Apple’s cheapest iPads are still steeply discounted following Prime Day

Stepping up to the 10th-gen iPad nets you a modern design, a faster processor, and — yes — support for USB-C. | Photo by Dan Seifert / The VergeThere have been plenty of rumors swirling regarding a new iPad...

Oct 12, 2024 - 21:01

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Apple’s cheapest iPads are still steeply discounted following Prime Day

There have been plenty of rumors swirling regarding a new iPad Mini for more than a year now, but most indicators point toward a processor bump and little else. We haven’t heard much about a new entry-level iPad, though, which makes it a great time to pick up either the ninth- or 10th-gen model — both of which are still on sale for their best price to date in the wake of Amazon’s October Prime Day sale.

Right now, you can grab Apple’s last-gen iPad at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target with Wi-Fi and 64GB of storage starting at $199 ($130 off). The 10th-gen model, meanwhile, is available from the same three retailers — Amazon, Best Buy, and Target — in the same configuration starting at $299 ($50 off). You can also pick up either with 256GB of storage for $349.99 ($130 off) and $449 ($50 off), respectively.

Both entry-level tablets are well-suited for streaming, browsing the web, and shooting off emails, though the newer model sports a slightly larger 10.9-inch screen and a faster processor in the form of Apple’s A14 Bionic. It also features a USB-C port instead of Apple’s Lightning connector (phew) and cribs some of the modern design language from the pricier iPad Air, resulting in smaller bezels and Touch ID fingerprint scanner in the power button.

I’d argue the 10th-gen model iPad is the better buy given its newer specs and current asking price; however, the ninth-gen model is still great for kids and anyone who wants a basic tablet at an affordable price. Hell, it even offers a 3.5mm headphone jack — a welcome rarity in 2024.

Apple’s entry-level iPad from 2021 has a 10.2-inch screen, an A13 Bionic chip, and a 12MP front camera that supports Apple’s Center Stage feature. It’s also compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil and the company’s smart keyboard. Although it’s discontinued, it’s the only iPad you can still buy with a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Apple’s 10th-gen iPad is the successor to the older ninth-gen model. In exchange for its revised design, landscape-oriented webcam, USB-C port, larger 10.9-inch screen, and faster processor, it ditched the headphone jack and home button.

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