The base 11-inch iPad Air M4 with 128GB is down to $520 right now, a new all-time low on Apple’s most capable mid-range tablet. Most other configurations are discounted too, depending on size and storage, which is worth knowing before you default to the base model.
The 11-inch 256GB version is now $89 off, the 11-inch 1TB is $83 off, the 13-inch 128GB is $58 off, the 13-inch 256GB is $109 off and the 13-inch 1TB is $100 off. Whether you’re going compact or big screen, there’s something here for most budgets.
It’s worth noting that the iPad Air starts at $599, which is the same price as the newly released MacBook Neo. That might raise an eyebrow, but the two serve some distinct purposes, and the iPad Air brings plenty to the table in its own right.
The M4 chip in a $600 device is seriously good value, and CNET’s reviewer, Scott Stein, captured it well. He loves “how instant and casual it feels,” praising how it handles full-screen apps, media and games. For anyone who wants this kind of use, a laptop isn’t always the right tool. With iPadOS 26, he noted it has developed a “Mac-esque sense of versatility. Not a Mac, but approaching one.”
The usual Apple caveat applies here, though. Scott points out that the Magic Keyboard case, which he loves despite being expensive and not folding back easily and the Pencil Pro are both sold separately. Factor those in, and you’re realistically looking at close to $1,000 all in. It adds up fast. And this deal shaves off at least a little of that cost.
If you want to compare before you commit, browse through our list of the best iPad deals, and you’re sure to find something.
TABLET DEALS OF THE WEEK
Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.
Why this deal matters
At this price, you’re saving on the base cost before accessories enter the picture. It won’t make the full setup cheap, but for a tablet packing M4 performance and a growing list of Mac-like capabilities, cutting costs where you can is a welcome relief.
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