It’s easy to understand why Apple’s cheapest tablets are their most popular. A Pro model regularly wanders into four-figure price territory, whereas you’re getting the same core experience for much less with the brand’s 9th Gen and 10th Gen entry-level devices. Now that Amazon has dropped these tablets to new record-low prices, they’re looking particularly strong on the shelves.
I’ll cut straight to the chase, because this is a big one. The 9th generation iPad has just dropped to $199 at Amazon. Officially, that’s down from a $329 MSRP, saving you $130 overall, but I’ve seen those numbers hovering around $250 for most of the year so far. You’re still getting a fantastic device for far less than I ever expected to see, with a $50 saving over the day-to-day going rate. Black Friday only ever managed to reach $229 last year.
If you’re after something a little more recent, the 10th generation is now available for $299.99 at the online retail giant, a cool $50 down from that new MSRP. That’s the lowest price I’ve ever seen on the middle child, and one that sits $150 cheaper than its original rate. Black Friday only ever took us down to $349.99 last year, and that was considered excellent value back then. Now that such a rate is the norm, we’re seeing the 10th generation truly make a name for itself on the shelves.
In fact, it’s difficult to see a world where even this year’s Black Friday iPad deals go lower than this. The days of ludicrous price crashes on high-end tech are slightly behind us now - over the last few holiday sales I’ve seen iPads holding onto record-low prices set earlier in the year. At most, we could see an extra $10 or $20 off this device come November, but by then you will have had two months of use out of it. Plus, with the 9th generation likely to return to its own $229 record-low, there’s not much further for this device to fall.
Which iPad should you buy?
The 9th and 10th generation iPads have a few different tricks up their sleeves, but ultimately if you’re looking for a basic tablet for streaming, web browsing, Apple Arcade games, and the occasional note-taking session you’ll do just fine with the 9th generation model. For $199 you’re getting excellent value for money - that A13 Bionic Chip holds up just fine today (I use one for Netflix, Spotify, ebooks, web browsing, and the occasional thumb-tapper), remaining slick even with the latest apps.
The 10th generation is for those who want the basic experience but with a little more pzazz, as well as those with a heavier need for note-taking. The older home button design is swapped for a more modern full-screen affair here, with the flat edges and magnetic back of more premium tablets. This model is also compatible with the Apple Pencil 2 for a better handwriting experience as well (the older version only supports the original Apple Pencil). I’ve been holding off on recommending the 10th generation iPad for a couple of years now, it’s price just never made sense. This is the first time I’ve been able to confidently say its value for money is on point.
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