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We know you’re here for iPad deals, but you might also want to know that we’re busy finding the best MacBook discounts this cyber season as well. Visit our live blog for the best deals on MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models.
A common complaint about iPads is that the entry-level models don’t have a lot of storage (just 64GB) and that you seem to have to pay a lot more to get higher capacities. Luckily, you can get around this to an extent with an external SSD – you can access content from it (examples, projects, etc.) via the Files app.
All but one of the iPads in Apple’s current lineup have a USB-C port (the 10.2-inch 9th-gen model is the outlier), so connecting a drive is as easy as plugging in a cable. There’s plenty of SSD cyber savings to be found on Amazon US and Amazon UK – we found this Crucial X6 2TB USB-C model on Amazon UK (with read speeds up to 800MB/s) for just £106.99 , compared to an RRP of £211 (opens in new tab).
Inevitably, the cheapest cyber-weekend iPad deals tend to be on the WiFi models, but we know some of you like the data-based freedom that comes with owning a table with cellular capabilities.
If you’re one of those people and love being in the US, it’s worth checking out Walmart’s website for deals on the cellular-friendly 2020 and 2022 iPad Airs.
The older model is the cheaper option – for $569 (up from $679) you get a cellular iPad Air 4th generation with 64GB of storage (opens in new tab). Hidden inside is an A14 Bionic chip, so it’s certainly no slouch.
If you’re willing to shell out another $100, you can get the M1-powered 2022 iPad Air 5th Gen with 64GB of storage for $669 (down from $749). (opens in new tab).
Amazon UK has stripped £50 off the 2022 12.9-inch M2-powered iPad Pro (aka the biggest and best iPad you can buy), bringing the price down to a still respectable £1,999 (opens in new tab). There’s no denying that this is still a lot of money for a tablet, but once you’ve settled on this tablet, any kind of discount is better than nothing.
A keyboard case is by no means an essential iPad purchase – many people can do perfectly well without one – but if you’re thinking of your Apple tablet as a laptop replacement, or think you’ll want to use it for the occasional typing time, it’s a good investment .
Amazon is currently offering this Logictech Slim Folio iPad keyboard case for just £49.99 (instead of £89.99). (opens in new tab), and it is compatible with the 7th, 8th and 9th generation “standard” models. There’s no touchpad, but grab a Bluetooth mouse and that won’t be a problem.
It might “only” have an M1 processor, as opposed to the latest M2, but at $799.99, the 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro is a great buy from Best Buy (opens in new tab). For this money, you get a still cutting-edge tablet with a super-large display, and with the iOS music-making ecosystem now so mature, it might even double as a laptop replacement.
Here’s a great deal on the 9th Gen “Standard” iPad – from $330 to $270 at Best Buy in the US (opens in new tab) (That’s a $60 saving, number buffs). OK, it doesn’t have the all-screen design of the other models, but you do get a 10.2-inch Retina display, an A13 Bionic chip, and 64GB of storage. Sounds good to us.
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