Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days start Oct. 6 and 7, and Mashable’s team of shopping experts has spotted early price drops on iPads. The deals range from modest cuts to serious savings on the M4 iPad Air and M5 iPad Pro setups.
The Standard iPad Drops $30
The base iPad with the A16 chip is the cheapest way into Apple’s tablet lineup. Mashable’s Samantha Mangino calls it “great for someone who wants a portable screen for streaming, playing games, and reading.” It holds up to six hours on a charge.
Right now, the 128GB model is $30 off with or without cellular. Last year’s Prime Big Deal Days saw a $70 discount, so this one could dip further to $379 next week. That would put it below the normal $449.
The iPad Mini Cuts $30
If you want a smaller screen for reading, the iPad mini is the call. Its anti-reflective display makes it the best tablet for that task.
The mini saw a $70 discount last year, so we expect it to drop to $529 when the sale starts Oct. 6. Right now, the base model is up to $30 off depending on whether you want cellular.
M4 iPad Air Gets $42 Off
Timothy Beck Werth reviewed the M4 iPad Air and called it “a tablet that thinks it’s an AI laptop.” He said it is a great pick for students, artists, and creators.
The new M4 processor and upgraded smart chip make AI tools like fast voice-note transcription and photo editing happen nearly instantly. Werth noted the upgrades are only “iterative” and it can feel “overpowered for casual users.” That is exactly why the price drop makes sense.
The deal is $42 off. The tablet has 256GB of storage and creator-grade power.
M4 iPad Pro Drops $200
Professional creatives can save $200 by buying last year’s M4 model instead of the freshest M5 version. The M5 is just a newer chip and newer wireless tech.
Two upgraded M4 iPad Pros are already at some of their lowest prices of the year. One is a 13-inch model with 512GB of storage. The other is an 11-inch with 2TB of storage and a nano-texture display.
They might get $50 cheaper during Prime Big Deal Days. Or they might sell out first.
M5 iPad Pro Discounts Are Smaller
Amazon’s deals on M5 iPad Pros max out at $100 off right now. Come Prime Big Deal Days, they could be up to $200 off.
The deals include:
- Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,139 ($60 off)
- Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,427 ($72 off)
- Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 512GB) — $1,614 ($85 off)
- Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 512GB Cellular) — $1,804 ($95 off)
What To Buy Now
The $42 discount on the M4 iPad Air is available now. The M4 iPad Pro savings are deeper but risk selling out.
The standard iPad and iPad mini offer modest savings now. Waiting for Prime Big Deal Days could mean bigger cuts.
KEY FACTS BOX
– M4 iPad Air: $42 off
– M4 iPad Pro (13-inch 512GB, 11-inch 2TB): $200 off each
– Standard iPad: $30 off, could reach $379
– M5 iPad Pros: up to $200 off at Prime Big Deal Days
– Sale starts Oct. 6 and 7
The best advice is simple: check back before Oct. 6. Prices move fast, and the deals that look good today may not be around tomorrow.
Source material: “The best early October Prime Day deals on iPads, according to Mashables tech experts,” Mashable.
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