Every iPad Air Hits All-Time Low Price in Best Buy's New Sale, Available From $449.99

[MacRumors]

Best Buy's new weekend sale includes every model of the 5th generation iPad Air for up to $150 off, with multiple all-time low prices. These deals are available to all shoppers and do not require a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Starting with the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad Air, you can get this tablet for $449.99, down from $599.99. Best Buy has every color on sale at this record low price, which we last tracked back in January.

iPad Air (64GB Wi-Fi) for $449.99 ($150 OFF)​

Best Buy also has the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad Air on sale for $599.99, down from $749.99. You'll again find this model on sale in all colors, and it's another all-time low price.

iPad Air (256GB Wi-Fi) for $599.99 ($150 OFF)​

Finally, there are cellular discounts as well during this sale, starting at $599.99 for the 64GB cellular iPad Air and rising to $749.99 for the 256GB cellular iPad Air. Both of these are again $150 discounts and all-time low prices on the iPad Air, and available in every color at Best Buy.

iPad Air (64GB cellular) for $599.99 ($150 OFF)​

iPad Air (256GB cellular) for $749.99 ($150 OFF)​

In addition to the iPad Air, Best Buy has great markdowns on the 9th generation iPad, 10th generation iPad, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air, all of which we've covered in articles this week.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

Article Link: Every iPad Air Hits All-Time Low Price in Best Buy's New Sale, Available From $449.99

 

[MrAperture]

This iPad Air was released almost 2 years ago. And Apple is rumored to release new iPads next month.

I'd hold off.

 

[Isengardtom]

This iPad Air was released almost 2 years ago. And Apple is rumored to release new iPads next month.

I'd hold off.

Yeah but I don’t expect major things for the air except a bump to M2 and hopefully a base storage increase

its a decent deal I would say, but important to consider the 64GB storage is low if you want to install many apps.

 

[erikkfi]

I wonder, does Apple quietly give retailers a discount so that inventories of outgoing models can be cleared? We know Apple themselves never discount products in their own store.

 

[Isengardtom]

@erikkfi I guess it’s possible but perhaps more likely that Best Buy follows the rumours and plans to reduce its inventory before the new tablets come out.

they can always order more if the rumours turn out to be false

 

[josselinco]

Smells like refresh spirit

 

[JPack]

Yeah but I don’t expect major things for the air except a bump to M2 and hopefully a base storage increase

its a decent deal I would say, but important to consider the 64GB storage is low if you want to install many apps.

The Pro’s front camera is getting relocated and we’re getting Pencil 3. We should expect the same for Air.

 

[EugW]

Yeah but I don’t expect major things for the air except a bump to M2 and hopefully a base storage increase

its a decent deal I would say, but important to consider the 64GB storage is low if you want to install many apps.

I think the storage bump to 256 GB is very likely for the iPad Pro, and I'm thinking you could also be right for the Air as well, for a bump to 128 GB. That would make for a nicely segmented lineup:

Base iPad Pro: 256 GB
Base iPad Air: 128 GB
Base iPad: 64 GB

The iPad Air discount still is less attractive in that context, assuming Apple doesn't raise the price of the base iPad Air too much.

64 GB is fine for entry level, but the iPad Air isn't entry level. I often recommend 64 GB iPads for light users, but those would be regular iPads, not iPad Airs.

Currently the pricing is:

$599 - iPad Air WiFi 64 GB (Apple)
$450 - iPad Air WiFi 64 GB (Best Buy)
$749 - iPad Air WiFi 256 GB (Apple)
$600 - iPad Air WiFi 256 GB (Best Buy)

I'm thinking Apple could release the 6th generation iPad Air, priced something like this:

$649 - iPad Air WiFi 128 GB
$749 - iPad Air WiFi 256 GB
$949 - iPad Air WiFi 512 GB

And then Apple could release the 4th generation iPad Pro as follows:

$899 - iPad Pro 11" WiFi 256 GB
$1099 - iPad Pro 11" WiFi 512 GB
$1499 - iPad Pro 11" WiFi 1 TB
$1899 - iPad Pro 11" WiFi 2 TB

However, it'd be nice if Apple would lower the costs of the various incremental storage upgrades.

I wonder, does Apple quietly give retailers a discount so that inventories of outgoing models can be cleared? We know Apple themselves never discount products in their own store.

My understanding is that Apple authorizes various retailers to have sales periodically throughout the year. This is NOT just prior to the release of a new model. In their own store they have edu discounts and gift card promotions, and for several months of the year they have a combination of the two in its Back-To-School promotion.

Even if the new iPad Pro 11" 256 GB base model gets released this March, I may wait until June to get that latter promotion.

 

[kevcube]

The Pro’s front camera is getting relocated and we’re getting Pencil 3. We should expect the same for Air.

I don’t think so. Then what’s the pro, just miniLED on 12.9 (who cares honestly, and I love the 12.9 line) and LiDAR (again, who cares)

 

[klasma]

The Pro’s front camera is getting relocated and we’re getting Pencil 3. We should expect the same for Air.

It would be no surprise at all if Apple only does this on the Pros.

 

[klasma]

I don’t think so. Then what’s the pro, just miniLED on 12.9 (who cares honestly, and I love the 12.9 line) and LiDAR (again, who cares)

The Pro will be OLED on both sizes. Also, Face ID and ProMotion.

 

[JPack]

It would be no surprise at all if Apple only does this on the Pros.

iPad 10 is already landscape, the Air is just a matter of time. So it would be a surprise to me.

 

[JPack]

I don’t think so. Then what’s the pro, just miniLED on 12.9 (who cares honestly, and I love the 12.9 line) and LiDAR (again, who cares)

Same differences that already exist today.

iPad Pro gets the latest M chip. iPad Air is n-1. Also, cameras and Face ID difference.

 

[B4U]

Once again, the picture is showing the 4th gen iPad Air when the sale is for 5th gen.
That creates confusion to readers.

 

[EugW]

iPad 10 is already landscape, the Air is just a matter of time. So it would be a surprise to me.

Agreed. All of them are going landscape.

(Or rather, the 10th gen iPad has already gone that way. In that context, it'd be really bizarre if the higher end Air didn't get a landscape camera.)

 

[HMFIC03]

This iPad Air was released almost 2 years ago. And Apple is rumored to release new iPads next month.

I'd hold off.

That’s that analysis the author should have given. Thanks

 

[aj_niner]

These are the iPads that need a refresh

- 2021 iPad mini A15 Bionic
- 2022 iPad Air M1
- 2022 iPhone SE A15 Bionic
- 2022 iPad A14 Bionic
- 2022 iPad Pro M2

 

[Fuzzball84]

These are the iPads that need a refresh

- 2021 iPad mini A15 Bionic
- 2022 iPad Air M1
- 2022 iPhone SE A15 Bionic
- 2022 iPad A14 Bionic
- 2022 iPad Pro M2

They dont need a refresh at all… what they need

What they really, really, really do need… is a decent OS.

The smart people will buy these deals, the suckers will wait and buy the new device…. Unless apple does something unexpected and makes ipad OS better (dex like desktop etc) but restricts it to the refreshed devices 😂

Only in that case would it be worth it, but then you'd be spending a huge amount on a tablet… should have bought a MacBook 🤔

The only refreshed item I'm interested in is the ipad magic keyboard… i mean i think there are some improvements to be made but no way am i buying another ipad if its only compatible with the refreshed devices.

Im not spending another grand just for an updated keyboard 🥴

 

[aj_niner]

They dont need a refresh at all… what they need

What they really, really, really do need… is a decent OS.

The smart people will buy these deals, the suckers will wait and buy the new device…. Unless apple does something unexpected and makes ipad OS better (dex like desktop etc) but restricts it to the refreshed devices 😂

Only in that case would it be worth it, but then you'd be spending a huge amount on a tablet… should have bought a MacBook 🤔

The only refreshed item I'm interested in is the ipad magic keyboard… i mean i think there are some improvements to be made but no way am i buying another ipad if its only compatible with the refreshed devices.

Im not spending another grand just for an updated keyboard 🥴

Lets not dictate what people should or should not buy.

Analysts pointed to no 2023 product refresh as to why iPads sold badly last year.

Newer chips tend to offer better power consumption so better battery life is always welcome.

When the 2024 models comes out then the 2021 & 2022 models will cut price.

 

[TechRunner]

I’m holding out for the rumored 12.9” Air, but if I wasn’t I’d consider a base Air at this price.

 

[russell_314]

It would be no surprise at all if Apple only does this on the Pros.

Of course because right now the iPad Air doesn’t have a good spot in the market. It’s almost as expensive as the Pro and very similar. The only reason I have an iPad Air was I got a deal from the carrier. If I was just buying it for full price, I probably would’ve went with the Pro because the price is very close.

We can debate touch ID versus Face ID all day, but one isn’t Pro over the other. I mean the most expensive MacBook Pro has touch ID. I think Face ID is a major advantage on the iPhone where you’re constantly unlocking it but with the iPad it’s not like you’re shoving it in your pocket and pulling it out every 15 minutes.

 

[EugW]

Of course because right now the iPad Air doesn’t have a good spot in the market. It’s almost as expensive as the Pro and very similar. The only reason I have an iPad Air was I got a deal from the carrier. If I was just buying it for full price, I probably would’ve went with the Pro because the price is very close.

We can debate touch ID versus Face ID all day, but one isn’t Pro over the other. I mean the most expensive MacBook Pro has touch ID. I think Face ID is a major advantage on the iPhone where you’re constantly unlocking it but with the iPad it’s not like you’re shoving it in your pocket and pulling it out every 15 minutes.

I prefer Face ID on the iPad and Touch ID on the iPhone, but ironically I have Touch ID on the iPad and Face ID on the iPhone.

Why do I prefer Face ID on the iPad? Cuz I can just tap the keyboard space bar to log in, instead of having to reach out and hold the Touch ID button.

Why do I prefer Touch ID on the iPhone? Cuz if I take off my glasses, like in bed, I will hold the iPhone closer, but then Face ID doesn't work consistently. I have to remember to hold the iPhone further away each time for Face ID, and then bring it closer to actually use the iPhone, which is kind of awkward.

These things aren't really major issues in the greater scheme of things, but regardless, they can be a bit annoying.

Ideal would be to have both Face ID and Touch ID.

 

[Entilzha]

It amuses me every time one of these price drop articles hits, and the usual “don’t buy these, you FOOLS!” responses happen.

$150 off of an M1 based tablet is an absolute steal for the average user. The only reason I don’t have one myself is that I already have an Apple-refurbished M1 iPad Pro and like the higher refresh rate screen in comparison. Other than that, I’d have one right now at this price. 256 GB, obviously.

Yes, newer models are coming. But $150 is $150 and every dollar counts these days. If the only main differences end up being an M2 bump and a landscape oriented camera, that $150 savings ends up being pretty decent.

 

[Fuzzball84]

Lets not dictate what people should or should not buy.

Analysts pointed to no 2023 product refresh as to why iPads sold badly last year.

Newer chips tend to offer better power consumption so better battery life is always welcome.

When the 2024 models comes out then the 2021 & 2022 models will cut price.

I’m not dictating anything… I don’t dictate what people will or won’t do.

This deal is really good and if you buy now… you could still get years out of them. Apple will support repairs of hardware for at least 5 years since the last sale of the item at retail.

And you just just dictated yourself by saying the 2021 and 2022 models “will cut price”.

That’s not a given… what happens if a new model is released. There is a major flaw and or a war breaks out… all of a sudden the price of 2021 and 2022 models could jump in value… just saying, a possibility…

Not unimaginable given the current state of the world 😂

 

[Fuzzball84]

It amuses me every time one of these price drop articles hits, and the usual “don’t buy these, you FOOLS!” responses happen.

$150 off of an M1 based tablet is an absolute steal for the average user. The only reason I don’t have one myself is that I already have an Apple-refurbished M1 iPad Pro and like the higher refresh rate screen in comparison. Other than that, I’d have one right now at this price. 256 GB, obviously.

Yes, newer models are coming. But $150 is $150 and every dollar counts these days. If the only main differences end up being an M2 bump and a landscape oriented camera, that $150 savings ends up being pretty decent.

What amuses me is the buy now and don’t buy traffic light system on this website. I know why it’s there, I mean it’s a general guide for a certain group of people… but I think buying a device near the end of its “expected” release is not a bad thing. Especially if they are on sale… and in any case Apple support older devices with hardware repairs and software updates far longer than most competitors.