If there’s anything worth picking up in the Black Friday sales, it’s tech from Apple. If you’re looking for a new tablet this Black Friday, the best deals can always be found on the tech giant’s coveted iPads, the price frequently plummets to all-time lows.
What’s interesting about iPad Black Friday deals is that, unlike Apple’s latest iPhones, you can almost always find a discount on the company’s most recent models. I’m expecting to see the 11th-generation iPad, the iPad Air M3, iPad Mini 7 and even the iPad Pro M4 fall to record low prices this month. Plus, with Apple just launching the iPad Pro M5, it’s even more likely we’ll see iPad Pro M4 discounts.
While Apple itself doesn’t take part in Black Friday sales, it always offers up gift cards in exchange for a purchase, and I’m expecting it to do the same this year. Last year, you could get a gift card worth up to £80 if you bought an iPad from the Apple Store. But after covering the deals for almost a decade, I know that the best savings can always be found at third-party retailers.
Follow live: The latest Black Friday deals and news
Best early Apple iPad Black Friday deals to shop now
Apple iPad 11th-generation: Was £329, now £299, Amazon.co.uk
Launched in March, the all-new 11th-generation iPad is currently on sale at Amazon. Replacing the 10th-gen model, it boasts a faster A16 Bionic chip, USB-C charging, and double the storage, with 128GB as standard. It still features the same bright 10.9in Liquid Retina display, making it the best-value iPad in Apple’s lineup right now.
Apple iPad Air M3: Was £699, now £655, Amazon.co.uk
The iPad Air M3 has received a £45 price cut at Amazon. Released earlier this year, tech critic, David Phelan, gave the device four stars in his review. “Whether you have an older iPad or have yet to invest in an Apple tablet, the new iPad Air with M3 processor is a powerful, immersive, lightweight beauty,” he said. “Whichever iPad you’ve used in the past, unless it’s the very latest iPad Pro, this will be faster”.
Apple iPad Pro M5, 11in: Was £999, now £944, Very.co.uk
It’s only been out for a matter of weeks, but Very has already slapped a tasty £55 discount on the all-new iPad Pro for Black Friday. “For users coming from an earlier iPad Pro, or any other iPad, this new version is so much better in terms of design, speed, OLED display – in every way, actually – that it’s a tempting purchase,” tech critic David Phelan said in his review. “The iPad Pro M5 beats every other tablet out there.”
Apple iPad Mini 6th-generation, 64GB: Was £499, now £249, Laptopsdirect.co.uk
Apple’s 2021 iPad Mini has been slashed in price by £250 at Laptops Direct, and the retailer is even throwing in a free case to sweeten the deal. While this is not the latest version of the iPad Mini, it’s still a great portable tablet. “The iPad Mini is like a smaller version of the iPad Air, but also more powerful than that and has features the Air can’t match, such as 'centre stage' for video calls,” said tech critic David Phelan in his review of the 6th-generation iPad Mini.
When will Black Friday iPad deals start in 2025?
As always, Black Friday will fall on the first Friday after Thanksgiving in the US, meaning this year it’ll take place on 28 November, with the shopping bonanza coming to a close on Cyber Monday (1 December). But if you’ve shopped the sales in recent years, you’ll know that retailers generally don’t stick to those dates anymore. In fact, Currys, Argos and Very have already kicked off their Black Friday sales.
The best iPad Black Friday deals to expect in 2025
As mentioned earlier, I predict discounts will be up for grabs across Apple’s range of iPads in the Black Friday sale in 2025. Earlier in the year, I saw the all-new 11th-generation iPad fall to an all-time low price, so it’s likely it’ll fall even further in November. The latest iPad Air, which was unveiled in March, has already seen hefty discounts, so that’s also likely to tumble in price.
Apple also just launched a new iPad Pro earlier this month, which could mean a significant price cut for the older iPad Pro M4. I wouldn’t even be surprised to see the iPad Pro M5 get a discount either – retailers tend to be more generous with price cuts on Apple’s higher-end tablets, compared with its iPhones.
The only question mark is around the iPad Mini. It doesn’t tend to get huge price cuts during the sale, potentially due to its limited popularity, but I’ll still be keeping my eyes peeled.
Will Apple have a Black Friday sale in 2025?
It’s very unlikely. Apple doesn’t get too involved with sales, but as per previous years, it’s expected to offer up gift cards in exchange for the purchase of an iPad. Last year, Apple offered up a £40 gift card with the 10th-generation iPad, £60 with the iPad Air M2, and £80 with the iPad Pro M4.
Why you can trust us to find the best Apple deals this Black Friday
As The Independent’s senior tech critic, I’ve been covering deals for almost a decade. I track prices of Apple gear year-round, including on its iPads, so I know when you should pounce on an iPad Air or iPad Pro deal, or when you should wait to get the 11th-generation iPad at a better price.
For more, check out our roundup of the best Apple Black Friday deals to expect this year
