Apple iPads are now powerful and packed with enough features to almost act as a laptop replacement. The iPad Pro 12.9-inch with its M2 chip and mini LED display arguably offers a better screen than the MacBook Air M2, while the iPad Air may not be as slick, thanks to its powerful chip and the ability to add keyboard accessories from Apple, it has the potential to be a productivity machine.
But to take advantage of that, you’ll probably want to get the Magic Keyboard. The problem here is that it’s very expensive, even for a slick Apple device. So that’s where the Black Friday deals come to the rescue.
Apple’s Magic Keyboard often gets slashed in price when it comes to big sales events, and there’s currently a deal in the US that cuts a very healthy $100 off the keyboard accessory. Cost $199 at Walmart, the Magic Keyboard suddenly becomes a lot more palatable – although I admit it’s still far from cheap. In Britain the deals aren’t as generous, but you can get them Magic Keyboard for £299 at Amazona £20 discount you can use to invest in some iPad apps.
As someone who enjoys an iPad Air, I’m keeping an eye out for a bargain on the Magic Keyboard. While my workhorse is a MacBook Air M2, it can be nice to have a device with a touchscreen for some ad hoc stimulation, and to be able to quickly detach the machine from the keyboard and trackpad cover. Since Apple seems steadfast in not making a MacBook with a touchscreen, an iPad Air and Magic Keyboard seem to be the closest we’ll get to such an experience.
I also really like the design of the Magic Keyboard. It does everything with magnets, which keeps it a sleek and sophisticated look. It also offers an additional USB-C port for charging, allowing the other to be used for connectivity purposes. I still think the original price of $299/£319 is horrifying, so it needs to be discounted to fully convince me.
And that’s why this will be the iPad accessory I’ll keep my eye out for as the Black Friday deals accelerate. If you fancy checking out my round-up of the most attractive iPad discounts you can get right now, check out my Best Black Friday iPad Deals article, which I’ll regularly update with attractive deals as I come across them; be prepared for sales to increase quickly once Black Friday (November 24) starts.
More early 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 early Black Friday deals (UK)
- Amazon: up to 62% off technology and gifts
- AO: up to 40% discount on vacuum cleaners, appliances and technology
- Argos: early deals are active now: up to 50% off toys and tech
- 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