How To Get A Cheap Ipad

Black Friday iPad deals: early sales and what to expect in 2021

(Image credit: Future)

Jump straight to early Black Friday iPad deals in your region

Black Friday iPad deals 2021 — (Image credit: Future)

You can head straight to the early Black Friday iPad deals in your region just below.

US deals
UK deals

Black Friday iPad deals are gearing up for a big week of discounts next week, but with so many retailers launching early sales there are already plenty of discounts to browse. These early Black Friday iPad deals are all largely focused on the more expensive models, giving us far heavier discounts on larger storage sizes and more premium models. However, with the iPad Mini seeing some of its first discounts, and some returns to record low pricing over the last few weeks, it's still all to play for.

This week's early Black Friday iPad deals have seen the iPad Mini entering the fray (now $459, was £479 at Amazon UK). However, if you're after something with plenty of power, there are plenty of early iPad Pro offers to peak your interest - like this record low $899.99 price on the cellular 11-inch iPad Pro at Amazon.

It's likely that you'll need to wait for discounts on the cheaper 10.2-inch 2021 iPad, or more affordable iPad Mini 6 configurations, but we are starting to see those discounts hitting more affordable devices. It's worth getting out there and checking out what's available, then, as some of the lowest prices will likely sell out quickly on the big day.

You'll find all the latest offers just below, but we're also rounding up our predictions for the Black Friday iPad deals yet to come as well.

Today's best early Black Friday iPad deals

Amazon: 11-inch cellular iPad Pro now just $899
AT&T: 2021 Apple iPad from $12.78 at month
Best Buy: $200 off select Pro models
B&H Photo: save $150 on 12.9-inch Pro devices
Newegg: renewed devices starting at $159
Staples: same day pick up available on some models
Walmart: 8th gen iPad available from $259
Verizon: save $100 with a monthly contract

Amazon: rare £20 saving on iPad Mini available now
Argos: price matching some record lows with same day delivery
Currys: claim five months Apple Music, Arcade, and News+ for free
Ebuyer: iPad Mini now starts at £459
John Lewis: claim up to £150 when trading in an old device
Laptops Direct: up to £200 off refurbished devices

Early Black Friday iPad deals in the US

Early Black Friday iPad deals in the UK

Black Friday iPad deals: FAQs

When will Black Friday iPad deals begin?

Black Friday officially kicks off on November 26 this year, but we've been watching those discounts rolling in earlier and earlier over recent years. The previous 2020 10.2-inch iPad is now off the shelves, though, which means we'll be waiting for the official sales period for any further discounts on the entry level line.

Black Friday iPad deals are some of the most lucrative discounts for retailers, which means we don't expect to see many early savings offering true Black Friday level savings. That said, there are going to be plenty of discounts launching over the next couple of weeks and if shipping or competition is a concern, it might be worth getting in there early.

Keep your eyes peeled from Monday, November 22, then, and if you do spot a record low price in that week it may well be worth getting ahead of the crowd. However, we expect the headline offers to land on the day itself in 2021.

Where will the best Black Friday iPad deals be?

We'll be keeping this page well stocked with all the best Black Friday iPad deals as soon as those offers start to roll in. However, if you're planning on searching for your own sales, these are the retailers we've found to have the best discounts in the past.

US:
Amazon: regularly has the lowest prices around
Best Buy: fewer discounts but bundles sometimes available
B&H Photo: best for older and refurbished models
Newegg: massive range of older devices
Walmart: often price matches Amazon on Air and Pro

UK:
Amazon: the best place for record low prices on the latest devices
Argos: regular bundle deals with accessories included
Currys: bundles often include free subscriptions and software
Ebuyer: discounts often available on premium Pro models
John Lewis: regular trade-in deals and excellent warranties
Laptops Direct: excellent prices but a £5 shipping charge
Very: stock often holds on longer with price matched deals

Should you buy an iPad before Black Friday?

Shipping delays and a longer sales period may make this year's Black Friday iPad deals a little different. With many brands warning of delayed deliveries in 2021, it's easy to see why so many are getting their holiday shopping sorted well ahead of time.

As mentioned above, we usually see the very best Black Friday iPad deals reserved for the day itself. However, the difference between prices on the big day and some of those you might find over the next few weeks may only equate to around $10 or $20. If you're concerned about getting your tablet quickly, it's well worth checking out the offers already on the table.

However, before you head to a premature checkout, you should still make sure you're actually getting a good price. You'll find all the lowest prices we've spotted over the course of the year below so that you can benchmark any discounts you see today. Then, you can check out all the best discounts already available at retailers further down the page.

	iPad 2021	iPad Air 4	iPad Mini 6	iPad Pro 11-inch	iPad Pro 12.9-inch
MSRP	$329	$599	$499	$799	$1,099
Record Low	$299	$499	$459	$699	$999
Expected Black Friday Price	$299	$479 - $499	$459 - $499	$649 - $699	$949 - $999

Which iPad should you buy on Black Friday?

If you're itching for a taste of Apple's latest tablet lineup it can be difficult to work out exactly which Black Friday iPad deals you should be aiming for this year. To find out which model will suit you best, you first need to ask yourself what you plan on doing with your device. Each iPad is (fairly) neatly separated into several different use cases, so it's easy to work out whether you can pick up a cheap 9th generation model or go for something with a little more power under the hood.

9th generation iPad - you want an every day device for streaming, browsing the web, playing some games, and light note-taking.

iPad Air 4 - you're generally going to be streaming and playing heavier games, but will also be writing up documents, taking more notes, or using your device as a graphics tablet.

iPad Mini 6 - you need to take your iPad on the go with you regularly and don't want to carry a 10-inch+ device. The iPad Mini 6 is more powerful these days, but if you're looking to run more demanding apps or games, we'd recommend the Pro model instead - this one is mostly about form factor.

iPad Pro 11-inch - you're going to be using large files for media editing, playing high performance games, and using your iPad more as a computer.

iPad Pro 12.9-inch - you're looking for a device to replace a laptop when you're on the go, supporting powerful media editing controls, large file sizes, and with plenty of screen space for multi-tasking.

Black Friday iPad deals: what we expect to see

iPad 9th generation — (Image credit: Apple)

We expect the most popular model in this year's Black Friday iPad deals to be the new 9th generation entry level model. The $329 tablet has already seen early price drops down to the previous iterations record low $299 cost. While discounts coming so soon after release certainly bode well for this year's offers, we wouldn't expect that $299 record low to waver in November.

That $30 discount is the biggest the previous model ever saw, and considering other models are all going to be considerably more expensive, even in Black Friday iPad deals, it's likely we won't see an improvement in November.

If you do spot a $299 price tag before then, we'd take the plunge ahead of time. Of course, nothing's guaranteed - retailers could surprise us with a blockbuster $289 cost later on in the year, but that's highly unlikely.

Black Friday iPad Air deals: what to expect

Apple iPad Air 4 — (Image credit: Apple)

The iPad Air 4 has already taken a trip down to $499 a few times this year but is more likely to be found at $529 from day to day. We expect Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart to raise this price a little when heading into the holiday sales season, only to drop it back down to $499 during official Black Friday iPad deals.

This is already a super low price for this device, especially considering we don't see new releases in this line every year. That means that, at most, we might see an additional $20 off in November, but it's not too likely.

That said, this is the oldest device in Apple's lineup, and this year's Black Friday iPad deals will mark its first birthday. That's a long time to be on the shelves, and we could see retailers attempting to shift stock now that the Air model is sitting side by side with much more recent iterations.

Black Friday iPad Mini deals: what to expect

It's unlikely that we'll find too many iPad Mini deals on the new 2021 model. Even the previous (ancient) iPad Mini seldom took price cuts below $350 / £350, and that was when it was vastly over-powered by the rest of the iPad line.

Despite its dinky form factor, the iPad Mini line is actually a fairly premium one. Packing all that tech into a one-handed chassis is an expensive affair, as reflected in the new $499 starting price of the 2021 release. As mentioned previously, we rarely saw discounts on the previous generation, even during Black Friday iPad deals, which doesn't spark much hope for some early discounts on the 6th model in 2021.

However, that higher starting price may leave a little more wiggle room for $10 or $20 off. Last year's iPad Air 4 released a month closer to Black Friday than we've seen with the Mini, and at a similar price point. Black Friday offered up one of the first significant discounts on this tablet last year, bringing the $599 price down to $560.

That means there's hope for at least some savings on the Mini 6. It will have had more time on the shelves than the Air had before seeing significant price drops in Black Friday iPad deals, and the extra cost compared to the previous generation may leave us a little more room to save this year.

Black Friday iPad Pro deals: what to expect

Apple iPad Pro 2021 — (Image credit: Apple)

The iPad Pro will likely see even bigger discounts over Black Friday than it has all year. We've already seen savings reaching $100 off on the latest, and most luxurious, tablet in Apple's range. However, that's likely to be the limit until November 26 rolls around.

When Black Friday iPad deals do kick-off, we're expecting those discounts to jump slightly to $150 off, leaving us with a blockbuster $649.99 price on the 128GB 11.6-inch model and a $949 price on the 12.9-inch. These deals won't last long though, likely returning to their previous record low positions within a few hours.

It might well be worth looking up the storage scale a little this year as well. We've already seen the 256GB 12.9-inch iPad Pro drop briefly to the same price as the 128GB model, so we'd heartily advise checking out all your options before heading to checkout. You could bag far more value for your cash.

Which is the newest iPad?

The newest iPads on the market are the iPad Mini 6 and 9th generation iPad, released on September 24. We're expecting a few Black Friday iPad deals to hit these models, but if you're looking for something a little larger, make sure you're looking at the right iPad Air and Pro models. The latest iPad Air is the 4th generation, released in October 2020, and the most recent iPad Pro is the 2021 model (3rd generation 11-inch, 4th generation 12.9-inch).

How to get the best Black Friday iPad deals: our top tips

Black Friday iPad deals are extremely competitive - especially if you're aiming for one of the more powerful Pro or Air models. We'd also class the new Mini in this category as well, as the dinky tablet packs a serious punch and is proving particularly popular.

It pays to go into these discounts with a game plan, and we've been tracking these sales periods for long enough to offer up some top tips below.

Today's best deals

If you can't wait until November for your new tablet, you'll find all the latest iPad deals just below. Our price comparison software tracks all the lowest prices from around the web and brings you the very best deals out of all your favorite retailers.

If you're after a smaller screen, take a look at the best gaming phones available right now. Or, if you're looking to fully kit out a whole productivity suite, we're rounding up all our predictions for the best Black Friday laptop deals this year.

You'll also find all our predictions for this year's Black Friday AirPods deals as well.

I originally landed in hardware at our sister site TechRadar before moving over to GamesRadar. In between, I've written for Tom's Guide, Wireframe, The Indie Game Website and That Video Game Blog, covering everything from the PS5 launch to the Apple Pencil. Now, i'm focused on Nintendo Switch, keyboards, mice, and the quest for an RTX gaming laptop.