Best Time to Buy an iPad (2026): The iPad Deal Calendar

The cheapest time to buy an iPad is Black Friday and Cyber Monday in late November, when third-party retailers push iPads to all-time-low prices. The next-best windows are Amazon Prime Day (June/July, plus a smaller October event) and the clearance that hits the outgoing model right after a new one launches — when the M4 iPad Air arrived, the previous M3 Air fell up to $300. The one thing to know up front: Apple almost never discounts iPads itself, so the real deals come from Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and Target. Here's the full deal calendar for 2026.

The iPad deal calendar

Time / event	What to expect	Best for
January–April clearance	Retailers clear stock before spring refreshes; prior-gen models hit lows	Last-gen iPad Air & base iPad
Spring launch (Mar–Apr)	New iPad Air / base iPad arrives; outgoing model gets clearance-priced	Buyers of the just-superseded model
Amazon Prime Day (Jun–Jul)	Steep cuts across the line (≈$109 off M4 iPad Air at 2026 Prime Day)	Current-gen Air, mini, base iPad
Back to School (mid-Jun–Sep)	Not a price cut — education pricing + free accessory for students/teachers	Verified students & educators
Fall launch (Sep–Oct)	New iPad Pro / mini arrives; prior Pro/mini see first discounts	Buyers of the outgoing Pro or mini
October Prime event	Pre–Black Friday tech discounts	Early holiday shoppers
Black Friday / Cyber Monday (Nov 27, 2026)	Biggest discounts of the year — all-time lows across the lineup	Everyone — the single best time
Certified Refurbished (year-round)	≈15% off with full warranty and a new battery/shell	Warranty-minded value buyers any time

Why Apple almost never discounts iPads

This is the key thing to understand. Apple holds its prices steady and, even during its own Black Friday event, hands out gift cards rather than cutting the sticker price (Macworld). The only direct discounts Apple offers are education pricing for students and teachers and its Certified Refurbished store. For an actual price drop on a new iPad, you buy from a third-party retailer — Amazon is usually first to discount a newly released model, with cuts that typically range from $50 to $200.

Black Friday: the deepest, most reliable deals

If you can wait, late November is the moment. On Black Friday 2025 the base A16 iPad dropped to a record $274, and the iPad Air saw $150 off, falling to an all-time-low $449 (Macworld). The newest iPad Pro barely moves even then — the M5 iPad Pro's first-ever discount was just $100 off, and only months after launch (MacRumors). Black Friday 2026 falls on November 27.

The sleeper deal: buy last year's model right after a launch

The best-kept secret in iPad pricing is clearance. When Apple releases a new model, the outgoing one gets steeply discounted while stock lasts. After the M4 iPad Air launched in early 2026, the previous M3 iPad Air fell up to about $300 off list (9to5Toys). If you don't need the very latest chip, buying the prior generation the moment its successor ships is often cheaper than waiting for Black Friday.

Prime Day and the refurbished route

Amazon Prime Day is the summer highlight — the 2026 event ran June 23–26 and delivered around $109 off the M4 iPad Air; Amazon also runs a smaller pre-holiday event in October. If you'd rather not wait for a sale at all, Apple Certified Refurbished iPads are available year-round at roughly 15% off (older and cellular models more), and they include a new battery and outer shell, a full one-year warranty and AppleCare eligibility — a safe middle ground between full price and gambling on a used unit.

Which iPads to time — and which to just buy

The base iPad and prior-generation iPad Air see the biggest percentage discounts, so those reward patience. The newest iPad Pro rarely drops more than $100, so waiting months to save a little often isn't worth it. If you want the current iPad Pro (M5), iPad Air (M4), or an entry iPad now, you can buy it genuine and sealed at AppleBitcoin with Bitcoin, Ethereum or stablecoins at a price locked at checkout — no waiting for a sale window, and free insured worldwide shipping. First time paying with crypto? See the how-to-buy guide.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to buy an iPad?

Black Friday and Cyber Monday in late November deliver the deepest, most reliable discounts of the year at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. Amazon Prime Day and prior-generation clearance after a new launch are the runners-up.

What time of year is the cheapest to buy an iPad?

Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday) is cheapest overall. January–April clearance and Prime Day in June/July are also strong. The lowest price on a given model often comes right after its successor launches.

Do iPads go on sale on Black Friday?

Yes — Black Friday is when iPads hit all-time-low prices at third-party retailers. In 2025 the base iPad dropped to a record $274 and the iPad Air saw $150 off. Black Friday 2026 falls on November 27.

Does Apple discount iPads directly?

Rarely. Apple holds prices steady and, even on its own Black Friday event, gives gift cards instead of price cuts. The only exceptions are education pricing and the Certified Refurbished store. For actual price drops, buy from Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart or Target.

Is it worth waiting for a new iPad?

Only if a refresh is imminent and you want the newest features. Otherwise the smarter play is to buy the outgoing model right after the new one launches, when it's steeply discounted.

Are refurbished iPads worth it?

Apple Certified Refurbished iPads are a safe value — around 15% off with a new battery and shell, a full one-year warranty and AppleCare eligibility. It's a risk-reduction channel with a moderate discount, not the rock-bottom price.

When is the next iPad coming out?

An OLED iPad mini with a faster chip is rumored for late 2026, and the base iPad is expected to get a new chip in mid-to-late 2026. The M4 iPad Air (spring 2026) and M5 iPad Pro (late 2025) are the current models. These dates are rumored and unconfirmed by Apple.