In fact, we’ve only seen iPad deals going this cheap once before. We were treated to this $100 saving right at the end of April, but it only lasted for a couple of days. That means we don’t know how long this latest round of discounts will stick around for – if you’ve had your eye on this particular device, it’s well worth heading over sooner rather than later. 

Originally released in September last year, we had never seen the iPad Mini going for less than $450 before April’s iPad deals. In fact, this device has spent most of its life between $460 and $499. However, since then, costs have been hovering around the $410 mark. Considering this is one of the best gaming tablets on the market, a further discount back down to $399.99 is excellent value. 

You’ll find more information on this offer just below, and plenty more iPad Mini deals further down the page. 

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iPad Mini (WiFi, 64GB) | $499 $399.99 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $100 – The iPad Mini has just dropped to $399.99 at Amazon – a $100 discount that brings the 8.3-inch device back down to its lowest price ever. We’ve only ever seen iPad deals go this cheap once before, at the end of April – so we don’t know how long this offer is going to last.

View Deal (opens in new tab)

More of today’s best iPad deals

If the Mini above doesn’t quite fit the bill, you’ll find plenty of iPad deals running across the range right now. We’re rounding up all the lowest prices on the latest models just below. 

Check out our dedicated guides to the latest iPad Pro deals and iPad Air deals if you’re after more savings. Or, for mobile gaming on the go, take a look at the best gaming phones on the market. 

The post iPad Mini deals return to record low prices with $100 discount appeared first on Game News.

That’s certainly not an offer we see every day. In fact, we’ve only seen iPad deals dropping this cheap twice since release, most recently in the middle of October. We’re far more used to seeing this device at $50 off, a position it’s held firm on since June.

• Browse all early Black Friday deals at Amazon (opens in new tab)

However, if you’re after that larger XDR display we’re also seeing some excellent offers on the 12.9-inch model. While many of Amazon’s current iPad Pro deals on this device have been around for a few months now, the WiFi and Cellular option just dropped back down to a new record low for the second time in its shelf life.

You’ll find the 128GB tablet on sale for $1,199.99 (was $1,299.99) (opens in new tab) – that’s a particularly rare $100 discount considering we’ve only just started seeing those prices fall to $1,250.

Both of these iPad Pro deals are listed just below, but if you’re after something a little cheaper you’ll find more of the lowest prices on the whole range further down the page.

Today’s best iPad Pro deals

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iPad Pro 11-inch (2021) | $799 $699.99 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $100 – The 11-inch iPad Pro has just returned to a record low $699 sales price at Amazon. This certainly isn’t an offer we see every day, so if you’re looking to beat the crowds ahead of this month’s Black Friday iPad deals we’d recommend taking a look quick.

View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)

iPad Pro 12.9-inch WiFi and Cellular (2021) | $1,299 $1,199.99 at Amazon (opens in new tab)
Save $99 – This is a rare discount on the 12.9-inch cellular iPad Pro – and one that leaves us with a record low $1,199.99 sales price. We’ve only seen this offer once before, back in August, and since then this model has been stuck at a $1,250 cost.

View Deal (opens in new tab)

More of today’s best iPad deals

We’re seeing the most valuable iPad deals on the more premium models right now, but you’ll still find some savings on cheaper devices like the 9th generation and iPad Air. The comparison chart below brings you all the lowest prices on these tablets from around the web. 

As one of the best gaming tablets around, these are particularly popular deals. However, if you’re after more savings, you can also check out all the Black Friday laptop deals and Black Friday gaming laptop deals we’re expecting to see this year. We’re also rounding up all the latest iPad Air deals and Black Friday AirPods deals for cheaper options as well. 

The post iPad Pro deals drop to record low prices ahead of Black Friday appeared first on Game News.

Having largely ignored the Mini range of luxury tablets since 2019, Apple is going big on its latest release. With some impressive power under the hood, those looking for the best gaming tablet might not have to look much further than the iPad Mini 6. 

iPad Mini 6 pre-order information

Price: $499 / £479 / AU$749
US: pre-order at Apple (opens in new tab)
UK: pre-order at Apple (opens in new tab)
Release date: September 24

Gaming on iPad is starting to take off. The powerful specs of the iPad Pro and Air 4 mean there’s some serious grunt under the hood for the latest Apple Arcade titles, but the larger form factor always made portable play a little awkward. Without an updated version of its smaller tablet, Apple would be in trouble. Thank goodness for the iPad Mini 6, in other words.

It’s arrived at the perfect time. Gaming tablets are still finding their feet in a handheld world dominated by the Nintendo Switch, mobile phone, and, soon, Valve’s Steam Deck. Arcade might not offer the most comprehensive collection of the most powerful titles, but gaming is the main revenue driver for Apple’s App Store, and it would take a lot for the hardware side of the business to ignore it for much longer.

The iPad Mini 6 proves that Apple’s dinkier device is perhaps best positioned to fight in this arena head on.

iPad OS 15 gaming features are designed for a smaller display

iPadOS 15 will ship directly on the iPad Mini 6, bringing with it a new gamepad overlay open to use by any game developer using the App Store. The feature will have two control zones (configurable as thumbsticks, d-pad, or buttons) placed along the horizontal edge of the screen. Many games already make use of this design by themselves, but Apple building such a feature directly into its OS means things are starting to get serious. 

Anyone who has attempted to hold an iPad Air or iPad Pro in the grip that would be required here will know that these larger devices just weren’t made to be used like this for long periods. While initially comfortable, the full weight of each tablet quickly becomes apparent.

The iPad Mini 6 measures at 195mm tall (just a little smaller than the previous model) 135mm and wide. That’s a much smaller footprint designed to suit such a grip much better.

Not only that, but iPadOS 15 also brings PS5 DualSense adaptive trigger support and game capture functions to the iPad Mini 6. No other gaming tablets currently offer support for those super smart bumpers, and very few come with retroactive game capture support. 

iPads typically walk a fine line between productivity and entertainment purposes. In general, though, a larger screen means a better experience for both uses. When it comes to gaming on the go, though, pulling out a 12.9-inch iPad Pro may not be the most comfortable move.

The iPad Mini form factor is large enough to still feel like a big screen experience (at least compared to a smartphone or Nintendo Switch), but fits neatly into smaller bag pockets.

iPad Mini 6 uses Apple’s latest silicon

Apple has detailed the specs of its latest A15 Bionic chip, and it looks like there’s plenty to look forward to. The A15 is estimated to offer a 40% boost in CPU performance and 80% jump in its GPU over the previous model. That translates to faster game loading, better framerates, more detailed graphics (both up close and far away), and potentially the capacity for more complex, demanding titles. 

Packing all that power into a portable device with a battery life that still hits Apple’s 10-hour quota is no mean feat. Sure, you’re likely not getting the higher refresh rates of the 120Hz iPad Pro here, but for under $500, there’s some serious value packed into this silicon. 

USB-C arrives

The iPad Mini 6 will ship with USB-C charging and accessory support. While that’s nice for quickly juicing up your device on the go and transferring files from storage, it’s in the world of keyboards and accessories that this feature really shines. 

Apple started supporting keyboards in its Arcade titles back with iPad OS 14 and iOS 14, which means the rollout across the service’s biggest games is just getting started. However, we’re seeing more and more titles taking advantage of keyboard support these days and if Apple’s gaming plans continue as they’ve started it’s likely there’s plenty more in the future as well.

If you’re looking for an even smaller screen, we’re rounding up all the best gaming phones available right now. Or, take a look at the best gaming laptops for something with more dedicated gaming grunt. 

The post The iPad Mini 6 could be the best gaming tablet on the market this year appeared first on Game News.

The price of the iPad alone is a great deal, but getting a whole year of (potentially) the next biggest thing in TV streaming for nothing? Absolutely, yes please. As a result, this means this is also one of the best cheap Apple TV deals (opens in new tab) going right now too! The discount is also consistent across all color-schemes (Space Gray (opens in new tab), Silver (opens in new tab), and Gold (opens in new tab)), meaning you can still save money regardless of which design tickles your fancy.

Cheap iPad deal

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iPad 32GB (Space Gray) + 1 year of AppleTV+ FREE| $249.99 on Best Buy (save $80) (opens in new tab)
The latest version of iPad for $80 less than its usual price is a bargain. This deal’s for the Space Gray 32GB version.

View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)

iPad 32GB (Silver) + 1 year of AppleTV+ FREE| $249.99 on Best Buy (save $80) (opens in new tab)
Pick up the latest model of iPad in cool Silver via this offer – at $80 less than normal, it’s great value for money.

View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)

iPad 32GB (Gold) + 1 year of AppleTV+ FREE | $249.99 on Best Buy (save $80) (opens in new tab)
And here’s the gold version of the tablet, with that TV deal, for the same bargain price.

View Deal (opens in new tab)

Although the version in this cheap iPad sale only has 32GB of internal memory, that’s more than enough to be going on with if you’re just browsing the internet and downloading the occasional movie or game. What’s more, the low price makes up for it – this is one of the cheapest modern iPads you’ll get your hands on. Don’t forget about that gorgeously crisp display, either; it makes sure your games and shows will look their best at all times.

And what’s more, that free year of AppleTV+ is a real deal enhancer. Apple is invested heavily in TV production, bringing a number of exclusive shows to its service, featuring big names such as Jason Momoa and Jennifer Aniston. Between this, and the launch of Disney+ – learn more about a Disney Plus sign-up (opens in new tab) here – it’s an exciting time to be stepping into the streaming world.

Even though a cheap iPad sale is always worth considering, this one is particularly notable; the latest version is a strong contender for the best gaming tablet (opens in new tab) on the market right now, and one of the versions has been near the top of our buying guide for quite some time. 

If you’d prefer something a little smaller, don’t forget to check out our guide to the best gaming phone (opens in new tab). It’s crammed with recommendations and offers to get you maximum value for money on the latest, hottest handheld tech. 

The post Get a year of AppleTV+ FREE with this cheap iPad deal appeared first on Game News.

The great-grandaddy of first-person shooters, Wolfenstein 3D, today celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Released in 1992, the game gave rise to a fledgling studio of plucky young upstarts called id software, who later went on to make a little game called Doom. (Perhaps you’ve heard of it?) While that game is perhaps the better known of the two, Wolfenstein 3D is considered the birth of the genre that continues to be the cornerstone of gaming to this day.

To mark the occasion, Bethesda is giving away the entire iOS version of Wolfenstein 3D for the princely sum of naught. Ziltch. Free. Go ahead, download the entire game right now and shoot Nazis on the bus. Don’t have an iDevice? No problem, just head here (opens in new tab) to play the game in your web browser. Everybody wins!

Also, be sure to check out Bethesda’s special video podcast (opens in new tab), which sees John Carmack revisiting the game and explaining the design process. It’s an insightful watch.

Question is, does Wolfenstein 3D still hold up today? Or is merely a dusty digital relic? Let us know in the comments.

The post Wolfenstein 3D free on iOS appeared first on Game News.

Game: Super Crate Box
Price: $0.99/£0.69
Size: 10MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US (opens in new tab) / UK (opens in new tab)

Like Super Meat Boy before it, Super Crate Box will kick your ass time and time again – and if you’re anything like us and the untold number of iPad and iPhone gamers that racked up a few million collected crates on the first day of release, you’ll take it with a smile and ask for more. Hailing from Vlambeer, the studio behind Serious Sam: The Random Encounter, Super Crate Box began life in 2010 as a free Flash game but seems best at home on iOS devices, where the quick-hit sessions can fill the various spare moments in your day. However, while the individual attempts may span mere seconds, it’s tough to resign yourself to quitting without first knocking back a couple dozen consecutive tries.

Super Crate Box’s three stages look like facsimiles of the original Mario Bros. arcade game, but the goal here is unique: collect as many randomly appearing crates in each level before perishing. Each collected crate grants you a new weapon – like a shotgun, rocket launcher, reflecting blade gun, or short-range katana – but also amps up the flow of enemies emerging from the top of the screen. Even the tiniest enemy contact ends your game, so the race to collect the most crates takes on an insane tempo marked by precise movement and skillful weapon usage. Most of the time, you’ll struggle to hit double-digits in any given attempt. Notching 10 crates in each of the first two stages opens up the next, plus your collected grand total unlocks new weapons over time.

Admittedly, we miss the physical feedback of tapping keys in the Flash version – while the touch controls are solid and better than most, this is the kind of ultra-precise game in which any unrecognized action feels like a sucker punch to the jaw. Things can feel a little cramped on iPhone, but on iPad, the virtual buttons barely obscure the action in landscape mode – plus you can switch to portrait orientation to have the buttons set completely apart from the game window – an appreciated touch. Super Crate Box’s quickly amplified challenge rubbed us the wrong way at first, but the curse words and rage quits quickly gave way to determination, propelling us to push further and further with each fresh attempt. It may be bite-sized, but we’re nowhere close to retiring this brutally awesome affair, especially with updates promised at fast-advancing worldwide crate-collecting milestones.

Game: Kinectimals
Price: $2.99/£1.99
Size: 178MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US (opens in new tab) / UK (opens in new tab)

What’s Kinectimals doing on the App Store? Microsoft’s virtual pet simulator arrived alongside its Xbox Live companion app last month; a stunning move from a company that previously only supported its own Windows Phone platform with mobile content. Whatever the decision that led to this surprising reversal, it’s admittedly strange to be playing a game designed exclusively for Kinect – and with the word still in its title – on an iPad. But Kinectimals is actually an impressive effort, one that’s simpler and less alluring on the whole, but still offers a lot of solid content at a much, much tinier price point than its console counterpart.

Without the impressive tech-demo flourishes of the Kinect launch title – like voice commands and seeing the wild cats mimic your full-body motions – the iPad version boils Kinectimals down to its core elements. Let’s be honest: it’s not the most enthralling experience. Instead of flopping on the floor or hopping in place to interact with your striped or spotted feline, you’ll perform basic touchscreen swipes to make it perform tricks, or you’ll rub the screen to pet or clean the appreciative creature. Beyond learning lightweight skills, you can play fetch and skip rope as the cat, all of which helps level up your trainer ranking and grants access to additional areas of the island and extra items to play with.

Kinectimals isn’t quite as flashy as its Kinect counterpart, but still looks slick on both iPad and iPhone despite simpler animations and backdrops. It also has a couple tricks of its own – namely the ability to transfer pets back and forth between the iOS and Xbox 360 versions, plus you can unlock exclusive cats in the console game by using the mobile version. It’s an unexpected perk, but it keeps with the theme of being a well-intentioned and well-produced take on the franchise, not just a cheap port to capitalize on the name. While it lacks the wow-factor that made the Kinect original palatable for more than just tykes, Kinectimals makes a better-than-expected transition to Apple’s devices – and for the seriously reasonable price of three bucks.

The post iPad reviews of the week: Super Crate Box, Kinectimals appeared first on Game News.

Game: Zen Pinball
Price: Free
Size: 30.3MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US (opens in new tab) / UK (opens in new tab)

Zen Studio’s digital pinball offerings have gone by varying names on consoles – including Pinball FX, Zen Pinball, and Marvel Pinball – but the core experience always delivers a strong approximation of the real deal, and it’s finally available on iPad and iPhone via this universal app. As a free app supported by optional in-app purchases, Zen Pinball arrives with one complete original table (Sorcerer’s Lair) out of the box, while a pair of Marvel Comics tables (Captain America and Wolverine) are sold for $1.99 apiece.

More tables will undoubtedly arrive later down the line, but even if you’re not looking to spend a penny, Zen Pinball is well worth the download for its entertaining and realistic depiction of pinball, not to mention its skillful translation to the touchscreen. Simple taps on the left or right side of the screen control the respective bumpers, and the iPad can be held in either portrait or landscape views, with a variety of viewpoints available for each. Whether you want the entire table in sight or prefer to have the camera follow the action along the way, Zen Pinball looks great in every instance, and the original tables are charmingly designed and vary in terms of layout and features. You can even customize the size of the LED window in the corner.

All three tables come from the console iterations, with packed-in offering Sorcerer’s Lair employing a generic fantasy theme to surprisingly strong effect, as the lighting and sound effects convey the sensation of playing any early-90s machine at a dingy arcade. Captain America and Wolverine are both worthy additions at a couple bucks a pop, as each features iconic villains and imagery from the respective comic franchises, and like Sorcerer’s Lair, feel like they could pass for real-life tables. Zen Pinball isn’t the only great iPad pinball option, with Pinball HD and War Pinball HD also serving as true standouts, but with a gratis starter table and intriguing premium picks, it’s a must-snag for pinball nuts and leaderboard chasers.

Game: Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies
Price: $6.99/£4.99
Size: 357MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US (opens in new tab) / UK (opens in new tab)

Just as the original undead Nazi-slaying mode from Call of Duty: World at War made its way to iPhone and iPad as a standalone game, Black Ops’ follow-up offering is now available – and this time, it’s a universal app that works on both devices. Keeping true to the original experience, Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies can be played by up to four online players, and in a nice twist for the platform, the game uses the built-in microphone of each device to allow voice chat with your co-op comrades. While this may unfortunately mean overhearing nearby family arguments and singing babies while you play, we’d argue that it’s better than no chat at all.

Elsewhere, this touchscreen iteration feels like it’s just decent enough to consider, but hardly a fully featured or well-polished adaptation. At present, the game only includes the first map from the console/PC versions, with another promised later and surely more planned for sale within the app. While that one map faithfully captures the core Zombies experience, with numerous rooms to unlock, weapons to purchase, and anxious shamblers to fight off, the sluggish touchscreen aiming makes it a chore to look around in the heat of battle. Furthermore, even with the detail setting maxed on an iPad 2, the clunky player models and poor textures stand out while the framerate dips on occasion.

As such, it’s hardly the ideal way to experience the mode, but when playing online with a couple of pals (or random folks) it’s still a surprisingly solid experience. In a nice bonus, Black Ops Zombies also includes the entire Dead Ops Arcade minigame – a simple, overhead twin-stick shooter – hidden within Black Ops, which itself would be a perfect fit for a standalone iOS release. Paired with stylish menus and suitable online play, Black Ops Zombies generally seems like a well-considered release. It’s just one in serious need of refinement and additional core content before it feels like a worthy investment.

The post iPad reviews of the week: Zen Pinball, Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies appeared first on Game News.

In the last Infinity Blade update, Chair gave us the finger sword, Super Bowl ring, and an assortment of silly hats. This next swath of holiday-themed helms gives players an extra incentive to trudge back up to the God King. Maybe he won’t be such a grump if you’re wearing a helmet adorned with butterfly wings.

The survival mode is a perfect shake up and a nice reprieve from the serious investment of the campaign. You take on titans one after another with only a brief pause to update your weapon. There’s no inventory, health, or point to saving up money. If you don’t spend it, you probably won’t make it to the next baddie. Without the option to restart from a checkpoint or battle an enemy again, players have to see just how many titans they can kill before they keel over.

Finally, the most sweeping change to Infinity Blade is the online multiplayer arena, which operates through Apple’s Game Zone. Players can easily hop into a match and are automatically assigned to play as either a titan or a knight. The knight operates much the same way as in the campaign, but you should expect a much greater challenge. After defeating the insanely tough Deathless Kings in the most recent update, we still got our asses handed to us by some fellow humans.

Playing as a titan takes some getting used to but having seen how they operate; it’s just as fun as being knight. You are presented with a meter that allows you to select the speed and strength of your next attack and swiping the screen performs up to three attacks in a row. When being attacked by a knight, you can rapidly tap pop-up skulls to gain power and block the attack before he lands a combo on you. You are awarded with money (win or lose) between battles, and given the opportunity to improve your inventory. If you’re a titan, you can upgrade your character to a tougher monster. This was especially helpful in balancing certain games where we were outmatched.

Chair has stated (in an interview that you can read right here on GR next week) this is going to be the last major update for Infinity Blade and now the company is on to different horizons. We can only hope they continue to pack the next Chair game with free content after launch just like they did with Infinity Blade.

May 25, 2011

The post Infinity Blade multiplayer proves it’s the most gamer-loving game on iPhone appeared first on Game News.

We know, we know – you’ve had enough of match three puzzlers, right? We admit, the gaming world is drenched with them. It is possible to do one of two things with the genre, though: Throw in a twist, a la Puzzle Quest, or take the basic formula and do it better than everyone else. The latter applies with Liqua Pop, which looks absolutely gorgeous and offers simplistic, addictive gameplay.

Liqua Pop is going to impress you with looks right out of the gate, so be prepared for that. As you can see in the screens here, the game offers visions of vivid green leaves and crawling ladybugs as the backdrop to your adventure. The concept behind each level is basic: colored droplets of liquid will fall into your play space, and to pop them, you slide your finger around the board to pull the similarly colored ones together. By doing so, you’ll form a great big droplet you can either leave to burst by itself or pop deliberately by shaking the iPhone.

The strategy comes in when you start to time the way your droplets pop. Each has a little timer as it gets to a certain size. You have control over this timer, which is pretty cool. As mentioned before, you can pop it early with a shake, but you can also reset the timer to the start by double tapping the droplet. Manage it right, and you can pop several at the same time, which will earn you bonus points. The way you measure your progress through each level is by watching a little tree frog (ironically named Toadie), who crawls up a reed on the left side of the screen as you pop away. Rack up enough points, and he’ll crawl right into the next level, spiriting you along with him.

Is that all, you say? Not at all. Liqua Pop dices up the mix by adding bugs inside of the droplets, and they have special effects. The rainbow bug, for instance, enables you to turn all the droplets around you to the same color when you pop what it rests within, so using that strategy to your advantage will prove highly useful in later levels. As the bubbles fall more quickly, you’ll have to work faster or be forced to start again. Other bug types unlock too (a total of seven in all), such as the bomb bug, which creates a small explosion when freed and pops nearby drops. You’ll need all these as the difficulty ramps up, so be sure to master them early on. And don’t forget to keep an eye out for bugs that leave stuff behind that you don’t want on your board …

One of the only failings we could find with Liqua Pop was a lack of Gamecenter support, but otherwise it’s really a lot of fun to pick up and play. Controls are so simple a child could master them, and the fluid look joins with that effortlessly and makes for a very pleasant experience. We know you’ve played dozens of match three games, but this is one of the most visually pleasing ones you’re going to find.

Mar 23, 2011

The post iPhone review of the day: Liqua Pop – stunning puzzler looks like Bejeweled sexed up a lava lamp appeared first on Game News.