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This $349 iPad was secretly the best announcement during the Apple event
During Apple's "Let Loose" event today, the company announced several iPad upgrades, including a larger iPad Air, new advances in Apple Silicon, new features in Final Cut Pro, and more. However, Apple fans who enjoy simpler things can now purchase the base model tenth-generation iPad for $349.
Also: Everything Apple unveiled at its 'Let Loose' event: iPad Pro, Air, Pencil, M4, and more
With the release of new iPads, Apple reduced the base model iPad's price from $449 to $349 and discontinued the ninth-generation iPad. Apple launched the 10th-generation iPad in the fall of 2022 and is now advertising it as its flagship base model.
ZDNET had tested the standard iPad at the time and called it a "confusingly good tablet," applauded it for its landscape front-facing camera (which was just adopted to the new Pro and Air models), reliable battery life, and USB-C port, which was a bigger deal at the time than it is today.
The 10th-generation iPad signals Apple's official retirement of its older iPad hardware, which included the A13 Bionic chip and physical Home button. Now, the 10th-generation iPad takes the reins as Apple's easy-to-recommend tablet, with its new lower price point.
The new iPad Air and iPad Pro have M2 and M4 chips, respectively; both processors are typically found in Apple's highly-capable MacBook computers, making the newer iPads faster and more capable to use.
Also: iPad Pro (2024) vs. iPad Air (2024): Which Apple tablet should you buy?
Still, the 10th-generation iPad is an excellent option for people who don't need their iPad to run graphics-heavy software applications. If you want an iPad for casual use, like watching YouTube, surfing the web, and calling or texting friends, the standard iPad is possibly your best option, and you won't have to pay upwards of $1,000 for one.