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The iPad is often considered the best iPad for most people. It offers the perfect balance of price and performance for most people, especially the 2025 model, which features an M3 chip.
And that price-to-performance balance applies to the full $599 price. Right now, you can get the M3 iPad Air from Amazon for $449 — that's $150 off the usual price. Whether you need to get an iPad for your child to help them get ready for back-to-school, or you want one for yourself, this is the perfect time to snag an iPad Air, as it's never been cheaper. (For more deals, check out our guide to this week's best iPad deals).
We've dubbed the iPad Air "the sweet spot." In our rave review of the tablet, we said, "the sweet spot just got even sweeter."
And while we consider it the best Apple tablet for most people, I'd go as far as to say it's the best tablet for most people overall. I'm not calling out Android, as the best Android tablets are tremendous devices, but the ease of use of the iPad Air puts it a notch above to me (again, for most people).
If you're wondering whether it's worth spending extra on the iPad Air, there are a few notable upgrades over the base iPad. You get Apple Intelligence — for better or worse. You also receive an upgrade to Wi-Fi 6e, which can make a significant difference if your router supports it. There's also support for the Apple Pencil Pro, instead of the original Apple Pencil (USB-C), which is a significant benefit for artists.
And of course, we can't forget the difference in power between the M3 chip and the A16 chip. You get an 8-core CPU instead of a 5-core CPU and a 9-core GPU instead of a 4-core GPU. The differences are quite sizable.
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