Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Deals

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Amazon drops huge discounts on latest iPad and MacBook Air

By

With employers all over the nation instructing contractors and employees to work from home to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus — COVID-19 — the need for home office equipment has never been higher. To help make decking out your spare room with all the hardware required to get down to business lighter on your wallet, Amazon has discounted two must-have devices: the Apple iPad and MacBook Air.

New Apple iPad (10.2-inch) — $279, was $329

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The latest Apple iPad, only released in 2019, continues to be one of the best tablets on the market simply for the brains and brawn it packs into one stylish package. Its glossy 10.2-inch screen is designed with Apple’s signature Retina display to make every action and swipe feel fluid and smooth as satin. We’ve been using the iPad for a while, and even now, we’re still amazed by how the colors seem to pop and come to life. This gives every video or image a lively quality that’s rarely found in something so compact and light. In fact, at 1.07 pounds, the iPad is remarkably light.

The A10 Fusion processor allows you to handle some pretty intense applications like dedicated games and online streaming. It’s built for optimum performance with near-instant response times, completely alleviating the frustration that comes with input lag. With the iPad, you even have the option to multitask. This allows you to open two applications and work on them simultaneously on the same screen, cutting the time it takes to transition from one app to the other. The eight-megapixel back camera also allows you to film in 1080p HD resolution. For the front, it has a 1.2-megapixel HDR-enabled camera, so voice calls and video conferences are always clear no matter where you are. 

Related

If you’re worried about the tablet dying while you’re out and about on your daily grind, don’t be. The iPad is capable of lasting up to 10 hours of non-stop use, even on Wi-Fi or data, so you can take your work with you anywhere you want without being chained to a socket or relying on a power bank every few hours. If you’d prefer a laptop, the iPad is compatible with the Smart Keyboard, so you can switch between laptop and tablet without ever having to migrate screens.  It’s currently available on Amazon in two storage sizes to complement your work style and workload, with options for 32GB and 128GB. Whichever you pick, you’re getting the same quality. The 32GB iPad is on sale for $279 while the 128GB is discounted at $399.

BUY NOW

Apple MacBook Air (2017) — $750, was $999

Apple

The Apple MacBook has been a staple for students and young working professionals since its initial release in 2006, and it has only become more of a powerhouse since then. While this MacBook Air isn’t the latest model, it’s still well regarded as a fully capable laptop that can round out any workspace — plus, it’s cheap. Some of us are still reeling over the prices of the latest MacBook Pros. And if it’s technical obsolescence that scares you, rest assured that some of us are still using our MacBooks from way back when, proving that this is definitely up to modern standards.

At first glance, the MacBook Air’s aluminum chassis reveals itself to be sleek and has a prominent air of professionalism about it. When it comes to Apple, the signature design is pure style, so you never have to worry about looking tacky. It has two USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt 2 ports each and an SDXC card slot, so you can stay connected to practically any device you might need. It’s simply efficiency at its finest.

The 13.3-inch display is LED-backlit with 1,440 x 900 resolution. So, if you’re going to edit videos or do intense work, this MacBook Air may not be the laptop for you, especially with the 128GB SSD. It’s best suited for office or simple work involving nothing too hardware-intensive. If you’ll only be writing documents, browsing the web, or organizing files, then this is perfect for you. The Intel HD Graphics 6000 isn’t very accommodating for larger programs, but simple applications — and even some online games — work just fine. For its processor, it uses a dual-core Intel Core i5 with 8GB of RAM, so it can run most software efficiently without too much trouble. If you’ll only be using one core, however, the MacBook Air has a Turbo Boost that upgrades its 1.8GHz to 2.9GHz to help process data faster.

All in all, if you’re looking for a good laptop on a budget for your home office or school, then you can’t go wrong with the MacBook Air, especially for beginners or those delving into the world of Apple for the first time. It’s on sale on Amazon for only $750, a whole $249 off its retail price.

BUY NOW

Check out our curated deals page for more great deals on other products to upgrade your home office like monitors and headphones.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Jace Zarley
Jace Zarley
Former Digital Trends Contributor
I find deals and write about them to help Digital Trends’ readers save on quality tech products.
Two popular iPad models just got pretty steep price cuts — from $250
A YouTube video playing on the iPad (2022).

The current and previous model of the entry-level Apple iPad have both received significant price cuts from Best Buy, so if you're on the hunt for cheap iPad deals, these are the offers that you wouldn't want to miss. The Wi-Fi, 64GB model of the ninth-generation Apple iPad is down to $250 from $330 for savings of $80, while the Wi-Fi, 64GB model of the 10th-generation Apple iPad is on sale for $349 following a $100 discount on its original price of $449. We're not sure how long stocks will last for these tablets, so if you're interested in taking advantage of either of these offers, you need to hurry with your purchase. If you don't act fast, you may miss out on the savings.
Apple iPad 9th Gen (Wi-Fi, 64GB) -- $250, was $330

The ninth-generation Apple iPad was released in 2021, but it maintains a spot in our list of the best iPads as the best iPad on a budget. It's still a very reliable and solid choice if you want an Apple tablet, with a 10.2-inch Retina display that's bright and beautiful, and smooth performance despite the relatively old A13 Bionic chip that was introduced in the iPhone 11 because it can be upgraded to the latest iPadOS 17. The device also features an 8MP Wide back camera, a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage technology, the Touch ID fingerprint recognition system for security, and battery life of up to 10 hours on a single charge.

Read more
Best refurbished MacBook deals: Get a MacBook Air for $140 and more
A stack of MacBooks is pictured from the top down.

If you’re in the market for one of the best laptops it’s worth turning your attention toward Apple’s MacBook lineup, and if you’re looking for some savings it can be helpful to shop MacBook deals. Due to the popularity of Apple’s MacBooks they don’t often see significant discounts, but a good way to land some impressive MacBook deals is by shopping refurbished. Most refurbished MacBooks are backed by warranties and decent return windows, allowing you to shop refurbished MacBooks with the confidence you might have when shopping for a brand new one. We’ve tracked down what we feel are the best refurbished MacBook deals currently taking place, so feel free to start shopping for a refurbished MacBook with some savings.
MacBook Air 11.6-inch (2015) -- from $140

Once the latest MacBook Air but now eight years old and still competent, the MacBook Air 11.6-inch (2015) is a great starting point for anyone new to macOS or who just needs something financially on par with a Chromebook. It's a refurbished model but it comes with a one-year warranty so there's peace of mind here. It won't run the latest macOS unfortunately, but its Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of memory and 128GB of SSD storage helps you perform the basics. It still has all the style of a MacBook so we're thinking this could be a good entry point as your child's first MacBook or if you want a project.

Read more
Hurry! This iPad just crashed back to its Black Friday price
The iPad on a tablet displaying web content.

If you've always wanted to buy an iPad but the latest releases are beyond your budget, you may want to consider going for a previous-generation model like the 2021 Apple iPad. The tablet's Wi-Fi, 64GB model, which is already relatively affordable at $330, is currently even cheaper from Best Buy, as an $80 discount pulls its price down to $250. That's what the device was going for during the iPad deals of Black Friday 2023, so if you missed the chance to take advantage of that bargain, proceed with your purchase immediately to make sure this opportunity doesn't slip away.

Why you should buy the 2021 Apple iPad
The ninth-generation Apple iPad, which was released in 2021, will be three years old in several months. However, it's still listed in our roundup of the best iPads as the best iPad on a budget, as it still offers great performance by today's standards with Apple's A13 Bionic chip that also powered the iPhone 11 series. The tablet also features a 10.2-inch Retina display with 2160 x 1620 resolution, for sharp details and vivid colors when you're browsing the internet, watching streaming shows, and playing mobile games.

Read more