The best early Black Friday iPad deals: See the best deals that already match Prime Day

Black Friday sales are dropping early this year, and shopping now comes with benefits. You’re less likely to run into shipping delays, and the selection might be better if you’re on board with shopping weeks before turkey dinner.

Since everything feels more expensive these days, shopping sales can help ease the pain. Apple products (including the iPad lineup) saw price increases this summer, in part thanks to RAMageddon, but some deals bring iPads back into a range we’re used to seeing.

Comparing these early Black Friday deals to what we saw during October Prime Day helps us decide what’s actually worth buying. We have the green light on the standard iPad with the A16 chip, which is sitting at the same sale price we saw during Prime Day. But if you’re shopping for the iPad Air or iPad Pro, you might want to hold off.

We saw a $100 discount on the Air and a $200 price cut on the iPad Pro during Prime Day, and neither of those is showing up right now. It’s possible waiting a few more weeks will see larger discounts, but nothing is promised with tech in 2026.

We’ll keep this page updated if we see better price drops in iPads.

Best budget iPad deal

Why we like it

Mashable’s favorite iPad for budget shoppers is the iPad with an A16 chip, which is on sale for $399, matching the same discount we saw during October Prime Day. Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino wrote, “It’s great for someone who wants a portable screen for streaming, playing games, and reading.” Given its lower price point, it’s also a nice option for kids.

Best iPad mini deal

Why we like it

Apple just announced the 8th Gen iPad mini with big upgrades, but if you’re interested in an older (and less expensive) model, the iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip is already on sale. The 7th Gen iPad mini is a great option if you’re looking for a versatile tablet that’s great for streaming shows and catching up on emails. It’s also the best iPad if you’re looking for a model that’ll double as an e-reader, thanks to its compact size.

It’s worth mentioning we saw this model drop to $499 during October Prime Day. But with tech price hikes, it’s possible this is the lowest we’ll see during the 2026 holidays.

​Mashable