Best iPad Deals in Amazon's Big Spring Sale 2026

If you've been waiting for the right moment to buy an iPad, that moment is right now. Amazon's Big Spring Sale (March 25–31, 2026) is live, and it's brought some of the best iPad prices we've seen in months — including deals on Apple's brand-new iPad Air with M4 chip, which launched earlier this month. Whether you want the most affordable entry point or near-laptop performance in a tablet, there's a discounted iPad with your name on it this week.

Why Everyone's Talking About iPad Deals Right Now

Two things collided this week to create a genuine buying opportunity: Amazon launched its annual Big Spring Sale on March 25, and Apple had just released the new iPad Air with M4 chip days earlier. The result? You can buy the newest iPad Air at a discount before it's even been on shelves for a full month. Meanwhile, the entry-level iPad with A16 chip has dropped to its lowest price in three months at $299. Stock is moving fast on both, and the sale ends March 31 — so this isn't the kind of window you want to sleep on.

Quick Picks: Best iPads to Buy Right Now

Not sure where to start? Here are the top three iPad deals worth your attention this week:

• Best for most people: Apple iPad 11-inch (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) — $299 (was $349)
• Best mid-range pick: Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4 chip, 256GB, WiFi) — $559 (was $599)
• Best for power users: Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5 chip, 256GB, WiFi) — $1,199 (was $1,299)

iPad Deals Breakdown: Every Model Worth Considering

Apple iPad 11-inch (A16 Chip) — $299

This is the deal of the sale for anyone who wants a capable iPad without breaking the bank. The Apple iPad 11-inch (A16 chip, 128GB, WiFi) has dropped from $349 to $299 — its best price in three months, according to Gizmodo, which flagged that stock is already moving quickly.

At $299, you're getting a surprisingly modern feature set: a Liquid Retina display, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, 12MP front and rear cameras, Touch ID for secure login, and Apple Pay support. The A16 chip is the same silicon found in the iPhone 14 Pro, meaning it handles everything from streaming and browsing to light creative work and gaming without breaking a sweat. For students, casual users, or anyone buying their first iPad, this is the obvious pick.

Key specs: 11-inch Liquid Retina display, A16 chip, 128GB storage, Wi-Fi 6, 12MP cameras, Touch ID, all-day battery life.

Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4 Chip) — $559

Apple just released the new iPad Air with M4 chip in early March 2026, and it's already on sale. The Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4 chip, 256GB, WiFi) is down $40 to $559 — notable because Apple held the line at $599 when it upgraded from the M2 to M4, so any discount on a brand-new device is genuinely unusual.

What makes the M4 Air special is the sheer performance jump. In Geekbench 6 testing, it scored 13,176 — putting it ahead of most laptops currently on the market, according to coverage from Mashable. If you're using an iPad for video editing, digital illustration, running productivity apps side-by-side, or anything that actually taxes the hardware, the M4 Air handles it with room to spare. You also get 256GB of storage at this price point, which is double what the base iPad offers.

This is the iPad we'd recommend to most people who want a device that won't feel dated in three to four years.

Key specs: 11-inch Liquid Retina display, M4 chip, 256GB storage, Wi-Fi 6E, 12MP cameras, Touch ID, USB-C, all-day battery.

Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5 Chip) — $1,199

If you want the absolute best iPad Apple makes, the Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M5 chip, 256GB, WiFi) is $100 off at $1,199 during the sale. The M5 chip pushes performance even further than the M4, and the 13-inch ProMotion display — with its 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and OLED panel — is simply the best screen Apple puts on any portable device.

The iPad Pro is for professionals: video editors, architects, illustrators, and musicians who use the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard as part of a real workflow. For most consumers, the iPad Air is a better value. But if you need the top tier, $1,199 is a fair entry point for the M5 Pro.

Also worth noting: the M4 iPad Pro 13-inch (512GB) is available for $1,299.99, down from $1,499 — a solid option if you need more storage at a slight discount over the M5 base model.

Key specs: 13-inch OLED ProMotion display (120Hz), M5 chip, 256GB storage, Wi-Fi 6E, Thunderbolt/USB 4, Face ID.

What to Look For: iPad Buying Guide

With multiple models at different price points, choosing the right iPad comes down to a few key questions:

• How will you use it? Browsing, streaming, and light note-taking? The base iPad is plenty. Creative work, multitasking, or replacing a laptop? Go Air or Pro.
• What's your storage need? 128GB is fine for casual users who lean on streaming. If you download video, store photos, or run large apps, 256GB (iPad Air) is a smarter baseline.
• Do you need cellular? All deals listed here are Wi-Fi models. Cellular adds $150–$200 and requires a monthly plan — only worth it if you work away from hotspots regularly.
• Apple Pencil compatibility: The entry-level iPad supports the USB-C Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil (1st gen). The iPad Air and Pro support the Apple Pencil Pro with hover and squeeze gestures — a meaningful upgrade for artists and note-takers.
• Keyboard support: All current iPads support Magic Keyboard cases, but the fit varies by generation. Confirm compatibility before buying.

What's Coming Next: Should You Wait?

If you're considering the base iPad specifically, there's a wrinkle worth knowing. Reports from MSN and Digital Trends suggest Apple has a new entry-level iPad ready to launch in a few months, which could bring a meaningful performance catch-up to the base model.

That said, "a few months" at retail pricing is a different calculation than $299 today. If you need an iPad now — for school, work, or a gift — buying the A16 model at its current low price is completely defensible. If you can wait until summer and the base iPad is your target, it may be worth holding off.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do these sale prices last?

Amazon's Big Spring Sale runs through March 31, 2026. After that, prices are expected to revert. Some deals may sell out before the sale ends — Gizmodo specifically noted that the $299 iPad is moving quickly.

Is the iPad Air M4 worth $40 more than the base iPad?

Yes — but it's more than $40 more. The Air is $559 vs. $299, a $260 gap. What you're getting for that difference: the far more powerful M4 chip (vs. A16), double the storage (256GB vs. 128GB), Wi-Fi 6E (vs. Wi-Fi 6), a thinner chassis, and Apple Pencil Pro support. If your budget allows it, the Air is a noticeably better long-term investment.

Are these iPads unlocked for any carrier?

The Wi-Fi models listed here don't require a carrier — they connect via Wi-Fi only. Cellular models are sold separately and are carrier-unlocked in most cases, but they cost more and aren't part of the featured deals this week.

Which iPad works best as a laptop replacement?

The iPad Air M4 or iPad Pro M5 paired with a Magic Keyboard comes closest to a laptop experience. The M4 chip's benchmark scores — over 13,000 on Geekbench 6 — genuinely compete with entry-level MacBooks. Add the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro, and you have a versatile machine. The base iPad can work in a pinch but lacks the raw performance for heavy multitasking.

Our Recommendation

For most people, the Apple iPad Air 11-inch with M4 chip at $559 is the best iPad to buy this week. You're getting a brand-new chip that outperforms most laptops, 256GB of storage, and a device that will stay relevant for years — all at a rare discount on a product that just launched. It hits the sweet spot between capable and affordable in a way no other iPad currently does.

If $559 is over budget, the $299 base iPad with A16 chip is an exceptional value for everyday tasks — especially at a three-month price low. Just act before March 31; once the Big Spring Sale ends, these prices go with it.