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Apple's iPads regularly find homes on our list of the best tablets you can buy and for good reason. The iPad lineup has never been so strong with options available at both the high-spec and budget ends of the price range. It's difficult to buy a bad iPad these days, but getting the best tablets can sometimes mean spending more than you might want to. That's why we think that it's more important than ever to find a great deal before buying a new iPad.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
The good news is that CNET is here to help you score some serious savings. Oliver Haslam and the other members of our dedicated deals team have years of experience helping readers score top tech at a discount, having scoured the web for the best prices out there on Apple tablets.
Read more: Best iPad for 2024: Navigating Apple's Tablets
With that, we've rounded up all the best offers available right now below, and we'll continue to update this list as deals come and go, so be sure to check back often if you don't see something that's right for you today.
What is the best iPad deal right now?
Not a whole load of major discounts are available yet but we're expecting big things in the coming weeks for Black Friday and the following holiday season. This Apple iPad Pro M2 (4th gen) model with Wi-Fi and 1TB of storage is down by a big $500 at Best Buy. It's one of the best deals right now if you're happy taking home the previous gen.
Best iPad deals
Featuring a next-gen M4 chip and support for Apple Intelligence, the M4 iPad Pro is the most advanced Apple tablet to date. Right now, you can score up to a $200 discount, depending on the 2TB 11-inch model. The entry-level is available for $970 and all other models are currently sold out.
The 10th-gen iPad is the latest model in Apple's flagship lineup and our overall favorite tablet of 2024. It features a 10.9-inch display, USB-C charging and is equipped with an A14 Bionic chip. It's an excellent choice and affordable option if you only need a tablet for the basics like scrolling social media, streaming shows and browsing the web.
It's a little older, but the 10.2-inch iPad from 2021 is still a solid option. It lacks USB-C support, but it's an excellent price, which makes it a good choice for kids or just as a backup option. The 64GB model is currently discounted by $129.
The compact iPad Mini packs a lot of might into such a small device. Just a touch bigger than a mobile phone, this is great for those who want a tablet that's truly portable. All colors of both the 64GB and 256GB models are $149 off right now at Amazon.
This is still the latest model in the Mini lineup, but it's worth noting that a new generation is on the way.
This 2022 iPad Air is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a fast and efficient device. It's got power and speed aplenty, and while the screen isn't the best on the market, it still does a good job at streaming shows and handling late-night work sessions. It isn't the newest model and is increasingly difficult to find, but you can snag select variants on sale right now at Adorama.
The previous-gen iPad Pro is now 2 years old, so it's getting pretty tough to find in stock these days. Best Buy still has select models that you can pick up on sale. Prices for available configurations start at $999 for an 11-inch 1TB model. Best Buy also has its own trade-in program where you can score additional savings in exchange for your old tablet from Apple, Google, Samsung and other major brands.
How we choose iPad deals at CNET
CNET's dedicated deals writers have years of experience scouting the best deals out there on top tech, including bargains on Apple devices. Our combined expertise helps us discern which standout deals are truly a good bargain -- evaluating the model, year, specs, discount and our reviewer's thoughts for each model. We also ensure that all deals featured on this list are sourced from a trustworthy retailer so you never have to wonder if a bargain is too good to be true.
Discounts on Apple tablets pop up sporadically throughout the year, they're typically short-lived. If you're looking for more consistent savings, you'll want to wait for a major shopping event. The best bargains normally happen during Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Amazon Prime Day.
Apple almost never offers discounts on its own devices, so you'll have to look elsewhere if you're hoping to pick up an iPad on sale. Major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart are a good place to start -- especially during major shopping events. It's also worth seeing what deals are available at smaller online retailers like Adorama, B&H Photo and Newegg, as they may be offering some under-the-radar bargains that aren't being matched at larger competitors.
Apple makes four different versions of the iPad, which vary in price, display quality and chip performance. All of them feature iPadOS similarly, and all of the current-gen models charge via USB-C. The entry-level flagship iPad is affordable and versatile but lacks the powerful M-series chips found on the Air and Pro models which are faster and support a few pro-level Apple apps. The latest Pro iPads also feature step-up OLED displays with better brightness, contrast and refresh rates, and are a bit thinner and lighter. It's also worth noting that different iPads are compatible with different versions of the Apple Pencil stylus.