Memorial Day is this Monday 27 May, but you don't need to wait for the best Memorial Day iPad deals since the sale tends to last all weekend. At Creative Bloq, we're big fans of Apple tablets and we've had hands on experience with pretty much every model ever released, including the new 2024 M4 iPad Pros. We've also spent many years tracking their prices, which makes us well placed to provide advice on iPad deals when they come up.
Below you'll find a quick list of the current best deals. Our top pick is deals is $50 off the brand new iPad Pro (M4, 2024) down from $999 now $944 at Amazon. Sure, it's only a $55 saving, but this superb tablet was only released this month.
Scroll down further for our regular updates on what deals we're seeing, how we rate them and what to consider if you're shopping for an iPad during the Memorial Day sale. Things can change quickly, so we'll be posting with updates as when new deals go live.
iPad Memorial Day deals: Quick list
-
iPad Pro 11 (M4, 2024): was
$999now $944 at Amazon -
iPad Air 13 (M4, 2024) was
$799now $754 at Amazon -
iPad Air 11 (M2, 2024) : was
$599now $569 at Amazon -
iPad Pro 12.9 (M2, 2022): was
$1,099now $999 at Best Buy -
iPad Pro 11 (M2, 2022): was
$799now $749 at Best Buy -
iPad Air (M1, 2022) : from
$599now $399 at Best Buy -
iPad mini (6th Gen, 2021): was
$499now $399 at Amazon -
iPad (10th Gen, 2022): from
$349$329 at Amazon -
iPad (9th gen, 2021): was
$329now $249 at Amazon
Let's kick thing off this Memorial Day sale with style – and the most sought after iPad currently on sale!
The recently released iPad Pro comes with an M4 chip, so it's the most powerful tablet that Apple has released to date. And when we got our hands on it recently, we loved its super thin body, and all the usual slick design and wizz-speed you get with the Pro.
The iPad Pro (M4, 2024) was released this May, and retails at $999, but you can get it for $949 over at Amazon, saving you $50. That's on the entry level 11-inch model, which this year starts at 256GB storage, instead of 128GB. Bargain!
Not looking for the absolute latest iPad Pro? Looking for a no-fuss iPad to stream films and share around the house? Well, if you're not bothered with the latest chip and crispest display, the 9th Gen iPad is a fantastic tablet. At its retail price of $329 the iPad is excellent value, and right now we're seeing it as low as $249 over at Amazon.
For a bit of context, this is not the most recent 10th Gen iPad. That one started upping the specs, which in my mind started blurring the lines between iPad and iPad Air... this 9th Gen is what everyone thinks off when they think iPad. A great tablet for a great price.
I'm going to go ahead and assume that a lot of you reading this are creatives in some way. Well, iPads (especially the Pro) have been a staple bit of kit for digital artists for years now. But the shiny screen of the iPad is less than perfect for artists who seek the bite that comes from moving pencil over paper.
But there are loads of great iPad screen protectors that double up as a slightly matte, paper-like surface. And one of our all time favourites – Paplike 2.0 – is currently half price over at Amazon, down from $39.99 to $19.99. That's a bargain!
Let's go mini (well, 8.3-inches to be exact)! The iPad mini is down from $499 to $399 over at Amazon.
Not everyone is searching for a small-screened tablet, but for those that have smaller hands, or just really appreciate a super-portable tab that can fit in a coat pocket, the iPad mini is tailor-made (Our news editor loves this tab for those reasons).
The latest 6th Gen mini came out in 2021, so you won't be getting any of the Apple M chips in this petite tab. But the A15 Bionic chip is more than enough to power your streaming and scribbling.
OK, so this is not a deal, but I just wanted to direct you guys to a recent piece on the brand new iPad Pro and iPad Air. Our news editor Daniel John headed over to Battersea to see their unveiling earlier this month, and was pretty excited about what he saw.
TL:DR is that the iPad Pro has been super-charged with a M4 chip, is the thinnest it's ever been, and the entry model comes with 256GB storage, instead of the usual 64GB.
And the new Air (M2) comes with landscape camera, and support for the brand new Apple Pencil Pro. Have a look, it's a good read!
BRAND NEW DEAL!
Though we reported on the iPad Pro (M4) having $50 off late last week, the brand new iPad Air (11-inches, 6th Gen) now has $30 off it's retail price – down from $599 to $569 over at Amazon.
That may only be $30. But this is the brand new iPad Air that got released less than a month ago! The fact that it's got anything off the retail price is pretty great. We are in the middle of review this model, but safe to say our initial thoughts are positive! Apple Pencil Pro compatibility and swift M2 power all point to another cracking Air.
One of the best iPad deals we're seeing this Memorial Day is on the 5th-generation (2022) iPad Air model with 64GB of SSD, which is currently $200 off at both Amazon and Best Buy right now. This makes the price just $399.99 down from $599.99 for the M1 iPad. If you want your pick of colours to choose from, head to Best Buy. Since Amazon only has the Starlight colour currently available in 64GB.
This model may have been recently replaced by the latest iPad Air (M2, 2024) models – which is why we're seeing such a generous discount on the older generation – but that doesn't make these tablets any less excellent for creatives and digital artists who don't need to rely on Pro-level power to get the job done.
A lot of people who use iPads appreciate a good stylus. And we've found some excellent Memorial Day deals on some of the best iPad stylus on the market.
• First up is the official Apple Pencil (2nd generation) which is 39% off at Amazon right now, taking the price down to just $79 and saving you $50. This is an excellent deal and a great choice for digital illustrators who use an iPad.
• The USB-C Apple Pencil is also on sale, with $10 off at Best Buy, down to just $69 – we don't recommend this pencil for digital artists, since it lacks pressure sensitivity, but if you're simply note-taking then this Apple's most affordable stylus that just got even cheaper.
• If you're looking for an Apple Pencil Alternative then you can't go wrong with the Logitech Craiyon, now $14 off at Best Buy and compatible with all iPad models 2018 and later (although we're not 100% sure it works with the new 2024 iPad models – so keep this in mind).
Another iPad accessory worth mentioning is the AirPods Pro, and we've found a Memorial Day deal that knocks $60 off the AirPods Pro (2nd gen) over at Best Buy, making the price now $249.99 $189.99.
You can get the exact same deal via Amazon if you prefer next-day delivery, and there's also an Amazon deal on the standard Airpods (2nd gen) too for only $89 down from the original $129 price tag. This is a great deal for those who don't have the budget or desire to be spending almost $200 on a pair of earphones.
With that said, AirPods can be an essential accessory for iPad users, especially if you'll be using your tablet on the move and to work in cafes or other shared spaces where you don't want your media to be played out loud.
If you need to save some money on your next iPad purchase, we think shopping for a renewed model is a pretty good option. At the moment, Amazon is offering a renewed 11-inch iPad Pro (2021, M1) with 128GB for as low as $588.50 and with a 90-day guarantee. This iPad is said to be in excellent condition according to Amazon's specifications and is a great way to save yourself some serious cash.
If you want to know more about how to shop secondhand safely, see our guide to refurbished Apple tech.
Readers in the UK can also save on the 5th-gen iPad Air (M1, 2022) model, with a record-low price for the tablet listed on Amazon. It's reduced from £669 to £494.36 for the 64GB model – saving you nearly £175.
For the 256GB model, expect to save even more with £250 knocked off the price of the Pink variant, dropping from £849 to just £599 at Amazon.
We're not sure why the colours of a tablet influence the price so heavily on Amazon, but be sure to select each colour variant while you browse to ensure you're getting the lowest price possible.
But even better, Amazon Prime UK members can also bag a deal on the powerful 10.9-inch iPad (10th-gen, 2022) for a record low UK price of £499 £349. This model has 64GB of storage, and the lowest price we have seen in the UK before for these configurations was £439 in July last year during Prime Day.
As for the US, you can get the 256GB iPad 10.9 for $469 at Amazon, which is only a small saving on the retail price of $499 but still a saving nonetheless.
We've been mentioning a lot of different iPad models in this blog, and if you're somewhat confused by all the different iPad models (you're not alone) then let us point you towards our handy list of all the current iPad generations.
This should help you to get an idea of the main differences between the different iPad models and generations so you can find the right one to suit your lifestyle and budget, and also avoid buying one that's too over-powered and pricey for what you need. Try not to be tempted by fancy M4 chips unless you really need the performance boost for pro-level workloads.
I've got a mini update for you. We've already reported earlier this afternoon that the iPad mini was down from $499 to $399 over at Amazon in the US, a record-low price. But did you know there's also a UK deal too?
It's not a teeny-tiny discount either. UK shoppers can get the 6th-generation 8.3-inch iPad mini (2021) with 256GB storage for £609.97 at Amazon, down from £724. That's a £114 saving, and the cheapest iPad mini variation I've found for the 256GB configuration is the Pink model. So if you want the itty-bittiest iPad for the itty-bittiest price, then this is the one to go for.
Need a wireless mouse for your iPad? We've found a discount on a popular iPad accessory. You can now save $12 on the White Apple Magic Mouse (new 2023 edition) down to $67.99 at Best Buy from $79.99. We know that $12 off is barely worth shouting about, but it's still a deal.
If you prefer the Black Magic Mouse (I do), then Amazon is the place to go, as it has a 10% price cut down from $99 to $88.99 which is better than Best Buy's offering of 99.99 for the Black edition.
We think the Apple Magic Mouse is a great iPad accessory if you're someone who uses your iPad for work or photo editing, and requires a Bluetooth-enabled iPad (equipped with iPadOS 13.4 or later) to function.
• In the UK? The White Magic Mouse is now £79 £72.49 at Amazon, and the Black Magic Mouse is discounted to £99 £85.99.
If you're a student, seasonal sales such as Memorial Day and even Amazon Prime Day are basically all year round, as you can make use of Apple's Student Discount any time you like. This is a great way to keep costs down and get yourself an iPad (or any Apple product really) for an excellent price.
For example, right now, Apple is offering the latest iPad Pro (M4, 2024) model for $100 off with education pricing, now only $899 for the 11-inch model.
This isn't exclusive to students, either. Plenty of people can benefit from Apple's education pricing including teachers, education workers, parents, school board members and PTA members. What are you waiting for?
With all the hype around deals on older iPad models, we haven't talked about Apple's latest iPad Air generation 6 with new upgraded M2 chips. Prices for the iPad Air (2024, M2) start at $599 / £599 for the 11-inch model with 128GB of storage, and creeps up to $799 / £749 for the larger 13-inch model. Apple only released these new iPad models this month, so we don't expect to see any big savings just yet.
However, if you are looking for a deal (however small) there's 5% off the 11-inch model at Amazon with 128GB of storage, bringing the price to $599 $569 and saving you $30. We are yet to see any savings on the larger 13-inch models.
Hello hello! I'm back on the case after a little break, and will be reporting on all the best iPad deals this Memorial Day Sunday and through tomorrow too.
But for now, I want to make you aware of a pretty cool article that we have on the site: How to draw on the iPad. From pairing your Apple Pencil to picking the right creative apps, it goes through some key info if you're thinking of making the most of your new iPad, especially as a portable, digital canvas.
One accessory that I constantly use with my iPad is the Apple Airpods Max. They offer unbelievably good quality audio, and the best noise cancellation that I've experienced. Thing is, they're also pretty pricey!
Well, over at PC Richards & Son, you can save $101 off the retail price, as they're currently going for $448.98. Now, that's still a fair amount of money – but I think they're worth it. By far the best headphones I've ever used.
Another iPad accessory that's worth investing in is a stylus. But you don't have to go for the Apple Pencil. There are actually a range of compatible pens out there that offer a raft of different features and looks.
Head over to check out my breakdown of the best Apple Pencil alternatives. Highly recommended for all digital artists and serious scribblers!
On a lighter note, while I keep searching for iPad deals that are worthy of posting here, can you remember the rare misstep from Apple with the release of the two new iPads? In marketing the iPad Pro, Apple thought it would be a good idea to crush loads of awesome stuff, suggesting that all that and more can be found in your new iPad Pro! Fun idea in the boardroom, I'm sure. But it seemed nobody liked it.
Relive the cringe!
OK, this deal just in – the larger of the two iPad Airs (13-inch) is now enjoying a discount over at Amazon. It's down from $799 to $754, saving you $46.
And what do you get for that? The M2-chipped, 13-inch Liquid Retina Display, 128GB model. Now, that may not be a massive amount of money off, but then you need to remember that this is one of the brand new iPad Airs that was revealed and released only earlier this month! It's remarkable that there's any deal on it to be found.
Gong back to basics – the 9th Gen iPad is currently going for only $249, down from $329 over at Amazon, saving you $80!
A new iPad for under $250? That's a bargain! And this 9th Gen is the classic iPad model – not as over-powered (and priced) as the 10th Gen iPad. To be honest, I liked the 10th Gen, but felt it was over-specced and over-priced for what an iPad was meant to be. An iPad should be shared around the house with no worry about scratches and scrapes. That's what you get with this model, and I think it's currently at a really tempting price.
How to choose which iPad to buy this Memorial Day
With so many Memorial Day iPad deals about, you might be struggling to decide which model is for you. Apple's tablet lineup got even more complex this month now that the iPad Air comes in two sizes just like the iPad Pro. And what's the difference between the Air and the Pro anywhere? Here are a few pointers to help you choose the right model.
How much power do you need? If you want to use an iPad for more demanding video editing (think editing 4K footage with lots of Fusion effects in DaVinci Resolve), then you're going to want one of the latest iPad Pros, probably the 13in model since that provides a more comfortable amount of screen space to work on. The same applies for those doing 3D work or who generally want to use their iPad to replace their laptop. If you're doing lighter video editing and photo editing and perhaps drawing, then iPad Air will do you fine. If it's just browsing and entertainment that you're after, go for the basic iPad.
What about drawing: If you want to use an iPad for drawing, the new M4 iPad Pros offer the best experience because of their faster, brighter OLED screens. We think that for pro artists who have the budget, these are the obvious choice, but for those on a tight budget, the iPad Air also offers a fantastic drawing experience, although it may sometimes lag a tiny bit. See our full guide to choosing the best iPad for drawing for more advice.
Apple Pencil compatibility
Another thing to consider when choosing an iPad is what Apple Pencil each model is compatible with, particularly if you want to use the tablet for drawing. And remember that if you're upgrading from an old iPad, chances are you might have to buy a new stylus too.
The newest iPads: the 2024 M4 iPad Pros and the M2 iPad Airs both support the new Apple Pencil Pro. This benefits from new sensors in the barrel of the device, which allows it to sense grip and squeezes to bring up a handy tool palette. There's also a new Barrel Roll feature – a gyroscope allows the barrel of the pencil to change features such as the orientation of shaped pen and brush tools. Crucially, these new iPads don't support the older first or second-gen Apple Pencil, although they do support the Apple Pencil USB-C.
Older iPad Pros, the iPad mini and the fifth-gen iPad Air support Apple Pencil 2, while the basic iPads support Apple Pencil 1. The Apple Pencil USB-C has the most compatibility, working with recent iPad Airs, Pros, the mini and iPad 10 but it lacks more advanced features like pressure sensitivity. Here are the best Memorial Day deals we've seen on the whole range:
- Apple Pencil Pro: $129 at Amazon (no deal)
-
Apple Pencil USB-C:
$79$69 at Best Buy -
Apple Pencil 2:
$129$79 at Amazon -
Apple Pencil 1:
$99$79 at Amazon
iPad Air 5 vs iPad Air 6: which to go for?
Surprisingly, there are Memorial Day iPad deals on both sizes of the new iPad Air, the 11-inch and 13-inch M2 configurations. But, it's worth bearing in mind that, unlike the new iPad Pro, the new Air isn't that different from its predecessor.
There are some design tweaks: the camera is now on the long edge of the tablet. The new Air is estimated to be 50% more powerful due to the shift from the M1 to the M2 chip, and the storage space on the entry-level configuration is higher. Other than that, the only real advantage of the new model is that is support Apple Pencil Pro rather than Apple Pencil 2, and the new stylus has several handy new features (see our post below).
So which one to go for depends on your needs. If you need a lot of power for more demanding apps but don't want to splash out for the new M4 iPad Pro, I would go for the new Air. However, if you're new to digital art and you're looking to buy your first tablet and stylus combo, I'd grab one of the excellent deals that are going on the fifth-gen iPad Air.
Here are the best Memorial Day iPad Air deals at the moment:
-
iPad Air 13 (M4, 2024)
$799$754 at Amazon -
iPad Air 11 (M2, 2024) 64GB:
$599$569 at Amazon -
iPad Air 11 (M1, 2022) 256GB:
$749$549.99 at Best Buy -
iPad Air 11 (M1, 2022) 64GB:
$599$399 at Best Buy
Speaking of Airs, I know we're focusing on iPad deals here, but I should mention that there are some great Apple Memorial Day deals about on the MacBook Air laptops too. The 2022 M2 MacBook Air is just $849 at Best Buy, down from $999, which was already reduced from the price on release. There are deals about on this year's M3 models too.
-
MacBook Air 13 (M2, 2022):
$999$849 at Best Buy -
MacBook Air 15 (M2, 2023):
$1,499$1,199,99 at Best Buy -
MacBook Air 13 (M3, 2024):
$1,099$999 at Best Buy - MacBook Air 15 (M3, 2024): $1,299 $1,199 at Amazon
As for the iPad's main competitor, it should come as no surprise that there are some big Memorial Day deals on the Surface Pro 9. Microsoft announced a new Surface Pro this past week, and it's quite an upgrade (it's also getting an OLED screen like the new iPad Pros). If you are tempted by the advantages of running Windows on a 2-in-1, Amazon has a high-spec Pro 9 (Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) reduced from $2,049.99 to $1,480. That's 28 per cent off.
-
Surface Pro 9:
$2,049.99$1,480 at Amazon
Going back to iPads, here's a new Memorial Day deal that's just popped up at Amazon on the iPad 10, this time in its base configuration with 64GB of storage (we previously mentioned a deal on the 256GB version). With $20 off, it might not sound like a massive saving, but it's actually the cheapest price we've seen to date on this 2022 iPad, which originally retailed at $399 when it was first released.
-
iPad 10 64GB SSD:
$349$329 at Amazon
Is it worth buying an older iPad Pro?
With the new M4 iPad Pros just hitting the streets, you would think now might be a great time to grab a deal on the previous models. However, there aren't actually that many deals about on the 2022 M2 iPad Pros. There never have been really.
Best Buy has some $50 savings on the 11-inch model and $100 off the 12.9 incher, but these are the same deals we've been seeing on and off for the past year or so.
On the face of it, there's not much point in going for these when the new iPad Pros offer such a radical revamp, with their new thinner design and OLED screens. But you need to factor in that the starting price of the new models is higher than it was for the 2022 models ($999 and $1,299 for the 11-inch and 13-inch, compared with $799 and $1,099, although they start with higher capacity SSDs), so there is quite a difference between the prices.
-
iPad Pro 11 (M2, 2022): from
$799$749 at Best Buy -
iPad Pro 12 (M2, 2022): from
$1,099$999 at Best Buy
