Save $250: Best Buy has slashed the price of the 128GB cellular M3 iPad Air by a huge $250, bringing the price down to just $499. This configuration would normally retail for around $750, so this is one deal that you won’t want to miss out on. Keep in mind that Apple just announced sweeping price rises on Macs and iPad models, making this price even more appealing.
It appears that the only color in stock right now is the space gray finish, but be sure to check the other colors before you place your order. Just in case.
The cellular capability means that, unlike with a standard iPad, you don’t need to be in range of a Wi-Fi network or tethered to your phone for connectivity. That saves your phone battery and allows the iPad to use GPS navigation itself, among other things. You’ll need to add cell service to the device, however. The Air is also thinner and lighter than other iPads.
This Best Buy deal offers one of the most capable tablets out there, at one of the biggest discounts, but there are other iPad Air deals available if the specs don’t suit your needs. There’s the 1TB model for $849 at Best Buy, which saves you $400, and is a better bet if you need tons of storage. Best Buy also has plenty of other M3 iPad Air models on sale, so don’t forget to check those out too.
The M3 iPad Air is a great option if you want to get one of Apple’s best tablets but don’t need the extra performance of the newer M4 model. The M3 version lacks Wi-Fi 7 support, but beyond that, the main difference is in raw performance. The M4 chip is faster than the M3, but whether you’ll notice the difference will depend on how you use your tablet. Only those editing large videos and doing other pro-level work are likely to benefit from the faster M4 chip.
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Alternatives you might like
Discounts on iPads are hard to come by right now. But if you’d prefer the larger 13-inch version of Apple’s M4 iPad Air, the cellular model is now $779 — a discount of $170.
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