This M3 Ipad Air For $150 Off Is The Best Prime Day Tablet Deal I've Seen So Far

1 month ago

Apple iPad Air M3 render connected ZDNET''s Amazon Prime Day background.

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The 11-inch M3 iPad Air is now disposable for arsenic debased arsenic $449 (down from $599).
Amazon has besides discounted nan Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad by up to 13%.
Not each iPad screens are created equal, and here's erstwhile you should bargain a 13-inch aliases 11-inch iPad Air.

The iPad Mini is nan cleanable tablet for my browsing needs, but nan M3 iPad Air is presently my favourite Apple tablet, particularly since nan iPadOS 26 update. I've been utilizing nan 13-inch version since launch, and it is now nan champion value-for-money iPad for some powerfulness and casual users.

While Amazon's October Prime Day sale has yet to spell unrecorded officially, it has already slashed nan value of nan M3 iPad Air to little than $450! You tin bargain an M3 iPad Air and Magic Keyboard combo for little than $700 connected Amazon correct now.

Here are each nan details:

The 11-inch M3 iPad Air is trading for $449, down from its $599 motorboat price. You tin acquisition its Magic Keyboard astatine a 7% discount, bringing nan value down to $250. So, nan 11-inch M3 iPad Air and Magic Keyboard combo will now costs you $699, arsenic opposed to $868.
The 13-inch M3 iPad Air gets a 19% discount, bringing nan value down to $649 from $799. The matching Apple Magic Keyboard is further discounted by $42 and now costs $277 alternatively of $319. As a result, nan 13-inch iPad Air and Magic Keyboard combo tin beryllium bought for $926, down from $1,118.
Both support nan latest Apple Pencil Pro, which is now disposable astatine a 23% discount. It is disposable for $99, down from $129.

Also: The champion October Prime Day deals live

Don't bargain nan incorrect M3 iPad Air!

Not each iPad screens are created equal. You request to make judge you acquisition aligns pinch your usage case. Many mightiness opt for a 13-inch iPad, reasoning it would connection a bigger surface for videos, but that's not true. The 13-inch iPad Air features a 4:3 facet ratio, whereas nan 11-inch exemplary has a 16:11 screen.

So, nan 2 added inches connected nan bigger iPads don't straight construe to a amended movie-watching experience. Most modular videos connected platforms for illustration YouTube are ideally 16:9, while modern movies are made successful 21:9. These formats would connection little letterboxing (thick achromatic borders connected nan apical and bottom) connected an 11-inch iPad than a 13-inch model.

The 11-inch M3 iPad Air would beryllium amended for contented consumption, whereas nan 13-inch version would beryllium amended for productivity and creatives who want a larger canvas. It'll connection much room for in-app menus (like successful Lightroom aliases Final Cut Pro) and a much convenient abstraction for imaginative workflows overall.

Also: iPadOS 26 is turning my iPad Air into nan ultraportable laptop it was meant to be

I've been utilizing excavation for productivity, and iOS 26 has been an absolute game-changer pinch its caller Windowed multitasking system, smoother resizing, amended Stage Manager, and much features. It still runs mobile apps, truthful you won't get a desktop experience, but nan multitasking is now much intuitive than ever. You besides get a stoplight paper pinch Close, Minimize, and Expand buttons connected nan top-left area for progressive apps.

Thanks to nan in-house Apple M3 chipset, some nan 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air connection nan aforesaid computing power. Both sizes person nan aforesaid LCD surface and resolution, but nan 13-inch tablet has a brighter show (600 nits versus 500 nits), making it amended for outdoor usage.

If you already transportation your laptop everywhere, nan 11-inch iPad Air would beryllium a amended woody for those who conscionable want a instrumentality for media depletion that tin connection computing powerfulness erstwhile needed. However, if you want an iPad for productivity and productivity and you'd usage it much than your laptop, nan 13-inch M3 iPad Air pinch Magic Keyboard will service you better.

Which keyboard lawsuit should you buy?

Person holding up nan Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard cover.

The caller Apple Magic Keyboard is great, and I emotion having nan caller usability statement astatine my disposal. It offers nan champion keyboard acquisition connected an iPad, but it has a awesome flaw. The caller Magic Keyboard doesn't characteristic a backlight successful its keys.

I'm mostly unbothered by it, but erstwhile moving successful nan evenings aliases comparatively low-light environments, not having a backlit keyboard feels for illustration a large omission. I want my keys to glow truthful they're much legible while typing. If you're for illustration me, present are immoderate Magic Keyboard alternatives that I urge -

Belkin Pro keyboard case: It is rather akin to nan charismatic Magic Keyboard case, but much affordable and offers a backlit keyboard. You get multi-gesture controls, a large capable trackpad, and multimedia keys for $200 (13-inch model).
Logitech Folio Touch keyboard case: Unlike nan Apple Magic Keyboard, this Logitech accessory relies connected a kickstand to support your iPad, truthful it requires a larger abstraction to work. However, you still get backlit keys, a ample trackpad, and rugged protection. It costs $135 (11-inch model) and weighs astir 860 grams.
ESR iPad Air case: At $100 for nan 11-inch exemplary and $106 for nan 13-inch variant, this ESR lawsuit is 1 of nan astir affordable keyboard cases for your iPad Air. It is heavier than nan remainder but offers akin capabilities successful 3 colour options.

These iPad Air keyboard cases tin thief you prevention much connected your tablet and keyboard combo this vacation season. And besides bring backlit keys to your setup.

Looking for nan adjacent champion product? Get master reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.

How I rated this deal?

Based connected up to 25% disconnected savings being offered, ZDNET's standing strategy gives this a 3/5 Editor's woody rating. The M3 iPad Air is 1 of nan champion combinations of powerfulness and entertainment, and Amazon's woody value is nan astir enticing discount connected this tin Apple tablet.

When will this woody expire?

Amazon Prime Day deals spell unrecorded connected Oct.7, but this iPad Air discount is already available. That said, astir deals are taxable to waste retired aliases expire astatine immoderate time.

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