Black Friday iPad deals: what to expect in 2021
2021's Black Friday iPad deals heralds in a new generation of iPad, iPad Pro, and iPad Mini, and while we've already seen early discounts on the new 9th generation entry level model, we're looking to the Air and Pro for the biggest savings this year. Whatever happens, Black Friday iPad deals are some of the most competitive offers on the virtual shelves when November rolls around, which means you'll need to get prepped early if you're after a luxury tablet by Christmas. We're rounding up all our predictions for this year's offers right here, as well as some top tips for picking up the best discounts on the day.
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.
The 2021 iPad Pros are now the headline act, the iPad Air 4 has dropped below $500 / £500 several times throughout the year, and we have the 9th generation iPad and the iPad Mini 6 to deal with. That means things are a little tricky to gauge right now. We've seen $30 off the new iPad in the US which is promising, but the iPad Mini is yet to see a significant discount. That means it's all to play for this year.
Whether you're looking to save some cash on one of the best gaming tablets, or simply after an upgrade, you'll find all our latest predictions for this year's Black Friday iPad deals below.
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. In fact, we recommend waiting until the day itself for the biggest offers, just remember that competition is going to be fierce.
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.
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. 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
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
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.
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.
1. Start tracking prices now
You'll need to know when you're looking at a good deal when the competition really heats up in November, which means it's a good idea to start tracking prices on the model you're looking for now. We'd recommend keeping a close eye on any price drops you see, so that you can quickly judge whether an offer is worth your time on the day.
2. Know where to look on the day
Black Friday iPad deals can come and go in a flash, so it's worth knowing where you need to be on the day. We'll be rounding up all the best offers right here, so be sure to bookmark this page and come back when the discounts start rolling in. Otherwise, we'd recommend checking Amazon first - they often have some of the best prices around but can quickly extend their shipping times as stock grows thin.
3. Price-check
If you've found your perfect deal, it's worth making sure you can't get a better price elsewhere. Check other retailers for lower prices or additional incentives available at the same price. Some stores offer free subscriptions, accessories, or services when they can't beat another retailer on price alone and these may be more valuable to you.
4. Stick around
The fight isn't over, even when you've got that new iPad box in your hands. If you're really going for the best price possible, it's worth keeping your purchase in the packaging until Cyber Monday iPad deals are over. We sometimes see additional price drops on certain colorways during these later sales, so you may well find a better price.
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.
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