iPad prices went up in 2026, and that broke a pattern that had held for years. In June, Apple raised the starting price of every iPad by $100 to $200, so the entry-level iPad now starts at $449, up from $349. Retailer discounts still exist, but you now need to judge them against a higher baseline and against the real price history, not against whatever "list price" a listing crosses out.
This guide covers where iPad prices stand today, how they got here, why they moved, when the lowest prices tend to appear, and how to check whether a deal is real.
TL;DR
- In June 2026 Apple raised US iPad prices: iPad to $449, iPad mini to $599, iPad Air to $749, iPad Pro to $1,199, according to MacRumors' report on the increase.
- Apple blamed a memory-chip squeeze driven by AI demand, so this was a cost shift, not a one-off promotion ending.
- Apple rarely discounts iPads itself. The biggest drops come from retailers, often around Prime Day and Black Friday.
- A "was" price on a listing proves nothing. Compare today's price with the recorded low for that exact model and storage size.
- A discounted older model is often better value than the newest one.
Table of Contents
- iPad prices in 2026: where they stand now
- How iPad prices got here
- Why iPad prices went up in 2026
- When iPad prices drop the most
- How to tell a real iPad deal from a fake one
- Our perspective: price history beats price claims
- Track iPad prices with BasketPrice
- What to expect over the next year
- FAQ
- Sources
iPad prices in 2026: where they stand now
Apple's US store lists the iPad Air from $749 and the iPad mini (A20 Pro) from $699 in the 128GB configuration, with 256GB and 512GB options above that. The iPad Pro 11-inch (M5, 256GB) is listed at $1,199 on the same Apple store.
The June changes, as reported by AP, looked like this:
| Model | Starting price before June 2026 | Starting price after | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPad (entry level) | $349 | $449 | +$100 |
| iPad mini | $499 | $599 | +$100 |
| iPad Air (11-inch) | $599 | $749 | +$150 |
| iPad Pro (11-inch) | $999 | $1,199 | +$200 |
One wrinkle: the iPad mini figure in that table ($599) is the starting price from the June change, while Apple's current store page for the newer iPad mini (A20 Pro) shows $699 at 128GB. That is a different, newer configuration, so check the exact generation and storage before you compare numbers from different dates.
Storage and connectivity matter as much as the model name. Each step up in storage adds a fixed premium, and cellular versions cost more than Wi-Fi ones. When you read any price trend, make sure every data point is the same model, same storage, same connectivity. Otherwise you are comparing apples to something else.
How iPad prices got here
The original iPad launched in April 2010 at $499, which one inflation calculator puts at about $767 in August 2026 dollars. Over the following years the lineup split into four tiers, and the entry point drifted lower in real terms. By March 2025 the iPad with the A16 chip and 128GB cost $349, according to the same price-by-year listing.
A few patterns stand out in that history:
- New generations push old ones down. Apple has a long habit of cutting the price of existing models when a successor arrives. The $100 cut to the first-generation iPad in March 2011 is an early example.
- The entry model gets the deepest retailer cuts. In May 2025, Amazon sold the A16 iPad at $299, a $50 drop that was reported as an all-time low at the time. (Retail price then: $349.)
- Holiday events produce the real lows. During Black Friday 2024, Tom's Guide tracked the 9th-generation iPad at $199 and the 13-inch iPad Air (M2) at $699.
Then came 2026. The June increase was the first time in a long while that the starting price of the whole lineup moved up at once, and it reset what a "good price" means.
Why iPad prices went up in 2026
Apple's stated reason was memory. AP reported that the company cited a memory-chip shortage brought on by the AI boom. TechRepublic describes the same move as a $100 to $200 rise across the iPad lineup, tied to data centers soaking up memory supply.
What that means for you:
- It is a component cost, not a seasonal blip. Do not expect list prices to snap back next quarter on their own.
- Retailer deals matter more. With Apple holding its prices, the gap between the list price and what Amazon or another big store charges is where savings now live.
- Older stock is valuable. Units made before the increase may still sit in retail inventory at lower prices until they sell through. When you see one, compare it against recorded history before assuming it is a bargain or a leftover.
When iPad prices drop the most
Apple itself rarely discounts iPads directly. Macworld notes that retailers offer savings throughout the year, with the biggest discounts often arriving during Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday. Its October 2026 deals roundup says the same about discounts against the new, higher list prices.
A practical calendar:
| Window | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Summer (Prime Day) | Strong discounts on the entry iPad and iPad Air, usually from Amazon and competing retailers |
| Late November (Black Friday and Cyber Monday) | The deepest cuts on older models and the best chance at new all-time lows |
| Right after a new generation is announced | Previous-generation models get marked down as stores clear stock |
| The rest of the year | Smaller, shorter drops of roughly the sort that come and go within days |
Black Friday is the one that matters most now. We keep a Black Friday page for Amazon with the likely window, and our broader guide to the best time to buy electronics in 2026 covers how timing plays out across categories.
How to tell a real iPad deal from a fake one
The crossed-out price on a listing is a claim, not a record. A seller can call anything the "typical" price. Macworld's approach is to compare retailer offers with Apple's current and previous prices and the lowest prices seen, and that is the right method for anyone.
Use this four-step check:
- Pin down the exact model. Generation, screen size, storage and Wi-Fi versus cellular. A "$100 off" on 64GB tells you nothing about the 256GB.
- Find the Apple price. Since June 2026, that is the new list price. Anything priced at or above it is not a deal, whatever the banner says.
- Find the recorded low. Look at how low that exact configuration has gone and how often. A price that has appeared six times in a year is a normal price, not a rare one.
- Compare with last year's holiday price. If the current price is above what the same model cost on Black Friday, waiting is likely to pay off.
Older models often win on value
Macworld's advice is that a big discount on a slightly older model often beats the latest premium release. Tom's Guide made the same point in 2024: the 9th-generation iPad did nearly everything the 10th-generation could, and it was available for $199 on Black Friday. With new list prices higher, that logic gets stronger, as long as the older model still gets software updates and meets your needs. Check Apple's model comparison page for chip and display differences before you commit.
Our perspective: price history beats price claims
We built BasketPrice around one frustration: most "deal" pages quote a reference price the seller chose. Our price records come from our own readings of retailer prices, not from merchant claims. That distinction matters most for products like iPads, where the headline discount can look large while the actual price is the same as it was three weeks ago.
Three things we think hold up for iPad shoppers in 2026:
- Judge the price, not the percentage. A 15 percent discount from an inflated reference price can be worse than a 5 percent discount from the real one. Record-low comparisons cut through that.
- Set an alert instead of checking daily. Prices on tracked items change often, and a drop can be gone in hours. Alerts, including browser notifications that need no sign-up, let you wait without watching.
- Post-purchase price drops are worth watching. If the price falls after you buy but inside the return window, you may be able to return and rebuy at the lower price. We built an alert trigger for exactly that, but always check the retailer's return policy first.
We do earn a commission when you buy through our links, which is why we show the recorded history alongside every offer: you can see for yourself whether the price is good.
— Cleaning
Track iPad prices with BasketPrice
If you are planning to buy an iPad this fall, start with our iPad price page. It shows current offers from major retailers, mostly Amazon, and the price history behind each one, so you can see where today's price sits against its own record.
Pick the model and storage you want, set a price-drop alert, and let the browser notification do the waiting. You can also turn on a back-in-stock alert if your configuration keeps selling out. For a wider look at what else is moving, browse our electronics prices and tablet deals, or check the price history on Apple gear such as the MacBook Air 13-inch if you are weighing a laptop instead.
What to expect over the next year
Nobody can promise where prices go from here, but the structure of the market gives some guidance.
- List prices: with Apple's increase tied to memory costs, the floor is higher than it was. A return to $349 for the entry iPad at list price is unlikely unless those costs ease.
- Retail discounts: the pattern of the last several years, with deep cuts at Prime Day and Black Friday, is the best predictor. The size of those cuts against the new baseline is the open question, and recorded history will show it as it happens.
- New releases: when Apple launches a new generation, the previous one usually becomes the better deal at retail within weeks.
- Used and trade-in values: older iPads hold little value. As an example, a comparison site that aggregates buyback offers shows top offers of about $80 to $85 for a 2020 iPad (8th generation), with average cash values closer to $40. Condition, storage and where you sell move that a lot.
If you are deciding between buying now and waiting, ask what you need the iPad for. If it is a school or work deadline, an alert on a slightly older model is a good compromise. If you can wait until Black Friday, the recorded history from last year is your benchmark.
FAQ
Why have iPad prices gone up?
Apple raised iPad prices in June 2026 and cited a memory-chip shortage caused by the AI boom, according to AP. Increases ran from $100 on the entry iPad and iPad mini to $200 on the 11-inch iPad Pro. Because the cause is a component cost, it is more lasting than a temporary markup.
How much is an iPad in 2026?
The entry iPad starts at $449, the iPad mini at $599 per the June 2026 change, the iPad Air at $749 and the 11-inch iPad Pro at $1,199, per MacRumors. Apple's store shows the newer iPad mini (A20 Pro) from $699. Storage upgrades and cellular models cost more.
When is the cheapest time to buy an iPad?
Most often it is Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday, when retailers cut prices on Apple products, as Macworld reports. Prices on older models also fall after a new generation is announced. Check the exact dates for each event on the retailer's own page, since they change every year.
Is a sale price actually a good price?
Only if it beats the recorded history for the same model and storage. Apple seldom discounts directly, so Macworld advises comparing a retailer offer with the list price and the historical low. A price tracker with its own recorded data makes that comparison quick.
How much is a 2020 iPad worth today?
Little. Buyback comparisons show best offers around $80 to $85 for the 2020 iPad 8, and averages near $40. Cracked screens, missing storage and low battery health push offers down further.
Sources
- Apple Just Increased Prices on MacBooks, iPads, and More, MacRumors
- Apple increases prices for Macs, iPads amid memory chip shortage, AP
- Apple Raises Prices on Macs, iPads as Data Centers Drive Demand, TechRepublic
- Shop iPad Air, Apple
- Shop iPad mini, Apple
- Compare iPad models, Apple
- iPad Prices by Year (2010 to 2025), Inflationdle
- First-Generation iPad Prices Reduced by $100, MacRumors
- Best Apple Black Friday Deals 2024, Tom's Guide
- Best iPad Deals, Macworld
- Best Apple Deals, Macworld
- Sell Apple iPad 8 10.2 (2020) trade-in value, BankMyCell