Apple’s famous tablet, the iPad, is one of the best tablets you can buy. With four main iPad models available (iPad mini, iPad Air, iPad, and iPad Pro), you can often find one on sale. And while iPads are nowhere near as expensive as an iPhone or MacBook, who’s not going to say no to a great deal?Filled to the brim with Apple’s forward-thinking technology, iPads suit a range of users, including students, professionals, and even families. With differing specifications, colors, storage capacities, and even with the option to add Cellular connectivity, it’s no wonder the iPad is such a popular choice of tablet.
Boasting a stunning 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, and Apple’s A15 Bionic chip, our expert reviewers consider the iPad mini (6th Generation) “pro-level power in a smaller size”. If you’re looking for a stylish tablet that allows you to make notes, take photos with the 12MP Ultra Wide front camera, edit photos and videos, and run all of your favorite apps, the iPad mini is hard to beat at under $500.Using the Apple Pencil (2nd Generation), it’s easy to make annotations, scribble notes for later, or even conjure up an arty masterpiece. If you’re out and about, and have your iPad mini with you (which is entirely possible thanks to its size), you can use Apple’s built-in Touch ID to make payments with Apple Pay.
If you’re searching for an iPad that’s less pocket-sized yet still lightweight, the iPad Air is a fantastic tablet equipped with a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display and Apple’s M1 chip. Here at PCMag, we consider it the “ideal tablet for creators” and gave it an “Outstanding” rating in our review. With the M1 chip, the iPad Air sets a clear performance boost over the iPad mini, which features Apple’s A15 Bionic chip, intended more for mobiles and smaller devices. That’s why the iPad Air is a solid option for creators since you can multitask with ease, switching between apps and even graphic-intensive games. And with Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, once you’re done working, you can sit back and enjoy streaming your favorite shows in vivid detail.
While it’s not the latest generation of iPad, the Apple iPad (9th Generation) is still considered a powerful option per our review, and incredible value for money at under $250. A fraction smaller than the iPad Air, the iPad features a 10.2-inch Retina display and is compatible with the Apple Pencil (1st Generation). It may not be as powerful as some other iPad models, but it’s a perfect entry-level option for families.
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With a decent-sized display and Apple’s A14 Bionic chip, you can easily enjoy a range of popular apps, games, and stream videos. Alongside the iPad’s all-day battery life, this is the ideal companion for those long road trips or family vacations when you need a distraction. You’ve got everything you need in a tablet at a much more palatable price.iPad deals at AmazoniPad deals at Best BuyiPad deals at Walmart
FAQ
What is the best time of year to buy a tablet? Tablets are incredibly popular devices; they are portable, yet powerful, and make a great addition to any student, professional, or family setup. Black Friday and the holiday season shopping season are often the best times to get the lowest price. But there are still some competitive deals throughout the year (and it’s our job to find them for you). What time of the year is the cheapest to buy an iPad? It’s cheaper to buy an iPad when a newer model is released. Since the newer model of iPad will likely go on sale at full price, older iPad models often go on sale. Apple tends to release its iPad models in March/April, and September/October. While Apple hasn’t released a new iPad since 2022, we expect to see a new lineup announced in May 2024.How much money should you spend on a tablet? Deciding how much money to spend on a tablet is an important place to start. Once you’ve set a budget, you can gauge a better understanding of what to look for in a tablet, and prioritize what features are most important to you. For example, when we test tablets in our lab, we run the devices through their paces, assessing video stream quality, Wi-Fi performance, camera capability, and battery life.Of course, depending what your priority is will depend on how much money you should spend on a tablet. If you’re a creator that needs a tablet that’s capable of running multiple apps, can support you with all-day battery life, and boasts a stunning display, you’re going to expect to pay more than you would a lightweight portable tablet for everyday use.What’s the best tablet under $500?The iPad mini is one of the best tablets under $500. It’s lightweight, portable, but runs on Apple’s A15 Bionic chip, which is more powerful than the cheaper iPad (9th Generation) model. And, since the iPad mini is often on sale, you can nab it for closer to $450 most of the time.
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