Skip to main content

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

Should you buy an iPad on Black Friday or wait for Cyber Monday?

Black Friday iPad deals tend to be worth paying attention to, but how do you know if you should buy then or wait until Cyber Monday? It’s a tough decision to make which is why we’re here to help you understand what to do. Read on while we take you through everything.

Should you buy an iPad on Black Friday?

Generally, Black Friday is the right time to buy an iPad. While Cyber Monday might sound like the right time for technology, it’s usually the slightly earlier sale that you should go for. That’s because there’s only a limited amount of stock set aside for the best offers so by Cyber Monday, the iPad you want could be out of stock by then. Basically, if you see something you like the look of, buy it on Black Friday.

Worried that Cyber Monday will work out better? Don’t. Cyber Monday tends to mimic the same deals as Black Friday and in the unlikely case of it being cheaper, you can always cancel the order you placed on Black Friday after placing a new order on Cyber Monday. This isn’t going to happen though so be confident that what you buy on Black Friday will be the best deal.

Our 5 favorite Black Friday iPad deals

Apple iPad 10.2 (2021) — $270, was $329

An iPad 10.2 paired up with a keyboard.

The Apple iPad 10.2 (2021) remains a respectable choice despite being a slightly older model. It has a gorgeous-looking 10.2-inch Retina display with True Tone support so whatever you’re doing on it looks great. As well as that, it uses Apple’s A13 Bionic chip which may be aging but still provides good performance. An 8MP wide back camera is useful for snaps while there’s a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage support so you stay the focus of any video calls you’re making. With stereo speakers, you’ll hear others clearly, while there’s also Touch ID support and up to 10 hours of battery life for convenience.

Apple iPad Mini — $400, was $499

The Apple Pencil attaches to the iPad mini magnetically.
Adam Doud/Digital Trends

The Apple iPad Mini is one of the best iPads around for anyone who wants great performance in a smaller form factor. It has an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone and wide color support. Whatever you’re doing on it looks great, from gaming to streaming your favorite shows. It’s powered by an A15 Bionic chip which is remarkably speedy so you have plenty of flexibility here. Additionally, it has a 12MP Wide back camera with 12MP Ultra Wide front camera that offers Center Stage support. The latter means you’ll always look more professional on video calls. Landscape stereo speakers mean you can hear clearly too ensuring this is an ideal working from home tablet. Up to 10 hours of battery life seals the deal.

Apple iPad 10.9 (2022) — $426, was $449

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

The Apple iPad 10.9 (2022) is the latest model of iPad and offers some useful upgrades to the earlier iPad. It has a larger screen with a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone support. It also has a more powerful processor in the form of the A14 Bionic chip so it can cope with more multitasking and more gaming. There’s also a 12MP wide back camera and a landscape 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage support. With all-day battery life and USB-C connectivity, it’s convenient stuff across the board making it an ideal candidate for anyone new to the iPad world.

Apple iPad Air — $559, was $599

A man holding the Apple iPad Air fifth generation.

The Apple iPad Air is one of the best tablets around. That’s thanks to it being powered by the Apple M1 chip that you see in many MacBooks. It means performance is fantastically fast for a tablet. The iPad Air also has a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone and P3 wide color support so it looks great. That also goes for outdoors thanks to its antireflective coating. With stereo landscape speakers, 12MP wide camera, and 12MP ultra wide front camera with Center Stage, it’s a great bet for taking many video calls too. All-day battery life and Touch ID support rounds things off nicely.

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch — $999, was $1,099

The iPad Pro (2022) with its display on.
Joe Maring/Digital Trends

The latest iPad Pro 12.9-inch is an incredibly powerful tablet. It includes Apple’s M2 chip — the latest processor — so performance is blisteringly fast. Able to work well as a laptop substitute once you add some accessories, it’s a dream to use. Its 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display cannot be beaten, with ProMotion, True Tone and P3 wide color support ensuring it looks gorgeous at all times. A productivity powerhouse as well as a gaming tablet, the iPad Pro offers a 12MP wide camera, 10MP ultra wide back camera, plus LiDAR scanner for immersive AR. The 12MP ultra wide front camera with Center Stage support is great for video calls too. This is a truly powerful tablet that will be overkill for some but remarkable for power users.

Jennifer Allen
Jennifer Allen is a technology writer with over 10 years of experience. She primarily writes about the best deals coverage…
Best Prime Day iPad Deals: Early deals land on top models
Digital Trends Best Prime Day iPad Deals

Prime Day deals are in full swing and we're seeing plenty of Prime Day iPad deals unfold. If you've been waiting to buy a new Apple-flavored tablet, this is your chance to do so while saving on the usual prices. There are plenty of discounts out there as well as different iPad models to consider. That's why we have them all listed below, along with prices and what you need to know about each of them. Take a look below and find the right iPad for your needs before Prime Day sales season ends.
Today's best Prime Day iPad deals
Apple iPad (2021) -- $250, was $329

The 2021 Apple iPad may offer few discernible upgrades over the previous two generations but that's because it follows an 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' mentality. It offers everything you could need from a simple tablet and a few extras that make it well worth the price. On the surface is its delightful 10.2-inch Retina display with True Tone support. That means that imagery looks great at all times with the iPad being the ideal device for streaming content or browsing the internet in style. Its stereo speakers certainly help ensure that this is a great option if you love to catch up with shows on Netflix while on the move.

Read more
4th of July sales drop this iPad back down to its cheapest-ever price
A man works on the Apple iPad 2021 at his desk.

Apple’s iPad lineup remains one of the most popular tablet options on the market, and for the 4th of July it offers some impressive savings as well. The Apple iPad 2021 model is discounted at Amazon right now, with its sale price at just $279. An additional $29 discount is available at checkout, which brings the 2021 iPad back down to its cheapest-ever price, as you can see here:

There’s a chance the Apple iPad 2021 model could come in at an even lower price come Prime Day. One way to go about landing the most savings possible is to purchase the iPad now and leave it unopened, and if a cheaper price turns up on Prime Day you can return this one and celebrate your well-researched savings.

Read more
Apple iPad is at its cheapest-ever price before Prime Day 2023
The iPad 10.2 on a table.

Amazon is currently offering some great iPad deals including being able to buy the Apple iPad (9th generation) for $250. It's currently showing as $279, reduced from $329, but add it to your basket and it gets even cheaper with $29 off at checkout bringing it down to just $250. That's $20 cheaper than it even managed during Black Friday although it was the same price back in March. It's unlikely that it'll be even cheaper during the Prime Day deals next month, although it could happen. That's why we suggest buying it now and choosing the longest shipping method so the return window spans all of Prime Day so you can return it if it somehow gets even cheaper. All you have to do is return it in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 15 days of receipt. Want to know more about the iPad (9th generation) before you buy? Here's what to know.

Why you should buy the Apple iPad (9th generation)
The Apple iPad (9th generation) might be aging technology but thanks to Apple supporting its products for longer than most, it's still ideal if you want one of the best tablets but need to keep costs down. It's powered by the A13 Bionic chip which remains pretty reliable thanks to the App Store offering so many thousands of apps and games. A gorgeous-looking 10.2-inch Retina display gives you plenty of room to see what you're doing and it makes everything look great compared to other tablets in this price range.

Read more