I've been tracking Black Friday iPad deals for five years - these are the tablets I'd buy this week

Amazon has run out of stock of this iPad Pro, but B&H Photo is still hanging on

The 512GB configuration of the 11-inch M4 iPad Pro is a little tricky to get your hands on at Amazon right now. Previously sat at a record-low $1,099 sale price, the flagship device has been swept off the shelves this week. However, I've just spotted B&H Photo picking up Bezos's slack, with the same record breaking discount still live on the black model.

iPad Pro 11-inch 512GB | $1,199 $1,099 at B&H Photo

PSA: 9th Gen iPad stock might be slipping away from us

I've just spotted that the Space Gray version of the 9th generation iPad has run out of stock at Amazon, with the retailer now only listing second-hand devices. That's often an early indication that a deal is flying off the shelves - more popular colorways always show the bulk of that pressure first. I'd recommend jumping on the existing $199.99 sale price on the silver model sooner rather than later, as once stock is gone it's gone. I've seen previous Black Friday iPad deals run off the shelves before the event in past years, and they didn't always make it back in time for the big day.

iPad 9th Gen (Silver) | $329 $199.99 at Amazon

How to play Nintendo Switch on your iPad

There's one nifty gadget I love finding deals for every Black Friday, and it just so happens to span both my Nintendo Switch obsession and love for all things iPads. The Genki ShadowCast 2 can cast your handheld directly onto your iPad screen, allowing for quick and easily multiplayer sessions without the need for a TV.

The HDMI end plugs directly into your Switch dock, with a USB-C cable running to your iPad - plug it in, load up the Genki app, and you're away. It's technically a super cheap capture card, but I just use it to run games on a slightly-bigger screen. There is a little input lag (though it's been reduced considerably compared to the original model), but I can still easily play everything but the most reflex-intensive of platformers.

The ShadowCast 2 usually drops to $39.99 over Black Friday, but if you don't want to wait, Prime members can grab it for $44.99 - a $5 discount.

Genki ShadowCast 2 | $49.99 $44.99 for Prime members at Amazon

You can save $30 on an Apple Pencil when you buy an iPad Air or Pro from Best Buy - but should you?

Best Buy has a bundle deal going at the moment that secures you a $30 discount on the Apple Pencil Pro when you buy it with an iPad Air or Pro model. That sounds like a solid deal - the Pro stylus isn't on sale anywhere else at the moment, but I'd recommend holding off right now.

All the tablets featured in those bundles are at full price, and I'm willing to bet savings will equal more than $30 over the next few weeks of early Black Friday iPad deals. Even the 11-inch iPad Air is cheaper at Amazon right now, and is even primed to drop an extra $50 before the sale is out.

Aaaand the iPad Air 13-inch coupon is back - but only on the Blue model

Less than an hour ago, Amazon's $35 coupon on the 13-inch iPad Air disappeared from my screen - but I've just checked back through each colorway and found it hiding away under the blue model. That means you can once again secure yourself a 13-inch Air for its lowest price yet, provided of course you're happy with the ocean-esque colorway.

iPad Air (Blue) 13-inch | $799 $699 at Amazon

PSA: Don't buy the iPad Air 11-inch yet

The latest 11-inch iPad Air is currently $50 off at Amazon, but that $549 sale price has sailed down to $499 previously this month. That discount was quickly removed from the shelves after just a couple of days, but I'm willing to bet it will return. This could be one for the big day itself, but I don't think we've seen the end of that full $100 saving just yet.

It looks like Amazon's removed its coupon on the 13-inch iPad Air

This time of year always produces some rocky pricing structures - and Amazon was previously relying on a $35 coupon to bring the iPad Air 13-inch down to a record-low $699. I'm not seeing this offer live anymore, though it was available very recently. It's well worth keeping a close eye on this one, though - I often see these kinds of early Black Friday iPad deals jumping on and off the shelves as we lead up to the main event.

iPad Air 13-inch M2 | $799 $735 at Amazon

iPad Mini 6 vs iPad Mini 7

The new iPad Mini 7 hit the shelves last month, and it's still holding onto its $479 MSRP. That's not surprising, the older generation Mini 6 is sitting right next to it, so discounts might muddy the pool a little. It's worth noting, though, that the older model is considerably cheaper right now, coming in at just $349.99. The A15 Bionic processor inside is weaker than the A17 in the new model on paper - but in practice, performance is looking to be about the same. You might get a slightly snappier app opening from the Mini 7 - or you could spend $130 less.

Here are the key differences between the two:

The iPad Mini 7 has more storage

The new range starts at 128GB, whereas the Mini 6 is available with 64GB, of storage space but moves all the way up to 512GB in total. If you're storing larger files, that might be worth the jump, especially as the Mini 6 taps out at 256GB.

The iPad Mini 7 supports WiFi 6E

That means you might get a faster internet connection on the newer device, though the jump isn't as significant as a WiFi 7 model.

The iPad Mini 7 has Apple AI

This is the big one. Apple is moving its Apple Intelligence program into more devices, with a new A17 Pro processor leading the way in the iPad Mini 7. At the moment, that doesn't mean much - but when iPad OS 18 comes along, you'll be able to take advantage of smarter writing features, AI image editing, and Siri upgrades.

The iPad Mini 7 supports Apple Pencil Pro

The Apple Pencil Pro hit the shelves earlier in the year, bringing extra haptics and new squeeze controls to the stylus. The new model is fully compatible, whereas the Mini 6 is left with the cheaper USB-C option.

PSA: Best Buy is price matching Amazon

Best Buy is usually a stickler for MSRPs, but it's matching Amazon's record-low prices on both the 9th Gen and 10th Gen models pretty evenly right now. It's a little more hesitant in discounting the more premium tablets - only Plus members can take advantage of smaller savings right now, but if you're looking to collect your device in person, this is an excellent opportunity. Nobody likes waiting for shipping, after all.

iPad 9th Gen | $329.99 $199.99 at Best Buy

iPad 10th Gen | $349 $299 at Best Buy

Is the Magic Keyboard Case worth it?

Ah, the iPad Magic Keyboard Case. A keyboard cover that currently costs more than a whole ninth generation tablet, and only works with the most expensive of Apple tablets. The floating magnetic design seemed to have content creators in a vice grip in its early days, but now things are starting to slow. Discounts can drop those lofty numbers during Black Friday (the 11-inch model was down to $239 last year), but this is still a premium piece of tech all year round.

If you've invested in an iPad Pro with the intention of replacing your everyday laptop, it could well be worth a shot (providing your budget is there). While it's not great for using anywhere other than a desk (it's particularly top heavy so tends to fall over), it does turn the Pro into more of a laptop package. But so do countless other iPad keyboards... for far less cash.

Apple Magic Keyboard Case | $299 $224.99 at Amazon

Logitech Combo Touch | $229.99 $129.99 at Amazon

Speaking of renewed models...

This is my iPad, the 2020 iPad Air. I've been using it for years now, and it's still going strong. In fact, the only indication I have that it's an older device is the volume buttons have become a little tacky in their old age - everything under the hood still performs incredibly well. You won't find these models new on the shelves anymore, but Amazon's Renewed service is offering up a particularly tasty price on a refurbished (Excellent-grade) model.

iPad Air 2020 (64GB, Renewed) | $307 $289.39 at Amazon

Top Tip: Check refurbs

If you're after an even cheaper Black Friday iPad deal this holiday season, it's well worth checking in with refurbished offerings. Amazon's renewed service has the 9th Generation device available for just $149 right now - that's an extra $50 less than a new device. Amazon's full renewed standards keep everything running smoothly, with a full suite of inspection and testing processes in place.

iPad 9th Gen (Amazon Renewed, Excellent) | $306.99 $149 at Amazon

Will there be any Apple Pencil deals this Black Friday?

The Apple Pencil has actually been looking pretty cheap in previous sales events this year. Prime Day returned us to a record-low $79 price on the second generation model in the summer, and the newer USB-C version has been jumping between $65 and $79 over the last few months. Things aren't looking great at the moment - we're still a way away from those kinds of savings. However, I see these discounts landing every year, and I'm not expecting 2024 to prove any different. This is certainly one to watch over the next few weeks.

Which iPad should you buy on Black Friday?

Apple currently has more iPad models on the shelves than ever before, with a massive roster of seven tablets up for grabs. Each device offers something slightly different, but I've been hands-on with all of them in one way or another.

The iPad 9th Generation is best for those after a simple streaming device. It's the tablet my non-techy friends use to catch up on Netflix, play a few games, browse the web, and take a few simple notes on. The weaker processor means it's not going to be a productivity powerhouse, but its Apple Pencil support does keep its options open.

The iPad 10th Generation is a larger version of Apple's base tablet, with a more colorful range on the shelves, a more powerful processor, and a slightly bigger screen. I've used a friend's for some lighter gaming and it does provide a slightly snappier response than the 9th Gen model. However, the real draw here is going to be note-taking and multi-tasking. If you want a tablet that can hold its own for student work, I'd recommend this over the previous generation.

The iPad Mini is the great divider. This pocket-sized tablet is much smaller than the rest of the clan, but can easily fit into a smaller bag and be held with one hand. That's exactly how it gets used in my parents' house - the smaller form factor makes it far more comfortable to use casually while browsing the web and playing games. It does support the Apple Pencil, but the smaller screen means that note-taking it still going to be limited.

The iPad Air is my personal sweet spot. It's got enough power to run more demanding apps without crashing or stuttering, but it's much cheaper than the Pro models. The new 13-inch version is a real, tangible size upgrade for those who do more design or content creation work, but if you're looking for a note-taking, drawing, streaming, and gaming device, the 11-inch serves just fine.

The iPad Pro is the daddy of all tablets. This behemoth comes stacked with enough power to take over your regular laptop while offering the best screen and storage options of the bunch. I've used nearly every Pro model in the past, and they've always impressed but this is very much a device for those running more demanding apps like Adobe, multi-tasking between them, and doing it all on a super crisp display.

And we're off, things are looking particularly sweet right now, with record-low prices on a number of tablets. There are still a few models missing from the shelves - I'm keeping a close watch over those 13-inch iPad Pro prices and the smaller 11-inch 2024 iPad Air as well. The latter has seen costs dip to $499 in the US so far this month, but that flash sales went as quickly as it came.