As a mom who is always looking for savings, especially now that I have three young children, I am aware that iPads aren’t always as affordable as we would like them to be. However, tablets are such a useful gadget to have around these days, with iPads being amongst the more user-friendly options for mixed ability households. So I have devised a quick guide to all the best iPad models and how you can save money on the cost of buying one for Christmas this year.
iPad Air
The iPad Air is the latest model from Apple, and it’s their thinnest and lightest iPad, weighing in at an impressive one pound! Plus, it has a 10 hour battery life, twice the graphics performance of the last model and up to two times the CPU performance compared to the last model.
However, because the iPad Air is the latest model, it is still quite expensive, retailing from around $499, so if this is too much for you, then you might want to look at some of the earlier iPad models.
iPad Mini
Famous for being Apple’s first 7.9 inch tablet, the iPad Mini can be held comfortably in one hand, and the extra 0.9 inch means it has a slightly larger screen than tablets of a similar size. With an impressive battery life as well as a sleek design, prices start from a much more reasonable $399, due to its compact size.
iPad 2
Still one of the most popular iPads available, the iPad 2, while not as small or as lightweight as the iPad Air or iPad Mini, offers users a number of great features for users, making it an ideal Christmas present. Despite being one of the oldest model of iPad, the iPad 2 has a great display, boasting 1024-by-768 resolution, two cameras and a number of built in apps, as well as the latest Apple update, i0S 7.
Prices start from around $399, but it is very possible to buy an iPad 2 for much, much less because it’s of an older generation, especially if you don’t mind buying a pre-owned model.
So don’t be put off by price, until you’ve done a bit of digging. By shopping around on the internet and exploring the various versions, an iPad could be much more attainable this Christmas.
I rarely use my iPhone as an actual phone, so I am debating replacing it with a pay-as-you-go cell phone for phone calls and a iPad mini for all of the other stuff. I think it would be cheaper, and it would be easier to work on the iPad mini vs. the tiny iPhone that I have (mine is old).
We actually have two ipads – my kids are spoiled BUT one is an original iPad and the other is an iPad2 so I can definitely attest to the fact that older models are still great options!
I’ve never even heard of ipad air – where have I been?!
I have no idea how much they cost. I won one, so I didn’t have to pay for it. I don’t think I would have one if I had not won it, though.