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
Black Friday iPad deals: what we expect to see
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
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
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
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.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Best for |
| iPad 10.2-inch (9th gen) | Everyday browsing, light note-taking, light gaming, entertainment |
| iPad Air | Moderate note-taking, light multi-tasking, gaming, entertainment |
| iPad Mini | Portable browsing, light note-taking, light gaming |
| iPad Pro | Heavy note-taking, significant multi-tasking, high-end gaming, demanding apps |
Last year's best Black Friday iPad deals in the US
Last year's best Black Friday iPad deals in the UK
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.
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.
