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Get the Apple iPad at it’s lowest price ever for back to school
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The Apple iPad is one of CBS Essentials readers’ favorite tablets, and for good reason. With back-to-school shopping on the horizon, there’s no better time to outfit your child (or yourself) with a new tablet to handle all that homework. There’s a heavily discounted iPad on offer right now that you can get for half the price of the next model up, and it’s a powerhouse that you and your family can count on.
Amazon is now selling the 10.2-inch 9th-gen Apple iPad for just $250, its lowest price ever. That’s $79 off its normal list price. This price applies to both the silver and space gray color options in only the 64GB Wi-Fi configuration. You won’t want to miss out on this sale, as this model rarely dips below $270.
Apple iPad 9th Generation (64GB, Wi-Fi only): $249 (save 24%)
Amazon
Perfect for younger users or non-tech-savvy people who don’t need advanced features and functions, the iPad 9th Generation is the perfect starter tablet.
This version of the iPad features a 10.2-inch Retina display that offers a 2,160 x 1,620 pixel resolution. It has a built-in fingerprint scanner used to unlock the device and authorize online purchases. The front of the tablet includes a 12MP ultra-wide camera (for video calling), while the 8MP rear camera can capture still photos or videos at up to 1080p resolution.
This is an older version of the iPad (and one of Apple’s least expensive models). Choose between a space gray or silver casing and between 64GB or 256GB of storage. At the time of purchase, you must also choose between a Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi + cellular option. It runs using the older Apple A13 Bionic processor.
For a limited time, the iPad 9th Generation is on sale from Amazon, with a starting price of just $249. That’s 24% off its usual price.
More Apple iPad back-to-school deals
Keep reading for more Apple iPad deals to make this back-to-school season the best yet.
Apple iPad 10th Generation (64GB, Wi-Fi only): $300 (save 14%)
Amazon
The iPad 10th Generation is slightly more powerful than the 9th Generation version of Apple’s starter tablet. It’s suitable for younger users, as well as middle- and high-school students, or anyone not looking to spend a fortune on an iPad.
The iPad 10th Generation has a 10-inch Liquid Retina display. Like all iPads, it’s powered using a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 10 hours. This model is available in your choice of four casing colors — silver, blue, pink or yellow. The base model comes with 64GB of storage, but at the time of purchase, you can upgrade this to 256 GB. You can also choose between a Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi + cellular model.
Compared to the iPad 9th Generation, this model is powered using Apple’s slightly faster and more powerful A15 Bionic processor. It also supports Wi-Fi 6 and comes with a 12MP front and rear-facing camera.
This tablet’s price has been reduced by 14%, so you can buy it for a starting price of just $300.
Apple 2024 11″ iPad Air (M2 processor, 128GB, Wi-Fi only): $559 (save 7%)
Amazon
Released in May, the new lineup of Apple iPad Air tablets are the thinnest and lightest yet. You can choose between one with an 11-inch Liquid Retina display (offering 2,360 x 1,640 pixel resolution), or a 13-inch Liquid Retina display. The base model comes equipped with 128GB of storage, but at the time of purchase, this can be upgraded to 256GB, 512GB or 1TB.
Both a Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + cellular version of the iPad Air is available. It comes in your choice of a light blue, purple, space gray or starlight casing. The tablet is equipped with a 12MP front- and rear-facing camera. And it supports Wi-Fi 6E for wireless connectivity.
With a starting price of just $559, the 11-inch iPad Air is a robust little powerhouse that runs using Apple’s M2 processor, making it great for back to school. This makes it considerably faster and better performing than the iPad 9th Generation or iPad 10th Generation. It’s a really great option for anyone looking for a powerful and sleek general purpose tablet.
The 11-inch iPad Air measures just 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 inches and weighs a mere 1.02 pounds. Battery life is up to 10 hours.
Apple 2024 13″ iPad Air (M2 processor, 128GB, Wi-Fi only): $738 (8% off)
Amazon
The 2024 13-inch iPad Air features everything people love about the 11-inch iPad Air, but with a larger Liquid Retina touchscreen display. The larger screen makes it perfect for multitasking. The larger screen is also ideal for streaming TV shows and movies, editing photos or video, or performing tasks that require extra on-screen real estate.
This version of the iPad is powered using Apple’s M2 processor. The base model comes with 128GB of storage, but you can upgrade this to 256GB, 512GB or 1TB at the time of purchase. Choose between a light blue, purple, space gray or starlight casing color and between a Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi + cellular configuration.
The 13-inch iPad Air also comes equipped with a 12MP front- and rear-facing camera and supports Wi-Fi 6E for wireless connectivity. Battery life is up to 10 hours. This larger-sized version of the tablet is still very lightweight and thin. It measures 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.24 inches and weighs just 1.26 pounds.
We recommend the iPad Air to any student who wants a powerful, slim and versatile, general-purpose tablet.
Apple 2024 11″ iPad Pro (M4 processor, 256GB, Wi-Fi only, Standard glass): $919 (8% off)
Amazon
At the same time Apple upgraded its lineup of iPad Air tablets, it also gave a major overhaul to the premium iPad Pro models. Both the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro tablets now feature a stunning Ultra Retina XDR display (with a 2,420 x 1,669 pixel resolution). This is the brightest and most detailed display ever offered in an iPad.
The iPad Pro is powered using Apple’s premier M4 processor. The base model comes equipped with 256GB of storage, but you can upgrade this to 512GB, 1TB or 2TB at the time of purchase. You can also choose between a silver or space black casing.
The front and rear of the tablet are equipped with a 12MP camera, but the rear of the device also has an integrated LiDAR scanner (used for augmented reality and certain other specialized applications). The iPad Pro supports Wi-Fi 6E for wireless connectivity and also comes in a Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi + cellular configuration.
This is the tablet you want in your hands when performing higher-end tasks that require extra processing power — like photo or video editing, working with massive spreadsheets, gaming or doing any type of content creation. At the time of purchase, if you upgrade the iPad Pro to a 1TB or 2TB configuration, you’re also given the chance to upgrade the display to utilize Apple’s new nano-texture glass. This increases the vibrancy and detail of what you see on the touchscreen, while reducing glare.
Now that the latest iPad Pro is on sale during Amazon’s after-Prime Day sale, it’s well worth upgrading your tablet to this high-end model. The iPad Pro allows you to experience all of the best functionality and highest level of performance that an iPad has to offer.
Apple 2024 13″ iPad Pro (M4 processor, 256GB, Wi-Fi only, standard glass): $1,198 (8% off)
Amazon
Hands down, the 13-inch version of the 2024 iPad Pro is the most powerful tablet that Apple has ever released. When you use it with the newly redesigned Apple Magic Keyboard (now on sale for $339) and Apple Pencil Pro (now on sale for $119), the tablet rivals what’s possible using an Apple MacBook Pro laptop.
The larger size touchscreen is perfect for multitasking or running apps that require extra screen space. Plus, the performance of this tablet is lightning-fast and extremely efficient, thanks to the new M4 processor.
The iPad Pro is ideal for handling tasks that require lots of computing power, like editing 4K (or even 8K) video, editing high-resolution photos, doing any sort of graphic arts or computer aided design (CAD) work, managing advanced spreadsheets, experiencing high-end games and so much more. Plus, the display makes TV shows and movies look absolutely amazing, especially when you upgrade to Apple’s nano-texture glass for the display.
The iPad Pro offers all-day battery life (up to 10 hours) and supports Wi-Fi 6E for wireless connectivity. It also comes in your choice of a space black or silver casing. Now is the ideal time up purchase this high-end tablet, since you’ll save some serious cash.
Be sure to check out our hands-on iPad Pro review to discover everything our in-house tech experts love about this latest tablet. And if you’re wondering how the Apple 2024 13-inch iPad Pro stacks up against the top-of-the-line Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra tablet, we’ve done an in-depth comparison between these two devices.
Apple iPad Mini 6th Generation (A15 Bionic processor, 64GB, Wi-Fi only): $469 (save 6%)
Amazon
Powered by the older Apple A15 Bionic processor, the iPad Mini tablet hasn’t been updated since 2021. However, people still love this model because of its compact size. You get all of the features and functionality of an iPad, but it comes with a smaller 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display that features 2,266 by 1,488 pixel resolution.
The iPad Mini also includes a 12MP front- and rear-facing camera and has a built-in fingerprint (TouchID) scanner that’s used to unlock the device or authorize an online purchase.
The most appealing thing about the iPad Mini is that it measures just 7.69 x 5.3 x 0.25 inches and weighs 0.65 pounds. This makes in comfortable to hold in your hands for extended periods.
People who enjoy reading e-books love the iPad Mini since it’s able to display the content of a book (or graphic novel) in full color and the tablet is light enough to hold in one hand while reading. Thanks to its smaller size, the iPad Mini is also more convenient to carry around. And you still get up to a 10-hour battery life per charge.
For a limited time, Amazon has slashed the price of the iPad Mini by 6%, which brings its starting price down to an affordable $469.
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Americans are expected to spend more money heating their homes this winter than on holiday gifts, according to new research.
The elevated cost of staying warm indoors amid cold outdoor temperatures comes after an unusually hot summer, that led to households spending bigger shares of their budgets on cooling costs, compared with previous years, according to a report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA).
On average, spending on home heating this winter is projected to increase by 8.7% to $941, up from $866 last winter. The increased costs are attributed in part to both expected colder temperatures in the Northeast and Midwest states.
The new average expenditure on heating costs outpaces the $902 the average household is expected to spend on Christmas presents this year, according to a forecast from the National Retail Federation.
What’s driving up home heating costs?
There are different ways to keep residences warm. Families that use electricity to heat their homes are expected to face the largest increase in costs — more than 14% — which will bring the total up to $1,189 from $1,040 from mid-November through mid-March, which NEADA considers to be the winter period.
Driving up prices is the rising cost of updating and maintaining the electric grid. Plus, colder weather is expected to lead to increased consumption.
“It’s colder, and the cost of electricity is up as the grid is rebuilt. So we’re seeing both higher prices and greater usage,” NEADA Executive Director Mark Wolfe told CBS MoneyWatch.
Natural gas, propane and heating oil cost differences
Natural gas and propane users are also expected to be hit with bigger bills this winter. Heating costs for natural gas are up just over 3%, for an average cost of $634 for the winter period, compared with $615 for 2023-2024. Costs are expected to rise only modestly in line with wholesale prices.
Propane costs are up 4.4%, with families expected to spend an average of $1,231 heating homes, up from $1,179 last season.
Heating oil costs, by contrast, have declined 2.7%, which means average spending this winter will be $1,518, down from $1,560 last winter.
Early start to the season
November was colder than usual, with temperatures dropping prematurely after a “very expensive summer” of heat waves straining cooling resources, said Wolfe.
Blame climate change for the big swings in temperature, he added.
“Weather conditions can be very unpredictable even though over time, winters are getting warmer and summers are getting hotter. It’s not a straight line, and for consumers, it’s quite upsetting because higher utility bills are coming right before Christmas,” Wolfe said.
Steps to take now
There are steps consumers can take to help keep a lid on home heating costs.
Wolfe urges people to have their thermostats serviced now, before the coldest temperatures of the season roll in. That way, families won’t be on the hook for an emergency repair if their thermostat breaks in the middle of a cold front. A tune-up will also help heating systems run more efficiently, he said.
Always close the furnace flue, or else it will lead heat outside the house, advises Wolfe. Lastly, manually turn down the heat at night, if you can, to save up to 10% on your energy bill.
