Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Best iPad deals: Save on iPad Air, iPad Pro, iPad Mini for the holidays

The original iPad wallpaper in iPadOS 17.
Joe Maring/Digital Trends / Digital Trends

Buying an iPad for yourself or as a gift for a loved one is a great idea. The tablets are very simple to use while offering a surprising amount of power depending on the model you choose. There’s pretty much one for every situation with the standard 10.2-inch iPad perfect for all the family, while the iPad Pro is great for if you need to conduct some video editing on the move. There’s always the iPad Air for strong performance too while the iPad Mini is great for portability. With so many Apple deals around, we’ve highlighted some of the very best so you can save big on a new iPad this holiday season.

Best 10.2-inch iPad deals

Playing Diablo Immortal on the iPad.
Nadeem Sarwar / DigitalTrends / Digital Trends

The standard 10.2 or 10.9-inch iPad remains one of the best iPads for someone on a budget, particularly when it comes to older generations like the 8th or 9th generation models. If you just want an easy to use tablet to browse the internet, watch some streaming shows, and do other straightforward tasks, it’s a reasonable solution. Just don’t expect premium features like the M1 processor or a high-end display.

  • Apple iPad 10.2 8th generation 32GB Wi-Fi (Renewed) —
  • Apple iPad 10.2 9th generation 64GB Wi-FI and cellular (Renewed) —
  • Apple iPad 10.9 10th generation 64GB Wi-Fi —
  • Apple iPad 10.2 9th generation 256GB Wi-Fi and cellular —
  • Apple iPad 10.9 10th generation 64GB Wi-Fi and cellular —
  • Apple iPad 10.9 10th generation 256GB Wi-Fi and cellular —

Best iPad Air deals

iPad Air 5 alongside the iPhone and MacBook.
Digital Trends / Digital Trends

Best referred to as “almost everything you want” from an iPad, the iPad Air is a great option if you don’t want to go to the full expense of the iPad Pro but you still want plenty of power. While the screen isn’t quite as good as the iPad Pro, everything else about it is high-end including its M1 processor. Thanks to plenty of accessory compatibility, it’s a good bet for when you need to be more productive as well as relaxing. Older models are still pretty good, packing processors like the A14 bionic chip you may have seen on iPhones.

  • Apple iPad Air 4 64GB Wi-Fi (renewed) —
  • Apple iPad Air 5 64GB Wi-Fi —
  • Apple iPad Air 5 256GB Wi-Fi —

Best iPad Pro deals

Someone holding the 12.9-inch version of the iPad Pro (2022).
Joe Maring/Digital Trends / Digital Trends

The iPad Pro is the ultimate iPad right now. The latest model uses the M2 chip we’ve already seen in many MacBooks while older models are still packing the M1 chip which provides laptop levels of performance. Alongside that, the screen is gorgeous whether you choose the 11-inch model or the 12.9-inch model. There’s also compatibility for the Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard if you need to use the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement. It’s excessive for some people’s needs but it’s certainly impressive.

  • Apple iPad Pro 11-inch M1 128GB Wi-Fi and Cellular —
  • Apple iPad Pro 11-inch M1 256GB Wi-Fi (refurbished) —
  • Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch M2 256GB Wi-Fi —
  • Apple iPad Pro 11-inch M2 2TB Wi-Fi — (with My Best Buy)

Best iPad Mini deals

An iPad Mini standing in tent mode.
Adam Doud / Digital Trends

Considered to be a “little powerhouse”, the Apple iPad Mini is ideal if you need a more portable iPad. It has a smaller 8.3-inch screen but that makes it the perfect middle ground between your phone and a laptop. Performance is pretty good from the A15 Bionic processor which is the same as the one on the iPhone 13. There’s support for the Apple Pencil too making it an ideal tablet for sketching out designs or taking notes. If you want a smaller tablet, this is perfect. Previous iPad Minis weren’t so great performance wise and had a smaller display, so focus your efforts on buying the 6th generation model for the best time. However, you can snag some super cheap older models.

  • Apple iPad Mini 7.9-inch 5th generation 64GB Wi-Fi —
  • Apple iPad Mini 8.3-inch 6th generation 64GB Wi-Fi —

Best iPad accessory deals

Using an Apple Pencil to draw, color, and edit on an Apple iPad.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends

It’s possible to not buy any accessories for your iPad as each model will work well out of the box. However, you can enrich the experience through a few different accessories. For instance, you can buy an Apple Pencil so you can sketch out designs or write notes. You can also buy the Magic Keyboard for typing up essays or other reports, while there are many case options for keeping your beloved tablet safe. In all cases, check the compatibility of the item before you buy. In particular, it’s a little complicated to know which Apple Pencil to buy for your tablet.

  • Apple Smart Cover for iPad (7th to 9th generation) —
  • Apple Smart Folio for iPad Air —
  • Apple Smart Folio for iPad (10th generation) —
  • Apple Pencil (1st generation) —
  • Apple Pencil (2nd generation) —
  • Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11-inch and iPad Air —
  • Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 12.9-inch —

More Unmissable Deals

Andrew Morrisey
Andrew Morrisey is an independent writer and filmmaker. His interest in storytelling and its many mediums led to an interest…
My 6 favorite Apple Black Friday deals — iPads, AirPods, and more
Digital Trends Best Black Friday Apple Deals

This year Apple is being more generous with Black Friday deals than they were last year. That's great because it gives folks a lot more buying options, but for some, it might be too much information to absorb or deals to go hunting for. Luckily, we've collected some of our favorite deals on various Apple products, from the AirPods Pro 2, to the latest M3 Pro MacBook Air Pro 16, so if you're looking for the best of the best, be sure to check out these deals below.
Apple AirPods Pro 2 -- $190, was $249

The latest Apple AirPods Pro 2 comes with a USB-C charging case, which will likely help many folks who prefer going with one cable type. They come loaded with Apple's H2 chip, so you're getting high-end audio fidelity, as well as the special features that Apple has backed into the H2 chips, such as Spatial Audio. Another couple of interesting features include personalized volume and conversation awareness, both of which can make a big difference if you rely on your earbud's automation. Either way, this is probably one of the best AirPods Black Friday Deals you'll find, so it's well worth picking a pair up if you've always wanted them.

Read more
This iPad is at its lowest-ever price for Black Friday
The iPad 10.2 on a table.

If you're on the hunt for affordable iPad Black Friday deals, you can end your search with this iPad deal: The ninth-generation Apple iPad, Wi-Fi enabled with 64GB of storage, is down to its cheapest-ever price of $230 on Amazon. The retailer's 30% discount for its Black Friday deals gets you savings of $99 on its sticker price of $329, but you'll have to hurry if you want it because as a previous-generation device, its stocks may already be running low. If you're interested in this budget tablet, you're going to have to proceed with the transaction as soon as possible.

Why you should buy the Apple iPad 9th Gen
Despite a 2021 release date, which makes it relatively old by today's tech standards, the ninth-generation Apple iPad remains in our list of the best iPads as the top choice if you're on a budget. While its A13 Bionic chip is outdated, as it's the same processor of Apple's iPhone 11 series that was launched in 2019, it's still pretty fast and capable for the average user, especially since the tablet can be upgraded to iPadOS 17. You'll have access to the features and improvements in the latest version of Apple's operating system for its tablets, including new lock screen customizations, the addition of the Health app, and updates to Messages and Facetime, among many others.

Read more
iPad Mini, iPad Air, and 10.2-inch iPad prices slashed for Black Friday
The back of the iPad Air 5.

There's no better time to buy a new iPad than during Black Friday deals, as the discounts are the largest we'll see this year. Whether you're buying one for yourself or for a loved one, different models Apple's tablet are on sale for much cheaper than usual from Amazon, and we've rounded up our favorite picks below. However, since iPad Black Friday deals almost always sell out quickly, we highly recommend that you make your decision on what to get as soon as possible.
Apple iPad 9th Gen (Wi-Fi, 64GB) -- $230, was $329

The ninth-generation Apple iPad, also known as the iPad 10.2 because of the size of its Retina display, remains on our list of the best iPads despite its 2021 release date as it's our top option on a budget. It's powered by the A13 Bionic chip, which is still pretty fast by today's standards, especially since you can update it to iPadOS 17, which is the latest version of Apple's operating system for its tablets.

Read more