Enlarge (credit: Ars Technica)
It's the weekend, which means it's time for another Dealmaster. Our latest roundup of the best tech deals from around the web includes the lowest price we've tracked for Apple's 10.2-inch iPad, which is currently down to $280 at various retailers. That's about $50 off Apple's MSRP and roughly $25 off the average street price we've seen online in recent months.
You can read our review from last September for more details, but in short, we consider the 10.2-inch iPad to be the best option for most people in the market for an Apple tablet. Yes, its A13 Bionic chip isn't as powerful as the M1 SoC found in the iPad Air and iPad Pro, and the device's older design language means it lacks the USB-C ports, laminated touchscreens, upgraded cameras, and wider accessory support of those higher-end models. The 64GB of storage in this entry-level variant isn't a ton, either. But as a pleasant-to-use screen for reading, streaming, web browsing, and playing the occasional game, the base iPad is still plenty competent. It's fast enough for the essentials, it's still usable for lighter work when paired with a good keyboard case, and it supports all the same apps as any other iPad. It's a boring device, but it works, and it remains a significant step-up from cheaper Android tablets. Most importantly, it's far and away the most affordable iPad, particularly at this deal price.
The caveat here is that Apple is expected to introduce a new entry-level iPad by the end of the year. We don't expect a refreshed model to arrive during the company's just-announced September 7 event, but if history holds, we could very well see it announced in October. Recent rumors suggest this new model could feature a major redesign that brings the device more in line with the look and feel of the iPad Air, iPad Pro, and iPad Mini. (This could also result in a removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack, though it's hard to say that for sure just yet.) Either way, if you don't need a new tablet right now, it's probably worth waiting. But if you do, this is a new low for a tablet that was already a decent value.
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