Coupled with the optional Apple Pencil, the Mini becomes a powerhouse of an art studio. (Amazon)(Amazon)
So many tablets went on sale over the weekend, but here's my hot take: The iPad Mini is one of the most perfectly sized tablets. It's bigger than your phone, making it ideal for the likes of books, movies and games, but not so big that it's difficult to fit in a bag or hold for long stretches of reading, watching or playing. And guess what? If you've been looking for an iPad Mini deal, this is the time to act: As part of Amazon's Cyber Monday sale, the Apple iPad Mini 7th Generation can be yours for $469, down from its regular price of $499.
That’s a rare deal on a device that’s as versatile as it is powerful — and the perfect excuse to treat yourself before the holiday rush hits. Here's the thing, though: with the savings event in its final hours, now's your last chance to snag it at this rare discount.
So, don't wait! The only color still in stock is blue. (That said, it's worth checking back throughout the day, as Amazon often refreshes its inventory.)
All-time low price alert! Never lose your luggage, purse, car — anything, really — again. Just toss one of these smart tags inside the item you want to track and you'll be alerted of its whereabouts via your phone.
The deal on this four-pack brings each tag just over $17 a pop. Grab a few for your, er, forgetful family members — in my case that was me (Chris)!
Tired of contending with a menagerie of remotes every time you want to watch TV? Stop the insanity with this Fire TV Stick — it can replace 'em all! You'll be able to effortlessly switch between the news, sports, live TV and your favorite streaming platforms for easy access to millions of shows and movies, plus watch over 300,000 titles for free via the included apps. Want to use voice control to navigate? Yup, it's got Alexa built in, too. This is the lowest price we've seen!
"I've converted my entire family to Fire Sticks," wrote a fan. "They're so user-friendly that even my elderly mother can handle it. It takes away the stress of multiple remotes and puts everything in one easy-to-use location."
"The number one item I'd pack is noise-cancelling headphones. Few things are more irritating than listening to loud conversations or baby screams on a flight," says Armitage. "This doesn't have to break the bank, as you can find a quality pair for $50 to $100."
Earbuds are more portable than headphones, and these wireless noise-cancelling buds from Beats are among the most popular, with more than 57,000 five-star ratings on Amazon. They come with tips in three sizes for a snug fit. Transparency mode lets you switch off noise-cancelling to hear in-flight announcements or order a ginger ale. Choose from black, white or red to suit your jet-setting style.
Hot sale alert: 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 and taking notes to watching videos.
Our tech editor named this the best tablet for 2025 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."
Don't need a full-size laptop but still want a versatile screen for reading, streaming movies and browsing social media? Here's your next move. The Mini features an advanced A15 Bionic chip (meaning it's powerful and fast), 64GB of storage, all-day battery life and an 8.3-inch liquid retina display screen. It's also on sale for its lowest price ever at 25% off.
One happy shopper said: "The A15 Bionic chip makes everything smooth and fast, from browsing to running apps. The 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display is stunning—perfect for watching videos, reading or gaming. The compact size makes it incredibly portable without sacrificing performance. 64GB is ample storage for my needs, and it handles multitasking seamlessly. Whether for work or entertainment, this iPad Mini is the perfect balance of power and portability. Highly recommend!""My bigger iPad Air recently just broke so I was debating between getting another or getting the iPad mini. I am so happy that I chose the mini," said another customer. "I love that it is light enough to carry around wherever I go but still has a bigger screen than my phone so I can do work/school on it. I have also been reading on it a lot and think that it is the perfect tablet for reading."
This new generation of the compact tablet features Apple Intelligence, an A17 Pro chip and 128GB memory, double the usual base standard.
With a 3:2 screen ratio, this feels much more like a book in your hand than your iPhone.
Priced at $469 (down from $499), this iPad Mini with 128GB of memory is the Cyber Monday gift you (or a loved one) have been waiting for.
Think this is just a slightly larger version of your phone? Think again. With a 3:2 aspect ratio compared to the iPhone's 2:1, the iPad Mini is much wider and, for those who use their tablets to read, can fit more text and feels more like a book or magazine in your hand. Speaking of fitting in your hand, it's much less cumbersome than the full-size iPad, making it great for travel or slipping into a backpack for your commute.
As far as features go, the iPad Mini is packed. It's powered by the A17 Bionic chip, so you should experience zero lag (which I definitely cannot say for my Kindle). It also has a 12-megapixel camera on both the front and back, plus, with its smaller size, you won't look ridiculous holding it up to snap a photo. The optional (but highly recommended) Apple Pencil Pro can turn this tablet into an art studio, whether your medium is photography or digital art.
This is also the first time a Mini will have Apple Intelligence. What is Apple Intelligence, you ask? It's Apple's way of making your device even more helpful and personalized. It learns from your habits and preferences to suggest things like reminders for meetings, suggest photos from specific events or even offer predictive text while you type, making things run smoother and faster.
Since this iPad is so new, it has only a handful of ratings on Amazon so far, most of them five-star. Unsurprisingly, the previous-generation iPad Mini has received quite a few five-star ratings — close to 10,000, in fact, from shoppers who say it's "a compact powerhouse."
Portability seems to be one of the biggest draws, including for this five-star reviewer. "I use my iPad for reading, streaming movies/TV shows, as a planner, as a coloring book and sketchbook, and surfing the internet. I also purchased an Apple Pencil, second generation, and I purchased a Paperlike screen protector — it helps me write easier and smoother on it. I love this thing! It's perfect to take literally anywhere and fits in most of my purses."
"I am coming from the iPad mini 5th generation and wow is this a huge step up," said another happy customer. "It is super fast. Great feel, quality and awesome camera. The picture quality is unreal. It is very portable even with a case on it. The storage is great. I have 30GB free even after the new iOS install."
"I had been looking for something to take quick notes at work, edit PDFs for simple stuff at work and home, and I had really been getting sick of reading on my phone," shared a final five-star buyer. "We have an iPad Pro 10-inch and the new 10th generation Air, and none of them seem to perform any better than mine does, but the big thing about it that is huge for me is that it is so small and light, super easy to tote around, doesn't really add any weight to my bag."
"I will say, battery life is subpar, especially when compared with my older iPad Pro," cautioned one purchaser. "The 2021 iPad Mini and 2022 iPad Air that I own don't have the best battery life, but at least they charge up quickly with the included USB-C charger. I guess the newer models don't hold a charge as long, but when I travel, I bring an Anker portable battery with me, just in case."
Some users also miss the home button, which Apple no longer includes on the iPad mini. "You sort of have to fling things off the screen," said this user. "If you like that, it probably works for you. I do not. Takes a while getting used to, and I don't think I ever totally will."
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.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
