Best Buy is offering the 2025 iPad Air 11 with Apple’s M3 chip for $499, a steep cut from Apple’s standard pricing. The discount applies to the base 128 GB model with cellular capability, shaving $250 off the usual price tag. All four finishes—Space Gray, Starlight, Purple and Blue—ship at this reduced rate, and the tablet remains unlocked and supports Apple Intelligence.

Best Buy also trimmed higher‑capacity variants. The 256 GB version now costs $599, another $250 reduction, while the 512 GB and 1 TB models drop $300 and $400 respectively, putting a 512 GB cellular iPad at $749 and the 1 TB at $1,099. Non‑cellular trims are milder: $100 off the 128 GB and 256 GB, $50 off the 512 GB, and $250 off the 1 TB.

These aggressive markdowns position the iPad Air as one of the most affordable M3‑powered tablets on the market, challenging Android competitors that have long dominated the sub‑$600 segment. Consumers chasing performance without a premium price now have a clear option, and retailers may feel pressure to match Best Buy’s pricing to stay competitive.

Apple has not commented on the discount strategy, but the move underscores a broader push to boost tablet adoption as remote work and education remain prevalent. Best Buy’s price cuts could spur a resurgence in iPad sales this quarter.