We’ve all been there. You determine to select up a shiny new gadget, so that you head to the outlets and return house together with your costly buy; all is effectively with the world. Then every week later a more recent, higher model is launched, and also you’re left questioning whether or not you’ve wasted your cash.
On this article we present find out how to keep away from this trauma by explaining when it’s the perfect time to purchase an iPad.
If you happen to’re struggling to determine which one is the fitting gadget for you, by the way, you also needs to check out our iPad shopping for information.
When is the perfect time to purchase an iPad?
It’s not really easy to say when the perfect time to purchase an iPad is as a result of there isn’t a clear schedule to when Apple will replace any of the iPad fashions. Nevertheless, since Apple doesn’t are inclined to replace iPads as often because it does iPhones and the Apple Watch, you may be reasonabl.y condident that’s the iPad is lower than a yr and a half outdated it in all probability isn’t about to be up to date.
Protected within the information that an replace isn’t due quickly, you is perhaps questioning if the worth may change. Somewhat than look ahead to Apple to drop the worth, which occurs very hardly ever, our suggestion could be to search for offers from retailers. We see offers all year long, however the perfect are inclined to occur throughout Amazon Prime Day (July advert October) or Black Friday (November).
The perfect time to purchase an iPad isn’t essentially when a brand new mannequin launches. If you happen to wait a month or two you may have the ability to take benefits of gross sales and value drops from resellers. Throughout October and November we see numerous gross sales occasions, reminiscent of Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday, and you’ll count on to get some cash off at these occasions. Apple doesn’t low cost its merchandise at its personal shops, however it does provide vouchers with new purchases every now and then–and Black Friday is a type of occasions. For recommendation on the place to purchase, learn our roundup of the Finest iPad offers.
How usually is the iPad up to date?
Life could be a bit simpler for the iPad fanbase in case you might all the time depend on the most recent replace to your most popular mannequin showing in September, as is the case with the iPhone. As a substitute, Apple updates its iPads on a much less predictable schedule, with new fashions tending to look round September/October or April, and sometimes with a niche of two or extra years between updates.
Right here’s an inventory of the iPads on sale as we speak and after they had been final up to date:
- iPad (A16): March 2025
- iPad Air (M3): March 2025
- iPad mini (A17 Professional): October 2024
- iPad Professional (M4): March 2024
When will Apple launch new iPads?
The following replace is prone to be the iPad Professional later in 2025. It’s anticipated that the iPad Professional will get an M5 chip in September or October 2025.
Is now a great time to purchase an iPad?
Right here’s our breakdown of the 4 varieties of iPad that Apple at present sells, and in every case whether or not you should purchase now or wait.
iPad (A16, 2025): Purchase now or wait?
Worth When Reviewed:
£329
BUY (however think about another)
- Final up to date: March 2025
- Is now a great time to purchase? Sure. However needless to say there are Apple Intelligence options you gained’t be getting now, or sooner or later, so a distinct iPad is perhaps a more sensible choice.
The present 10-inch iPad arrived in March 2025.
That is the most affordable iPad, with a beginning value of $349/£329, and as such it’s a straightforward mannequin to advocate for individuals who don’t care in regards to the newest flashy improvements and as a substitute desire a dependable, mid-size pill in enjoyable colours, for normal use.
Nevertheless, if dimension isn’t essential, it’s possible you’ll be higher off with the smaller iPad mini, which begins at $499/£499. Another excuse to decide on the iPad mini or iPad Air is that the usual iPad doesn’t help Apple Intelligence, which might imply lacking out on options coming to the iPad sooner or later.
iPad mini (A17 Professional, 2024): Purchase now or wait?
Worth When Reviewed:
£499 (128GB; Wi-Fi solely) | £599 (256GB; Wi-Fi solely) | £799 (512GB; Wi-Fi solely)
BUY
- Final up to date: October 2024
- Is now a great time to purchase? Sure. We don’t count on an replace till 2026 or later.
As we talked about above, the 2024 iPad mini now gives 128GB storage on the entry stage, relatively than a measly 64GB. This can be a particular level in its favor. As well as, the 2024 mannequin contains a chip suitable with Apple Intelligence options, so it is going to be properly future-proofed for some time (and it’s prone to be a couple of years till Apple updates it).
There’s a selection of colour choices, as there are on the iPad and iPad Air. The iPad mini has pale blue, purple and starlight in distinction to the bolder colour decisions on the Air and commonplace iPad.
Learn our full
Apple iPad mini (A17 Professional) evaluate
iPad Air (M3, 2025): Purchase now or wait?
Worth When Reviewed:
£599
BUY
- Final up to date: March 2025
- Is now a great time to purchase? Sure. We don’t count on an replace till 2026 or later.
The iPad Air with M3 chip is a shocking machine at a relatively reasonably priced value. It has some competitors from the iPad Professional (which has a extra meaty M4 chip), and it’s not the skinny, gentle providing it as soon as was now that the iPad Professional is simply as slim.
Just like the iPad Professional the iPad Air now is available in two sizes, so you possibly can select both a 11-inch or 14-inch show. It’s the iPad Air that has the enjoyable colour palette although, accessible in blue, pink, yellow or silver, whereas the Professional has a extra skilled colour scheme.
iPad Professional (M4, 2024): Purchase now or wait?
Worth When Reviewed:
£999 (Wi-Fi solely)
BUY
- Final up to date: March 2024
- Is now a great time to purchase? Sure. The iPad Professional will in all probability get a M5 chip later in 2025, however we don’t suppose that’s a cause to attend.
Because the flagships of Apple’s pill vary, the iPad Professional 11-inch and 14-inch are extremely fascinating units that boast unimaginable ranges of efficiency. These options don’t come low cost, although.
There’s regarded as a brand new iPad Professional coming later in 2025 however it will solely be a chip improve from M4 to M5 and the M4 is loads adequate.
Learn our full
Apple iPad Professional 11-inch (M4, 2024) evaluate