I use an iPad every day and these are the deals I’d buy this Black Friday

Macworld

Black Friday week is here, and it’s always the best time to buy a new Apple device for an all-time low price, especially iPads. However, there are a lot of models to choose from, not to mention the accessories available, and choosing the best can be tricky.

If you’re planning to buy your first iPad or upgrade your current tablet to a newer model, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a breakdown of which iPad models are worth buying, what accessories we recommend, and the best deals for this Black Friday.

The best iPad deal foe everyone: M3 iPad Air

Right now, the M3 iPad Air is the best iPad you can buy. Not only because of its incredible $150 discount on Amazon for Black Friday (across all colors, sizes, and configurations), but also because the iPad Air is the model I recommend to everyone who wants a good iPad without spending too much. 

The iPad Air is essentially the mid-range iPad in the lineup. It doesn’t have all the fancy features of the Pro models, such as an OLED display with ProMotion or Face ID, but it’s still a very capable iPad that can do just about everything the iPad Pro can do.




Apple

The M3 chip is still extremely powerful, especially for running iPadOS apps and multitasking. You’ll be hard-pressed to find anything that pushes this chip to its limits on the iPad. From lightweight apps to more intense games, everything runs smoothly.

In terms of software, you won’t be missing out on anything by choosing the iPad Air over the more expensive iPad Pro. The iPad Air can run the same apps and features, such as Apple Intelligence and Stage Manager with support for external monitors.

You can find nearly every M3 iPad Air model on Amazon for $150 off, with prices starting at $449, less than an iPad mini at full price. It’s definitely the best deal for almost anyone looking for a new iPad.

M5 iPad Pro: Now $100 off

While the iPad Air is great for most people, some users need the high-end features provided by the iPad Pro. I know because I own one. If you’re like me, the newly released M5 iPad Pro is already $100 off on Amazon for Black Friday.

The M5 iPad Pro stands out from other iPads because of its ultra-thin design, OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Face ID, and a LiDAR scanner on the back. It’s also the only iPad with four built-in speakers and a USB-C connection with Thunderbolt 4 support for faster data transfer.




An Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard are great companions to the iPad Pro.Foundry

The M5 models also come with some exclusive features you won’t find on any other Apple product, including 12GB of RAM in the entry-level models, Wi-Fi 7, and fast charging.

Prices for the M5 11-inch iPad Pro Amazon start at $899 for the 11-inch model, you can also find the 13-inch M5 iPad Pro and 256GB of storage for $1,195. It’s a good deal for a product that has just been released.

The iPad mini is also a great option

How could we not mention the iPad mini? The most adorable and smallest iPad is ideal for people who want a good tablet to take with them on the go, and it’s also on sale this Black Friday.

The current model was released last year, but Apple doesn’t upgrade the iPad mini regularly, so it’s istill a safe purchase. It has the same A17 Pro chip as the iPhone 15 Pro, which is capable of running almost all iPadOS and Apple Intelligence apps with ease. Its compact 8.3-inch screen makes it perfect for reading, using social media, and even using it as a portable console.

I’d still recommend the Air, but if you want something super portable, you can pair it with an Apple Pencil (see below) to turn your iPad mini into a great notepad.

Typically, prices for the iPad mini start at $499, but you can buy the base model this Black Friday for just $399. Most other options are $100 off as well.

Give your iPad an Apple Pencil Pro

One of my favorite accessories for the iPad is the Apple Pencil, and the Apple Pencil Pro takes it to another level. 

I’m not an artist, and I have zero drawing skills. Still, I love using Apple Pencil Pro to write quick notes and edit photos with precision. It also works as a precision pointing device.




The Apple Pencil Pro is a fantastic companion to the iPad AIr, mini, or Pro.Foundry

Apple Pencil Pro also has some cool tricks. It has pressure sensitivity, haptic feedback, and a gesture that lets you squeeze the Pencil to open a menu for quick access to useful options. Plus, it works with the Find My app, so you can easily locate your Apple Pencil if you ever lose it.

Normally $129, you can find the Apple Pencil Pro this Black Friday for $99, an impressive 23 percent discount. Just keep in mind that the Apple Pencil Pro only works with the M2 iPad Air and later, the M4 iPad Pro and later, and the A17 Pro iPad mini.

If you don’t see the need for all the advanced features of the Apple Pencil Pro and just want a stylus for writing notes without spending too much, Apple sells the USB-C Apple Pencil. It looks a lot like the Apple Pencil Pro, but there are some key differences.

The USB-C Apple Pencil recharges via cable rather than wirelessly. It also lacks support for the squeeze and double-tap gestures, and has no pressure sensitivity so it’s less useful for art – although it does have tilt sensitivity.

One advantage is that the USB-C Apple Pencil works with all of Apple’s 2025 iPads, while the Pro isn’t supported by the entry-level iPad.

During this Black Friday, Amazon is selling the Apple Pencil USB-C for $69 (down from $79). It’s not a huge discount, but it’s still a good deal cheaper than the Apple Pencil Pro.




The iPad Pro is great with an Apple Magic Keyboard, but it’s expensive.Foundry

Logitech Combo Touch: a great alternative to Apple’s Magic Keyboard

Your iPad also deserves a keyboard, especially if you plan to use it as a laptop. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find good deals on Apple’s Magic Keyboard. Luckily, Apple’s keyboard has a worthy competitor: the Logitech Combo Touch.

The Logitech Combo Touch is essentially an iPad case with a built-in full-size keyboard. More than that, it also has a multitouch trackpad. Although it doesn’t feel as premium as Apple’s alternative, the Combo Touch has one big advantage: It doubles as a rugged case to protect your iPad. And if you don’t want the keyboard, you can easily detach it without having to remove the case.

There are different versions of the Logitech Combo Touch available for each iPad model, but Black Friday discounts are up to 25 percent off. For instance, the Combo Touch for the M3 iPad Air is now $160, almost half the price of Apple’s Magic Keyboard.

Now that you know the best Black Friday deals on iPads and accessories, choose the one that best suits your needs. It may also be worth checking out Apple’s offers for students.

See all our round ups of the best Black Friday deals:

Apple Black Friday sale details

Best Black Friday Apple deals

Best Black Friday MacBook & Mac deals

Best Black Friday AirPods deals

Best Black Friday Apple Watch deals

Best Black Friday iPad deals

Best Black Friday iPhone deals