Apple's M3-powered iPad Air a good deal at $499

Most of Apple's price increases have gone into effect, resulting in iPads and other products costing hundreds more than they did a few days ago. If last week's Prime Day sale wasn't a good time to consider buying an iPad, we found a deal worth considering that's just under $500 right now. The 128GB iPad Air that has the M3 processor, plus both Wi-Fi and 5G cellular support, costs $499 at Best Buy.

At just $50 more than the base iPad (now $449, up from $349), it's a significantly faster and all-around better tablet. The last-gen Air matches the base iPad's 11-inch screen size, but the Air has a laminated, antireflective coating, plus a wider color gamut. In other words, it's the better choice for entertainment or for creating content.

In terms of specs, its M3 processor leaps ahead of the A16 with more cores, not to mention Apple Intelligence support (as well as support for iPadOS 27 coming later this year). It also boasts Apple Pencil Pro support. The recent price hikes make evaluating deals like this even more crucial for consumers.

As Apple continues to push the boundaries of what its devices can do, especially with AI integration, finding the right balance between cost and capability is key. This iPad Air deal presents an opportunity for those looking to upgrade their tablet experience without venturing into the higher price ranges of the iPad Pro line. For developers and businesses, this could mean more accessible entry points for creating and deploying AI-driven applications.

Meanwhile, consumers stand to gain from having more capable devices that can handle demanding tasks, all while keeping an eye on budget. The question now is how these deals will influence the market, especially as competitors respond to Apple's moves in the AI space.