Apple’s entry-level iPad was always a solid workhorse tablet for students, casual users, and anyone else who wanted a solid performer without setting foot in the higher price brackets where the Pro and Air models live. The newest iteration of the base iPad, however, brings a massive performance boost while staying at an exceptionally accessible price — now just $300 at Amazon.
Apple’s upgrade of the 11-inch iPad centers on the A16 processor chip, the same one that powers the iPhone 14 Pro. The A16 took the base iPad from a very solid-for-the-price tablet to a genuinely fast and capable tablet that is worth every penny of its price and then some.
Master of Multitasking
With the A16 directing traffic the 11-inch iPad handles multitasking without hesitation — switching between apps, editing photos, streaming while running a browser with a dozen tabs open. The 11-inch Liquid Retina display is bright and color-accurate, with True Tone shifting its white balance to match your ambient lighting. Storage starts at 128GB, which is the capacity of the $300 model at Amazon, and goes up to 512GB. The storage is far more important now that apps have gotten heavier and the iPad is expected to pull more creative lifting.
An average day with the 11-inch iPad could look like this: unlocking with the Touch ID built into the top button, firing up Procreate for a quick sketch, hopping into a FaceTime call, and watching something on Apple TV+ before bed — all without worrying about whether the battery can keep up. It can. All-day battery life isn’t marketing language here; it’s a consistent real-world result across the iPad line. Wi-Fi 6 keeps connections fast for anyone working from a modern router.
Add-On Options Galore
The USB-C connector means this iPad plays well with a wider range of accessories than older Lightning-based models. Apple Pencil (USB-C) support makes it a capable note-taking device without requiring an adapter hunt. The Magic Keyboard Folio is compatible for anyone who wants to push it further into laptop territory — though that’s a separate cost worth factoring in. One thing to keep in mind: this is still the base iPad, not an iPad Air or Pro, so the display runs at 60Hz rather than ProMotion-driven 120Hz of the Air and Pro.
Most base-model tech items are marketed with the unspoken suggestion that it’ll be great to have until you decide to move up to a bigger (read: more expensive) model. But with the 11-inch iPad and its A16 chip, one $300 Amazon purchase will likely keep you happy for years without the urge to upgrade.