We’ve officially reached day 3 of the Amazon Big Spring Sale, and while the M4 Pro Mac mini remains at its lowest price ever, Amazon has reinstated its all-time pricing on the most budget-friendly model, now available for $499 shipped—a deal that’s unlikely to last long. Additionally, we’re seeing record low prices on M3 iPad Air configurations, starting at $549, as well as significant discounts on ESR’s latest Geo iPad Pencil with Find My, priced over $100 below the Apple Pencil Pro. Furthermore, there’s a launch deal for Journey’s innovative steel Apple Find My water bottle, equipped with wireless charging and a MagSafe stand. Discover all this and more in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break.
Apple’s most budget-friendly 16GB M4 Mac mini has returned to the $499 Amazon all-time low ($100 off)
After a brief absence over the weekend, Amazon has reinstated its all-time low pricing for the base model M4 Mac mini, now available for $499 shipped. This comes alongside the all-time low pricing on the upgraded M4 Pro Mac mini, which is currently $200 off its list price. Once again, Amazon is offering a direct $100 discount on the base M4 model, matching the lowest price we’ve tracked.
We’ve observed the model featuring 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD drop to $529 several times, but a straight $100 price reduction has been rare since its release last fall. Right now, we are seeing $100 drops across all three stock M4 mini configurations, up to the 24GB/512GB setup, along with the M4 Pro model that includes 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. Here’s how the pricing breaks down:
I’m seriously contemplating the M4 Pro mini at this point, especially with a $200 discount. However, as we’ve discussed before, the main allure for many users is the exceptionally low price tag (by current Apple standards) of the base models.
Most users will likely find the M4 chip sufficient, and at $499, it represents the most affordable entry point into the latest generation of Macs. With Apple upgrading the base RAM from the less impressive 8GB to a much more usable 16GB last fall, these entry-level configurations have become even more appealing, and you can now secure one for the Amazon all-time low during the retailer’s ongoing Big Spring Sale.
Don’t forget to check out the Satechi M4 Mac mini Stand & Hub with SSD Enclosure to elevate your setup further.
Apple’s most budget-friendly new 13-inch M3 iPad Air has reached a new all-time low at Amazon, starting at $549
While we’re still monitoring all-time low prices on the more affordable new M3 iPad 11-inch models, Amazon is now featuring a new all-time low for the base model 13-inch, starting from $738.08 shipped. Regularly priced at $799, this represents the best direct cash deal we’ve seen for the most economical 13-inch variant since its launch.
Although this offer is currently only applicable to the 128GB Gray model, Amazon is also showcasing $50 discounts across the entire lineup—making every configuration of the new M3 iPad available at all-time lows, including the Wi-Fi + Cell variants.
We’ll continue to monitor the situation for other colors becoming available at lower prices as well.
As noted previously, if you have a previous-generation iPad to trade in for the new M3 model that debuted last month, you can take advantage of discounts up to $650 off with an M2 iPad Air trade-in. For more information, check it out here.
If you’re not trading in, browse through the deals available across the current lineup below:
Apple iPad Air M3 11-inch
Apple iPad Air M3 13-inch
Be sure to check out our launch recap of the new M3 iPad Air and the newly released Magic Keyboard for more details.
ESR’s newest Geo iPad Pencil with Find My is now over $100 cheaper than Apple Pencil Pro, available for $25.50
As part of the currently active Big Spring Sale, one of the official ESR storefronts on Amazon has introduced the first discount following the launch of its Geo iPad Pencil, featuring built-in Apple Find My. Regularly priced at $30, the white model is now available for $25.49 with free shipping for Prime members or orders over $35. This represents a straightforward 15% discount, marking the lowest price we’ve seen for months since the early launch offer.
The ESR Geo Digital Pencil, as it’s officially termed, provides a significantly more affordable alternative to the Apple Pencil. Additionally, unlike most budget-friendly alternatives, it includes an official Apple Find My module inside, similar to the $129 Apple Pencil Pro released last May—currently offered for $99 during the Amazon Big Spring Sale.
Although it may not offer the same premium features, this alternative, which is over $100 cheaper than the Apple Pencil Pro, can be a worthwhile option for many, particularly with the newly integrated Find My functionality. While there are some downsides, such as the lack of wireless charging, the price difference makes it an attractive option.
As for the digital drawing and writing experience, ESR claims that it allows for a smooth experience with a built-in sensor that “enables you to modify the thickness of your lines by tilting the nib,” allowing for “realistic shading, intricate drawings, and writing that mimics paper.” It supports USB-C charging, reaching full charge in just 30 minutes, and can magnetically attach to compatible iPads. The integrated Find My feature functions similarly to other third-party integrations, letting you locate your iPad Pencil anytime you misplace it, whether at home or on the go.
Today’s accessories and charging deals:
Eve’s HomeKit Secure Video smart home camera is now priced at $115, nearly 25% off
During the ongoing Big Spring Sale and the Eve smart home sale, we’re highlighting a remarkable deal on one of our top picks for HomeKit cameras—the Eve Cam. Regularly priced at $150 and rarely seen on sale outside holiday events, this camera is now available at one of its best prices ever: $114.95 shipped, nearly 25% off.
Despite not being the newest HomeKit camera on the market, the Eve Cam continues to lead the pack. After our follow-up review roughly a year ago at DMN, we can confidently state that it remains one of our top picks:
Last week, I assessed the state of HomeKit Secure Video. While it’s clear that enhancements are needed to meet user expectations in 2024, I still believe it is the best option for privacy-conscious users seeking smart home cameras. The Eve Cam is one of the best products available for HomeKit Secure Video.
This camera, now even cheaper than last year’s Black Friday prices, delivers HomeKit Secure Video support. As we mentioned before, “Eve is as close to Apple as you’ll get for first-party HomeKit products.”
It delivers full HD 1080p video to your smart devices from its elegant black design, alongside a suite of notifications and motion alerts one would expect from a camera in this price range, even distinguishing between pets and people.
Make sure to explore the wider Eve Big Spring smart home sale, where you’ll find their plugs, outlets, switches, and more starting from $30 right now.
Apple’s iPad Mini 7 is now $100 off during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, starting at $399
The new iPad (A16) has now officially launched (and is currently discounted on Amazon) alongside the upgraded M3 iPad Air (also seeing its first cash deals here). Amazon has reintroduced $100 price drops on Apple’s latest and greatest mini iPad configurations. You can now find just about every iPad Mini 7 variant on sale on Amazon for $100 off, with prices starting from $399 shipped. Here’s a closer look at the deals.
Amazon has the 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB models available for $399, $499, and $699 shipped, respectively. This aligns with previous mentions and matches the lowest prices we’ve found thus far.
Apple’s latest iPad Mini 7, more commonly referred to as the iPad Mini (A17 Pro), is the most economical option in the lineup capable of running Apple Intelligence. While the previously mentioned iPad (A16) is the cheapest model available at $329 on Amazon, it does not support Apple Intelligence.
Introduced in late 2024, the iPad Mini 7 maintains the same compact 8.3-inch display as its predecessor, but it boasts a 30% increase in CPU performance, improved graphics by 25%, and greater storage options—Apple has finally eliminated the 64GB variant. You can refer to our iPad Mini 7 vs. 6 comparison for a thorough breakdown of the new features this time.
Check out our favorite iPad Mini 7 cases and sleeves, starting from $8.50.
