Apple iPad Air 5 drops to $299, nearly AirPods Pro 3 price

Apple’s 11‑inch iPad Air 5 is on sale for $299, a $50 discount that puts it within striking distance of the new all‑time‑low price of AirPods Pro 3 at $179, making both items the headline back‑to‑school bargains on Amazon this week【1】.

Pricing context and market impact

The $299 price point is the lowest Amazon has tracked for the iPad Air 5 in 2026, shaving roughly 14% off its regular list price of $349【1】. By contrast, the AirPods Pro 3 fell to $179, a near‑30% cut from $249, marking an all‑time low for Apple’s flagship earbuds【1】. The parallel timing of these discounts suggests retailers are targeting the back‑to‑school window, offering a tablet that “just needs a handy casual tablet” at a price that rivals premium audio gear.

Competitive picture

While the iPad Air 5 is not Apple’s most powerful tablet, its $299 price undercuts the entry‑level iPad 10, which typically starts around $329, and sits below the $399 price of the base iPad 9. The discount also narrows the gap to competing Android tablets that often launch in the $250‑$300 range, potentially expanding Apple’s reach among budget‑conscious students. Meanwhile, the AirPods Pro 3 price now competes with high‑end true‑wireless earbuds from rivals such as Samsung and Sony, which usually sit above $200, reinforcing Apple’s value proposition for premium audio.

What to watch

• Future Amazon pricing – Amazon may adjust the iPad Air 5 price again as Prime Day approaches, potentially pushing it below $299.
• Apple’s next product cycle – Watch for announcements of the iPad Air 6 or refreshed AirPods models that could reset pricing baselines.
• Back‑to‑school sales trends – Retailer promotions across other Apple devices (e.g., MacBooks, iPhones) will indicate whether the current discounts are isolated or part of a broader pricing strategy.

These deals illustrate how deep discounts on flagship accessories can make a mid‑range tablet appear unusually affordable, raising questions about Apple’s pricing elasticity and the durability of such promotions once the school season ends.