmas decor, TVs & toys
Toys: Disney, Barbie & Lego from $14.99
Walmart: cheap TVs, air fryers, PS5 & toys

See more News about iPads

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.