Apple's okayest iPad is hard to pass up after huge discount
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Apple has crammed a ton of power into its latest iPad Pro, but it starts at $799, and most people don't need that kind of performance in a tablet. If you need an affordable tablet that's great at being a tablet and can pull off some basic productivity tasks as well, the 2021 iPad is on sale.
The 2021 or 9th generation iPad is Apple's cheapest iPad. And even though it's not the flashiest slate out there, it's the best budget tablet for most people. It's also not slow or restrictive like competing Amazon and Android products.
The device has a 10.2 inches screen with True Tone tech that adjusts the brightness in accordance with external lighting to ensure a pleasant viewing experience. It comes with a 12MP ultrawide front-facing camera with Apple's Center Stage feature that keeps the subject in the frame during video calls.
The tablet has a Touch ID fingerprint sensor instead of the Face ID unlocking system and it's accurate and reliable. It's also the only recent iPad with a 3.5mm headphone jack so you won't have to worry about buying wireless headphones.
The slate is powered by the A13 Bionic and is snappy in everyday use. Sure, it's not as fast as the iPad Pro, but it is sufficiently fast for tablet tasks, games, and light productivity work. Apps open quickly and there is no lag when switching between tasks.
Basically, if you are on a budget, and need a reliable slate that will be good for years to come, there is no better option than the 2021 iPad, especially now that it's on sale.
The 256GB variant retails for $479 but Amazon has it on sale right now. It has been discounted by $80 and you should definitely go for it if you need an affordable tablet with smooth performance, plenty of storage, access to thousands of apps and games, and all-day battery life.
For reference, the 256GB 2022 iPad which is only marginally better costs $599.
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