Friday, March 26, 2021

Best iPad deals: $299 iPad, up to $70 off iPad Air, & more

The Apple iPad has become the go-to for tablet buyers around the world, and Apple now offers iPad models of various sizes and with varying features to suit all needs and budgets.

If you want to get your hands on an iPad, iPad Air, or iPad Pro but don't want to pay full price for it, there are regular Apple deals to be found at popular retailers. Some of them offer discounts, while others offer gift cards or accessories with your purchase to sweeten the deal. Keeping up with all of the deals around the web can be a pain as they change so often, but we've got you covered with the best deals out there right now.

Best iPad Deals Available Now

Apple iPad Air (2020) | $679 at Amazon

If you want Apple's newest iPad Air, it's currently $70 off at Amazon for the 256GB model which drops it down to a new all-time low price. The deal applies to various colorways but won't hang around for long.

$679 at Amazon

Whether you're looking for the cheapest iPad price or want the best iPad Pro deal you can find, you don't have to look much further than right here. We track iPad pricing, deals, and discounts from the moment they become available and have seen them drop as low as $249 for the entry-level model during big sales, while $729 is the best we've seen on the new iPad Pro so far.

Today's best iPad deals

We've rounded up the best iPad, iPad Air, iPad Pro, and iPad mini deals that you can find around the web below. Be sure to check out the list and give one of them a try today!

Best Cheap Apple iPad Deals

Apple's entry-level iPad is the most affordable and will meet most users' day-to-day needs. It just got upgraded for 2020 with a new A12 Bionic processor making it an even better value that will last you a long time. Other than that processor bump, it's basically the same as the 2019 model with a 10.2-inch screen meaning there's plenty of room for web browsing, email, and more. While it isn't as well-suited to powerful photo or video-editing tasks like its Pro counterparts, it's still a solid device and is much cheaper. It also supports the Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil accessories.

iPad (10.2-inch, 2020) | $299 at Amazon

The best price on Apple's base-spec iPad is found at Walmart where you can get it for $299 — a $30 discount. You'll get the gorgeous 10.2-inch Retina display, the A12 Bionic chip, 8MP rear camera, 1.2MP front camera, a 10-hour battery life, and more. Also at Walmart.

$299 at Amazon

iPad (10.2-inch, 2020) | $395 at Amazon

You can also save on larger capacity models of the new 8th-gen iPad. The 128GB model is $35 off at Amazon right now, for example.

$395 at Amazon

Best Cheap Apple iPad Air Deals

Apple just announced a 2020 update to its iPad Air line including the most substantial changes to the product since it debuted. Gone is the chin-and-forehead-style design and home button of old in favor of an edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display much more akin to the Pro models. It's also got a new squared-off chassis with new color options and a larger screen at 10.9 inches. Inside, it's got Apple's latest A14 Bionic chip so will be super powerful. It's slated to begin shipping next month so it's yet available to order and there are certainly no deals on it just yet.

Prior to the new model being announced, the 10.5-inch device from 2019 was the latest. It's packing the Apple A12 Bionic chip and Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard support. If you need a slightly larger display and don't want to spend big bucks on the iPad Pro line, the iPad Air may well be the sweet-spot for you — especially if you can score a deal on one as retailers clear out their inventory to make room for the new model.

Apple iPad Air (2020) | $559 at Amazon

The 64GB iPad Air (2020) is down to one of its best prices since its release at Amazon with a $40 discount across all available colors. These deals, which are also matched at B&H, won't hang around for long.

$559 at Amazon

Apple iPad Air (2020) | $679 at Amazon

If you want a 256GB iPad Air, it's currently $70 off at Amazon which drops it down to a new all-time low price.

$679 at Amazon

Best Cheap Apple iPad Pro Deals

Available in 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, Apple's iPad Pro is a workhorse device capable of replacing your computer full-time with its A12Z Bionic processor, Liquid Retina display with Promotion, True Tone, and wide color, and storage capacities up to 1TB. The devices are the top-of-the-line and are full-on laptop replacements for many people these days.

iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 2020) | $949 at Amazon

You can score the 12.9-inch iPad Pro model at a $50 discount via Amazon which is a solid price drop. Other configurations have as much as $100 off.

$949 at Amazon

iPad Pro (11-inch, 2020) | $749.99 at Amazon

This year's more compact iPad Pro has seen a little more movement in price so far, though right now it's at full price at most retailers. Your best savings can be found at Amazon where it's $10 off for the base model and other options have $50 or more off too.

$749.99 at Amazon

Best Cheap Apple iPad mini Deals

Apple's iPad mini got a significant update at the same time as the latest iPad Air. Now at the 5th-generation, the iPad mini retains its 7.9-inch display and ultra-portable form factor while gaining True Tone, Apple Pencil support, and powerful A12 Bionic chipset.

iPad mini (7.9-inch, 2019) | $384 at Amazon

Despite having been on the market since early 2019, the iPad mini has seen relatively few discounts. Right now, the best price on it is $384 at Amazon which is $15 off its retail price.

$384 at Amazon

iPad mini (7.9-inch, 2019) | $658.92 at Amazon

If you want a cellular iPad mini for on-the-go internet usage, the top-tier 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model is $20 off via Amazon which is a decent price cut outside of major sales. Matched at B&H.

$658.92 at Amazon

iPad Price Tracking

Here's a breakdown of current iPad deals and prices.

Model Regular Price Best Price Current Price
iPad (10.2-inch, 2020) $329 $279.99 $299 at Amazon
iPad Air (10.9-inch, 2020) $599 $539.99 $559 at Amazon
iPad Pro (11-inch, 2020) $799 $729 $749.99 at Amazon
iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 2020) $999 $899 $949 at Amazon
iPad mini (7.9-inch, 2019) $399 $329.99 $384 at Amazon

When it comes to iPad pricing, the best time to buy is around major shopping events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day. These events are when retailers are competing for shoppers' dollars, particularly ahead of the gift-giving season, so you're more likely to save big, though other events throughout the year spark some savings. That being said, Apple tech tends to hold its value extremely well so don't expect to save hundreds of bucks regardless of when you choose to buy.

It's also worth keeping your eyes peeled for when Apple releases new iPad models. The previous-gen devices tend not to stick around for too long, but in the days and weeks just after a new product launch, they tend to get steeply discounted until the retailer clears its inventory.

If you don't need something brand new, refurbished units are the way to go. When purchased from a reputable seller like Apple or Best Buy you can save a good amount and get hardware that looks and performs like new.

iPad vs. iPad Air vs iPad Pro vs iPad mini: Which should you buy?

There's no one correct answer for every prospective iPad buyer and, given the breadth of Apple's iPad options now, there's pretty much an iPad model at every $50 increment from $300 to $1,300. Part of which iPad is right for you will come down to price, and part will come down to specs, though there are some key differences that may sway you one way or the other.

If value is your main driver, then the entry-level iPad from 2020 should be your go-to. Updated only recently, it's plenty powerful by today's standards with its A12 Bionic chip and its 10.2-inch display is the perfect size for those wanting to balance portability with screen real estate. For day-to-day usage like email, web browsing, and content consumption, it's pretty much spot on. It also supports the Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil now meaning you can even turn it into a productivity device for a lot of tasks, too.

The iPad Air got the biggest upgrade in 2020 with a new edge-to-edge design and 10.9-inch display making it more akin to the iPad Pro line. It's also running the most powerful A14 Bionic chipset and now supports the second-gen Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. It's also the most colorful iPad to date with green and blue color options. Those upgrades came at a cost, though, as it now starts at $599, up from the $499 price tag that the previous model started at. That being said, it's a very powerful device and costs less than the current 11-inch iPad Pro so if you don't need Face ID, the additional LiDAR camera setup, or higher storage configurations, you could save some money with the new Air.

Apple's iPad Pro is the top-of-the-line group of devices in the iPad lineup. Apple went edge-to-edge with the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models in 2018 and the 2020 model builds on those form factors with an improved A12Z Bionic chip, AR-focused camera and LiDAR sensor setup, and studio-quality mics. These devices are Apple's most powerful, outranking many laptops in terms of performance, but they are also Apple's most expensive. If you're out to replace your computer and want something that can handle high-end tasks like 4K video editing and Photoshop, or want to future-proof yourself with your next iPad purchase, the iPad Pro is the way to go.

Many Apple observers thought Apple was just about done with the iPad mini form factor until the 5th-gen device was released in 2019. It had sat untouched since 2015 until then. The 2019 model was a huge spec bump and also added Apple Pencil support, though the price may put off some considering you can get the larger 10.2-inch iPad for considerably less. However, if you want the most-portable iPad, the mini cannot be beaten on that front. It makes for a great reading device and is powerful enough to help you get some work done in a pinch.


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