verizon ipad mini black friday

Black Friday iPad deals: what to expect in 2021

(Image credit: Future)

It's officially November, which means Black Friday iPad deals are just around the corner. Whether you're looking for a record low price on the new 9th generation model, or an early discount on the new iPad Mini 6, there's sure to be plenty on the shelves this year.

We're expecting some excellent offers across the range in this year's Black Friday iPad deals. Not only have the Pros been on the shelves long enough to see some extra price cuts, but the iPad Air will be over a year old in this year's sale which means we can expect even larger discounts here as well.

Last year, we were treated to a range of Black Friday iPad deals on both new and old devices. However, the landscape looks a lot different in 2021, with new models on the market, and prices on previous releases dropping far lower than they were in previous Black Friday periods.

Recent weeks have given way to a new record low $999 price on the 256GB 12.9-inch iPad Pro and a flash of a discount on the Mini 6 as well, so Black Friday iPad deals are already starting to ramp up. We're rounding up all our predictions for this year's offers just below and also showing you exactly when to take the leap if you're browsing before the main weekend.

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

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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.

The new model comes in at a slightly higher price tag, though, with the new $499 MSRP offering up slightly more wiggle room for discounts. Still, we would be surprised to see a price cut of more than $10 or $20 here, considering the performance under the hood.

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.

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.

Will there be Black Friday iPad deals on the Mini 6?

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.

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.