Need a new tablet for your casual couch surfing sessions? There are a variety of options out there, but we think most people will be happy with the standard 11-inch model from 2025. You can grab it right now at Amazon for just $300, a $50 discount from its usual price.
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Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
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Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
The outside of the iPad hasn’t changed all that much in the few years since it was updated last, with the screen growing a barely noticeable 0.1 inches, and the standard USB-C port and selfie camera, plus Touch ID built into the power button. Most of the changes affect the inside of the tablet, including a major processor upgrade to the A16 chip and storage that mean this tablet is much snappier and more responsive than the 2022 version. There’s twice as much storage, with 128 GB as a baseline and up to 512GB on the upgraded model, so you won’t need to keep deleting apps to make room for more movies.
While it does have the A16 processor, which is also found in the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus, the reduced RAM means there’s no support for Apple Intelligence. Whether that’s a benefit or a drawback will depend on how much you like or dislike AI. Beyond the lack of Apple Intelligence, you’re really only making a compromise when it comes to the screen, which isn’t laminated, so the Apple Pencil doesn’t feel quite as sharp as it does on other iPads, and it isn’t nano-textured, so glare and bright rooms may be more of an issue.
For most folks, the 2025 A16 iPad will be more than enough tablet for streaming, web browsing, and even some light gaming. You can head over to Amazon to pick up the iPad in either Silver or Blue at the discounted $300 price, with similar discounts on the 256GB and 512GB models too, but availability by color varies as you climb up the storage ladder. If you’re interested in what the other, more premium iPads offer, make sure to check out our guide that covers the entire lineup.
