TL;DR: As of May 15, this refurbished Apple MacBook Air 13″ (2015) i5, 1.6GHz 8GB RAM 128GB is on sale for just $388.99. A new one would cost $1,249, so you’re getting 68% off the same computer.

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We’ve all been asking ourselves for over a decade if Apple’s product costs make the juice worth the squeeze, but now with soaring inflation that shows no signs of stopping, the resounding answer is no. There’s simply no reason for a pair of headphones to cost over $500. Or for a computer to cost more than a few months’ rent (even if it’s a killer laptop for creators).

Instead of emptying your bank account, save yourself hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars by snagging a refurbished MacBook Air. This one packs a Core i5 1.6GHz processor, 8GB RAM, and 128GB of storage. Sure, it’s no M1 chip or 1TB of storage, but it’ll still get the job done and satisfy your Apple craving.

This 13-inch MacBook Air hails from 2015, which means only four models have been released after it. In the grand scheme of things, that’s not all that long. It’s not obsolete yet, which means you can still get hardware repairs done by Apple, should you ever require them. Plus, third-party providers can still order parts for repairs if necessary. This model has been refurbished to work as if you just bought it off the shelf in 2015, though, so you should be solid. It may have a few scratches or scuffs on the case or body, but the inner parts all work A-OK.

Here’s a quick unboxing video to show you all the specs:

This particular model is silver and comes with two USB 3.0 ports and an SD card slot. While that’s not a whole lot it does mean you can plug in some of your accessories without needing an external USB hub. Its LED-backlit, 13.3-inch widescreen display boasts a 1440×900 resolution and built-in FaceTime HD camera. And of course, it’s got Bluetooth capabilities, which is a bonus considering some older models don’t have that simple luxury.

The best part, of course, is that this new-to-you MacBook Air will only put you out $388.99, rather than its original cost of $1,249.

Prices subject to change.

SAVE $40: Just a couple of months after its launch, Apple’s iPad Air is on sale at Amazon. You can snag it for $559 instead of $599, which amounts to a discount of 7%.

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Unless you’re a student or a member of the military, you likely rarely see discounts on Apple products. Luckily, Amazon’s got you covered. It’s often got refurbished and new products alike for less, but rarely does it slash the price of a newly launched product.

That’s why this markdown on the iPad Air, just two months after its launch, is pretty rare. It comes after a brief fall to the same sale price at the start of the month, too. The discounted price of $559 is only applicable to the 64GB WiFi-only model in Pink and Purple (the Purple model was previously slightly more discounted, at $549, but this is the cheapest the Pink has ever been), but colors hardly matter when you’re probably going to want to protect your tech with a case anyways (don’t ask me what the color of my iPhone is… I barely remember anymore). Plus, 64GB is acceptable depending on usage, particularly with iCloud storage.

The iPad itself is one of our Mashable Choice picks for good reason: It’s a great introductory and all-round tablet, suitable for work, study, or creative pursuits. As an iPad with the most relevant and powerful features of Apple’s more advanced tablets but at a less steep, price, the 2022 iPad Air is what Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder deems, upon review, “the iPad most people should buy.”

With its efficient M1 chip, impressive display, HD camera, and incredible versatility, the only thing the iPad Air really lacks is a shortcoming. If you don’t mind not having too much storage and/or are planning on using the tablet for travel, this deal is a great opportunity to hop on. Check out the iPad Air on Amazon for $559.

Digital art is also more convenient for employers, resulting in many professional graphic designers and illustrators being hired to do their work on a computer instead of on paper, which in turn influences the aesthetic of marketing and journalism alike. Whole communities have grown around the digital art space — Deviantart, Pixiv, and, of course Tumblr. (The last one is the most popular, though it hosts way more than just digital art, including text posts, movie screengrabs, and soundbites.)

Digital tools allow artists to simulate a variety of mediums using the same tools: a stylus, a touch-sensitive pad, and some creative software like Adobe Fresco. That flexibility, in addition to quick turnarounds and a digitized end product, is what makes digital art so appealing from a commercial perspective.

Of course, the styluses and pads in question can cost quite a bit — and that’s assuming you have a tablet or a laptop to use them with, if necessary. However, this is in contrast to the physical world, where even if you were to be more economical with paints or paper, the various drafts and ruined works that a simple mistake can result in really add up. And that’s just with one medium — investing in oil paints, acrylic paints, watercolors, pastels, graphite pencils, charcoal… those all cost money, and can quickly be used up. So when you weigh a one-off investment that provides access to virtually any kind of creative medium (as well as the panacea that is the undo button) against the more exacting, prep-heavy work of physical drawing, there can be a real payoff.

Why use a drawing tablet?

The physical tools, plus your software, will affect how well you’re able to translate your drawing skills to the screen, or, if you’re a total beginner, the control you have over your artistic process. Different software will offer different mediums and editing options (Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop are always safe bets, but depending on what you want, there are alternatives that might be better suited). No matter which software you choose, you probably need some kind of a tablet and a digital pen. Have you ever tried signing your name on a trackpad with your finger? If you find it difficult even to just replicate a signature you’ve written hundreds of times with a mouse or laptop trackpad, think of the pain it would be to attempt to do fine line work in the exact shapes and places you want. So a pen of some sort and an accompanying tablet are essential — but what should you consider when looking into which model to invest in?

What kinds of tablets are there?

Most drawing tablets can be categorized into one of three types: graphics tablets, pen displays, and tablet computers.

• Graphics Tablet: The simplest of the bunch, essentially a touch-sensitive pad with a pen that you can plug into your computer so you have more control over your cursor (and therefore your digital pen) while drawing. The movement of your stylus on the pad will be reflected on your computer screen.
• Pen Display: Probably what most people think of in terms of drawing tablets, these panels will let you see the tracks of your stylus or pen as you go. Instead of having to plug into a computer, these are standalone tablets able to produce art themselves.
• Tablet Computer: iPads and their ilk — powerful minicomputers for which drawing is just one of many other functions. Often their use for art will require purchase of a pen or accessory of some sort for better control, and the creative software of your choice.

What to think about when choosing a tablet?

First and foremost, take account of your skill level. If you’re not entirely comfortable drawing without looking at your hand moving across the paper, you might find a graphics tablet a bit difficult to use, since to keep track of your work you have to watch the monitor while moving your hand at the same time to draw.

Another consideration is the sensitivity of your tablet. Some might prefer a super touch-sensitive screen that will pick up on every feather-light brush of the pen, while others will want a less responsive tablet that they can press harder on to keep a line steadier, or prevent accidental marks (another perk of digital art though — there’s always an undo button, unlike smudges on a piece of paper).

The feel of a tablet is also crucial. Obviously, it won’t feel the same as drawing on paper, but the material and make of the tablet can determine how much give, friction, and glide it has. A tablet’s tactile aspect is very important to consider, especially if you’re someone who is very particular about your setup.

And, of course, size and heft is one of the most important features of a tablet to keep in mind; whether you want a tiny, portable thing to carry everywhere with you for sketching or a heavy-duty unit equipped with loads of extra features that will stay on your desk for daily illustration work, it’s important to choose a model that will suit your needs.

Not to mention, the size of a tablet typically corresponds to the dimensions of its active area (i.e. the part of the tablet you can actually draw on), so in addition to portability, have a think about the size and detail of the work you intend to do. It’s never fun to run out of drawing space; while this is another area in which digital art has advantages over traditional mediums (most software will let you zoom into a drawing and reorient your tablet to the boundaries of the specified area), if you want to keep the whole piece on screen while working, a tablet that will fit your whole drawing within its active area is preferable.

Besides its physical aspects, a tablet’s screen is critical to its performance. If you’re trying to create photorealistic works of art, a high resolution is probably worth the price. On the other hand, if you just want to practice your drawing skills without fear of losing your work, a run-of-the-mill tablet with lower resolution is going to be more cost-effective. Plus, the thickness of a screen will affect parallax — the shifting of a line or object based on a person’s perspective, caused by the distance (however minute) between pen and interface, separated by the screen. You’ll want to minimize parallax to keep your perspective consistent.

Another important feature to shop for is tracking speed, which basically means lag time between stroke of your pen and the corresponding line showing up on screen. The higher the tracking speed (measured in PPS, points per second), the less the lag, and the more instant the result. And while lag is annoying at the best of times even just in things like loading our email inboxes, it can make finer work like drawing simply impossible.

And if you want a tablet that isn’t a computer in and of itself, you’re probably going to need to make sure that it connects to the computer you already have. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to purchase an adapter.

When you buy a tablet, keep in mind that you’re also buying the pen that comes with it, unless you already have one (that you’ve checked is compatible with your new tablet) or you plan on buying one separately. Be sure to choose a stylus with a grip you like and features you need. Plus, styluses have their own distinct types: Battery-powered (thicker, needs extra batteries), rechargeable (slimmer, less reliable), and the newest EMR (wireless charging from tablet itself).

And most of all, keep in mind that the operating system your tablet runs on will determine what apps you can use, and therefore the functionality — the ever-popular app Procreate, for example, isn’t available on tablets that run on Windows, which makes Apple tablets a good option if that’s your preferred platform.

With all this said, Mashable Illustrator Bob Al-Greene reminds us: “The technical limitations [of the tablet] don’t necessarily have anything to do with the quality of the art you can make with it… The quality of the artist, not the technology, dictates the final product.”

It’s always a good idea to try a product like this, where the feel of it is extremely important, in person, but here are some ideas for you to at least start to get an idea of the kind of tablet you might want:

My point is, you’ve got to get yourself a real laptop.

Yes, I know, laptops cost money — a luxury that not all of us care to throw away on a hunk of precariously constructed metal and plastic. If you’re not careful, you can end up spending well over $1,000 for a laptop with impressive specs, and that’s just the mid-range models. But we’re not here to talk about those laptops. There’s a whole world of laptops that cost $600 or less, and many of them are perfect companions for students returning to school or folks who just need something that’s a little more capable than an iPhone.

What are the most important things to look for in a laptop?

Let’s set expectations right away: The laptops on this list will not come with the latest and greatest processors, graphics cards, or displays. You do indeed have to spend upwards of $1,000 for those things. But for students or workers who just need something to get them through the day, or folks who just want to be able to do some light web browsing and check their emails at home or on the go, the budget-friendly laptops on this list will be right up your alley.

For any cheap laptop, things like ports and memory are more important than fancy displays and processing power. If you want to record audio with a microphone or use a mouse, you’ll need USB ports; casual photographers or videographers should emphasize microSD card readers; and an HDMI port goes a long way if you like streaming your favorite content on a TV.

Above all else, you want as much RAM and storage as you can get. More RAM means the computer can handle more applications at once and more storage means less hard drive management.

What am I losing by getting a cheap laptop?

Laptops in the $600-or-below price range are not going to be good for PC gaming. You won’t get a 4K resolution display or a refresh rate higher than 60Hz. RAM is going to max out around 8GB, which isn’t bad but also isn’t spectacular. In this price range, laptops are going to be best for web browsing, word processing, Zoom calls, checking emails, and streaming. As long as you don’t expect more than that, you’ll be fine.

You’re also unlikely to get more than 500GB of storage space at this price point. In fact, you’ll find that most cheap laptops probably won’t give you more than 128GB of storage these days, opting to offer you cloud storage instead. This is especially true if you’re looking to get a Chromebook; these laptops run Google’s Chrome OS so they have a strong tie-in with Google Drive, the personal cloud storage and file-sharing platform.

What’s the difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop?

When it comes to cheap laptops, you’re bound to find yourself at the crossroads of Chromebook vs. Windows. Here’s the difference between the two operating systems (or OS) and how can you decide which one is best for you:

• Chromebooks run on the Google Chrome OS, a simplified, web-based operating system that’s great for light web browsing and low-demand streaming. You won’t find a ton of RAM on these little machines and the storage space will likely be quite small as well as Google wants you to opt for Google Drive cloud storage instead. Many different laptop brands make Chromebooks and, overall, they tend to be a great entry-level machine for students and a nice, cheap secondary device for frequent travelers.
• Windows-based laptops are the more traditional choice, especially if you’re looking for something that runs more like a desktop computer or a more premium laptop model. They tend to have more onboard storage space and more RAM to handle more demanding tasks, and they typically offer more options to scale up these specs to fit your needs. (With a Chromebook, on the other hand, you often just get what you get and don’t get upset.) This means that they also tend to be more expensive than Chromebooks, though there are plenty of budget-friendly Windows laptops out there from the same wide range of laptop brands.

But are cheap laptops worth it?

You know the old saying: You get what you pay for. But thanks to the technology boom of the last few decades, a cheap laptop can actually take you pretty far and won’t break down immediately. It’s all about knowing which one to select.

Rather than just making a few purchase suggestions and sending you on your way, we’re going to equip you with some knowledge that’ll help you be a more informed laptop shopper. Forget all that mind-boggling computer jargon of processor-this and gigahertz-that — we’ve broken down our picks of the best cheap laptops in terms that anyone can understand.

What is the best cheap laptop?

The best cheap laptop is pretty subjective and wholly dependent on your individual wants and needs. That’s why we’ve rounded up this list of some of the best budget laptops that are proven to be dependable for a variety of users and use cases. Check ‘em out and we’re sure you’ll find the right laptop to fit your budget. (But if you’re considering expanding that budget a bit, check out our roundup of the overall best laptops, too.)

While finding a new laptop can seem like a big task, that’s why we’re here with our curated selection of the best laptops you can buy right now. But as is the case with any big tech purchase, there are a few basic things you’ll definitely want to consider before you add that shiny new laptop to your cart. Of course, everyone’s got their own needs (gamers are going to be looking for a dazzling 4K display, for example), but it’s good for anyone to keep the following in mind.

How do I go about shopping for a new laptop?

Choosing a laptop is mostly dependent on what you’ll be using it for. Beginner laptop owners need something user-friendly and straightforward, frequent travelers need something light with a long battery life, designers and gamers need top-notch 4K graphics and quick central processors, and everyone needs something that will last. Take stock of what you need and what you’d like your new computer to accomplish, for example:

• Do you want to be able to zip between browser tabs at lightning speed? Look for a laptop with a good amount of RAM — at least 8GB.
• Do you want to be able to run video games? You’ll need a fast processor, a great graphics card and as much RAM as you can afford. You’ll also want to look for a laptop with a good amount of storage space — upwards of 512GB SSD (solid-state drive) or even 1TB or more — to stash all your game save files.
• Do you need to run demanding programs, like those used for photo and video editing? Similar to gamers, you’ll want to seek out laptops with lots of RAM and storage space, too, alongside a powerful processor and maybe even a 4k display.
• Do you need to be able to switch from a laptop to a tablet at a moment’s notice? A convertible 2-in-1 laptop is a versatile choice that can transform from laptop mode for working and browsing to tent mode for video streaming and then to tablet mode for note-taking, drawing and touchscreen games.

Answering the above questions and thinking honestly about how you plan to use your laptop will help you narrow down exactly what type of laptop you need, and in turn, which brands you should be directing your attention to.

What size laptop should I be looking for?

Your optimal laptop size will ultimately be decided by two factors: personal preference and lifestyle. On the personal preference front, you really just need to figure out if you want a huge display, or something more portable that you can chuck into your backpack.

Lifestyle, on the other hand, is where practicality comes into play. If you commute daily or travel often and need to have your computer on your person, you’re going to want to go with something more lightweight, slim and compact. Alternatively, if you’re a huge movie buff, gamer or graphic designer who doesn’t normally take their laptop on the road with them, you can easily spring for a 15-inch (or even bigger) screen.

What is a good battery life for a laptop?

The whole point of a laptop is that it’s meant to be portable, so having a battery that keeps you ticking along for several hours without needing a recharge is pretty much a must. And there’s more to it than that, too: In terms of the larger-picture battery life, you’ll want to look for a battery that’s meant to last for charge after charge and (hopefully) one that you can replace once it does give out.

How much does a laptop weigh?

The lighter, the better should be your motto when shopping for a laptop. If you have to carry your computer with you — whether it’s from class to class around campus or hopping on a plane for international travel — you don’t want something that’s going to make your back hurt by the end of the day. Luckily, laptops are lighter than ever these days (you can find some that weigh in at less than two pounds!), but it’s still worth keeping an eye on the ounces so you don’t wind up with a machine you have to lug around.

How much should I spend on a new laptop?

The price of your next laptop is really going to come down to one thing — how much you’re willing to spend.

While we’d all like an unlimited budget for tech purchases, realistically speaking you probably have a general range in mind for how much of your hard-earned cash you’re willing to part with. If you rely on the machine day in and day out — and it’s not something you only occasionally spend time on — then getting the computer that’ll get the job done well (and is built to last) is super important. It’ll cost you more upfront, but it’ll be worth it in the long run.

That said, be aware of getting caught up in extras that seem really cool, but that you might not ever use. For example, a 2-in-1 laptop with a touchscreen and a stylus is really cool for folks who plan to draw or take handwritten notes with their laptop, but it’s not necessarily a must-have for everyone. Whatever the latest, greatest feature may be, consider whether you’ll actually use it and if it’s worth the often premium cost.

In general, you should think hard about what you’re going to use your laptop for. If you need a device with lots of power under the hood and ample storage space, aim for something in the $800 and beyond range. If you’re only using your laptop to edit the occasional Google Doc or Excel spreadsheet, then you can probably get away with spending below the $500 mark.

Is a cheaper laptop even worth it?

When it comes to tech in general, you really do get what you pay for. But, thanks to the bar-raising devices that have come out in the last few years, a cheap laptop can actually take you pretty far. It’s all about knowing which one to select — depending on what you use your laptop for the most, staying stingy might be your best option. (Here are our favorite wallet-friendly laptop models under $500, and the best budget laptops under $300, for reference.)

Which brand is best for laptops?

We’ve put together this definitive guide (based on hours of research) to the best laptops on the market. We’ve compared all the top brands that you probably have in mind like Apple, Dell and Acer, as well as other huge players you may not have even seen coming like HP, Asus and Lenovo. Trust us, you’re in good hands, no matter which one of these top laptop picks you ultimately decide to buy.

Why would you want a device that plays music when you could have a device that plays music and is also, you know, a phone? Even though iPhone technology has far surpassed the iPod (which was revolutionary for its time), Apple still has the iPod touch in its product lineup.

For keeping kids occupied or for people who cannot afford a mobile plan and use Wi-Fi only, the iPod has its advantages. Starting at $199, it is significantly less expensive than the cheapest iPhone ($429), has FaceTime and iMessage, can hold 256GB of storage, and has the Apple App Store and Apple Arcade. Plus, some people like it because it isn’t a phone, which makes for distraction-free listening. Based on these features, there’s definitely a cult following of iPod users for its continued existence.

That said, the version that Apple currently sells is the seventh generation of the iPod touch, which according to 9to5Mac, has languished on the market for three years, so it hasn’t exactly been a priority.

What is an obsolete Apple Product?

According to Apple, “products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than seven years ago.” In practical terms, this means that Apple no longer offers any service or repairs for these products. While most fall into the obsolete category, iPod models that haven’t been sold for five years, but less than seven years are considered “vintage.” You might be able to get service or parts for vintage models, but it depends on service and available inventory of parts.

Whether or not Apple releases a next generation of the iPod touch, relegating the current model into retirement, or discontinues production of the iPod touch altogether remains to be seen. But either way, the iPod touch Gen 7 will be one step closer to obsolescence.

If you’re still an iPod user, take good care of it, because it won’t be easy to fix. Here’s the current list of iPod models that are vintage and obsolete.

iPod “vintage” models

• iPod nano (7th generation, Late 2012)
• iPod shuffle (4th generation, Late 2012)
• iPod touch (4th generation)
• iPod touch (5th generation)

iPod obsolete models

• iPod (5th generation)
• iPod (5th generation, Late 2006)
• iPod (Click Wheel)
• iPod (Dock Connector)
• iPod (Scroll Wheel)
• iPod (Touch Wheel)
• iPod classic (80GB and 160GB, 2007)
• iPod classic (120GB)
• iPod classic (160GB)
• iPod Hi-Fi
• iPod with color display
• iPod mini
• iPod nano (2nd generation)
• iPod nano (3rd generation)
• iPod nano (4th generation)
• iPod nano (6th generation)
• iPod touch (4th generation)
• iPod touch (5th generation, 16GB, Mid 2013)
• iPod nano (5th generation) 8GB, 16GB
• iPod photo
• iPod photo (Early 2005)
• iPod shuffle
• iPod shuffle (2nd generation)
• iPod shuffle (2nd generation, Late 2007)
• iPod shuffle (2nd generation, Late 2008)
• iPod shuffle (3rd generation)
• iPod shuffle (4th generation)
• iPod Special Edition U2
• iPod touch
• iPod touch (2nd generation, 2008)
• iPod touch (2nd generation, 2009)
• iPod touch (2nd generation) 8GB
• iPod touch (3rd generation) 32GB, 64GB

SAVE $149: As of April 22, a refurbished 9.7-inch iPad (6th generation) is available at Walmart for only $179.99. That’s a 45% drop from its original selling price.

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For Earth Day, do the environment a solid and shift your focus to refurbished tech. One of the best gifts you can give to our planet is saving some old tech from hitting the landfill. Not to mention, it’ll keep a whole lot more money in your pocket than opting for every trendy new gadget that hits the market.

If you’re in the market for a new tablet, consider this deal on a refurbished iPad. As of April 22, you can score a refurbished 9.7-inch iPad (6th generation) for just $179.99 at Walmart. This model originally sold for $329, so you’ll ultimately save 45%.

A throwback to simpler times, aka 2018, the 6th generation iPad has the classic iPad aesthetic with some noteworthy upgrades from previous generations. It’s not as powerful or pretty as the newest iPad (we’ve been blessed with three more generations of iPads since), but it still holds its own as an ideal entry-level tablet for everyone. Whether you want a tablet for bedtime Netflix binges or getting work done on the go, the classic design offers reliability and impressive functionality.

When the 2018 iPad hit the scene, its noteworthy upgrades were faster performance, longer 10-hour battery life, and Apple Pencil support (a game-changing feature previously only available to expensive iPad Pro owners). Its other specs are largely similar to previous iPad generations, like the 2048×1536 LED backlit retina display, big bezels, 7.5mm thickness, light 1-pound weight, first-generation Touch ID, 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD camera on the front, and 8-megapixel camera rear. It’s not the most exciting iPad model by far, but it’s iconic and familiar and costs less than $200.

The refurbished model in question is space gray, has 32 GB storage, and connects via WiFi only. That means you can only go online with an available WiFi connection, not by using data. It’s also listed in “great” condition, which means it’s 100 percent functional, but could have a few cosmetic boo-boos. Nothing too noticeable, though.