Labor Day deal alert: You can grab the latest iPad for $299 right now

One of the best Labor Day deals I've seen so far is for a device I use every single day: my iPad. It's easily one of the most versatile tools I own. I use it to read the news, watch YouTube and juggle emails and spreadsheets. The newest model doubles the storage of its predecessor and features a stunning 11-inch screen that's great for both work and downtime. The battery still holds up all day, and at $299, it's a rare chance to score the latest and greatest at a decent discount.

(By the way, there are some other great Labor Day deals waiting for your perusal, including lots of other Apple gear.)

Why is this a good deal? 💰

Significant discounts like this on Apple's iPads are rare, which makes scoring the newest generation at a lower price a huge win. To put this into perspective, it's within $19 of the Prime Day price.

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Why do I need this? 🤔

If you regularly toggle among a dozen apps, stream videos and reply to messages simultaneously, you're in for a treat. This iPad is ready to keep up with whatever you throw its way. It's an ultra-light, thin tablet that's powerful enough to replace your laptop for most tasks but slips into your bag with room to spare. With a spacious 11-inch Liquid Retina display, you're swiping and scrolling in vibrant color and clarity that makes any screen that came before it feel like an old tube TV. And if you're into gaming, the graphics capabilities mean you can play even demanding games without dropping a frame.

And let's talk accessories — with the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil (both of which, as you would expect, work like a dream with this model), you can turn it into a creative platform or an after-hours work station whenever you feel the urge. The only thing it can't do is support Apple Intelligence. For that, you'll have to snag Apple's Air, Pro or mini iPad models.

What reviewers say 💬

This iPad, despite being so new, has already garnered a legion of fans (including our very own tech guru, Rick Broida), as well as nearly 4,500 five-star reviews.

Pros 👍

"The new iPad is faster and has twice the storage for the same price," Broida says. "It's a ridiculously capable device, more or less on par with an iPhone, but with a much larger screen. Granted, I never found the last model to be slow in any way — quite the opposite — so the processor bump doesn't excite me much. The extra gigabytes, however, represent a big win. That's a lot more space for games, movies, recorded videos and the like."

Rick went on to say, "The two notable changes are internal: The A16 chip (which Apple says delivers 'a big jump in performance') and the 128GB of storage in the base model. That's double the amount in the 10th-gen iPad, yet Apple kept the starting price at $349. That's an unexpected and pleasant surprise given the 40% price jump in the latest entry-level iPhone, the 16e."

This five-star review comes from a longtime fan: "While the physical size difference is minimal, the improved typing speed, increased storage capacity and overall experience have made me grateful for this upgrade. ... The color of this iPad is a pearlized cornflower or sky blue. It is quite beautiful."

"This is a wonderful tablet! I was having trouble with my previous brand, and friends kept after me to try an iPad," began one buyer. "I finally gave in, and now I can’t wait to get another one for my husband to use! I never dreamed things could be so much easier than using my Android. Safely packaged, shipped and received within hours after ordering!"

Cons 👎

"There's one fairly surprising thing missing from the iPad (A16), and that's Apple Intelligence," says Broida. "This integrated suite of AI tools can summarize e-mails, improve your writing, generate custom images and more; it also includes an upgraded Siri.

"That makes this the only current Apple device with a screen to lack the company's next-gen smarts. That said, some would argue Apple Intelligence — in its current, not-fully-realized form, anyway — is nice to have, but hardly essential. I'm in that camp."

If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.