Creatix / August 9, 2025

What Happened to the iPad? Why It’s Technically "Dead"

Looking to Buy an iPad?

Creatix / Amazon Affiliate Sales Reviews 

If you're looking for the best value iPads currently sold on Amazon, here are the standout options offering the strongest combination of performance, features, and price:

iPad Air 11‑inch (M3)

Top performance for price — M3 power

$599.00

iPad (A16) 11‑inch

Solid everyday tablet — A16 chip

$349.00

Top Value Picks

iPad Air 11‑inch (M3)

• Price: Around $449–$479 on Amazon during back-to-school sales — a steep discount from the usual $599 launch price (AppleInsider).

• Why It’s a Great Value:

  • Packed with Apple’s powerful M3 chip, delivering excellent multi-core and GPU performance for everyday tasks, creation, and light productivity (Tom's Guide).

  • Supports Apple Intelligence, making it future-ready with AI capabilities (The Verge).

  • High-resolution Liquid Retina display, Wi‑Fi 6E, and Apple Pencil Pro compatibility enhance both usability and productivity (Tom's Guide).

  • TechRadar recommends the 11-inch iPad Air (2025) for students and general users due to its balance of price and performance (TechRadar).

iPad (A16) 11‑inch

• Estimated Price: About $279–$299 for the 11th-gen iPad with A16 chip, especially during Amazon Prime Day or back-to-school promotions (WIRED).

• Why It’s a Strong Value:

  • Home to the A16 Bionic chip, offering more performance and RAM (6GB) than earlier budget iPads (Tom's Guide, Wikipedia).

  • TechRadar advises it’s “hard to beat” for most users as a powerful, portable everyday tablet (TechRadar).

  • Best overall value—great for browsing, media, and productivity, all without breaking the bank (TechRadar, Reddit).

  • Wired noted Amazon’s Prime Day discount of 15% off bringing it down to $279 (WIRED); The Verge lists it for $299 for 128GB model (The Verge).

Quick Value Comparison

Model

Approx. Price

Highlight Features

Best For

iPad Air M3

~$449–479

M3 chipset, Apple Intelligence, premium display & spec

Power users, creators, students

iPad (A16) 11"

~$279–299

A16 chip, ample RAM, strong performance, compact size

General users, budget-conscious

Final Take

• For the best overall performance per dollar, the iPad Air (M3) is a clear winner—it blends high-end specs with midrange pricing when discounted.

• If budget is your primary concern but you still want a modern, capable device, the iPad (A16) is a smart pick—cheap yet powerful enough for most daily tasks.

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