We're expecting great bargains on iPads over Black Friday 2022, as this year there were plenty of offers to be had on iPads on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Much to our delight, we even saw offers on the most recent 2021 iPad models.
The release of new iPads tends to also mean discounts on older models, and we saw the biggest price drops on older iPads over Black Friday 2021. We can't imagine that Apple will stand still on releasing new models, next year, either, so we expect this trend of continue.
Right now, we're a while away from iPad Black Friday 2022 deals, but you can read on for all you need to know about one of the biggest shopping events of the year. If you want bargains right now, then check out our Apple deals or iPad deals pages.
Black Friday iPad deals: when is Black Friday 2022?
Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the US, so in 2022, it's going to be on 25 November, followed by Cyber Monday on 28 November (and doubtless a weekend of deals in-between). That's when the best Black Friday iPad deals are likely to crop up.
As you probably also know, retailers roll out Black Friday deals throughout the whole of November. And while the best deals will most likely be held back until Black Friday itself, there's a strong chance you'll come across the Black Friday iPad deal of your dreams even earlier.
The best bargains, however, tend to sell out straight away (something we saw a lot of in 2021), so you still have to be quick off the mark.
Black Friday iPad deals: what happened in 2021?
iPad Pro: We saw some really tempting deals on the iPad Pro in 2021 in the States, including $250 off the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which was pretty amazing considering that model was only released in 2021. Elsewhere, we saw up to $150 off the 2020 iPad Pro. In the UK, the discounts weren't quite as impressive, but there was still £50 off both the 12.9-inch and 11-inch iPad Pros at Amazon.
iPad Air: The deals on the Air weren't quite as exciting, but B&H was offering $20 off the 4th generation iPad Air, down to just $579. In the UK, Amazon knocked £60 off the iPad Air 2020, so it cost just £669.
iPad mini: The newest iPad mini saw some small discounts of £20 off at Amazon, but there wasn't much to shout about in the US.
iPad: We didn't really see any deals on the vanilla iPad this year over Black Friday. However, as the iPad was updated in 2021, it makes sense that it should be discounted over Black Friday in 2022.
How to find the best iPad Black Friday deals
Global supply chain issues in 2021 meant less stock and deals that sold out fast. While we don't know exactly what the situation will be in 2022, we can still offer some advice for bagging the best Black Friday iPad bargain.
One good way to ensure you can be quick if a deal appears is to think beforehand about what iPad you're after. Do you want a standard iPad, a Pro, a mini or an Air? How much storage do you want? Does it need to be cellular, or will WiFi do? Remember that retailers often unload older models at knock-down prices on Black Friday, so decide whether you're bothered about having the best iPad available, or whether an older model will suit your needs.
Which retailers offer iPad Black Friday deals?
The one place you shouldn't go to find a Black Friday iPad deal is your nearest Apple store; the best you'll get is a Black Friday gift card when you buy, redeemable against future purchases. Assuming that you'd rather save actual cash money, you'll need to go to other retailers to find discounts. In the US, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon and B&H Photo are often worth trying. In the UK, Currys, eBay, John Lewis and, again, Amazon are all good places to look for iPad deals.
Of course, the easiest way to keep an eye out for the top deals is to keep checking this page. We'll save you from having to continually scan all the major retailers' sites by linking directly to the best Black Friday iPad deals as they appear. Just bookmark this URL and keep checking back!
The new 10.2-inch iPad is the least powerful iPad in the current range. However it's also the cheapest option, and while it pales in comparison to its siblings it's still a handy tablet to have around with its A13 Bionic chip and support for the 1st gen Apple Pencil.
Black Friday iPad Pro deals
Apple's new 11- and 12.9-inch iPad Pros are a pair of preposterously powerful machines thanks to their M1 chips, and the great news is that if you're planning to treat yourself this Black Friday, you should be able to save something on your purchase.
If you'd rather save more money and go without all that extra performance, you should be in luck too. The 2020 models are almost as good (in fact if you're after the 11-inch model, besides the M1 chip and a couple of extra details it's largely identical), and they're much more likely to receive bigger discounts. Check below for the best iPad Pro deals available right now.
The 2020 iPad Air, much like the basic iPad, is getting on a bit but it's still a strong candidate with plenty of power. Last year there were surprise discounts on the then-brand new Air, and we've already seen some great savings this year, with hopefully better deals to come over the next few days. That said, though, if you're interested in the Air then you could do well to look out deals on the 2020 11-inch iPad Pro and get a substantially better iPad for not a huge amount more. Here are the best iPad Air deals right now.
The new iPad mini is a tiny slab of gorgeousness, and we've been amazed to spot small discounts on it both in the US and UK. Not a lot by any means, but still worth the effort. If you're after the best prices on the littlest iPad you should be really looking at the 2019 iPad mini 5, which is still a fab little tablet; check the latest iPad mini deals below.
What's the ideal iPad for you? If you're prepared to pay top dollar for the very best then you'll want the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro. With an M1 chip under the hood and an absolutely stunning display, it's impossible to get better than this, and amazingly it's possible to get discounts on it right now; nothing enormous but still a welcome chunk off the bottom line.
The smaller and cheaper 11-inch iPad Pro is another top tablet for creatives, again powered by that mighty M1 chip. However if you can put up with lesser power at a much better price, we'd advise looking for deals on the 2020 model. Both iPad Pro models are available with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB of memory for your photos, music and videos, and both work with the second-generation Apple Pencil.
If all you want is a straightforward Apple tablet then the basic 10.2-inch iPad is relatively cheap and reasonably powerful, with an A13 Bionic chip, a choice of 64GB or 256GB storage and support for the 1st gen Apple Pencil.
Don't overlook the iPad mini. The latest version is the update we've all been waiting for, with an A15 chip, a slightly bigger screen and Apple Pencil 2 support; see our Apple iPad mini (6th Gen) review for all the enticing details. There's also the iPad Air, which has 10.5-inch display and also has an A12 chip, plus several older models of the iPad. The 2017 versions have previously been on sale over Black Friday, so there probably will be Black Friday iPad price-cutting on them again this time. However if you want to use your iPad for drawing then you'll want one with Apple Pencil support, which some of the older models don't offer.
One final thing: think about whether do you really want to pay extra for a cellular model. The alternative is to tether a Wi-Fi-enabled iPad to your phone, and use that for a mobile signal when you're away from Wi-Fi instead.
Rosie Hilder is Creative Bloq's Deputy Editor. After beginning her career in journalism in Argentina – where she worked as Deputy Editor of Time Out Buenos Aires – she moved back to the UK and joined Future Plc in 2016. Since then, she's worked as Operations Editor on magazines including Computer Arts, 3D World and Paint & Draw and Mac|Life. In 2018, she joined Creative Bloq, where she now assists with the daily management of the site, including growing the site's reach, getting involved in events, such as judging the Brand Impact Awards, and helping make sure our content serves the reader as best it can.
