Save $270: Amazon isn’t the only retailer offering deals this week. Best Buy has slashed the price of the 128GB cellular M3 iPad Air by a huge $270, bringing the price down to just $479 during its competing Prime Day sale. This particular model would normally retail for around $750, but it’s yours today for much less. Considering Apple just announced sweeping price rises on Macs and iPad models, this is an even better deal.
This Best Buy deal rivals the top Prime Day Apple deals we’ve seen so far, and it offers an incredible opportunity to get a lightweight, powerful tablet for under $500. But we’re not sure how much longer the deal will last, so snag it while you can.
The cellular capability means that, unlike with a standard iPad, you don’t need to be in range of a Wi-Fi network or tethered to your phone for connectivity. That saves your phone battery and allows the iPad to use GPS navigation itself, among other things. You’ll need to add cell service to the device, however. The Air is also thinner and lighter than other iPads.
This Best Buy deal offers one of the most capable tablets out there, at one of the biggest discounts, but there are other iPad Air deals available if the specs don’t suit your needs. There’s the 1TB model for $749 at Best Buy, which saves you $500, and is a better bet if you need tons of storage. Best Buy also has plenty of other M3 iPad Air models on sale, so don’t forget to check those out too.
The M3 iPad Air is a great option if you want to get one of Apple’s best tablets but don’t need the extra performance of the newer M4 model. The M3 version lacks Wi-Fi 7 support, but beyond that, the main difference is in raw performance. The M4 chip is faster than the M3, but whether you’ll notice the difference will depend on how you use your tablet. Only those editing large videos and doing other pro-level work are likely to benefit from the faster M4 chip.
If this isn’t the deal for you, check out our roundup of the best Amazon Prime Day tablet deals for more options.
PRIME DAY TABLET DEALS OF THE WEEK
Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.
Alternatives you might like
Prefer to buy the latest model? The base-spec 11-inch M4 iPad Air is yours for just $519 — a $80 discount. It is one of our favorite tablets of 2026, and is a great choice for power users that want faster performance for multi-tasking and video editing.
If you’re looking for a cheaper option, the entry-level iPad 11th generation with the A16 chip is on sale now for $299 on Amazon. That’s a $50 discount on its usual list price.
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