Best iPad Black Friday deals: Black Friday savings on iPad, Pro, Air and mini

iPad deals to avoid

Check the exact configuration before comparing offers. Retailer listings can emphasize iPad, Air, or Pro without making the generation obvious. Confirm the chip, screen size, storage capacity, and whether you’re buying Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + Cellular. A cheaper listing may be a different model rather than a better deal.

Don’t let a large advertised discount tempt you into paying for storage or connectivity you won’t use. A heavily reduced high-capacity or cellular iPad can still cost more than a simpler configuration that meets your needs. Compare the final purchase prices, rather than assuming the biggest saving represents the best value.

Check whether the price includes nano-texture glass, too. This optional finish reduces glare and makes fingerprints and oily smudges less noticeable, which can be useful if reflections make your iPad difficult to see in bright rooms or outdoors. It avoids much of the washed-out appearance associated with ordinary matte finishes, but contrast can drop at some viewing angles and the surface may be more scratch-sensitive. Availability depends on the model and storage configuration, so you could end up paying for both the finish and additional storage. If reflections rarely bother you, standard glass may be better value. Read our guide to nano-texture glass and whether you need it.

Our iPad buying guide considers cellular a luxury for most buyers. If you mainly use your iPad somewhere with Wi-Fi, you may get little benefit from the extra hardware. For occasional use elsewhere, sharing your iPhone’s connection through Personal Hotspot can be a more economical option.

Cellular makes more sense if you regularly need an independent connection while commuting or traveling; it also adds built-in GPS for accurate location tracking. Factor in any data-plan charges and compare the total cost of a contract with buying outright. A cellular model can still be worthwhile if its sale price matches or beats the equivalent Wi-Fi version—you don’t have to activate a data plan simply because the hardware is included.

Judge savings against previous selling prices as well as Apple’s current price. Following June’s price increases, a discounted iPad may still cost more than it did earlier in the year. Also distinguish a cash discount from a gift-card offer: a gift card doesn’t reduce the amount you pay for the iPad and is useful only if you’ll spend it.

Check what any bundle includes. A keyboard, case, or stylus doesn’t automatically make an offer better value, particularly if the accessories aren’t the versions you want. Read the conditions attached to “free” iPads, trade-in promotions, contracts, and rebates before comparing their total cost with buying outright.

Finally, check whether the iPad is new, refurbished, or used, who is selling it, and what warranty and returns policy apply. For used or refurbished models, look for information about battery condition and confirm that Activation Lock has been removed. Be cautious about devices that remain tied to a previous owner or an organization’s management system.