iPads cost money.
A specced-out iPad Pro costs $2400. Not including an Apple Pencil. Or a Magic Keyboard.
People who buy the iPad at full price are stupid. I’m sorry.
It is unbelievably easy to save $50+ on an iPad ($100+ if you’re getting a Pro model).
I’ve been learning about iPads since 2020. I’d call myself an iPad expert. Here are my top ways to save tons of money on an iPad:
Don’t Buy One
You might get mad, but this is a valid reason.
People always ask me if they should get an iPad Pro. My honest answer is no.
This is what I see way too often:
Someone sees other people using iPads and wants one for themselves
They look online and see reviewers saying every model besides the Pro sucks
They buy a Pro and have fun for a few months
By the time the return period runs out, they regret every life choice they’ve ever made
I know because I went through this phase.
A lot of people who want the iPad Pro can accomplish 99% of their needs with an iPad Air (while saving hundreds).
Certified Refurbished
A surprising number of people don’t know this.
Or they think it’s a scam.
It’s not. A ton of people have used it. They all probably had doubts when they put their credit card info. And every single one of them is happy.
If you don’t what I’m talking about, here you go.
This is Apple’s certified refurbished store. All products were returned and then fixed by Apple. They all have one-year warranties.
If you can get over the “someone else used this before me” feeling, you can get some cool deals:
Student Discounts
Students get a ton of benefits. I know because I am one.
Apple’s education discounts aren’t anything crazy. But a 10% discount on a $1000 product means a lot.
With an education discount, you can save:
$50 on an iPad Air
$50 on an 11” iPad Pro
$100 on a 12.9” iPad Pro
As you upgrade things like storage, you might also save a bit more money.
But if you’re a student, don’t buy an iPad with the education discount. Not now.
Instead, wait until the fall. You’ll be able to get $100+ Apple gift cards or even free AirPods as part of Apple’s annual “Back to School” program.
Combining these, you might be able to get 15-20% off on your iPad. As my roommate would say, that’s sick 🤙.
To get student discounts, search “Apple for education” and click the link that says “Education Pricing and Student Discounts.”
Veteran Discounts
Apple also offers military and veteran discounts.
10% for members or veterans of the US military, the National Guard, and the Reserve. Immediate family is also eligible.
Government Discounts
You can also get discounts on personal devices if you’re a government employee.
From my brief browsing, you can get a slightly lower discount compared to Apple’s education discounts.
Then again, a discount is a discount.
Don’t Buy From Apple
When buying an iPad, remember the ABCs:
A: Amazon
Amazon has a ton of discounts on Apple tech. As I speak right now, they’re offering $75 off on a brand new 12.9” iPad Pro.
If you wanna save as much as you can, buy stuff around Prime Day or Black Friday. I’ve seen savings of up to $100-$200 on some stuff.
You can also check out renewed iPads on Amazon. These probably aren’t going to be as safe of a bet as Apple’s own Certified Refurbished section.
B: Best Buy
Best Buy also has a ton of discounts.
The cool thing about Best Buy is that they’re always offering storewide 10% discounts (if not more).
That alone can save you a ton of money. Stack that with some other coupons, and you could easily save hundreds.
C: Costco
The holy grail of good deals.
Rotissierie chicken, hot dogs, and now iPads.
In Costco we trust.
Final Thoughts
“Keep your coupons close…Keep your couponing friends even closer”—Pinterest quote
Thanks for reading!
Adi
Concepts
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It's one of the few apps I highly recommend for every iPad user out there. And I genuinely believe this (again, check my post history if you wanna verify this claim).
Concepts has been kind enough to offer a free 30-day trial. And no, you don't have to enter your credit card info.
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Another way to get a cheap iPad (especially Pro) is on Woot! as they often have them on sale. You can get the last-gen model for hundreds off. Last fall I got the 2021 Pro 11" with 2TB storage for $829...brand new discontinued model, with M1, 16GB of Ram for less than a basic current Pro. And, believe me, the M1 is plenty powerful.
Anyway, Woot! apparently buys up a lot of the discontinued stock, so check there occasionally to see what they have. You may have to compromise on color, but may not.
I just checked, they have the 2021 12.9" w/Cellular for $809...only 128GB storage, though. Still, if you are mostly cloud-based, that shouldn't be too much of an issue (says the guy with 2TB!), and a good deal compared to the $1200 list price.