The iPad Air is compatible with both the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil. (Amazon)(Amazon)
If you've been on the market for a tablet — something to watch movies with, scroll social media or do a little work from the couch — we have great news: As part of ongoing Black Friday deals, the iPad Air is just $499 right now. That's $100 off the base model in color Space Grey or Starlight.
You might be wondering what the difference between a smart phone, a desktop computer and an iPad are, and what exactly you might need from an Apple Tablet. We have you covered there, too. Check out our guide to the best iPad of 2024.
There's a reason for the hype surrounding the latest iteration of these top-rated earbuds — many reasons, in fact. For starters, they offer rich, crisp sound and superior noise cancellation, allowing you to enjoy music, podcasts, audiobooks and more without outside commotion getting in the way. This model lets you control the volume simply by swiping the stem, and you'll receive four pairs of silicone tips in different sizes for customized comfort.
Our tech editor, Rick Broida, named these "best wireless earbuds overall," saying, "What you get here is even better ANC, a bump in battery life, extra-small ear tips for users with smaller ears and an adaptive-audio mode that adjusts noise-cancellation and transparency modes based on the sounds around you. Meanwhile, Apple's charging case now has a speaker (for use with Find My) and a USB-C port in place of Lightning (the better to match with the USB-C iPhone 15)."
Check out his roundup of the best wireless earbuds for a full review.
Thanks to AirTags, I can track my bags from drop-off to the plane to the luggage carousel. And even when the worst happens, and my bags end up in Orlando when I'm in Michigan (true story), I know where they are and how to find them.
"First, we bought one Apple AirTag for my husband's wallet. Then we bought a second one for his car keys," said this repeat buyer. "Now, we have a four-pack, which is cheaper, for our golf bags and checked roller bags."
Make fighting with your family members over power outlets a thing of the past, courtesy of this electrifying gadget. It's equipped with five AC outlets and four USB ports, enough for everyone to charge their iPads, iPhones, MacBooks (you get the picture) all at once. Oh, and it's so much sleeker than having a power strip on your floor — and you won't have to worry about tripping over it.
No, it's not a massive discount, but this top seller is within a dollar of its all-time low (and it's retailed for as much as $20 in the past).
We don't need to tell you that it's waaay past time to get rid of your cable TV subscription, do we? This will give you instant access to more than 1.5 million movies and TV shows, all for less than the cost of a couple of movie tickets.
Pilot and aviation enthusiast Duke Armitage is a fan of noise-cancelling earbuds for travel, and this popular pick by Beats happens to be $50 off. "Few things are more irritating than listening to loud conversations or baby screams on a flight," he says. "This doesn't have to break the bank, as you can find a quality pair for $50 to $100."
These come with three tip sizes to ensure a snug fit. Other travel-friendly features? Transparency mode lets you switch off noise-cancelling to hear in-flight announcements or order a ginger ale, and you'll get hours of listening time before they need to be charged. Choose from black, white or red — whatever suits your jet-setting style.
This highly rated (and reasonably priced) telly is the one Goldilocks would likely opt for; not too big, not too small, just right. High-def resolution and Dolby Digital Audio help enhance the viewing experience with clear picture and sound, and you'll have easy access to all of your favorite streaming platforms in one place. At just $180, this price matches the TV's lowest of the year.
Ready for some Apple picking? Yes, we realize it's not fall, but you'll want to pluck this bad boy from the ol' Amazon tree and add it to your cart because it's currently down to its all-time lowest price — and this is the most recent version! As the unofficial Goldilocks of tech (less bulky than a laptop but larger than a smartphone), this tablet keeps you connected on the go or at home, and you can use it for everything from reading books to taking notes to watching videos.
Broida named this the "best overall tablet," owing to its "under-the-hood improvements, including a faster processor, more RAM (4GB instead of 3GB), Bluetooth 5.0 (up from 4.2) and a USB-C charging port."
Check out his roundup of the best tablets of 2024 for a full review.
With four colors and four levels of storage (128GB all the way up to 1TB) to choose from, not to mention Wi-Fi and cellular options, there's an iPad Air for everyone.
Want a powerful tablet without paying the mind-boggling $1,000-plus smackeroos for an iPad Pro? The Air is a good bet, experts say.
Need (a lot) more storage? This 1TB version should do the trick, and right now, it's $100 off.
Apple tech rarely goes on sale, so when the prices drop it's worth taking a look, especially when, as is the case with the iPad Air, you can save $100. It's the lowest price ever!
You might be thinking, "I've got a phone. I've got a laptop. Why do I need a tablet too?" This iPad is a sweet spot between the two, especially for anyone who wants a little more computing power and screen size than the regular iPad and iPad mini offer. Need a little more than the touchscreen and onscreen keyboard? It's compatible with both the wireless Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil (the first version), so writing and drawing are a breeze. Reading and watching videos on the iPad is much more enjoyable than on your phone as well.
"You know how a Corvette will get you where you're going, fast and in style, the same way a Lamborghini will? That's my take on the iPad Air, " says Senior Tech Writer Rick Broida. "Ultimately, the Air makes a good choice for anyone seeking a pro-level iPad without the Pro's price." (The Pro, if you're wondering, starts at $999 — ouch.)
Over 880 reviewers have given this sleek, powerful tablet a five-star rating.
"I really like this iPad Air!" raved a happy customer. "It's beautiful, lightweight and has plenty of storage and features! Since my M1 only had 64 GB, it was easy to fill up. But, with this new beauty, I can add as many apps as I wish!"
Other than storage, the ability to use the Apple Pencil is a big selling point, especially for digital artists. "I love to draw, so I mainly use it for Procreate. The battery life is great. I can draw [for] almost a whole day or two on one charge," said a five-star reviewer. "The weight is incredible. It feels like nothing."
Another reviewer said that while the iPad Air is often overlooked, it should be the go-to for most people. "Let's face it, unless you are a video editor or use your iPad as your computer replacement, an M2 chip is way more powerful than what your average user uses their iPad for," they said. "I mainly use it to consume entertainment, fire off iMessages with my friends, watch YouTube, surf the web or play a few games, and the iPad Air M2 does all of this seamlessly. And the 11-inch form factor is perfect when you are lying in bed or traveling."
While the iPad Air is more powerful than the regular iPad and the iPad mini, it still pales in comparison to the iPad Pro. "I have a 2019 iPad Pro 11 first-gen, so the specs are not impressive with the new iPad Air. First thing you notice: No Face ID support. No 120Hz display. Not as bright," cautioned a four-star reviewer. "That's a lot to cut from [a] five-year-newer unit. That being said, it is as snappy as it gets."
Speaking of critiques, here's what Broida had to say: "As for performance, the Air will more than satisfy the vast majority of users. Only if you're capturing and editing a lot of video should you consider going Pro." But he added, "If you already own an Apple Pencil 2, it won't work here. For shame, Apple." (The first-gen Apple Pencil is compatible, however.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
