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Hi there, it’s CB Editor Georgia here (see above). I’m jumping in on this iPad blog to see what I can dig up for you. I’m a recent iPad convert, and now use it for (very amateur) digital art, streaming, browsing and general use.
I’ve got the iPad Air 5, and it’s super light and quick. There’s also a great deal on it, one of the best around today actually, $100 off at Amazon. Check it out.
The best secret when it comes to iPad keyboards is those from Logitech are as good, if not better, than the official Apple Magic Keyboard. Our guide to the best iPad keyboards puts the Logitech ahead of Apple, for example.
Why does this matter? Because right now you can save money on Logitech keyboards for iPads, and they start at a lower price, so it’s a win-win. Below I pick two deals, one for Logitech one for an Apple, I know which is in my basket.
• Logitech Combo Touch iPad Pro 12.9-inch, was £199.99 now £149
• Apple iPad Pro 11-inch Magic Keyboard, was £292 now £259
I’ve been using the iPad Pro more than ever recently, particularly for Procreate Dreams. I know, I’m lucky to have one. But I have found some neat iPad accessories that really enhance the use of my iPad too. For example, Astropads’ Rock Paper Pencil really makes drawing on an iPad a joy. So, below are three must-own iPad accessories I’ve been personally keeping an eye on:
• tomtoc iPad Case Sleeve for 11-inch iPad Pro, was £29.99 now £23.86
Why: I now have multiple leads, three Apple Pencil nibs, screen protectors and more and need to keep everything safe, including my iPad Pro.
• MEKO Stylus Pens for iPad, was £29.99 now £18.99
Why: Like me, eventually you’ll have many more Apple Pencil nibs for different uses, and this keeps them all safe in one place.
• Fintie Universal Tablet Hand Strap Holder, was £19.60 now £18.31
Why: If you’re heading out for some plein air painting, this is a unique solution.
Hey-o, good to be with you as we hunt those iPad deals. Every year finding an iPad deal can be elusive, there are a lot of offers around but which is really the best value is always the game we play.
I usually take it as read that Apple tech is excellent, which means often the best deals are those on older iPads, such as the current offer of Apple iPad Air (2022) 10.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 64GB, for £699 £579. We gave this 5 stars last year, saying: “This iPad Air is a fully formed creative powerhouse even without the ‘pro’ name.”
So, my advice this Black Friday is to opt for an iPad (of all varieties) from a year or even two ago, as the tech remains good and they can all run the latest iPadOS, which is where the real power of an iPad is.
I’m popping out for some lunch, so stayed tuned as my colleague Ian will be taking over shortly to bring you more insights into the best iPad deals this Black Friday.
And just in case you were looking to buy the aforementioned Apple Pencil, here are the best prices available now:
Apple Pencil 2: $129 $89 at Amazon
Apple Pencil 1: $99 $73.17 at Amazon
Apple Pencil (USB-C): $79 $71.10 at Amazon
Once you’ve got your iPad, you’re probably going to want to buy an Apple Pencil to complement it. But which one is best? Did you know that Apple has recently released a third Apple Pencil, just to confuse the lineup a little bit?
So, which one is for you? Here’s what’s compatible with what:
Apple Pencil 1: ($99) iPad (6th-10th gen), iPad Air (3rd gen), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd gen), iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, iPad mini (5th gen)
Apple Pencil 2: ($129) iPad Air (4th gen and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (all generations), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd gen and later), iPad mini (6th gen)
Apple Pencil (USB-C): ($79) iPad (10th gen), iPad Air (4th and 5th gen), iPad Pro 11-inch (1-4th gen). iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd-6th gen), iPad mini (6th gen).
As for the differences between them, in short, the Apple Pencil 2 and the Apple Pencil (USB-C) magnetically attach to your iPad. The Apple Pencil 2 charges while it’s there but the USB-C doesn’t. The Apple Pencil 1 and 2 have pressure sensitivity but the USB-C doesn’t. And the USB-C is the cheapest. For more, see our Apple Pencil 1 vs Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Pencil USB-C articles.
If you want to go to just one site to check out the iPad range and what’s on offer, then (perhaps not surprisingly), Amazon has a decent range of deals.
If you’re looking for a rock-bottom price and aren’t too worried about storage then you can’t go wrong with this 2019 (10.2-inch) renewed 9th gen iPad for just £175 at Amazon! There’s just 32GB of storage with this one.
If you don’t mind having a slightly older iPad model then you can’t go wrong with the 2021 iPad 10.2-inch. It’s a very capable machine that will have everything most users need and John Lewis currently has £20 off, bringing the price down to £299.
Have you tried our new dedicated deals searcher? It scours our site and other Future websites to bring you the best deals…. give it a try!
I recently went for a briefing at Apple HQ in London, where I was shown all the different iPads available now. Here they are (above). I’ve also got my hands on the iPad Air 5th gen, the new Apple Pencil USB-C and a Magic Keyboard, which I’ll be unboxing shortly. Exciting times!
Good morning deals hunters! This is Rosie Hilder here clocking on for a day of deals hunting. I’m happy to be covering this blog (FYI we’re also running a Switch blog and a MacBook blog today) because the iPad is my favourite Apple product 🙂 There, I’ve said it. I’ll be keeping an eye on prices across the US and the UK and letting you know the best (and worst) offers as they come up.
If you’ve had a look at the iPads on offer, and actually you’re thinking you need more power from your next tech purchase, here’s our live blog on all the MacBook deals this Black Friday.
It’s being run by my colleague Erlingur Einarsson, who as reviews editor has tried and tested many of the models that he’ll be talking about.
Wait a second! I presumed that you all know about all the different iPad models out there. How rude of me!
For those of you that want to get in on this iPad game, but don’t know which one is best for you, let me introduce to you a page I put together on all of the iPad generations.
It covers all the most recent models, outlining all the specs, but also covers some previous models that are still well-worth checking out.
Honesty Truth Bomb Time: I’m actually a late-comer to the iPad… I mean, I’ve owned an ugly and slow 4th Gen iPad forever (which I love). But I’d hardly say it was a bit of tech that was ingrained into my very being… but now I’ve got my 10th Gen iPad, I can totally see it being a problem. One of the good ones.
I really think that’s all down to waiting for the upgrade to be meaningful. If I was updating from the 9th to the 10th, I’d probably be disappointed. They’re both really good tablets. But the 4th to the 10th! Wow, now there are some pretty big improvements! Chief amongst them, the speed and the beautiful screen…
Actually, I may just give this blog a rest, grab a coffee, and have a play with my new toy… in a bit!
Hello to the UK! Google is telling me that there are now more UK active viewers on this live blog than US… morning fella! ‘Ow’s yer muva?! Appewls and pares, Appewls and pares…
Right! Now we’ve got that out of the way – iPAD DEALS!!!
The best iPad deal that I can see in the UK right now, is the same one that I was reporting on for the US – a £62 discount on the 10th Gen iPad, from Amazon.
I will of courses change my tune, just as soon as I see a contender, but right now, this is the best saving on the most popular iPad out there.
Actually, let me contradict myself a second… below, I mentioned that I’m finding deals on all the models of iPad. But on second look, I’m actually finding deals on the iPad Pro hard to come by. Over on Amazon, there are actually none at all!
If you’re looking for a Pro this Black Friday, the current best deal I can find is over at B&H Photo. Get the M2 iPad Pro down from $899 to $829 – that’s for the 256GB model.
If you’re asking yourself, iPad or drawing tablet? let me direct you to a really interesting article that my colleague Beth Nichols wrote.
It has a handy breakdown of the difference between drawing tablets, pen displays and iPad tablets (I think you’ve probably got the last one). Really it’s just a good read, especially if you’re a digital artists looking for your next bit of kit.
So how is 2023’s Black Friday fairing for iPad deals? I’ve covered the last few Black Fridays, and I can confidently say that things are… just like any other Black Friday!
I’m seeing some solid deals on the most recent models for iPad, Air, mini and Pro, and some bigger discounts on the older iterations. This is all good, especially the discounts on the recent models, as they’re by far the most popular.
My current pick of all the deals? Well, I’d have to say the iPad 10th Gen, down from $449 to $349 over at Amazon, wouldn’t I?! (See below).
I also got the Apple Pencil with my iPad 10… if you’re after a tab with stylus, you may want to check out our guide to the best iPads drawing.
A note on that – we’ve tried and tested all the iPads, so we have a pretty good idea of which model is best for what task… have a read.
I did it! After a lot of umming and ahhing, I’ve got myself a brand new iPad 10th Gen… and man do I love it already.
Spent most of last night watching Reacher on it. The picture is stunning, the speakers decent (though I hooked it up to my JBL Charge 5 for extra oomff), and as I’m already in the Apple ecosystem, I was up and running with it instantly (isn’t that one of the main appeals of Apple?!)
Anyway, will update as I continue to use it. But for now: it’s my highlight of Black Friday so far!
Hello everybody! Deals editor Beren here, and welcome to our iPad live blog. We will be exclusively seeking out the best iPad deals this Black Friday, and so far, so good! There are some great deals to be had, as detailed above… I’ll be adding, editing, deleting as the deals come and go. Happy dealing (that’s really not a thing, is it?!)