Best iPad Memorial Day deals: Get an Apple tablet from just $245 | Digital Trends (2024)

FAQs

What time of the year is the cheapest to buy an iPad? ›

iPads go on sale throughout the year, but Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Amazon Prime Day are typically when you'll find the best deals. If you don't need the latest model, you can also usually find solid discounts around new release dates.

iPad and iPad mini buying advice

Depending on if you can wait until later in 2024 (potentially fall) and if the processor upgrades are not important to you, it might make sense to buy a current generation iPad or iPad mini now if the price is right.

Right now, the newly released iPad Pro 13 (2024) reigns supreme the biggest and best iPad of them all, but that's not to say it's the perfect fit for everyone. The more affordable iPad 10.9 (2022) is our current pick as the best all-round iPad, while students should consider the super lightweight iPad Air 13 (2024).

Best lightweight option: iPad mini (2021)

If you're looking for a lightweight iPad, and therefore easier to hold for longer periods, then the iPad mini (2021) is the one to choose. At around 0.65lbs/293g it's roughly half the weight of the 9th gen iPad discussed above.

While the answer truly depends on the particular model and its intended use, you can reasonably expect an iPad to last 4-7 years. Generally speaking, the iPad is a very dependable mobile computer, and the only notable wear item is the battery.

The iPad generally surpasses the competition on scores such as ecosystem integration, software optimization, user experience, and performance, while Android tablets are less expensive, easier to customize, and include a broader library of games and apps.

The answer depends greatly on how you plan to use your iPad. For light users who simply browse the web, read books, stream music and occasional video, and have just a handful of apps, 64GB should suffice. But intense media creators, gamers, and professionals may need more room for all their files.

If you have an obsolete or outdated iPad, it may be unable to run the newest apps or update existing apps. In a technical sense, an obsolete device is one that the manufacturer no longer supports. Here's a list of iPads that are no longer supported or discontinued but supported and supported.

What's the difference between an iPad and an iPad Air? ›

The iPad Air is generally far more powerful than the normal iPad, and that's especially true of the latest generation and its M2 chipset. But you'll likely only notice that performance difference if you engage in heavy-duty tasks such as video editing – the iPad 10 is perfectly fast enough for day-to-day jobs.

Many states and local communities offer their own programs that provide free or discounted tablets to seniors. These programs may have different eligibility requirements and application processes, so it's important to do your research.

For most people, the best iPad to buy is the midrange iPad Air, which starts at $599. Released in 2022, the fifth-generation iPad Air offers a bright 10.9-inch high-resolution display, extremely fast performance thanks to its M1 processor, a modern design with even bezels around the screen, and excellent speakers.

Apple iPad Mini is best for seniors with visual impairments.

The device doesn't require the user to enter a password. It unlocks using a fingerprint placed against a button. The Apple iPad Mini can also be set up to speak the text that's displayed on-screen.

Months: Early to mid-July, October through November

We know, shopping holidays are a great time to save money, groundbreaking. However, we're not talking about Apple's annual Black Friday deal, which is the same every year: Buy a laptop or iMac, get a free gift card to use on a future purchase.

If you are wondering if Apple has sales, prepare to be disappointed. Apple rarely discounts its own products–even during its annual Black Friday shopping event, it traditionally elects to give out gift vouchers rather than reducing prices.

You can expect most if not all iPad models to be discounted at least somewhat around Black Friday. We've seen the lowest prices on the full range of iPads, generally speaking, around Black Friday, although some models (particularly ones that Apple has upgraded) drop to even lower prices in the months that follow.