M3 iPad Air Hits $499 for Best Buy's July 4th Sale

The M3 iPad Air just dropped to some of its lowest prices yet as part of Best Buy's Fourth of July sale, with the 11-inch model starting at $499 and cuts of up to $400 on higher-storage configurations. The timing lines up with Apple's recent price hike on the newer M4 iPad Air, which makes the outgoing M3 iPad Air look like an even bigger bargain for anyone who doesn't need the latest chip.

How steep is the discount
The 11-inch M3 iPad Air with 128GB and cellular is down to $499, compared to $899 for the equivalent M4 model. The 256GB cellular version sits at $599, and the 1TB cellular configuration drops to $849. On the larger screen, the 13-inch M3 iPad Air with 512GB and cellular is priced at $949, well below the $1,399 asking price for the M4 version.

Why the M4 price hike matters here
Apple raised prices across iPads, Macs, and other hardware in June 2026, which widened the gap between the current M4 iPad Air and the previous M3 generation still on shelves. That gap is what's making this particular sale stand out compared to past iPad Air discounts.

What you give up moving to M3
The M3 iPad Air still supports the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard, runs iPadOS smoothly for everyday work, and handles most creative apps without issue. The M4 chip brings a faster processor and marginally better efficiency, but for browsing, note-taking, streaming, and general productivity, the difference is unlikely to be noticeable for most buyers.

Who this deal makes sense for
Students, casual creators, and anyone upgrading from an older iPad model stand to gain the most, since the savings on the M3 iPad Air can be put toward accessories or simply kept in your pocket. Buyers who specifically need the latest silicon for demanding pro workflows should still consider the M4 version despite the higher cost. Families shopping for a shared household tablet, or anyone replacing an aging iPad that's slowing down with basic tasks, will likely find the M3 iPad Air more than capable for years of regular use.

Storage tier is worth thinking through
Because the discount widens at higher storage tiers, it's worth deciding how much space you actually need before checking out. The jump from 128GB to 256GB adds a meaningful amount of room for apps, photos, and offline video without a big jump in price at these sale levels, while the 512GB and 1TB tiers make more sense for anyone storing large creative files directly on the tablet rather than in the cloud.

Where to find the sale
The discounted M3 iPad Air models are listed as part of Best Buy's Fourth of July sale, which is running for a limited time alongside other Apple hardware promotions.

Protect your iPad Air with a Komodoty case
Whether you land on the M3 or M4 iPad Air, the tablet deserves a case that matches its build quality. Komodoty makes slim iPad cases with accurate cutouts for cameras and buttons, support for the Apple Pencil Pro, and a soft-touch finish that doesn't add bulk. Browse the fitted options in the Komodoty iPad cases collection.