Early Black Friday iPad deals are still holding the line this week, with record-low prices on cheaper models readily available on the shelves. These discounts have been strong for a couple of weeks now, but they have jumped back up the scale as recently as mid-October, so they're not to be taken for granted. Still, it's a good sign that costs are looking particularly low now that we're just two weeks away from Black Friday itself. Considering previous sales have barely touched these kinds of discounts, I'm not expecting too many further price cuts over the course of the month.
The same can't quite be said of the more premium models. The newer iPad Air and Pro devices are struggling a little as we get closer to the main event. Prices have been fluctuating more heavily here, and only a couple of record-lows remain. The 11-inch iPad Air, for example, was featured in this guide at $499 just a couple of weeks ago, but that discount seems to have disappeared from the shelves now. I would expect it to return during official Black Friday iPad deals later in the month, though.
Things are really starting to kick off now that Walmart, Amazon, and Best Buy all have their own early Black Friday sales live in the US and UK retailers like Argos, Currys, and Very are getting in on the action in the UK as well.
I've been watching Black Friday iPad deals for five years now, so I've picked up a thing or two about predicting prices, knowing where to find the best deals, and when to jump in early. You'll find all my expectations for this year's sale just below, as well as the biggest offers on the shelves right now.
Today's best iPad deals ahead of Black Friday
- 9th Gen:
$329$199.99 at Amazon - 10th Gen:
$349$299 at Amazon - Mini:
$499$349.99 at Amazon - Pro 11-inch |
$999$924 at Walmart
UK
- 9th Gen:
£329£279 at AO - 10th Gen:
£349£308 at Amazon - Mini:
£499£449 at Amazon - Air (11-inch):
£599£559.97 at Amazon - Air (13-inch):
£799£749 at Amazon
What to expect from Black Friday iPad deals in 2024
2024 might be the first year the 10th generation iPad takes over from the 9th generation in popularity. The older model used to clean up on Black Friday with a $249 - $279 sales price, but Apple dropped the price of its newer entry level tablet this year and that gap has closed significantly. You'll now find the A14 device on the shelves for $339 and discounts have even dipped us below $300 in the last few weeks. That means the 10th Gen iPad is now better value for money overall, and the first place I would point those looking for a basic tablet.
If you're going all out on a budget device, though, the 9th generation is still kicking around. Last year we saw that MSRP drip down to $229.99 / £299 at its lowest point, a record low for Black Friday in the US but still around £10 away in the UK. That's a particularly strong offer - we never saw the 8th generation drop that low, for example. However, we could see even greater discounts by the time November 2024 rolls around. In just the last week, the 9th generation iPad has dropped all the way to $199.99 in the US - that's cheaper than pretty much any iPad before it.
Despite its dinky form factor, the iPad Mini line is actually a fairly premium one. Packing all that tech into a one-handed chassis is an expensive affair, as reflected in the $499 / £499 starting price of the 2021 release. The new iPad Mini 7 will hit the shelves at the same MSRP, which means the Mini 6 will likely be phased out by the time Black Friday actually rolls around. The new iPad Mini 7 is an iterative update largely focusing on bringing Apple's AI to the system - it's not a necessary upgrade for Mini 6 users by any means. That means the previous generation model is going to represent vastly better value for money over the next week, though stock will move fast and once it's gone, it's gone.
The new iPad Air is taking its first Black Friday discounts this year, but we've already seen some pretty impressive savings on the 11-inch model. This M2 device dropped from its $599 MSRP to $529.99 over the summer, and has been on sale for between $550 and $570 pretty consistently since then. That means I'm expecting at least a return to $530 on this model, and hopefully an extra $10 or $20 more. The larger 14-inch version seems to have taken over from the 11-inch iPad Pro in terms of pricing. Thankfully, though, I'm expecting to see numbers fall a little quicker from the Air than we've seen in previous $799 Pro models. That $800 tablet has been discounted regularly throughout the year so far, typically occupying a $735 position day to day but going as low as $699 in July. That's about where I'd expect to see things go on Black Friday itself.
New generation iPad Pros are also slipping away from their MSRPs a little easier than previous models. The $999 11-incher has been settled at $899 for weeks now, its lowest price yet. I'm not too optimistic for much more off that price - after all, previous Pro models only ever really shed $100 off their MSRP during sales events. The fact that these savings are coming so soon might speak to heavier discounts in November (potentially another $50 off), but it's also not unheard of for Apple to stick to its guns even during Black Friday iPad deals.
The story is similar on the 13-inch model, though the $100 discount has been a lot more concrete over the last few months. This device hasn't been up at its full $1,299 MSRP since late June, spending the rest of the year at $1,194. That means there could be a little extra space for an additional $50 discount by November.
Which iPad should you buy on Black Friday?
If you're itching for a taste of Apple's latest tablet lineup it can be difficult to work out exactly which Black Friday iPad deals you should be aiming for this year. To find out which model will suit you best, you first need to ask yourself what you plan on doing with your device. Each iPad is (fairly) neatly separated into several different use cases, so it's easy to work out whether you can pick up a cheap 9th generation model or go for something with a little more power under the hood.
9th generation iPad - you want an every day device for streaming, browsing the web, playing some games, and light note-taking.
10th generation iPad - you need more screen space and a faster processor for note-taking, gaming, and web browsing, but don't need the expensive M1 CPU.
iPad Air - you're generally going to be streaming and playing heavier games, but will also be writing up documents, taking more notes, or using your device as a graphics tablet.
iPad Mini - you need to take your iPad on the go with you regularly and don't want to carry a 10-inch+ device. The iPad Mini 6 is more powerful these days, but if you're looking to run more demanding apps or games, we'd recommend the Pro model instead - this one is mostly about form factor.
iPad Pro 11-inch - you're going to be using large files for media editing, playing high performance games, and using your iPad more as a computer.
iPad Pro 113-inch - you're looking for a device to replace a laptop when you're on the go, supporting powerful media editing controls, large file sizes, and with plenty of screen space for multi-tasking.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Best for |
| iPad 10.2-inch (9th gen) | Everyday browsing, light note-taking, light gaming, entertainment |
| iPad Air | Moderate note-taking, light multi-tasking, gaming, entertainment |
| iPad Mini | Portable browsing, light note-taking, light gaming |
| iPad Pro | Heavy note-taking, significant multi-tasking, high-end gaming, demanding apps |
How to get the best Black Friday iPad deals: our top tips
Black Friday iPad deals are extremely competitive - especially if you're aiming for one of the more powerful Pro or Air models. We'd also class the new Mini in this category as well, as the dinky tablet packs a serious punch and is proving particularly popular.
It pays to go into these discounts with a game plan, and we've been tracking these sales periods for long enough to offer up some top tips below.
FAQ
When will Black Friday iPad deals begin?
Black Friday iPad deals will officially hit the stores on November 24 this year, not only that but this is generally when we see the biggest offers on the shelves. It's true, many retailers will likely (as has happened in previous years) launch their offers from the Monday before Thanksgiving - that's November 20 this year. However, we always see iPads holding out for the main event.
Where will the best Black Friday iPad deals be?
We'll be keeping this page well-stocked with all the best Black Friday iPad deals as soon as those offers start to roll in. However, if you're planning on searching for your own sales, these are the retailers we've found to have the best discounts in the past.
US:
Amazon: regularly has the lowest prices around
Best Buy: fewer discounts but bundles sometimes available
B&H Photo: best for older and refurbished models
Newegg: massive range of older devices
Walmart: often price matches Amazon on Air and Pro
UK:
Amazon: the best place for record low prices on the latest devices
Argos: regular bundle deals with accessories included
Currys: bundles often include free subscriptions and software
Ebuyer: discounts often available on premium Pro models
John Lewis: regular trade-in deals and excellent warranties
Laptops Direct: excellent prices but a £5 shipping charge
Very: stock often holds on longer with price matched deals
Is Black Friday a good time to buy an iPad?
While we may have had our off years, Black Friday is generally an excellent time to buy an iPad. Traditionally, we have new releases making their way to the shelves in this time, driving the prices of older models particularly low. While that might not be the case in 2024, we're still anticipating some record breaking savings - after all, each of the current models will have had an extra year on the shelves compared to their predecessors.
Should you buy an iPad on Black Friday or Cyber Monday?
We'd recommend diving straight into Black Friday iPad deals rather than waiting for Cyber Monday iPad deals. The biggest and brightest offers are snapped up on the big day itself, so while some discounts might survive to round two they're not going to be as stable or widely available.
We're also getting you prepped for all this year's Black Friday laptop deals as well as the best Black Friday gaming laptop deals we expect to see as well. Or, if you're after more luxury tech, check out the Black Friday projector deals we expect from 2023.
