As a lifelong PC fanboy and a former professional Android blogger, it hurts me to say this: Apple's iPad really is the best tablet on the market, and it's been true for a while. That's why I have one sitting on my desk under my main monitor.
And right now, you can pick one up for yourself at a great discount: this iPad Air is $399 at Walmart, a whopping $200 off retail price. But it comes with a couple of caveats.
First, it's the 10.9-inch, 5th-gen iPad Air from 2022. I wouldn't say that's a huge deal-breaker unless you want a bigger screen. This model still has the M1 processor — the same one that's inside the refreshed Arm-powered MacBook Air — so it's rocking plenty of power in addition to 64GB of storage on the Wi-Fi base model.
Second, it's purple. That's the only color being sold at Walmart at this price. Personally, I'm not a big fan of this particular shade but I'd still take this deal. (Get a skin or a case if it really bothers you.)
Other highlights include a USB-C port for data and storage (not an outdated Lightning port), a 12MP rear camera, and a fingerprint reader integrated into the power button.
iPads with deep discounts like this tend to sell out quickly. This one's already going in and out of stock based on location, so jump on it while you can — and if it's out, try again in a little while to see if it comes back.
Get this 5th-gen iPad Air for just $399
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop “battlestation” in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.
