Summer is peak iPad deals season. As parents and students get ready for the fall semester, retailers are offering some of the best cheap iPad deals of the year in an effort to entice shoppers. iPad sales are so aggressive that we’re even spotting deals on Apple’s 2021 iPad Pro tablets. So what are the best cheap iPad deals right now? We’re here to show you which sales are worth your time.
Best iPad deals and sales at a glance
Currently, the best cheap iPad deals come courtesy of Verizon. The carrier is taking $200 off any iPad with trade-in. (You’ll need to purchase an LTE-based iPad to get this deal). If you prefer a Wi-Fi only tablet, Amazon has the 10.2-inch iPad (32GB/2020) on sale for $299. That’s $30 off and the lowest price we’ve seen for this tablet all year. It’s one of the best iPad deals of all time.
Back to school and iPad deals
The summer months are chock full of back to school sales and this year we expect to see a surge in iPad deals. iPads are great for students and allow them to take notes in class, check on class homework, and even play the occasional game. The good news is that practically every iPad model is currently on sale. However, it’s the base 10.2-inch iPad (32GB/2020) for $299 at Amazon that’s best suited for most students and their needs. If you need more power, the 10.9-inch iPad Air is on sale for $499.99, which is $100 off and its lowest price ever.
Best iPad deals and sales
10.9″ iPad Air (64GB/2020): was $599 now $499 @ Amazon
Lowest price ever: The new iPad Air sports a larger 10.9-inch display, speedy A14 Bionic CPU, and support for USB-C charging. Plus, with Magic Keyboard support, it’s as close to a laptop replacement as you can get. Right now it’s at its second-lowest price ever, but history shows this deal won’t last long. It’s one of the best iPad deals of the moment. (If you don’t see the sale price, try choosing different color models). View Deal
10.9″ iPad Air (256GB/2020): was $749 now $649 @ Amazon
Rarely discounted, Amazon currently has the 256GB iPad Air on sale. This is the cheapest price we’ve seen for the higher capacity model and one of the best iPad deals this week. View Deal
10.2″ iPad (32GB/2020): was $329 now $299 @ Amazon
Cheapest iPad: Apple’s entry-level iPad is perfect for anyone. It features an A12 Bionic CPU, 10.2-inch (2160 x 1620) LCD, 8MP camera, 12MP front camera, and an epic 12:57 battery life. Currently, Amazon has has the 32GB model on sale for $299, which is the cheapest iPad deal available right now. But hurry, because iPad deals on the base model sell out very fast. (The 128GB model is also on sale for $395). View Deal
11″ iPad Pro (128GB/2021): was $799 now $749 @ Walmart
Editor’s Choice deal: The new 11-inch iPad Pro sports Apple’s M1 CPU for record-breaking speed and performance. It features a stunning 11-inch Liquid Retina display with 120Hz Pro Motion, TrueTone, and P3 wide color. You also get 12MP wide and 10MP ultra-wide cameras and Wi-Fi 6 support. Walmart is taking $50 off various models, which makes this one of the best iPad deals you’ll find for Apple’s new tablet. View Deal
12.9″ iPad Pro (256GB/2021): was $1,199 now $1,099 @ Walmart
Editor’s Choice deal: Apple’s top of the line iPad just got a massive price cut. For a limited time, Amazon has the new iPad Pro 12.9-inch tablet on sale for $999. That’s $100 off and its cheapest price ever. It features a stunning 12.9-inch Liquid Retina mini LED display (2732 x 2048) with 120Hz Pro Motion, TrueTone, and P3 wide color. You also get 12MP wide and 10MP ultra-wide cameras and Wi-Fi 6 support. The new Apple M1 CPU also means it’s the fastest iPad ever. Walmart has the 256GB model on sale for $1,099 which is $100 cheaper than Apple’s price. View Deal
7.9″ iPad mini (64GB/2019): was $399 now $344 @ Amazon
The 2019 iPad mini sports Apple’s A12 Bionic CPU, which provides insanely fast performance despite its age. It also packs epic battery life that lasts for just shy of 13 hours on a single charge. iPad deals on this model are rare and it’s one of the older iPads in Apple’s lineup, but the 64GB model is on sale for $344.99 after a $39.01 discount at checkout.View Deal
11″ iPad Pro (128GB/2020): was $799 now $749 @ Best Buy
Student-only deal: Those who push their iPad to the limit will want to get the 2020 iPad Pro. Not only does it tear through work with Apple’s insanely fast A12Z Bionic CPU, but its edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display (which features 120Hz Pro Motion technology) offers super smooth visuals. For students only, Best Buy is taking from $50 to $200 off all previous-gen models.View Deal
Best iPad deals — accessories
ZAGG iPad cases/keyboards: up to 75% off @ Amazon
Amazon is taking up to 70% off select ZAGG iPad cases and keyboards. After discount, prices start as low as $34.99. It’s one of the best iPad deals we’ve seen on these accessories. View Deal
Apple Smart Folio: was $79 now $72 @ Amazon
The Apple Smart Folio (for 10.9-inch iPad Air/4th Gen) protects the front and back of your iPad Air. It also automatically wakes your iPad when opened and puts it to sleep when closed.View Deal
Apple Smart Folio for iPad Air: was $79 now $74 @ Amazon
The Apple Smart Folio (for 10.9-inch iPad Air) is on sale at Amazon. The case protects the front and back of your iPad Air and can also be used for propping up your iPad. View Deal
Apple Pencil: was $99 now $94 @ Amazon
iPad deals aren’t just for tablets. The Apple Pencil (1st Gen) lets you take notes, sketch, and do much more on your iPad. It supports the iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad mini (5th generation), iPad (6th and 7th generations), iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (1st and 2nd generations), iPad Pro 10.5‑inch, and iPad Pro 9.7‑inch. View Deal
Apple Smart Keyboard for iPad: was $159 now $149 @ Amazon
It’s a modest price cut as far as iPad deals are concerned, but Amazon has the Apple Smart Keyboard on sale for $149, which is $9 off its regular price. The keyboard is compatible with the iPad (7th and 8th generation) as well as the iPad Air (3rd generation). View Deal
Apple Smart Keyboard Folio: was $179 now $169 @ Amazon
The Apple Smart Keyboard Folio offers a great typing experience for your iPad Air (4th Gen) or iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd Gen). The lightweight cover can also protect the front and back of your iPad. View Deal
Apple Magic Keyboard for 11″ iPad Pro: was $299 now $289 @ Amazon
The current-gen Magic Keyboard can turn your iPad Air (4th gen) or iPad Pro 11-inch (1st or 2nd gen) into a laptop replacement. It attaches magnetically to your iPad and allows you to smoothly adjust it to the perfect viewing angle for you. View Deal
Apple Magic Keyboard for 12″ iPad Pro: was $349 now $329 @ Amazon
The current-gen Magic Keyboard can turn your iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th gen) into a laptop replacement. It attaches magnetically to your iPad and allows you to smoothly adjust it to the perfect viewing angle for you. View Deal
Best iPad deals — refurbs
Refurb Apple iPads: from $309 @ Apple
Low inventory: Refurb iPads make for great iPad deals. We especially like the refurb iPads from the Apple Store because they come with the same 1-year warranty you’d get from a new factory-sealed iPad. Currently, refurb iPads deals at the Apple Store start at $309. However, they have the Apple Pencil 2nd-gen for $109 ($20 off).View Deal
Best iPad deals — Back to School
Buy an iPad Pro M1: get free AirPods @ Apple
The Apple Back to School sale is officially live. Currently, students and teachers who buy an iPad Pro M1 will get a free pair of AirPods with their purchase. In addition, they’ll pay special education pricing for their iPad Pro. After discount, iPad Pro M1 prices start at $749 for the 11-inch iPad Pro M1. It’s one of the best iPad deals if you’re shopping for back to school. View Deal
iPad deals — which iPad should I buy?
Apple’s iPad family is now bigger than ever. Currently, these are the models that Apple offers:
The 10.2-inch iPad is the tablet for everyone. The mainstream tablet is not only the most affordable iPad, but it’s also the best value for your dollar. The tablet uses Apple’s A10 Fusion chip. That shouldn’t be a deal breaker though. While the A10 Fusion chip is indeed dated, it still packs enough power for streaming movies and playing some Apple Arcade.
It can also be used for sketching and drawing, thanks to its Apple Pencil (1st gen) support. For the first time, you can also pair the 10.2-inch iPad with Apple’s Smart Keyboard. Check out our new iPad (2020) review to see why we love Apple’s latest tablet.
True to its name, the iPad mini is the smallest tablet in Apple’s lineup. It houses Apple’s A12 Bionic chip with an M12 coprocessor. (That’s the same CPU found in the iPhone XS family). It happens to be the tablet we own and we love it for everything from streaming Netflix to playing Mario Kart. However, keep in mind that it’s long overdue a refresh from Apple. Once it’s been refreshed, there will likely be better iPad deals on this tablet.
If you want unrivaled power, you’ll want to check out the new iPad Air or iPad Pros. The latter come in 11-inch and 12.9-inch flavors and use Apple’s new M1 CPU. They will be available for sale in the second half of May. As for the 2020 iPad Pros, you’ll find great iPad deals on those tablets. The base models are currently up to $100 off.
Guide to finding the best iPad deals
Where to find the best deals: Generally speaking, Amazon tends to offer the best iPad deals. On any given day of the week you’ll typically find discounts that run the gamut from $50 to $200 off. Other retailers like Best Buy, B&H Photo, and Walmart tend to offer similar prices. However, it’s rare that they undercut Amazon’s iPad deals. That said, in the case of the new iPad Pro 2021 tablets, Walmart was taking $50 off a few models, whereas Amazon has yet to offer them on sale.
Check all colors: Amazon tends to give different color iPads different prices. For instance, the base iPad 32GB tablet in black might sell for a discounted $299 price, but the white model might sell at full price. So when looking for iPad deals at Amazon, it’s worth checking various colors for the lowest price.
Beware the iPad mini: The iPad mini is one of the oldest iPads in Apple’s lineup. There are also strong rumors that it could be updated with an iPad mini 6 complete with M1 CPU in the near future. As a result, you might want to wait before buying this model. That said, this is the iPad I personally own and it still runs like new, whether I’m streaming Apple Music, Netflix, or playing Mario Kart. Nevertheless, I’d wait for the new model before making an iPad mini purchase.