Best iPad deals for March 2023

While the best iPad deals come around during major sale events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and 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.

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

Announced alongside the iPhone 13, the 2021 iPad is Apple’s entry-level tablet that replaced the eighth-gen model from 2020. The ninth-generation iPad starts at $329, just like its predecessor, though the entry-level model has 64GB of storage instead of 32GB. The base configuration with Wi-Fi is available at Target for an all-time low of $249.99 (about $80 off), with slightly higher prices of $269 and $269.99 available at Walmart and Best Buy, respectively.

As for the 256GB model that normally costs $479, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, and Target all have that configuration with Wi-Fi for around $399.99. This is a very good deal, especially as it normally drops to only $429. If you prefer your iPad to include cellular connectivity, the 64GB model normally runs $459 (though Amazon has it for $100 off after you add it to your cart, and Best Buy has it for $80 off). The 256GB variant is $609 (though Best Buy and Amazon are selling it for $529.99).

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 in October, the last-gen model is still worth considering. 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.

If you do find the updates on the 10th-gen iPad appealing, we’ve seen it discounted by as much as $50. Right now, however, you can only get the 64GB base configuration with Wi-Fi at Amazon for $439.99. That $9 discount only applies to the blue model, so we’ll have to see when better deals come around again on this iPad.

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.

Best Buy is currently discounting the 64GB base model of the iPad Mini by $100, dropping the price to its lowest of $399.99. If you’re in need of additional storage, Best Buy also has the 256GB Wi-Fi model for $549.99 (another $100 off).

As for the 5G-equipped variant, the 64GB model is $100 off at Amazon and Best Buy, which drops the price to $549.99. The 256GB version, Best Buy sits alone with another $100 discount, making it $699.99. The cellular models normally sell for $749 and $799, respectively.

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. We’ve seen it dip as low as $499.99, but $559 is still a fine value for the 10.9-inch tablet. The iPad Air is our top iPad recommendation for most people thanks to its speedy M1 processor, modern design, and midrange price. For those who crave more storage, the 256GB variant is also available for $649.99 at Amazon (a total of $100 off after an additional discount at checkout).

If you find yourself needing a 5G connection for your iPad, the cellular model with 64GB of storage is also $649.99 (about $100 off, with a portion of that discount reflected at checkout) at Amazon.

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.

While some steep discounts and closeout sales on the 2021 iPad Pros have led to them selling out pretty much everywhere, there are some slight deals starting to occasionally appear on Apple’s newer high-end tablets of 2022.

Right now, for instance, you can get the 11-inch M2 iPad Pro with base 128GB of storage for about $80 off, dropping it to $719.99 on Amazon. Part of that discount ($49.01) is taken off at checkout. Going up to a configuration with 256GB of storage right now costs you $819.99 ($80 off) at Amazon, with a similar discount at checkout. But the biggest discount is reserved for the 512GB model, which is selling for $999.99 ($100 off) at Amazon after another added discount at checkout.

If you prefer the larger 12.9-inch model with its lovely Mini LED display, Amazon is selling the M2 tablet for $1,049 ($50 off). Stepping up to the 256GB model gets you just a $30 discount from Amazon, where it’s currently $1,169.99, or you can get the beefier 512GB model on Amazon for $1,349.99 (about $50 off).

That’s as good as it gets for now, though we did once see the 12.9-inch get a sweet $100 discount for a very brief window of time. Perhaps we’ll see more substantial discounts across both models as we close out the winter.