Verdict: The 2025 Cyber Monday offer was excellent when a new 128GB Wi‑Fi iPad with the A16 chip reached $274—$75 below its reported $349 list price. That was a historical, time-limited price, not a live August 2026 promotion. Cyber Monday 2026 is November 30; check the exact configuration and current retailer price before buying.
Deal covered: Apple iPad (11-inch, A16, 128GB, Wi‑Fi), new condition, reported at $274 during Cyber Monday 2025. At that price it was about 21% below the $349 reference price. Engadget described $274 as the lowest price it had seen at the time of its publication; its report is archived at Engadget.
What the Cyber Monday deal actually was
The deal concerned the 2025 entry-level iPad, commonly called the 11th-generation iPad: an 11-inch model with Apple’s A16 chip, 128GB of storage and Wi‑Fi connectivity. It was not an iPad Air, iPad mini, cellular iPad or older 10th-generation model. Colors reported for this family include blue, pink, silver and yellow.
Prices moved during the event, so the figures below are snapshots from different publications rather than one simultaneous national offer.
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- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
| Retailer or report | Price | Reference price | Approximate saving | What the report establishes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engadget/Amazon | $274 | $349 | $75 (about 21%) | Lowest price Engadget had seen when published |
| NBC Select-linked retailers | $274–$274.99 | $349–$349.99 | About 21% | Cyber Monday price range; see NBC Select |
| AppleInsider/Amazon | $309 | $349 | $40 | Later price after earlier inventory depletion |
| NBC Select | $329 | $349 | $20 | Lowest price that publication saw at its update |
| WIRED/Best Buy | $399 | $449 | $50 | Different reference price or configuration; verify the SKU |
Those differences do not necessarily indicate an error. Color, storage, retailer, inventory, condition and timestamp can all change a deal price. “Lowest price yet” should therefore mean the lowest price that a named publication found for a specified SKU at that moment—not a guaranteed all-time low.
What you get for the money
The A16 model is aimed at everyday tablet work: streaming, browsing, reading, video calls, recipes, school assignments, document editing, casual note-taking and drawing, and games that do not demand top-tier graphics performance. Engadget found the A16 responsive for video, documents and creative applications.
Rank #2
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
Reported specifications include an 11-inch Liquid Retina display at 2360×1640 resolution and up to 500 nits brightness, an A16 processor, 12MP rear and landscape-oriented 12MP front cameras with Center Stage, Wi‑Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, USB‑C, Touch ID in the top button and a battery rating of up to 10 hours on Wi‑Fi. Confirm the current model name, specifications and Apple pricing on Apple’s iPad page when shopping.
Limitations to understand before checkout
No Apple Intelligence support in the referenced coverage
WIRED reported that the entry-level A16 iPad lacked enough RAM for Apple Intelligence and was not among the supported iPads at that time. Apple’s compatibility list may change, so verify it before a 2026 purchase rather than assuming the A16 badge guarantees access to every AI feature.
Rank #3
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
No Apple Pencil Pro
The tablet supports Apple Pencil (USB‑C) for handwriting, markup and basic drawing, and it works with the Magic Keyboard Folio. It does not support Apple Pencil Pro. Apple’s first-generation Pencil requires the appropriate USB‑C adapter arrangement. Check compatibility on Apple’s Apple Pencil page and the keyboard listing before ordering.
Storage and display trade-offs
128GB is comfortable for browsing, streaming and school documents, but large games, downloaded video and photo or video libraries can consume it quickly. The display is suited to general use, while the iPad Air offers a higher performance tier and a more advanced experience for demanding workloads.
Rank #4
- WHY IPAD PRO — iPad Pro with the Apple M5 chip delivers extraordinary performance for effortless productivity on a stunning display. Take on pro workflows with Neural Accelerators for AI and a redesigned iPadOS with game-changing capabilities.*
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — iPad Pro with M5 brings next-generation speed and the power of on-device AI to all your tasks.* Featuring up to 2TB of storage, 16GB of memory, and Neural Accelerators for next-level AI performance.*
- IPADOS — Run pro apps and get more done with iPadOS 26 with Liquid Glass design and game-changing capabilities.* With an intuitive and flexible windowing system, you can control, organize, and manage your workflows like never before.
- APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you communicate, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly with groundbreaking privacy protections at every step.*
- 13-INCH ULTRA RETINA XDR DISPLAY — The world’s most advanced display, featuring extreme brightness, precise contrast, ProMotion, P3 wide color, and True Tone.* Nano-texture display glass available in 1TB and 2TB configurations
Accessories can erase the discount
A keyboard, Pencil, case, screen protector and AppleCare+ are separate purchases. Price the complete setup, not just the tablet. A $274 tablet can approach iPad Air money once laptop-style accessories are added.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A16 iPad versus iPad Air
| iPad A16 | iPad Air M3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cyber Monday price in the referenced coverage | $274–$329 | About $449 for 11-inch model |
| Best fit | Streaming, browsing, school and household use | Demanding apps, creative work and heavier multitasking |
| Apple Pencil Pro | No | Yes |
| Performance tier | Mainstream | Higher |
| Value judgment | Best when substantially cheaper | Worth the premium when the gap is roughly $100–$150 |
The M3 Air is the more sensible purchase for serious drawing, video editing, professional applications, demanding games, Pencil Pro features or a tablet expected to replace a laptop. For ordinary use, the A16 iPad delivers better value when its price is near or below $300.
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Best Value
- Exclusively for iPad A16 2025 11th/2022 10th Generation: 11-inch 2025 (model: A3354 A3355 A3356)/10.9 10 Gen 2022 (A2696 / A2757 / A2777); Please verify the model number at the back of your iPad before purchase
- 9H hardness surface with Super HD transparency
- Ultra thin (0.33mm thickness); True touch sensitivity; Rounded edge integration
- Only take seconds to install; Advanced silicone adhesive, no residue when removing
- Face ID & Apple Pencil Compatible. Scratch-resistant; Shock-resistant; Oil-resistant
Who should buy the A16 iPad?
- Students: A practical screen and enough performance for notes, web research and documents.
- Families: A capable shared device for video, recipes, calls and homework.
- Readers and streamers: The 11-inch format is more comfortable than a phone for long sessions.
- Casual creators: Suitable for basic sketching, photo edits and markup with the USB‑C Pencil.
Choose the iPad Air instead if you need Pencil Pro, advanced multitasking, sustained creative workloads or greater performance headroom. Consider the iPad mini if one-handed portability matters more than a large workspace; Cyber Monday 2025 coverage put some 128GB mini models around $349.
How to avoid a misleading listing
- Confirm the listing says A16, not 10th-generation iPad.
- Check that storage is 128GB (or the capacity you want) and connectivity is Wi‑Fi rather than cellular.
- Verify that the unit is new. Open-box and refurbished listings are not equivalent to a sealed retail product; Walmart, for example, showed an out-of-stock open-box 2025 A16 iPad at $277.20.
- Compare the exact color, seller and return policy. Marketplace sellers can use broad “11-inch iPad” titles for different generations.
- Review the final cash price after tax, membership requirements, trade-in credits or financing. A monthly payment is not the same as the purchase price.
- Confirm accessory compatibility before buying a case, keyboard or Pencil.
Use Apple’s buying page as a model reference, then compare the exact SKU at Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Walmart. Search results are not proof that the historical $274 price is available.
Bottom line
At $274 for a new 128GB Wi‑Fi A16 iPad, the 2025 Cyber Monday deal was a clear buy for everyday tablet users. At $309–$329 it remained reasonable if the exact SKU and return terms were right. At $399, or after adding expensive accessories, compare the iPad Air carefully. Do not buy this model solely for Apple Intelligence or Apple Pencil Pro, and do not treat the archived 2025 price as a live 2026 offer.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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