Apple's entry-level iPad just hit its sweet spot for Cyber Monday shoppers. The 2025 iPad A16 is now available for $274 at Best Buy, down from its $349 retail price, making it the best tablet deal of the shopping season. With the recent iPadOS 26 update adding Mac-like windowing features, this discounted slate suddenly looks like the smart buy over pricier Pro models.
Apple's entry-level iPad just became the season's best tablet bargain. The 2025 iPad A16 is now selling for $274 at retailers like Best Buy and Amazon, marking a $75 discount from its $349 retail price during Cyber Monday sales.
The timing couldn't be better. Apple recently rolled out iPadOS 26, which fundamentally changes how this humble tablet operates. The update introduces Mac-style windowing features that let users resize windows, snap them to split-screen mode, and even brings back the popular Slide Over multitasking feature in version 26.1.
"This iPad recently got a whole lot more versatile with the iPadOS 26 update, which adds windowing features, turning the iPad experience into a Mac," according to WIRED's review, which gave the device an 8/10 rating. The publication notes that users can "resize windows, flick them to the sides for split-screen" functionality.
What makes this deal particularly compelling is what the iPad A16 doesn't have - Apple Intelligence support. While that might sound like a drawback, many of Apple's AI features "aren't very useful right now," making the absence less of a concern for most users.
The 11-inch display hits the sweet spot between portability and usability. Connect a Bluetooth keyboard, and you've got a capable work machine for emails and light productivity tasks. The A16 processor handles most apps and games without breaking a sweat, while battery life remains solid throughout day-long usage sessions.
For creative users, there are some limitations. The iPad A16 only supports first-generation Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil USB-C models. More importantly, the display isn't fully laminated, meaning there's an air gap between the glass and screen that makes it "suboptimal for sketching," according to WIRED's testing.
The competitive landscape makes this deal even more attractive. While Apple offers discounted iPad Pro models during Cyber Monday, those still cost "nearly $1,000" even on sale. The iPad Air and iPad Mini are also seeing price cuts, but they start at significantly higher price points.
