Stop waiting for Apple’s new iPads and hop on this Black Friday iPad deal, instead
If you’re holding your breath for a new iPad this year (how are you doing?), you may have noticed that Apple has been unusually quiet on the tablet front for once. Since we won’t be launching an iPad at all in 2023 – the first time this has happened since Apple launched its tablet line in 2010 – Black Friday iPad deals are exclusive to pre-existing entries in the series, but we’ll have just the pick.
Unless you need the extra power of an iPad Pro, most people will find the power and functionality of the more modest models among the best iPads more than enough for everyday use; from streaming video to video calls, web browsing and even digital art, if you’re into that.
Apple’s most recent offering in its non-Pro iPad line is last year’s 10.9-inch tenth-generation iPad, which did away with rudimentary hardware elements like a physical home button and the Lightning port in favor of thinner bezels and USB-C, with first-gen Apple Pencil support and the company’s A14 Bionic chipset are also present.
However, for all the fun and pop this colorful iPad offers, I noticed that Apple had already launched a similar and arguably better-specified alternative two years earlier: the fourth-generation iPad Air (2020).
Skip to this year’s Black Friday deals and while both iPads see discounts, the older (but more capable) iPad Air undercuts the standard iPad in terms of price; at the time of writing, it’s available in the US for just $388 (the lowest price I found for the tenth generation iPad was $399).
Although you can expect a few more years of OS updates towards the end of the standard iPad’s lifespan, plus a sharper 12MP front camera (vs. 7MP in the Air) – complete with Center Stage and 5G cellular compared to 4G mobile connectivity – the 2020 Air is otherwise the superior slate. You get a similarly colorful milled aluminum unibody design (in five colors, up from four), similar A14 Bionic power, and equally convenient USB-C connectivity.
It also trumps the tenth generation iPad with a fully laminated anti-reflective display (which supports a wider P3 color gamut), second generation Support for Apple Pencil (plus that all-important integrated magnetic wireless charging), Magic Keyboard And Smart Keyboard Folio compatibility, a noticeably thinner and lighter design, all with the same 10-hour battery life.
Best iPad Air (2020) deal in the US
Best iPad Air (2020) deal in the UK
Best iPad Air (2020) deal in Australia
More Black Friday deals (US)
- Amazon: 50% discount on TVs, air fryers, AirPods and clothing
- Apple: AirPods Pro, Apple Watch 8 and iPads from $99
- Adidas: 40% discount on running shoes, sweatshirts and leggings
- Beauty: 51% off viral makeup, skin care and hair tools
- Best Buy: up to $800 off 4K TVs, laptops and headphones
- Bed bath and beyond: 65% off sitewide + free shipping
- Cheap TVs: Big screen 4K TVs starting at $269.99
- Christmas: 40% off decor, pajamas and trees
- Del: save on the best-selling Inspiron and XPS laptops
- DreamCloud: 40% discount on all mattresses
- Family pajamas: matching Christmas pajamas starting at $12.99
- Lowe’s: up to $800 off major appliances
- Nectar: mattress deals starting at $359
- Noordstrom: 30% off Nike, Levi’s, Skims, Adidas and more
- Purple: up to $400 off purple mattresses
- Samsung: up to $2,000 worth of TVs, phones and appliances
- Goal: 40% discount on furniture, TVs, clothing and appliances
- Toys: Disney, Barbie, Lego and board games starting at $14.99
- Walmart: $800 off toys, TVs, vacuums and clothing
More Black Friday deals (UK)
- Amazon: up to 62% off technology and gifts
- AO: up to 40% discount on vacuum cleaners, appliances and technology
- Argos: up to 50% off toys and technology
- Boots: up to 40% discount on thousands of beauty products
- Curries: up to 40% discount on TVs, air fryers, laptops and more
- Ecopper: up to 45% discount on laptops and PC components
- John Lewis: up to 40% discount on appliances, TVs and laptops
- Jessops: up to £550 off Sony, Canon, Nikon and Fujifilm
- O2: up to £600 off iPhone, Samsung and Google
- Samsung: up to £600 off TVs, phones and appliances
- Super drug: 60% discount on beauty, fragrances and makeup
- Terribly: discounts on technology, appliances, furniture and beauty
- Vodafone: Six-month half-price SIM cards from £11.50