Consumers are faced with a dizzying amount of choice this holiday season as several iPad models vie for attention: the iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 2, and iPad mini. If you’re trying to compare iPad models and see which is the best fit for your lifestyle or business needs, demo units are available to view and try now at Apple Stores and many authorized reseller locations. Here’s the run-down of the sales announced by Best Buy, Target, and Walmart regarding Black Friday discounts on iPad Air and iPad mini models.
Best Buy
Best Buy announced that they will open their retail locations at 5 p.m. local time on Thanksgiving Day so that shoppers can take advantage of Black Friday deals early. Once the sale kicks off, all iPad Air 2 units will be $100 off, with the iPad Air 2 16GB Wi-Fi model starting at $399.99. All iPad mini 3 models will be $75 off, with the iPad mini 3 16GB Wi-Fi configuration starting at $324.99.
Best Buy’s interactive, 47-page Black Friday Preview guide encourages shoppers to check back on 11/20 for additional savings on the iPad Air first generation model. In order to accommodate the rush of shoppers during the Doorbuster and Black Friday Sales, Best Buy will issue purchase tickets for sale items as early as two hours before the doors open.
Target
Target locations will open to shoppers at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Their Black Friday sales take a completely different approach, with stores selling models at full price bundled with free Target gift cards of various values. iPad Mini purchases come with an $80 gift card and iPad Air 2 models are accompanied by a $140 gift card. Purchasing an iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, or iPad Air will get you a free $100 Target Gift Card. Target has published its full 17-page Black Friday preview ad online.
Walmart
Walmart’s Black Friday ad was just published today, revealing retail price discounts combined with free Walmart gift cards on just two previous-generation iPad models. Walmart is spreading its iPad deals across two events starting on Thanksgiving, so make sure to note the corresponding sale times. On November 27 starting at 6 p.m., you can get $40 off on the iPad mini 16GB Wi-Fi model, which comes bundled with a free $30 Walmart gift card. At 8 p.m. on the same day, the iPad Air 16GB Wi-Fi model will cost $397 (just $2 off the retail price), bundled with a free $100 Walmart gift card.