The only real way to increase the storage of an Xbox Series X/S is to use a specialized expansion card. Luckily, a really good one is heavily discounted right now. The WD 1TB C40 storage card is down to $110 as part of the Amazon Spring Sale. This is a discount of 30 percent, as the regular price is around $158. This is an officially-licensed product, so itll be a plug-and-play experience. It also delivers roughly the same performance as the internal drive. Its important to note that this allows for both the storage and playing of games. Most external drives can only store, and not play, titles on an Xbox Series X/S. Most modern AAA games require at least 50GB of available space. In other words, this drive will accommodate around 20 of these titles. Indie games tend to be much smaller, so the drive could conceivably house hundreds of smaller releases. The 2TB model is also on sale, for $200 instead of $260. The 512GB version is still at the original $80 asking price. This is a handy drive that gets the job done. The only drawback is the price. Most 1TB external drives are cheaper than $110. It sucks that Microsoft went this weird route with storage, but thats certainly not WDs fault. On the positive side, this is a small and light card that wont add any real weight to the already bulky Xbox consoles.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/wds-1tb-c50-xbox-storage-card-is-30-percent-off-in-the-amazon-spring-sale-184918803.html?src=rss

Despite spending big on marketing tech, many ecommerce businesses still find their websites embarrassing and ineffective.

TikTok could be banned on April 5 what's the plan and why you should care?

As a potential TikTok ban looms in the United States (again), Substack is making (another) play for video creators to join its platform.Back in January, Substack CEO Chris Best wrote on his personal account that the company was going to rescue the smart people from TikTok! It seems hes making good on that promise, as the company announced on Monday that its rolling out a scrollable video feed in its app. Given the timing of this TikTok-like launch, Substack appears eager to capitalize on the potential void left behind if TikTok is actually banned this time around.Substack first launched video in 2022, later introducing an in-app Media Tab in 2024. The latest redesign transforms that tab into a scrollable, TikTok-style feed featuring short-form videos under 10 minutes, with long-form content and podcast previews expected to follow. This update comes just a month after Substacks announcement that creators can now monetize their videos on the platform and publish video posts directly through the Substack app.As of February, 82% of the platforms top-earning writers are using multimedia, up from just over 50% last April. Substack hopes to continue building on this momentum. According to the company, creators whove adopted video and/or audio have seen their revenue grow 2.5 times faster than those who havent. The new scrollable feed is designed to boost visibility and discovery for creators experimenting with new formats, while also helping readers stumble across new voices beyond their inboxes.Substack isnt built around any one mediumits built around creators. Were committed to giving them the tools to share their work, connect with subscribers, and contribute to a thriving network of independent voices, Substack product manager Zach Taylor tells Fast Company. As we expand publishing capabilities across formats, the updated media tab makes it easier to discover standout video content from across the networkwhether its a sharp take, a compelling story, or a powerful clip that sparks connection.Taylor continues: Were excited to keep evolving the Substack app into a dynamic space where creators of all kinds can grow, connect, and build a sustainable business.From TikTok to Substack, the demand for bite-size content shows no signs of slowing down.

Amazon on Monday launched its latest AI model, designed to take over a users web browser and perform simple tasks. The move places the e-commerce giant in more direct competition with artificial intelligence companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, which are also developing AI agents.The model, called Nova Act, is currently available as a research preview for developers, meaning its not yet open to the general public. It can complete tasks such as browsing the web and making purchases without supervision. For instance, the company demonstrated Nova Act searching for apartments within biking distance of a specific train station. It can also handle more nuanced instructions like dont accept the insurance upsell.We think of agents as systems that can complete tasks and act in a range of digital and physical environments on behalf of the user, Amazon wrote in a blog post on Monday.These types of agents are still in their early stages, but tech companies are placing big bets that agentic AI represents the next major frontier. OpenAI recently released Operator, a tool that automates web-based tasks, along with Deep Research, which it says can gather information from across the web and summarize it into digestible reports. Anthropic, the creator of Claude, and Google have also introduced AI agents.Nova Act is part of Amazons Nova series, first announced in December 2024, which is capable of generating text and images. The Nova Act SDK is a crucial step forward, toward building reliable agents by enabling developers to break down complex workflows into atomic commands (e.g., search, checkout, answer questions about the screen), the company wrote.

Back when we imagined the future, flying robots were always loud, blinking, and somehow armed straight out of a 90s sci-fi flick. The reality, as it turns out, is much quieter, more delicate, and surprisingly elegant. UC Berkeleys latest creation, the worlds smallest battery-free flying robot, feels less like a Hollywood prop and more like a clever remix of natures own engineering. At just 21 milligrams about a third the weight of a honeybee this minuscule marvel floats, hovers, and navigates without a single battery on board.Instead of flapping wings or spinning rotors, this insect-inspired robot runs on magnetic fields. Its tiny two-magnet system acts as both its propeller and flight controller. Externally applied magnetic fields make the magnets spin, generating lift and allowing precise steering by simply adjusting the fields strength and direction. Watching it operate is like seeing physics play out in real-time a mechanical bee, driven not by electronics, but by the invisible hand of magnetism.Designers: Wei Yue, Liwei Lin, UC BerkeleySmall robots have been around for years the real puzzle was ditching the battery. Batteries, even the smallest ones, weigh too much to make insect-scale flight viable. UC Berkeleys solution bypassed power storage entirely, leaning instead on wireless energy input. By offloading the power source to an external magnetic field, the team opened up a range of possibilities that bulky batteries would have shut down immediately. The result is a fully wireless micro-robot that can hover in place, dart to a target, or navigate tight, cluttered spaces.Its hard not to smile at how closely this robot mirrors its biological inspiration. Like bees pollinating flowers, the micro-robot can be directed to bump into tiny targets with surprising precision a skill that could be vital for delicate tasks like artificial pollination, environmental monitoring, or navigating wreckage during search-and-rescue missions. It may not yet have the onboard intelligence of its insect cousins, but its ability to move and interact with its environment at this scale is impressive in its own right.At 0.9 centimeters in diameter, its more than three times smaller than the next closest competitor in the flying micro-robot category. That size advantage isnt just for show. Being this compact means the robot could access confined environments that larger robots simply cant ventilation shafts, collapsed buildings, pipe systems, or even inside machinery. However, the current model still leans heavily on the strength of its external magnetic field, which means its mostly a lab-bound curiosity for now. Strong fields are easy to generate in controlled settings but could prove tricky in unpredictable environments.The researchers are already dreaming up ways to make it even smaller, aiming for sub-millimeter sizes where weaker electromagnetic fields or even radio waves might be enough to keep them aloft. Pair that with swarm behavior, and youre looking at a future where hundreds of these robots could coordinate like ants or bees, performing complex tasks collectively rather than relying on individual strength or intelligence.Its also worth noting that this isnt UC Berkeleys first foray into biomimicry. The same team has played around with cockroach-inspired bots that can scurry under obstacles and even withstand being stepped on, as well as cooperative micro-robots that can link up like swarming insects. Whats striking about this latest project, though, is how simple it is no sensors, no wires, no batteries, just the clever use of magnets and motion.I cant help but think back to when we featured MITs insect-sized winged drones, which stretched the limits of battery-powered flight to a then-astonishing 17 minutes. But what UC Berkeley shows here is a different kind of ambition not about how long you can fly, but about how elegantly you can do it by ditching the traditional components that hold you back (like the battery, for instance). In a way, this tiny magnetic robot doesnt just imitate nature, it respects it reminding us that sometimes, the smallest solutions carry the biggest potential.The post UC Berkeley Unveils Worlds Tiniest Battery-Free Drone Powered by Magnetic Fields first appeared on Yanko Design.

Xiaofeng Wang, a longtime computer science professor at Indiana University, has disappeared along with his wife, and their profiles on the school's website were wiped ahead of recent FBI raids.

After weeks of Tesla Takedown protests, extremist groups are showing up to back Elon Musks beleaguered car company.

MacworldIf theres a marquee feature for iOS 18.4, its the expansion of Apple Intelligence into the EU, along with Vision Pro compatibility and new language support for French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. Thats tens of millions of iPhone 16 owners who can finally use the feature Apple says the new iPhones were built for. (However, we should point out that this release does not enable Phone Mirroring on Macs in the EU due to issues over Digital Markets Act compliance.)For everyone else, there isnt one standout feature. Rather, iOS 18.4 brings lots of little tweaks, improvements, and changes. Maybe one will stand out for you as the thing youve been waiting for, or maybe the sum of them taken together just makes your iPhone a little more pleasant to use. Heres a by-no-means-complete list of the little things you may come to appreciate about this update.iOS 18.4: 15 minor improvements that make a major impactVisual Intelligence can be triggered in the Control Center or the Action Button. This makes it available on the iPhone 15 Pro, and it means you can add the control to your lock screen.If youve got AirPods Max, youre getting an upgrade (with a firmware update as well, probably) to allow audio over USB-C, which will include 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio and ultra-low-latency audio.If youre a CarPlay user, youll appreciate the new third row of app icons on the home screen (if your display size is large enough) and a new API for sporting events will allow for custom experiences during live sporting broadcasts.Speaking of driving, Apple Maps will now include the location of NACS chargers (thats the so-called Tesla connector appearing on many new EVs).Got a Vision Pro? Along with support for Apple Intelligence on the headset, theres a new Vision Pro iPhone app that lets you discover spatial experiences, download apps and games, and get tips.If youre a fan of making Shortcuts, youll love that there are now lots of Shortcut options to change app settings. So you can make apps behave differently based on location or time of day or whatever, if youre good at making Shortcuts.Youll notice that Safari now shows recent searches when you select the search/address bar, making it easy to repeat that search you just did earlier today. You can clear this at will, or prevent it from showing at all by going to Settings > Safari > Show recent searches.FoundryThere are several tweaks to Control Center. Buttons that have more options when you select them show chevrons, the cellular data toggle shows real signal strength, and so on.There are new controls, too, including four options for Ambient Music: Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing. Each one has multiple playlist options or you can select one of your playlists. Because theyre Control Center controls, you can add them to the lock screen or trigger them with the Action Button, too.FoundryTheres an all-new Apple Intelligence feature: Prioritize Notifications. Go to Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications to enable or disable it, and you can select which apps it works with. When enabled, AI will try to determine if a notification is especially important and show it to you in a separate group on top of all your other notifications.FoundryTweaks to the Photos app include a new Key Photo view mode for your Albums, two new filters for viewing your Photos library (Shared With You and Not in an Album), and the ability to edit the order of the Media Types list. Finally, I can select Screenshots without swiping three pages over!FoundryImage Playground is still a pretty bad experience, but at least it now has the Sketch style that was demonstrated back at WWDC. For certain kinds of drawings, its the best choice.We all love emojis, and there are seven new ones in iOS 18.4: Face with bags under eyes, Fingerprint, Harp, Leafless tree, Root vegetable, Shovel, and Splatter.If youre an Apple News+ subscriber youll want to check out the new Food section, which does an excellent job presenting recipes from popular food publications. Look under the Following tab to find the Food section. Note that this is not yet available in the Apple News app on Macs.You know how you can set up a new iPhone or iPad by bringing another iPhone or iPad near it? Well, now that works for setting up a new Mac, too! Youll need to update the Mac to macOS 15.4 or later, of course.iOS 18.4: How to updateTo update your iPhone to iOS 18.4, head over to the Settings app, then tap General, Sofware Update, and follow the prompts.

MacworldPreparing for student life can be exciting and stressful. To make things easier, its good to know that youve got the right tech to help you with note taking, writing essays, and so you can kick back with Netflix and games when the work is done. The iPad has evolved in recent years to something that can now act as a laptop replacement for many students, with accessories like the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil making it one of the most versatile devices you can buy.Choosing the best iPad can be tricky though. Apple currently offers a wide range of models with different prices and features, including the M4 iPad Pro updated in May 2024, the iPad mini A17 Pro that arrived in October 2024 and the and M3 iPad Air and iPad A16 that arrived in March 2025. Three of these iPads are capable of supporting Apple Intelligence, which is Apples AI tool that powers several features, but the iPad A16 doesnt support Apple Intelligence and its features centered around reading, writing and image generation. These AI features may be useful for you as a student, although they may also get you into trouble if you are seen to be using AI to write your essays! Can students get discounts on iPads? The good news is that, yes, students can get money off an iPad when buying from Apples education store in their country. Apple offers money off new iPad purchases to students in higher education all year round.Plus, if youre a student and you buy an iPad (or a Mac) from Apple, you might be able to get a free gift such as a pair of AirPods or vouchers while the companys Back To School/Uni event is running. This usually runs from June to September in the U.S. and Canada, from July to October in the U.K. and Europe, and from January to March in Australia, New Zealand and other southern hemisphere locations.Another bonus if youre a student: you can get Apple Music for half price with free Apple TV+ included.How to get an iPad student discountIf you are a student you can buy a discounted iPad by clicking on the link for Apples Education Store where you live:Apples U.S. Education Store Apples U.K. Education Store (in the U.K. you will need to verify your student status via UNiDAYS). Apples Canada Education StoreApples Australian Education StoreDepending on your location you may only need to sign up with details of your student status and course and prove your identity. Some countries have less stringent checks than others. In the U.K., for example, you need to be registered with UNiDAYS in order to even see the student prices. We explain how to do this in our article How to get an Apple student discount.To qualify for a discount you need to meet Apples conditions. You either need to be a student in higher education, or a teacher at a teaching institution. The only way to get a discount for a child still at school is to be home educating them or to be a teacher yourself.If you cant get a student discount that doesnt mean you wont be able to get money off a new iPad though. Below we recommend the best iPads for students, and you will find links to the best prices at resellers where you are, some of which may be bigger discounts than those offered by Apple. Also read our round-up of the best iPad deals. How much can students save on an iPad? Students can save as much as $100 in the U.S., 100 in the U.K., $170 in Australia, and $150 in Canada if they buy from the Apple education store. You may find more money off at a third party reseller, see the best prices in the sections below. ProductU.S.U.K.AustraliaCanadaiPad (A16) MSRP$349329$599$499iPad (A16) Student Price$329309$559$469iPad mini (A17 Pro) MSRP$499499$799$679iPad mini (A17 Pro) Student Price$449449$719$609iPad Air (11-inch, M3) MSRP$599599$999$799iPad Air (11-inch, M3) Student Price$549549$919$729iPad Air (13-inch, M2)MSRP$799799$1,299$1,099iPad Air (13-inch, M2) Student Price$749749$1,219$1,029iPad Pro (11-inch, M4) MSRP$999999$1,699$1,399iPad Pro (11-inch, M4) Student Price$899899$1,529$1,249iPad Pro (13-inch, M4) MSRP$1,2991,299$2,199$1,799iPad Pro (13-inch, M4) Student Price$1,1991,199$2,029$1,649Apples discounted price for students compared to the usual price.Best iPad for students11-inch iPad Air (M3, 2025): Best iPad for studentsProsM3 processorNice selection of color optionsConsIts not cheapBest Prices Today: RetailerPrice666View Deal673View Deal679View Deal679View Deal663,82 View Deal666,00 View Deal666,00 View Deal669.83View Deal676.82View Deal679,99 View Deal679,99 View Deal699,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket666 at notebooksbilliger.de673 at Alternate679 at Computeruniverse666,00 at amazon.deView more prices from amazon.decyberporttease-ShopnotebooksbilligerClose Best Prices Today:11-inch iPad Air (M3, 2025): Best iPad for studentsRetailerPrice666View Deal673View Deal679View Deal679View Deal663,82 View Deal666,00 View Deal666,00 View Deal669.83View Deal676.82View Deal679,99 View Deal679,99 View Deal699,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketThe 11-inch iPad Air (M3), with its 11-inch display, modern design, low weight (462g), great cameras, hugely powerful processor, and plenty of colors to choose from, is a great choice for students.Unfortunately, its a bit on the pricey side for a tablet, with the current prices starting at $599/599 ($549/549 for students). Still, its cheaper than a laptop and its the perfect combination of power, storage and features, for a price that isnt unreasonable. This is why we can heartily recommend for those starting out on their studies. The biggest feature of the model introduced in 2025 is the inclusion of the M3 processor. This is the same chip that has powered several Macs. In an iPad Air, it makes the device fly.The camera is a 12MP Wide lens (also like on the iPad Pro), which can record video up to 4K/60fps, and as with other iPads on this list, the front-facing camera is a 12MP Ultra-Wide that allows for Center Stage and is sensibly positioned on the longer side of the chassis to allow landscape views for FaceTime calls.While the 2025 iPad Air is missing some of the flagship features of the iPad Pro, such as the 120Hz ProMotion screen, TrueDepth camera, four speakers, and the powerful M4 chip, it offers more than enough for the average user.If you want to turn your iPad into a laptop you can team it with a Magic Keyboard ($299/299), or one of the other iPad keyboards weve looked at. If you prefer a larger display, there is also the 13-inch iPad Air (M2) that comes with all the same specs and features. It starts at $799/799 (or $749/749 for students).We highly recommend the 11-inch iPad Air (M2) for students who need premium performance and the best iPad you can buy without the Pro name. Read iPad Air vs iPad Pro to find out how the iPad Air compares to the iPad Pro.How much can students save on the iPad Air? MSRP: $599 / 599 / AU$999 / CA$799Student: $549 / 549 / AU$919 / CA$729Students save: $50 / 50 / AU$80 / CA$70Get the best deal on a new iPad Air.iPad mini (A17 Pro, 2024): Best for note-taking and readingProsSmall and light More storage Centre Stage for FaceTime callsConsMay feel cramped depending on your needsPrice When Reviewed:599 Best Prices Today: NewRefurbishedRetailerPrice551View Deal569View Deal569View Deal569View Deal548,30 View Deal549,11 View Deal549.11View Deal550,90 View Deal550,90 View Deal551,00 View Deal579,99 View Deal579,99 View Deal599,00 View Deal659.66View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPriceiPad mini (2024) 7. Generation 128 GB WLAN Space Grau549View DealPrice comparison from Backmarket551 at notebooksbilliger.de569 at Alternate569 at Computeruniverse550,90 at amazon.deView more prices from amazon.decyberporttease-Shopbaur.deClose Best Prices Today:iPad mini (A17 Pro, 2024): Best for note-taking and readingNewRefurbishedRetailerPrice551View Deal569View Deal569View Deal569View Deal548,30 View Deal549,11 View Deal549.11View Deal550,90 View Deal550,90 View Deal551,00 View Deal579,99 View Deal579,99 View Deal599,00 View Deal659.66View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPriceiPad mini (2024) 7. Generation 128 GB WLAN Space Grau549View DealPrice comparison from BackmarketIf the most important factor to you is portability theres one iPad in particular that you might want to consider.The iPad mini, updated in October 2024 with the Apple Intelligence-capable A17 Pro, is the smallest and lightest iPad you can buy, weighing in at 293g. Of course, the low weight is a result of the iPad itself being smaller, thanks to the 8.3-inch display (which is bigger than it used to be since Apple got rid of the Home button and relocated Touch ID to the power button on the top edge a few generations ago). The result is a compact but powerful device that doesnt feel too small. We think this screen size is perfect for reading books or taking notes (especially with an Apple Pencil), so it may well be ideal if thats how you intend to use your iPad.And dont let the diminutive form fool you: the A17 Pro chip is the same as that found in the iPhone 15 Pro, so theres no shortage of power on tap. Connectivity is top-notch too, with support for Wi-Fi 6E and 5G networks available, depending on the model you choose.The front-facing camera is an Ultra-Wide lens, so it can track you and keep you in the center of the frame on video calls thanks to Center Stage, while the 12MP Wide camera on the back can capture great photos and videos that could be used in presentations or for media-based assignments.There are three storage options available (128GB, 256GB and 512GB). We are glad Apple has stopped selling the 64GB model as we didnt think that was enough storage. 128GB should be enough for you to store your apps, music, movies, photos, and videos, and if you need more space we recommend iClouds various storage options.One disadvantage is that the mini only works with Bluetooth keyboards, rather than Apples range of iPad-specific keyboard, but whether thats a significant disadvantage is debatableat this size, a built in keyboard would be too small to type on comfortably.Prices start at $499/499 ($449 for students) for the 128GB model (which is what the 64GB model used to cost). The 256GB option raising the cost to $599/599 (down from $649/649 previously), and the 512GB model costing $799/799. In Australia the price of the iPad mini dropped with the arrival of the new model from $829 to $799.How much can students save on the iPad mini? MSRP: $499 / 499 / AU$799 / CA$679Students: $449 / 449 / AU$719 / CA $609Students save: $50 / 50 / AU$80 / CA$70Get the best deal on a new iPad mini.iPad (A16, 2025): Best for students on a budgetProsAir-style design10.9-inch Liquid Retina displayCons64GB storage on base modelNo compatibility for Apple IntelligenceNew model coming soon (we hope)Price When Reviewed:399 EuroBest Prices Today: RetailerPrice385View Deal389View Deal389View Deal380.9View Deal376,73 View Deal377.83View Deal377,90 View Deal380,90 View Deal380,90 View Deal389,00 View Deal389,99 View Deal389,99 View Deal398.35View Deal410,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket385 at Alternate389 at Computeruniverse389 at cyberport380,90 at amazon.deView more prices from amazon.denotebooksbilliger.detease-ShopJACOBClose Best Prices Today:iPad (A16, 2025): Best for students on a budgetRetailerPrice385View Deal389View Deal389View Deal380.9View Deal376,73 View Deal377.83View Deal377,90 View Deal380,90 View Deal380,90 View Deal389,00 View Deal389,99 View Deal389,99 View Deal398.35View Deal410,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketThe iPad (A16) model that arrived in March 2025 is the cheapest iPad available from Apple. It features the same design approach as the iPad mini and iPad Air, with Touch ID sensor integrated in the power button on the top edge. This makes room for a larger display thats almost identical in size to the 11-inch iPad Air. However, in terms of the screen technology the two iPads arent equal. The iPad Air sports a fully laminated display, while the iPads display has a slight air gap between the glass and the digitizer beneath. You probably wont notice it at all, but if you intend to use the Apple Pencil for notes (1st-gen 1 and USB-C Apple Pencils are supported) then you may experience slight delays in the tracking.Like the iPad Pro and iPad Air there is a front-facing camera located on the longer end of the panel, meaning it offers a true landscape view thats centrally located. This is much better suited to FaceTime and other video calling apps. The landscape 12MP Ultra Wide camera has a f/2.4 aperture that delivers a 122-degree view; its also compatible with the Center Stage feature that keeps you in the center of the frame even if you move about while on video calls. Apple bestows this iPad with a 12MP f/1.8 rear camera so you can get some great shots and shoot video 4K video at 60fps. If your course requires any kind of video content, then either the front or back optics of the iPad A16 should prove more than sufficient. Plus you can call home and look good doing so.An A16 Bionic processor is at the heart of this iPad, which is the same chip that powered the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15. So theres more than enough power for word processing, note-taking, coding, and most other education apps, not to mention gaming and entertainment duties. Theres a USB-C at the base, so you can use various peripherals and even power an external display if you want the iPad to become more like a fully-fledged computer. However, the A16 is not powerful enough for Apple Intelligence, Apples AI features that are available on the other iPads on sale right now. Whether that matters depends on your needs, but the editing assistance that is one of the Apple Intelligence features may be useful for a student. (This may well be exactly why Apple hasnt included it on the iPad that is the choice of many schools and education institutions). Read about what is in Apple Intelligence.The best news about the 2025 update is that Apple has stopped shipping a 64GB version. Even better, the 128GB iPad is the same price that Apple used to sell the 64GB iPad for. If 128GB isnt enough space for all your movie downloads, music, games, photos and videos, you can get 256GB or 512GB, or theres the option of expanding your iCloud storage so that you can keep stuff safe in the cloud instead.There are four colors to choose from (Blue, Yellow, Silver, and Pink) so you should be able to find one that suits your personality, and for extra functionality, you could invest in the new two-piece Magic Keyboard Folio, although the $249/249 price tag does seem very high. Of course, a standard Bluetooth keyboard will get you the same results for a lot less money. The new iPad supports the first-generation Apple Pencil, but as the charging port is now USB-C youll need an adaptor from Apple if youve already bought the Pencil. Otherwise, the dongle is now included in the box when you buy a new Apple Pencil (1st gen). Of course, theres also the compatible Apple Pencil (USB-C) which gets around the dongle madness but lacks the presure sensitivity that artists will crave. See: Apple Pencils compared: Which Apple Pencil works with your iPad?As you can see, there are a few caveats, but with its modern design, solid processor, and larger display, the iPad (A16) is a great all-rounder that would prove a wise investment for those heading off to pursue their studies.How much can students save on the iPad (A16)? MSRP: $349 / 329 / AU$599 / CA$499Students; $329 / 309 / AU$559 / CA$469Students save: $20 / 20 / AU$40 / CA$30Read our full Apple iPad (A16) review 11-inch iPad Pro (2024): Best for Power and PerformanceProsM4 ProcessorOLED displayStupidly light and thinConsExpensiveProbably overkill for studentsPrice When Reviewed:1.449Best Prices Today: NewRefurbishedRetailerPrice1329View Deal1379View Deal1379View Deal1.327,00 View Deal1.329,00 View Deal1.329,00 View Deal1.348,10 View Deal1.449,00 View Deal1633.75View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPriceiPad Pro 11 M4 (2024) 5. Generation 256 GB WLAN + 5G Space Schwarz953.99View DealPrice comparison from Backmarket1329 at OTTO1379 at Computeruniverse1379 at cyberport1.329,00 at amazon.deView more prices from amazon.deCoolblueMedia Markt Online Shoptease-ShopClose Best Prices Today:11-inch iPad Pro (2024): Best for Power and PerformanceNewRefurbishedRetailerPrice1329View Deal1379View Deal1379View Deal1.327,00 View Deal1.329,00 View Deal1.329,00 View Deal1.348,10 View Deal1.449,00 View Deal1633.75View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPriceiPad Pro 11 M4 (2024) 5. Generation 256 GB WLAN + 5G Space Schwarz953.99View DealPrice comparison from BackmarketThe Pro iPads are the pinnacle of Apples tablet range, and as such they feel like the power and price are probably overkill for your average student. That being said, if you want the best, then this is where youll find it.The 11-inch iPad Pro (M4), was introduced in May 2024, boasting incredibly light and thin construction, but with a stupid amount of power inside. In an unprecedented step, Apple introduced the new M4 processor in the iPad before the Mac, making the 11-inch iPad Pro and 13-inch iPad Pro the most up-to-date devices in the Apple catalog. The question really, is do you need all that grunt? If youre after an iPad for taking notes, writing essays, watching Netflix, playing some games and using it for video calls home, then the iPad Air is a better balance of power and price. But, for those with money burning a hole in their pockets, and those planning to do a lot of gaming when they should be studying, the 11-inch iPad Pro comes with a new Ultra Retina XDR OLED display that has two layers (Apple calls this Tandem OLED) to produce the brightest panel theyre ever made, kicking out up to 1600 nits. Its also ProMotion, with an ultra-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Cameras are 12Mp sensors, with the rear unit a Wide lens that can record video up to 4K/60fps, plus ProRes capabilities which would be of interest to video content creators. The front-facing lens also has the TrueDepth array, allowing Face ID, which remains a Pro-only features on iPads. You get Centre Stage for video calls, and the placement of the camera on the longer edge means you get landscape view. The two size variants offer the same capabilities, with 256GB of storage the baseline, and prices starting at $999/999 ($899 for students) for the 11-inch model and $1,299/1,299 for the 13-inch variant.As weve said, the iPad Pros are probably too much for your typical student, but that doesnt mean they arent excellent products for those who can afford them and take advantage of all the power on offer. How much can students save on the 11-inch iPad Pro? MSRP: $999 / 999 / AU$1,699 / CA$1,399Students: $899 / 899 / AU$1,529 / CA$1,249Students save: $100 / 100 / AU$170 / CA$150Get the best deal on a new iPad Pro.Read our full iPad Pro 11 Zoll M4 (2024) review Should students buy an iPad or a laptop?Before you go ahead and buy your iPad you may want to consider its suitability for your purpose.As a student you probably have a few requirements:Low priceGreat apps for things like note-taking, recording lectures and revisionLight enough to carry around all-dayKeyboard and stylus supportSuitable for making video calls homeYou might be wondering whether a tablet or a laptop would be better for those needs, and if you lean towards the latter, take a look at our guide to the best Macs for students.We think, however, that an iPad is a great choice. It runs many of the apps youll find on a laptop, including Office apps like Word and PowerPoint and the Apple equivalents, and in some cases, an iPad is actually more powerful than a laptop thanks to the super-fast processors Apple uses.Another benefit is that you can have all the books you need for your course on your iPad and carry them with you to lectures and tutorials. You could even photograph pages from books in the library and use optical character recognition to save the text to your iPad.Not only do you not need to lug all your books around with you, but an iPad is also far lighter than even the lightest laptop, so you wont get backache from carrying it to lectures and the library.With battery life of 10 hoursplenty for a day on campusyou arent going to need to find a space beside a plug socket in order to get through a day at uni.Think that having an iPad will mean you have to type on an on-screen keyboard. No! You could sync any Bluetooth keyboard or plug in one of Apples own iPad keyboards and effectively turn your iPad into a laptop. Theres also the Apple Pencil, which could come in useful if you wanted to jot down some notes on your iPad screen in a lecture. See Best stylus for iPad.And when youve finished studying there are loads of games, and apps for video calling your parents.Still not sure? We have more information comparing a MacBook laptop and an iPad.Are iPads good for students?The next question you might want some reassurance on is whether the iPad is the best option for a student. There are a lot of other tablets available, many of which are cheaper than an iPad. So you might be thinking of saving some money.We think if you do so you will regret it. There are many reasons why Apples iPads are so popular:The App Store is heaving with great apps designed specifically for the iPad.Many of those apps will be ideal for students: note-taking apps, apps for converting handwriting to text, apps for recording lectures, timetable management, and of course video calling (so you can stay in touch with mum and dad).There is an ecosystem of great accessories designed to work with the iPad.Apples iPadOS is stable and easy to use, especially if you already have an iPhone.If youve got a Mac you can use an iPad as a second screen, provided youre running Big Sur or later.Apple Intelligence, powered by AI, may simplify your studies by carrying out summarisations of text, creating images for illustrations, and other useful features. Thats all of our student-related buying advice, but if youre buying for someone younger, check out our guide to the best iPad for Kids.