T-Mobile Offering iPad Air and Retina iPad Mini for $0 Down - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

T-Mobile Offering iPad Air and Retina iPad Mini for $0 Down

by

Following yesterday's announcement that T-Mobile would begin selling the iPad, the company today debuted introductory plans to offer customers 16 GB cellular versions of the Retina iPad mini and the iPad Air with no downpayment.

Like other T-Mobile "UnCarrier" offerings, the tablets will require a monthly hardware fee, which starts at $26.25 per month for the entry level 16 GB iPad Air and $22.08 for the 16 GB iPad mini with Retina Display. At 24 monthly payments of $26.25, the 16 GB cellular iPad Air ends up costing $630, which is ultimately the same price Apple and other carriers sell the iPad for.

Payments for the 32 and 64 GB versions of both iPads will increase with storage capacity, as will the downpayment. For the 32 GB Air and mini, customers will need to pay $99 up front, and $199 up front for the 64 GB versions. The first-generation iPad mini will also be available from T-Mobile, at zero downpayment and $17.91 per month.

tmobile

Downpayment comparison chart

T-Mobile plans to provide customers with an entry level data package of 200 MB at no cost, with additional data, up to 4.5 GB, available for an extra fee. T-Mobile also offers daily and weekly data passes for the iPad Air and the iPad minis, charging $5 for 500 MB of daily data or $10 for a week of unlimited data with 1 GB available at LTE speeds.

"When you buy a product as amazing as iPad, you should be able to connect when and where you want, simply and affordably," said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile. "By offering free data for life with incredible upfront pricing, T-Mobile is un-leashing customers to fully enjoy iPad as it was meant to be enjoyed - mobile and connected."

Apple's iPad Air will be available for purchase on November 1, while the iPad mini with Retina display will be available later in November.

Top Rated Comments

170 months ago
So I can buy this, no interest and it comes out to the same price that I would be paying at Apple? Plus I get 200mb for free each month? That's awesome, might go down this route
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
170 months ago
Isn't it too good? I mean I hope it is but how does TMob. makes money out of this deal? Device + free 200mb in 24 payments. And the cost is the same as you would buy from Apple store in 1 payment and no data included.

If Apple was doing the deal it would make more sense to me. I hope that's true with no catch and TMob still makes money..
I think it is a bridge for customers to sign up for phone services and tablet data plans. Kind of the same way the iPhone was a bridge to the Mac for a lot of users. It's just a way to expose more people to the T-Mobile brand as the iPhone exposed people to Apple.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
170 months ago
The question is - is it unlocked?

They're all unlocked
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iAppl3Fan Avatar
170 months ago
T-Mobile CEO rocks!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
4jasontv Avatar
170 months ago
T-Mobile needs to sell Mac Pro's.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
170 months ago
This in combination with the free 200MB/month for life is really impressive. I so desperately wish T-Mobile had service in the areas I live and work.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone Duo Display Cracking

Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue

Friday October 30, 2026 3:20 pm PDT by
In a memo shared with Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers this week, and later obtained by MacRumors, Apple provided technicians with guidance on how to diagnose and address the iPhone Duo's inner display cracking issue. If a customer reports the issue, Apple advised technicians to inspect the iPhone Duo and repair or replace it in accordance with their standard procedures....
iPad mini OLED feature 1

Apple Executive Comments on New iPad Mini Lacking 120Hz Display

Thursday October 29, 2026 1:47 pm PDT by
While the new iPad mini has an OLED display, the device does not support ProMotion, meaning the display's refresh rate is limited to 60Hz instead of 120Hz. ProMotion support would have allowed for the iPad mini's refresh rate to automatically adjust from 10Hz to 120Hz depending on the content being displayed, but evidently Apple has kept the feature exclusive to the iPad Pro among iPad...
Pinched iPad Mini

Apple Avoids Showing Pinched Fingers on iPad Mini Page in South Korea

Thursday October 29, 2026 11:52 am PDT by
In the U.S. and most other countries, Apple's website shows the new iPad mini being held by pinched fingers, but this is not the case in South Korea. The new iPad mini shown with pinched fingers on Apple's website in the U.S. On its South Korean website, Apple simply shows an image of the iPad mini on its own. The new iPad mini shown without pinched fingers on Apple's website in South Korea ...
Latest Stories
Nearly Every M5 MacBook Air Now $200 Off on Amazon
Nearly Every M5 MacBook Air Now $200 Off on Amazon
5 hours ago
Apple's HomeView Ships With Six-Month-Old Software
Apple's HomeView Ships With Six-Month-Old Software
6 hours ago
Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027
Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027
7 hours ago
Apple Offers Steps to Fix Daylight Saving Time Bug on Apple Watch
Apple Offers Steps to Fix Daylight Saving Time Bug on Apple Watch
10 hours ago
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
1 day ago
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
1 day ago
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
1 day ago
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
1 day ago
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
1 day ago
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
2 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
2 days ago
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
2 days ago
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
2 days ago
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
2 days ago
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
2 days ago
Apple's Flash Storage Suppliers Are Finally 'Getting Their Revenge'
Apple's Flash Storage Suppliers Are Finally 'Getting Their Revenge'
2 days ago
14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2
14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2
2 days ago
iPhone Duo Review: One Week Later
iPhone Duo Review: One Week Later
2 days ago
Samsung Mocks iPhone Duo Display Cracks in New Ad Campaign
Samsung Mocks iPhone Duo Display Cracks in New Ad Campaign
2 days ago
The MacRumors Show: OLED MacBook Pro, iPad Mini 8, and More
The MacRumors Show: OLED MacBook Pro, iPad Mini 8, and More
2 days ago
MacBook Pro With Touch Display: 15 More Details Revealed
MacBook Pro With Touch Display: 15 More Details Revealed
2 days ago
Russia Places Apple on State Surveillance Registry
Russia Places Apple on State Surveillance Registry
2 days ago
Halloween Weekend Brings Discounts on Apple Accessories and Pre-Orders
Halloween Weekend Brings Discounts on Apple Accessories and Pre-Orders
2 days ago
Apple Has Released More Than 25 New Products in the Past Two Months
Apple Has Released More Than 25 New Products in the Past Two Months
2 days ago
Local Code Launches as Free, Private AI Assistant Tool for Mac
Local Code Launches as Free, Private AI Assistant Tool for Mac
2 days ago
Apple Acquires Ascend.io
Apple Acquires Ascend.io
2 days ago
HomePod Mini 2 Launches Today: All the New Features
HomePod Mini 2 Launches Today: All the New Features
2 days ago
AirTag 2 4-Pack Drops to New Low Price of $69.99
AirTag 2 4-Pack Drops to New Low Price of $69.99
2 days ago
Rian Johnson's iPhone Camera App Goes Viral
Rian Johnson's iPhone Camera App Goes Viral
2 days ago
Where Did All the iPhone Duos Go? Mostly to Apple's Stores
Where Did All the iPhone Duos Go? Mostly to Apple's Stores
2 days ago

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors