Apple’s iPad line offers some of the best tablets you can buy, and the company refreshes its offerings from time to time to stay competitive. But while there are several models available for purchase all year round, you shouldn’t buy a new iPad on a whim and at any time if you want to save money on the purchase. One of the best ways to be frugal when purchasing electronics like iPads is to know when the best time is to buy a specific gadget: There are optimal times to buy a new smart TV, iPhone, refrigerator, etc.
If you want to save a good amount of money while purchasing an iPad in 2026, you can go for the best refurbished iPads. However, if you need to buy a new model because you don’t want to go through the checklist of buying a refurbished iPad, you should make your purchase during specific months when different models are discounted. This period is usually during Amazon Prime Day (in July and October) or during the Black Friday sales towards the end of November.
However, for the latter, some retailers have started Black Friday sales early, so don’t wait until the last day: always be on the lookout for iPad deals until the last Friday in November and be ready to pounce when you spot a great discount. These two periods are arguably the best times to buy a new iPad.
Don’t forget to pay attention to the new iPad release schedules
One of the worst times to buy a new iPad is right before an upgraded model comes out, because you could pay full price for a model that will soon be obsolete. This will definitely give you buyer’s remorse, especially if you’re someone who loves getting your hands on the latest gadgets. Unfortunately, unlike iPhones, Apple doesn’t have a set launch schedule for its iPads, which makes planning a bit difficult if you don’t want to get a model that’s about to be updated. For example, the iPad 2022 model was released in October, and as of this writing, the newest model, the iPad 2025, was revealed in March.
The safest thing in this case is to check if the iPad model you are interested in has been updated recently. If it’s been updated within the last few months, Apple probably won’t release a successor soon after your purchase. Take the iPad Air, for example. Apple released the M4-powered variant in March 2026, meaning you can safely buy it this year without worrying about a new model releasing immediately afterwards. But if you care more about saving and less about having the latest iPad model, buy the iPad you want in the months we’ve highlighted.
