Apple Deals: After years of tracking Apple sales and comparing Black Friday offers across retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target, one thing is clear—the 2025 Black Friday iPad A16 deal for $279 is one of the smartest holiday buys you can make. This isn’t one of those outdated leftovers you usually find buried in the sale section. This is the latest entry-level Apple iPad powered by the fast A16 chip, fully compatible with iPadOS 26, and priced at the lowest level ever. Whether you’re shopping for yourself, gifting someone, or upgrading an old device, this is the kind of deal that deserves attention. Even tech publications like Wirecutter, Wired, and USA Today have been highlighting how aggressive Apple deals are this year, especially on Amazon and Walmart.
Apple’s 2025 Black Friday iPad A16 Deal
Why This $279 Deal Is Creating Buzz
Unlike most Black Friday sales that discount older-gen models, this deal cuts the price of a current-gen iPad by a solid margin. The A16 chip, previously used in premium iPhones, keeps the device powerful and smooth for years. Everyday tasks like streaming, note-taking, gaming, drawing, and browsing feel fluid, and the tablet easily handles multitasking. Even if you’re reading reviews or comparisons on sites like Consumer Reports or Apple’s official iPad page, you’ll see that performance, battery life, and long-term software support make the new iPad A16 an easy recommendation.
If interested in Apple’s newest mobile upgrades, don’t miss our detailed iPhone Air 2025 review, where we break down its price, features, and real-world performance.
iPad A16 vs Other 2025 iPad Models
Here’s an easy comparison to understand why this deal stands out:
| Feature | iPad A16 (2025 Entry Model) | iPad Air | iPad Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | A16 | M2 | M3 |
| Starting Price | $349 normally — $279 on Black Friday | $599 | $999 |
| Everyday Speed | Fast | Faster | Fastest |
| Best For | Students, kids, home use, streaming, drawing | Creators, multitasking | Pros, designers, video editors |
| Overall Value | Best Value | Mid-range | Premium |
This table makes it clear: the entry-level iPad offers the highest value for most people. It’s not the most advanced, but it’s the best balance between power and price—especially during Black Friday.
Apple’s 2025 Black Friday iPad A16 Deal
Who Should Grab This Deal
This deal is perfect if you’re a student looking for a reliable school device, someone who wants an affordable Apple tablet for everyday use, or a parent buying a first-time Apple gift. Thanks to the A16 chip and iPadOS 26 optimization, the device stays smooth whether you’re editing documents, watching movies, attending online classes, or sketching with Apple Pencil. It’s also a great upgrade if you’re using an older iPad from 2018–2021. For users who already own newer iPad Air or iPad Pro models, this may not be a necessary jump—but for everyone else, it’s a significant improvement.
How This Apple Deal Compares to Other Discounts
Apple discounts this deep don’t happen often, and they almost never apply to new models. Retailers like Amazon and Walmart are dropping prices earlier this year due to higher inventory, while Best Buy is pushing bundle perks and Target is offering bonus gift cards. When you compare Apple’s overall 2025 Black Friday price drops, the iPad A16 clearly gives the strongest value-per-dollar.
Apple Black Friday 2025 — Average Price Drops
| Product | Regular Price | Black Friday Price | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPad A16 | $349 | $279 | $70 off |
| iPad Air | $599 | $499 | $100 off |
| iPad Mini | $499 | $399 | $100 off |
| MacBook Air | $999 | $799 | $200 off |
| Apple Watch SE | $249 | $199 | $50 off |
| AirPods 3 | $179 | $119 | $60 off |
Despite the lower dollar amount, the iPad A16 deal delivers the best value ratio, especially for buyers who don’t need pro-level specs.
Where You’ll Find the $279 Price
The $279 price is showing up widely across Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target, with Amazon typically launching the discount first. Walmart often drops flash deals for even shorter windows, so checking both retailers is smart. Best Buy sometimes includes accessories or AppleCare offers, while Target users can combine gift cards with sales to squeeze more value out of the purchase. If you’re following tech updates on sites like NextPulse, you’ll see these deals appear in real time with ongoing updates.
Why Retailers Are Slashing Prices Hard in 2025
Apple’s late-year product cycle and strong stock levels across retailers created pressure to discount earlier and deeper. With holiday shopping starting sooner and competition between retailers at an all-time high, the result is one of the most aggressive years for Apple Black Friday deals. All of this works in your favor.
Is It Worth Upgrading?
If you’re using an older iPad—especially a 7th, 8th, or 9th-gen model—it’s absolutely worth it. The jump to A16 gives you smoother performance, better graphics, and longer software support. Apps launch faster, browsing feels cleaner, and battery life is more stable. If you already own an iPad Air or Pro from recent years, the upgrade may not be necessary unless you want a secondary device.
Apple’s 2025 Black Friday iPad
Why Students Should Not Miss This Deal
For students, this is a dream purchase. Paired with a keyboard case, the iPad A16 practically becomes a lightweight laptop alternative. Note-taking, reading, multitasking, and video calls all feel seamless. Educational apps run without stutter, and iPadOS 26 adds even more tools for productivity. For the price, it’s one of the best student tech buys this year.
Strengths of the iPad A16 at a Glance
The iPad A16 brings strong performance, smooth graphics, long battery life, Pencil support, iPadOS 26 compatibility, and lightweight portability. It’s excellent for everyday tasks, travel, streaming, casual gaming, and work. Whether you’re browsing reviews on TechRadar, checking specs on Apple’s official site, or reading comparison guides across tech blogs, you’ll see the same conclusion: it’s the most balanced iPad for the average user.
How to Grab the Best Apple Deals Faster
If you want to beat the rush, set price alerts, add the iPad to your Amazon or Walmart cart early, enable one-click checkout, and check for lightning deals. Best Buy often pushes midnight drops, while Target rewards loyalty users with bonus gift cards. A little prep goes a long way during Black Friday.
You can also check out our complete PlayStation Black Friday guide for 2025, where we highlight the biggest discounts on consoles, games, and accessories.
Final Verdict
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to buy an iPad, this is it. The $279 iPad A16 Black Friday deal is one of the strongest Apple offers of 2025. It’s fast, dependable, affordable, future-ready, and ideal for almost anyone. With deep discounts across major retailers and increasing demand, this model won’t stay in stock for long. If you want it, grab it before it disappears.
Apple Early 2018 iPad (9.7-inch, Wi-Fi, 32GB) – Space Gray (Renewed Premium)
9.7″ Multi-Touch Retina Display 2048 x 1536 Screen Resolution (264 ppi)
Apple A10 Fusion SoC and M10 Coprocessor 4G LTE | 802.11ac Wi-Fi | Bluetooth 4.4
Front 1.2MP FaceTime HD Camera Rear 8MP Camera
Apple Pencil Support Night Shift | Touch ID Sensor