iPad prices start at $329 for the base model and go up to $2,199 for the highest-end iPad Pro
The price you pay depends on which iPad model you choose, how much storage you want, and whether you pick Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi plus cellular. Apple sells five different iPad lines right now, each built for different uses and budgets. The cheapest entry point is the standard iPad at $329 for 64GB Wi-Fi. The most expensive is the iPad Pro 13-inch with 2TB and cellular, which costs $2,199.
Prices vary slightly by retailer — Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart sometimes run sales or bundle deals — but Apple's official pricing is the baseline. If you buy from Apple directly, you can also choose to pay monthly through Apple Card Monthly Installments, which spreads the cost over 12 months with no interest if you may have access to.
Key Takeaways
- The standard iPad starts at $329 for Wi-Fi only with 64GB storage, making it the cheapest way to get an iPad.
- Storage upgrades cost $50 to $100 more per tier, so a 256GB model costs significantly more than the base 64GB version.
- Adding cellular capability (Wi-Fi plus cellular models) costs $130 to $180 extra, depending on the iPad line.
- iPad Air and iPad Pro models cost $599 and $999 respectively at their starting prices, with higher specs and larger screens than the standard iPad.
- Retailers like Best Buy and Amazon occasionally discount iPads, but prices rarely drop below $50 off the original price.
Storage tiers and what they cost
Storage is the biggest price variable after choosing your model. Apple offers 64GB, 256GB, 512GB, and sometimes 1TB or 2TB depending on which iPad you pick. Each step up costs $50 to $100 more. On the standard iPad, you jump from $329 (64GB) to $379 (256GB) to $529 (512GB). On the iPad Pro, the jumps are larger: $999 (256GB) to $1,099 (512GB) to $1,299 (1TB) to $1,499 (2TB).
Most people use 64GB or 256GB. The 64GB model fills up quickly if you store videos, photos, or large apps, but works fine if you stream everything and keep files in cloud storage like iCloud or Google Drive. The 256GB model gives you breathing room without paying for storage you won't use. Anything above 512GB is usually only necessary if you edit video or work with large design files offline.
Wi-Fi versus Wi-Fi plus cellular
Wi-Fi-only iPads are cheaper. Adding cellular (the ability to use a mobile data plan) costs $130 to $180 extra depending on the model. A standard iPad Wi-Fi is $329, but the Wi-Fi plus cellular version is $459. An iPad Air Wi-Fi is $599, and the cellular version is $749.
You only need cellular if you want to use your iPad away from Wi-Fi without tethering to your phone. If you have a phone with a data plan, you can share that connection to your iPad for free using personal hotspot — most people do this instead of paying for a separate cellular plan. Cellular iPads also require a separate monthly data plan from a carrier like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile, which costs $10 to $30 per month depending on the data amount.
Comparing the five iPad models and their prices
| Model | Starting Price (Wi-Fi) | Screen Size | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPad (standard) | $329 | 10.9 inches | Reading, web browsing, light apps |
| iPad mini | $499 | 8.3 inches | Portability, one-handed use |
| iPad Air | $599 | 11 or 13 inches | Everyday work, note-taking, photo editing |
| iPad Pro 11-inch | $999 | 11 inches | Professional work, video editing, design |
| iPad Pro 13-inch | $1,299 | 13 inches | Large workspace, professional creative work |
The standard iPad is the value choice — it has the same processor as the iPad Air from the previous generation and handles most everyday tasks. The iPad mini costs $170 more but is much smaller and lighter, which matters if you travel or want something you can hold in one hand. The iPad Air sits in the middle: more powerful than the standard iPad, less expensive than the Pro, and available in two sizes.
The iPad Pro models are the most powerful and have the best screens, but you pay for that. The 11-inch Pro costs $400 more than the iPad Air, and the 13-inch Pro costs $700 more. You only need a Pro if you do professional creative work like video editing, 3D design, or photo retouching. For note-taking, web browsing, and everyday apps, the standard iPad or iPad Air does the job.
Where to buy and what to watch for
Apple's official website, Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart all sell iPads at the same base prices. Best Buy and Amazon sometimes offer discounts during sales events like Black Friday or back-to-school season, usually $30 to $50 off. Walmart occasionally matches those discounts. Costco and Sam's Club sell iPads at a slight discount if you have a membership, typically $20 to $40 off.
Refurbished iPads from Apple's official refurbished store cost 15% less than new ones and come with the same one-year warranty. If you buy an older model (like last year's iPad Air instead of the current one), the price drops by $100 to $200, though you lose access to the newest features and software support eventually ends sooner.
Monthly payment options
Apple Card Monthly Installments let you split the cost over 12 months with no interest if you have an Apple Card and meet credit requirements. A $329 iPad becomes roughly $27 per month. This works through Apple's website, in Apple Stores, and through the Apple Store app. Other retailers like Best Buy offer their own financing plans, often with interest if you don't pay it off within a promotional period (usually 12 to 24 months).
Some carriers like Verizon and AT&T offer iPad financing if you buy a cellular model from them, spreading the cost over 24 to 36 months. These plans often bundle the device cost with a monthly data plan, so the total monthly payment includes both the iPad payment and the cellular service.
Trade-in and recycling programs
If you have an old iPad, Apple's trade-in program gives you credit toward a new one. The amount depends on the model, age, and condition — a recent iPad Air in good condition might be worth $200 to $300 in credit, while an older standard iPad might be worth $50 to $100. Best Buy and Amazon also run trade-in programs with similar valuations.
If your old iPad is too damaged or old to trade in, Apple will recycle it for free at any Apple Store or through their mail-in recycling program. This doesn't reduce the price of a new iPad, but it keeps the device out of landfills and recovers materials like aluminum and rare metals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do iPad prices ever go down after release?
Apple rarely discounts new iPad models directly. Retailers like Best Buy and Amazon may offer $30 to $50 off during sales events, but the official price stays the same. Prices drop most noticeably when a new model is announced — the previous generation usually gets a $50 to $100 price cut or is discontinued.
Is it cheaper to buy an iPad from a carrier like Verizon?
No. Carriers charge the same device price as Apple and retailers, but bundle it with a monthly cellular plan. You pay the full iPad cost plus a data plan fee. Buying Wi-Fi only from Apple and using your phone's hotspot is cheaper unless you genuinely need standalone cellular data.
What's the difference between iPad storage prices and what I actually get?
You get the exact storage amount you pay for — 64GB means 64 gigabytes of space for apps, photos, and files. The operating system takes up about 5 to 10GB, so a 64GB iPad has roughly 55GB available. Cloud storage (iCloud, Google Drive) doesn't count against this limit, so streaming and cloud-based apps don't fill up your device.
Can I return an iPad if I change my mind about the price?
Apple offers a 14-day return window from the date of purchase. Best Buy offers 15 days. Amazon's return window is 30 days. You need the original packaging and all accessories. If you bought through a carrier, their return policy may be shorter — usually 14 days.
Are there cheaper iPad alternatives from other companies?
Samsung Galaxy Tabs, Amazon Fire tablets, and Lenovo tablets cost less than iPads — sometimes $150 to $300 less. They run different software (Android instead of iPadOS) and have different app ecosystems. If you use Apple services like iCloud or have an iPhone, an iPad integrates more smoothly, but the trade-off is higher cost.