Best Black Friday iPad deals 2023: everything to expect in November

Black Friday iPad deals
(Image credit: Future)

Black Friday iPad deals are some of the most competitive offers around, not only during November but across the whole year. Hordes of tablet-hungry shoppers are lining up for these record low prices, so flash sales and bundle offers can move at breakneck speed. Whether you're lining up a purchase later in the year, or wondering whether to move in on a new tablet before November, we're getting you prepped as early as possible. 

Last year's Black Friday iPad deals were better for some models than they were others. The Air and 10th generation devices were a little left out, but the Mini, M2 Pros, and 9th generation 10.2-inch models were having an excellent time. Between brand new record low prices and early discounts on new releases, there was a lot to love about last year's holiday sales. 

That bodes well for discounts in 2023. After the disappointing crop of savings two years ago, we're looking forward to keeping this deals train rolling. We're getting you prepped for everything you can expect from Black Friday iPad deals right here, and helping you get the best value for money possible with buying and discount-hunting advice. We've been watching these slabs for years now - they're some of the best gaming tablets on the market - so we now how to find the best offers when they launch.

When will Black Friday iPad deals begin?

Black Friday iPad deals will officially hit the stores on November 24 this year, not only that but this is generally when we see the biggest offers on the shelves. It's true, many retailers will likely (as has happened in previous years) launch their offers from the Monday before Thanksgiving - that's November 20 this year. However, we always see iPads holding out for the main event. 

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

iPad Pro

(Image credit: Future)

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. Yes, the 10th generation is newer, but it carries a higher $449 / £499 base price compared to the 9th generation's $329 / £329. That, plus the fact that Apple is still running the 9th generation on the shelves next to the new device, means we're expecting the best value for the vast majority of users to be found with this cheapest device.

Last year we saw that MSRP drip down to $269.99 / £299 at its lowest point, a record low that returned over Black Friday in the US but missed the mark by £10 in the UK. That's a particularly strong offer - we never saw the 8th generation drop that low, for example. However, we could see even greater discounts by the time November 2023 rolls around, especially if Apple launches another budget model in September.  

The 10th generation could see its own savings. We haven't seen anything too monumental yet, but there's nearly a whole year to go, and we wouldn't be surprised to see between $30 and $50 / £30 and £50 off before November. 

Black Friday iPad Air deals: what to expect

Apple iPad Air

(Image credit: Apple)

The iPad Air 5 is likely to be found at $559 / £569 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 during official Black Friday iPad deals. That's the position we were in last year, with costs settling at $519 / £569. However, even if Apple doesn't release another Air model in 2023, we're expecting something a little juicier by the time November comes back around. The previous generation was already significantly cheaper by now, so we could be seeing prices hitting $479 - $499 / £499 - £529 in this year's Black Friday iPad deals.  

Black Friday iPad Mini deals: what to expect

iPad Mini

(Image credit: Apple)

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 $499 / £569 starting price of the 2021 release. However, we have seen discounts bringing that cost down a little over the course of 2022. That culminated in a $399 sale price in the US over November, but that didn't stick around for too long. 

That said, the iPad Mini felt a lot more recommendable at this position, and we wouldn't be surprised to see that $100 saving return throughout 2023. As for Black Friday, we're expecting a return to form here. Apple doesn't release new Mini models too often, so the tablets on the shelves tend to hold onto their value. The latest generation has already wavered its price a lot more than the generation before it, so we're expecting prices to stick to $399 here. 

Black Friday iPad Pro deals: what to expect

Apple iPad Pro 2021

(Image credit: Apple)

Last year's M2 iPad Pro models still got involved in the festivities. On the cheaper side of things, the 11-inch model trickled down to $729 (was $799) and £849 (was £899), meanwhile the 12.9-inch model offered sales prices of $999 / £1,199. Those were some serious savings so early out the gate (these devices only hit the shelves at the end of October), which bodes well for future discounts. 

However, the Pro line is regularly refreshed. A new crop of tablets will likely be on the shelves by the time Black Friday iPad deals roll around for 2023, which means it'll be a race to secure this current generation at rock bottom prices in November. 

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. 

10th generation iPad - you need more screen space and a faster processor for note-taking, gaming, and web browsing, but don't need the expensive M1 CPU. 

iPad Air 5 - 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. 

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Row 0 - Cell 0 Best for
iPad 10.2-inch (9th gen)Everyday browsing, light note-taking, light gaming, entertainment
iPad AirModerate note-taking, light multi-tasking, gaming, entertainment
iPad MiniPortable browsing, light note-taking, light gaming
iPad ProHeavy note-taking, significant multi-tasking, high-end gaming, demanding apps

Last year's best Black Friday iPad deals in the US

iPad 10.2-inch (64GB) | $329 $269.99 at Amazon
Save $30 - The 10.2-inch iPad was back down to this excellent record low price at Amazon. We never saw the previous generation go this cheap, and last time this price emerged it was gone within a few days so we didn't recommend waiting around on this.

iPad 10.2-inch (64GB) | $329 $269.99 at Amazon
Save $30 - The 10.2-inch iPad was back down to this excellent record low price at Amazon. We never saw the previous generation go this cheap, and last time this price emerged it was gone within a few days so we didn't recommend waiting around on this.

iPad Mini (64GB) | $499 $399.99 at Amazon
Save $100 - The iPad Mini had never been cheaper than this $399.99 sale price at Amazon. This offer had been holding out for a little while, after appearing in mid-October. Some colorways rolled back up to $429 by the time Thanksgiving week rolled around, and all were back up by the time we got to Black Friday weekend.

iPad Mini (64GB) | $499 $399.99 at Amazon
Save $100 - The iPad Mini had never been cheaper than this $399.99 sale price at Amazon. This offer had been holding out for a little while, after appearing in mid-October. Some colorways rolled back up to $429 by the time Thanksgiving week rolled around, and all were back up by the time we got to Black Friday weekend.

iPad Mini (256GB) | $649 $549 at Amazon
Save $100 - If you were after more storage in your miniature tablet, you could also find a $100 discount on the 256GB model at Amazon.

iPad Mini (256GB) | $649 $549 at Amazon
Save $100 - If you were after more storage in your miniature tablet, you could also find a $100 discount on the 256GB model at Amazon.

iPad Air (64GB) | $599 $519.99 at Amazon
Save $80 - We'd only ever seen the 2022 iPad Air cheaper by 99 cents, so this $519.99 sale price was looking particularly sharp last year. You were saving a full $80 here - excellent considering we'd only ever seen those costs dip to $569 before October.

iPad Air (64GB) | $599 $519.99 at Amazon
Save $80 - We'd only ever seen the 2022 iPad Air cheaper by 99 cents, so this $519.99 sale price was looking particularly sharp last year. You were saving a full $80 here - excellent considering we'd only ever seen those costs dip to $569 before October.

2021 iPad Pro 11-inch (128GB) | $799 $699 at Walmart
Save $100 - Not many retailers still stocked the previous generation 11-inch iPad Pro, which meant this $699 sale price at Walmart was one of your last chances to grab a cheaper 11-inch model.

2021 iPad Pro 11-inch (128GB) | $799 $699 at Walmart
Save $100 - Not many retailers still stocked the previous generation 11-inch iPad Pro, which meant this $699 sale price at Walmart was one of your last chances to grab a cheaper 11-inch model.

2022 iPad Pro 11-inch (128GB) | $799 $729 at Amazon
Save $70 - The then-brand new 11-inch iPad Pro was $70 off at Amazon. That was an additional $20 saving over the previous $749 sales price, and a new record low - fantastic news for anyone looking to score the latest 11-inch device at a solid price.

2022 iPad Pro 11-inch (128GB) | $799 $729 at Amazon
Save $70 - The then-brand new 11-inch iPad Pro was $70 off at Amazon. That was an additional $20 saving over the previous $749 sales price, and a new record low - fantastic news for anyone looking to score the latest 11-inch device at a solid price.

2022 iPad Pro (12.9-inch) | $1,099 $999 at Amazon
Save $100 - The 12.9-inch iPad Pro was down to $999 at Amazon. That was a brand new record low price on the latest and greatest tablet, and one we weren't expecting to see for another few months into this device's lifespan.

2022 iPad Pro (12.9-inch) | $1,099 $999 at Amazon
Save $100 - The 12.9-inch iPad Pro was down to $999 at Amazon. That was a brand new record low price on the latest and greatest tablet, and one we weren't expecting to see for another few months into this device's lifespan.

Last year's best Black Friday iPad deals in the UK

iPad 9th generation (64GB) | £319 £309 at Amazon
Save £10 - If you were on the hunt for Apple's cheapest iPad, Amazon was your best bet last year. While we had seen this 64GB 9th generation model £10 cheaper in the past, it was the best rate going over Black Friday.

iPad 9th generation (64GB) | £319 £309 at Amazon
Save £10 - If you were on the hunt for Apple's cheapest iPad, Amazon was your best bet last year. While we had seen this 64GB 9th generation model £10 cheaper in the past, it was the best rate going over Black Friday.

2022 iPad Air (64GB) | £669 £569 at Amazon
Save £100 - The latest iPad Air was also £100 off at Amazon, dropping the £669 RRP down to £569. That's just 2p more than the record low on this particular device, making for a particularly enticing offer.

2022 iPad Air (64GB) | £669 £569 at Amazon
Save £100 - The latest iPad Air was also £100 off at Amazon, dropping the £669 RRP down to £569. That's just 2p more than the record low on this particular device, making for a particularly enticing offer.

2022 iPad Pro 11-inch (128GB) | £899 £849 at Amazon
Save £50 - It might not be much, but this was the heaviest discount we'd seen on the new 11-inch iPad Pro - and it was £10 cheaper over the weekend after Black Friday.

2022 iPad Pro 11-inch (128GB) | £899 £849 at Amazon
Save £50 - It might not be much, but this was the heaviest discount we'd seen on the new 11-inch iPad Pro - and it was £10 cheaper over the weekend after Black Friday.

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.

1. Start tracking prices now
You'll need to know when you're looking at a good deal when the competition really heats up in November, which means it's a good idea to start tracking prices on the model you're looking for now. We'd recommend keeping a close eye on any price drops you see, so that you can quickly judge whether an offer is worth your time on the day. 

2. Know where to look on the day
Black Friday iPad deals can come and go in a flash, so it's worth knowing where you need to be on the day. We'll be rounding up all the best offers right here, so be sure to bookmark this page and come back when the discounts start rolling in. Otherwise, we'd recommend checking Amazon first - they often have some of the best prices around but can quickly extend their shipping times as stock grows thin.

3. Price-check
If you've found your perfect deal, it's worth making sure you can't get a better price elsewhere. Check other retailers for lower prices or additional incentives available at the same price. Some stores offer free subscriptions, accessories, or services when they can't beat another retailer on price alone and these may be more valuable to you. 

4. Stick around
The fight isn't over, even when you've got that new iPad box in your hands. If you're really going for the best price possible, it's worth keeping your purchase in the packaging until Cyber Monday iPad deals are over. We sometimes see additional price drops on certain colorways during these later sales, so you may well find a better price.  

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  the best Cyber Monday laptop deals this year. 

You'll also find all this year's Cyber Monday AirPods deals too.

Tabitha Baker
Managing Editor - Hardware

Managing Editor of Hardware at GamesRadar+, 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, gaming laptops (and the keyboards and mice that come with them), and tracking everything that suggests VR is about to take over our lives.

With contributions from