Best iPad deals for September 2023

While the best iPad deals usually come around during major sale events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and even last month’s Amazon Prime Day, you can still find plenty of great discounts at all times of the year if you know where to look. Whether you’re after the high-end iPad Pro or the most affordable entry-level iPad, there’s likely a sale going on somewhere that you may be interested in.

Of course, it’s difficult to know exactly where you can find the most notable deals unless you’re scouring the major retailers on a daily basis. But that’s often what our deal hunters at The Verge are doing each and every day, so let us help you out. Below, we’ve listed the best deals you can get on each iPad model that is currently available, including the latest ones equipped with Apple’s powerful M1 and M2 chips.

And while Apple may have an iPhone event scheduled for September 12th, judging by the rumors and expectations, it’s likely there may not be much iPad news in terms of new models to worry about. But hey, we always love a surprise.

The best iPad (2021) and iPad (2022) deals

Announced alongside the iPhone 13, the 2021 iPad is Apple’s aging entry-level tablet that still makes a fine device for doing the basics today. The ninth-gen model starts at $329 with 64GB of storage. The base configuration with Wi-Fi is available at Amazon and Best Buy for $269.99 ($60 off) at checkout, its second-best price.

As for the 256GB model that normally costs $479, Walmart is selling it for $389.99 ($89 off). This is an especially good deal, as it’s a new low on a tablet that would only drop to $429 not too long ago. If you prefer your iPad to include cellular connectivity, the 64GB model is currently on sale at Best Buy for $399.99 ($60 off) instead of $459. Lastly, the 256GB variant is also available at Walmart for $519.99 ($89 off). It’s pretty much all-time lows across the board here in ninth-gen iPad land.

The last-gen iPad uses an A13 Bionic processor and a 12MP wide-angle camera with Center Stage, a feature designed to keep you framed up and centered while on video calls. The tablet also carries over a number of features from its predecessor, such as the 10.2-inch display, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the home button, and a Smart Connector for connecting a Smart Keyboard.

Although the newer 10th-gen iPad came out nearly a year ago in October 2022, the last-gen model is still an excellent tablet with a better value. The latest iPad modernizes the design with a switch to USB-C, uniform bezels with no home button, a side power button with a fingerprint sensor, and a larger display, but it excises the headphone jack and costs a much steeper $449. That’s not much of an entry-level price, so hopefully the ninth-gen model sticks around and continues to see moderate discounts.

The base configuration of the 10th-gen iPad is on sale right now for $399 ($50 off) at Best Buy. As for the 256GB version that normally costs $599, Best Buy is currently offering it for $549 ($50 off). These are decent deals for the 10th-gen model, but they’re not quite the value offered by previously steeper discounts, the heavily discounted ninth-gen model, or the better features you get by stepping up to the iPad Air.

The best iPad Mini (2021) deals

The sixth-generation iPad Mini has a larger screen than its predecessor, along with a top-of-the-line processor, support for USB-C, and options for 5G. It has forfeited its 3.5mm headphone jack and dedicated home button in the process, but overall, it’s a solid device that brings a fully refreshed design to Apple’s small tablet form factor.

The changes and refinements to the new iPad Mini come at a heftier price, however, and the new 64GB Wi-Fi model now starts at $499. Electing for 256GB of storage brings the price up to $649, while the 5G cellular models are $649 for 64GB and $799 for 256GB. These are some big numbers for a small iPad, and the larger iPad Air might be worth considering if you prefer your dollar to go further with more screen real estate. But if you want the latest and greatest from Apple in a smaller format, this is where the action is.

Amazon and Walmart are selling the 64GB base model of the iPad Mini in select colors for $399.99 ($100 off), which is just $20 away from its all-time low. If you’re in need of additional storage, Walmart also has the 256GB Wi-Fi model in starlight for $599 ($50 off), which is decent but not great. As for the cellular model, the 64GB model with 5G is on sale for $629 ($20 off) at Amazon and Walmart.

The best iPad Air (2022) deals

The latest iPad Air usually costs $599, but right now, it’s on sale for $559 ($40 off) at Amazon and Walmart. The Air is our top iPad recommendation for most people thanks to its speedy M1 processor, modern design, and midrange price — with this current deal on the base model matching its all-time low. For those who crave more storage, the 256GB variant is available for a better value of $679 ($70 off) from Amazon and Walmart.

The 2022 iteration of Apple’s lightweight tablet is similar in terms of its capabilities when measured against the previous-gen model but still offers a handful of iterative upgrades. The most pronounced improvement is the M1 processor, which offers better performance, and the front-facing 12MP camera comes equipped with Apple’s Center Stage feature that helps to keep a moving subject centered when recording video or during video calls.

The best iPad Pro (2022) deals

The latest generation of iPad Pros looks a whole lot like the prior model from 2021, as the changes are primarily on the inside. The new Pros still come in 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, with the better-looking Mini LED panel once again reserved for the larger model, though both now pack Apple’s newer M2 CPU for even better processing power.

The striking resemblance to the prior generation aside, there are a few reasons to opt for a Pro over something like an Air, such as Face ID unlocking and additional base storage. If display quality is the most important factor in your purchasing decision, the 12.9-inch version is the way to go, as its Mini LED display achieves deeper blacks and better contrast, much like an OLED panel.

Aside from that, as well as a nifty new hover feature that shows where your second-gen Apple Pencil’s tip will land before you touch the screen, they’re very similar to the older models from 2021. The 128GB base models even start at the same price — the 11-inch and 12.9-inch models retail for $799 and $1,099, respectively, and go up from there. As for 5G cellular versions, the 11-inch model starts at $999, and the 12.9-inch model starts at $1,299.

The 11-inch M2 iPad Pro with Wi-Fi and 128GB of storage is only $50 off at Amazon and B&H Photo. Stepping up to the 256GB model — which, if you’re getting a Pro, you may want to do anyway — nets the same discount of $50 at B&H Photo, dropping the price to $849. The 512GB configuration is also receiving only a modest $50 discount at B&H Photo, which makes it $1049 instead of $1,099. If you are opting for a cellular 5G model, the best deal is $70 off a 128GB model at B&H Photo, dropping its price to $929.

If you prefer the larger 12.9-inch model with its lovely Mini LED display, Amazon and B&H Photo are selling the M2 tablet for $1,024 ($75 off), while the 256GB model is $1,149 ($50 off) at Amazon and B&H Photo. Stepping up to the 512GB model nets you a steeper $100 discount at Amazon — making the fairly beefy iPad $1,299 instead of $1,399.