Digital Trends
Apple’s iPad is undoubtedly one of the most popular tablets on the market right now. There are several different models to choose from, but no matter which one you go with, you’ll be getting one of the best tablets out there. Still, Apple provides an abundance of choice here, and with so many different versions and a mostly regular annual update cycle, it can be tricky to know which one is the best to get.
All of Apple’s iPads are pretty great, and they’re each designed with a slightly different audience in mind, so it’s hard to pick a single one as “the best.” That’s why we’ve broken this list down by categories; after all, there’s an ideal iPad for nearly every situation. Whether you’re looking for the best overall iPad, the best iPad on a budget, something in the middle of the pack, or even the best small iPad, we’ve got you covered.
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iPad Air (2024)
The best iPad overall
iPad Air (2024) Review
Pros
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Thin, light, and portable
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Huge power reserves
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128GB minimum storage
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Great for games and video
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Good for general work with a keyboard
Cons
Why should you buy this? The iPad Air (2024) offers pro performance for less.
Who’s it for? Anyone who is looking for the best all-around tablet from Apple at a reasonable price.
The honor for best overall iPad goes to the iPad Air (2024). This is the sweet spot in the iPad lineup that perfectly balances power, features, and price. It’s a fantastic choice that should satisfy the needs of most people, with a wealth of performance and features at a surprisingly affordable price.
Though the iPad Air (2024) has the same overall look and design of the 2022 version, it got a big internal upgrade from Apple. Plus, it now comes in two sizes: an 11-inch model, as well as a larger 13-inch version if a larger screen is needed. Both sizes come with Apple’s M2 chip, which offers blazing-fast performance and power. The iPad Air also comes in four gorgeous colors, including blue and purple.
The iPad Air has a gorgeous Liquid Retina screen that offers vibrant colors and rich blacks. However, it still only has a 60Hz refresh rate. But for most people, this may not be a big deal, because your apps will still run smoothly and it’s still very fast.
For those who want to be productive with the iPad Air, it can be done. The iPad Air supports the Magic Keyboard, and you can choose between the regular Apple Pencil and the Apple Pencil Pro, making this tablet a great choice for those who need to work or just get creative on-the-go.
On the camera front, the iPad Air comes with a single 12MP camera on the back, which allows you to shoot video up to 4K quality at 60fps. There is another 12MP camera on the front, which is perfect for video calls with Center Stage.
The iPad Air should get you through a typical day on a single charge. But charging it will take about two hours to go from zero to full at 20W charging speeds, so it’s lacking here.
With all of this in mind, the iPad Air is the best iPad for most people. It offers a lot of power and great performance for a reasonable price. You do make some sacrifices for the lesser price than the iPad Pro, such as the 60Hz refresh rate display, but otherwise, it’s still a great tablet.
iPad Air (2024)
The best iPad overall
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iPad (2021)
The best iPad on a budget
Apple iPad (2021) Review
Pros
Cons
Why you should buy this? The iPad (2021) may be the previous generation, but it still offers great performance with a very affordable price tag.
Who’s it for? Someone who wants one of the best tablets on the market from Apple without spending a lot of money.
If you’re on a budget, the ninth-generation iPad (2021) is a great pick. While it’s the previous generation of the base model iPad, it’s still a very reliable and solid choice — and you get a lot of bang for your buck. Though it is officially discontinued by Apple, you can still find it from select retailers, and it could be even more discounted at this point.
iPad (2021) has a spacious 10.2-inch Retina LCD display that isn’t an OLED like some of the more expensive iPads, but it still looks beautiful. If you still prefer having a home button for Touch ID, you get it with the classic design of the iPad (2021). It comes with the A13 Bionic chip, so though it’s a little dated (the A13 launched in the iPhone 11 in 2019), it’s still quite fast and capable when it comes to performance for the average user, thanks to iPadOS 17. It starts at 64GB of storage, which should be enough for most people who just want a basic iPad for doing things like checking email, sending messages, FaceTime calls, and perhaps some games.
While the rear camera totals a mere 8MP, the front-facing camera did get some upgrades over the previous iteration. It’s now 12MP instead of the paltry 1.2MP of its 2020 predecessor, and it also has Center Stage, so you’ll always be in the frame on video calls and look good too.
This is the last iPad that uses Apple’s Lightning connector, as all other iPad models — and even the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro — use USB-C. Once fully charged, the iPad (2021) should last around 10 hours on the Wi-Fi model or nine hours with the Wi-Fi & Cellular version. Still, for the price, the iPad (2021) offers good power and performance for those who don’t need anything too fancy.
iPad (2021)
The best iPad on a budget
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iPad mini (2021)
The best small iPad
iPad Mini (2021) Review
Pros
Cons
Why you should buy this? You want an iPad, but in a smaller, compact size.
Who’s it for? Anyone who prefers a smaller-sized tablet.
Apple’s iPad mini has traditionally gone a few years between updates. The latest model came out in 2021, so it has been about three years since it was last updated. We’re due for a refresh of Apple’s smallest iPad, but it’s unclear when that will happen.
The iPad mini (2021) gains a larger 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display and eliminates the home button found in its predecessor. Like its larger sibling, the iPad Air, it skips Face ID in favor of a Touch ID sensor in the side button. The Lightning connector has been replaced with USB-C for charging, and a full charge should last around 10 hours.
The iPad mini (2021) packs in an A15 Bionic chip, which is the same processor that powers the iPhone 13 lineup, as well as the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. The A15 delivers plenty of power and fast performance, so the iPad mini will be able to handle whatever you may throw at it, including photo and video editing, as well as graphic-intensive games.
The best part about the iPad mini (2021), though, is the size. It’s the smallest iPad that Apple offers, so it’s much more compact and portable than its brethren. But even though it’s small, it’s still mighty. The iPad mini (2021) supports the second-generation Apple Pencil, and you can always pair it up with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to turn it into a lightweight workhorse.
It is a little pricey at $500 for the smaller size, but if that’s what you’re going for, then you just can’t beat the iPad mini (2021).
While the iPad mini is still good, if you can hold out for it, the iPad mini 7 could be coming soon. In December 2022, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that Apple was working on a new iPad mini that could possibly be released sometime in 2024. The rumors indicate that the next-generation iPad mini would retain the same design as the current model, but it would come with a faster chip. It would be likely that the iPad mini 7 will use the A16 Bionic processor, which launched in the iPhone 14 Pro and is currently in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.
iPad mini (2021)
The best small iPad
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iPad Pro 13-inch (2024)
The best big-screen iPad
iPad Pro (2024) Review
Pros
Cons
Why should you buy this? The iPad Pro is extremely powerful and offers a huge screen.
Who’s it for? Gamers, power users, creatives. Anyone who wants a big screen to do their thing.
The iPad Pro (2024) is Apple’s top-of-the-line iPad model, and though few people may actually need it, plenty of people will want it. The iPad Pro (2024) comes in two sizes: an 11-inch model and a larger 13-inch model, similar to the iPad Air. Apple did make a nice change this year in that those who want the smaller 11-inch iPad Pro will be getting the same incredible display technology, compared to previous models where Apple only put the “best” display on the larger version.
The iPad Pro has a design that is similar to previous models, but Apple improved both the display and the specs. This time, the iPad Pro now has a new OLED display, rather than mini-LED from before. That means everything looks better — colors are much more vibrant, blacks are inkier, and text is crisper and sharper than ever. You can even get a new nano-texture display on models with 1TB or 2TB storage, which is like an anti-glare display. It also has the 120Hz refresh rate, so scrolling is smooth.
Inside the iPad Pro is the all-new Apple M4 chip, which makes its debut with the iPad Pro, instead of a Mac. This means you get top-tier performance, and this outclasses even most Android tablets in terms of performance. If you plan on doing anything remotely graphic-intensive on an iPad, then you will want the power of the M4 chip. Battery life is also quite good, largely due to the M4’s power efficiency cores.
Of course, the iPad Pro is not cheap, especially the larger model. But if you want the absolute best iPad that Apple has to offer, then the iPad Pro is the way to go. It also works with all of the accessories like the Magic Keyboard, Apple Pencil Pro, and more. But of course, these accessories will cost a pretty penny.
iPad Pro 13-inch (2024)
The best big-screen iPad
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iPad (2022)
The best midrange iPad
Apple iPad (10th Gen, 2022) Review
Pros
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Updated, modern design
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Wonderfully vibrant colors
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Larger display is fantastic
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A14 chip is plenty powerful
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Strong battery life
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USB-C is finally here
Cons
Why should you buy this? The iPad (2022) is Apple’s latest entry-level tablet, offering a nice bridge between the iPad (2021) and the pricier iPad Air (2024).
Who’s it for? Someone looking for an affordable tablet for everyday use that offers good bang for the buck.
If you’re looking to spend a bit more on an iPad that’s still easy on the wallet, Apple’s iPad (2022) is worth considering. It’s a great option for folks who like the newer iPad design with an edge-to-edge screen but don’t need all of the bells and whistles that the iPad Air (2024) has to offer.
It packs in Apple’s A14 chip — the same one used in the iPhone 12 — which offers more than enough performance for all but the most demanding power users, and most folks will be hard-pressed to find a speed difference between this and the latest M4-equipped iPad Pro. Like the iPad Air (2024), it features a more expansive 10.9-inch screen and a Touch ID sensor in the side button.
While the iPad (2022) is no slouch in the performance department, it’s a bit more basic when it comes to the display and accessory support. You don’t get the higher-quality, anti-reflective laminated display found on the higher-end models, but it also offers a unique landscape camera that’s great for video calling, with the same Center Stage feature found on the rest of Apple’s iPad lineup to make sure that your video calls stay focused on you.
There’s also support for the first-generation Apple Pencil and a Magic Keyboard Folio, but these differ from the more advanced versions made for the iPad Air and iPad Pro. That won’t be a problem for most folks, but it’s worth keeping in mind if you’re planning to do any serious drawing or looking for a more full-featured laptop replacement.
The 10th-generation iPad also eliminates the Lighting port from the 9th-generation that we mentioned earlier and replaces it with USB-C, making it equal with the rest of the iPad lineup. This is also the new universal connector that has made its way to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models.
The iPad (2022) starts at $449 for a 64GB version, making it an affordable and well-rounded tablet for families and everyday casual use.
Keep in mind that the iPad (2022) is about two years old at this point. However, while Apple updated the iPad Air and iPad Pro in 2024, it has yet to do an update on the base model iPad, so the 2022 is still the “latest” model until Apple releases a new one.
iPad (2022)
The best midrange iPad
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should you remember when buying an iPad?
When it comes to tablets, buying an iPad is one of the best choices you can make. That’s because Apple supports them with software updates for years to come, similar to how it does with the iPhone lineup. An iPad that you buy today will probably last you around five years, at least.
That’s why it’s important to know what you’re getting into when you buy an iPad, especially if this is your first one. If you’ve used an iPhone before, then the iPad works pretty much the same way, except iPadOS is made for larger screens with multitasking capabilities.
With Split View and Slide Over, it’s possible to have several apps on the iPad screen at once. And Stage Manager, which was introduced in iPadOS 16, is a new way to group specific apps together. And these windows can be repositioned, resized, and overlapped as you see fit.
The iPad is also considered “desktop class” in some regards, like with Safari. That means you can use web apps, like Google Docs, on Safari on iPadOS instead of just on your iPhone. The larger screen space also helps out a ton with that. To make your productivity levels soar, iPadOS lets you connect a trackpad or mouse to your iPad too, on top of the usual Bluetooth keyboard or even keyboard case.
Though all of these iPads are good, there are some things to remember about certain models.
For example, ProMotion is only available on the iPad Pro versions. This makes for a 120Hz refresh rate on the display — giving you much smoother scrolling, animations, and even better responsiveness.
It’s also important to note that some models of iPad run on Apple’s new M-Series chip, which is Apple’s own silicon. That includes the iPad Air (M2) and iPad Pro (M4). The standard iPad and iPad mini still use the older A-Series chips. Equipped with the M-Series chips, the iPad Pro and iPad Air are capable of much faster performance and speed, while also being power efficient. Tasks you do will happen faster on an iPad with an M-Series chip versus one with the previous A-Series, especially when it comes to photo and video editing and processing.
If you are coming from an Android tablet, then iPadOS may be very different than what you’re used to. But overall, iPadOS is streamlined and simple to use. It’s also much more cohesive and secure compared to the competition, which is one of the major reasons why an iPad appeals to many.
Keep in mind that if you are coming from Android, you should be able to bring over most of your data to the iPad, like contacts, calendars, and email. However, for other things like photos and video, you may not be able to unless you use something like Google Photos.
Another thing to remember when looking at an iPad are the accessories. These can really make or break the overall iPad experience, and are an additional cost to consider when purchasing. For example, if you want the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro or iPad Air, it will cost an extra $299, and the second-generation Apple Pencil is $129. These are hefty chunks of change, and once you commit to an iPad and its accessories, they’ll only work with certain models.
Of course, these are first-party iPad accessories that Apple makes and sells. There are also a plethora of third-party options for Bluetooth keyboards, keyboard cases, and even styluses that have more universal compatibility.
Can you print from an iPad?
Yes, you can indeed print from an iPad. Check out our guides on how to print from an iPhone for everything you need to know. It works the same way on an iPad.
Can you make phone calls on an iPad?
They may not be smartphones, but you can make phone calls with iPads — just not directly. Even though Apple offers iPad models with cellular support, this is used solely for transferred data when you’re away from Wi-Fi. It can’t be used for calling or texting. Instead, you can make use of Wi-Fi calling, which involves routing Wi-Fi calls through your iPhone — if your carrier supports it, that is.
You can also use FaceTime on an iPad to make video or audio calls, and there are also a wealth of third-party apps, such as Facebook Messenger, Skype, WhatsApp, and Zoom, that can be used to call folks who also use these services. Most voice-over-IP apps on the App Store can also be used with the iPad, so if you really want to use your tablet to make calls to traditional phone numbers, it may be worth considering one of the best VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) services.
Can you text on an iPad?
The iPad includes Apple’s Messages app, which can be used to send iMessage to other Apple devices over your Wi-Fi or cellular data connection. You can also send and receive standard SMS/MMS text messages on your iPad, but only if you also have an iPhone. Even the cellular-capable iPad models don’t offer SMS/MMS capabilities — iPad cellular service is for data only — so traditional text messages are routed through your iPhone via iCloud, and they’ll use the phone number from your iPhone.
Of course, there’s also the usual assortment of third-party messaging apps that you can use with your iPad, from Facebook Messenger to WhatsApp.
How do we test?
We rigorously test all the iPads we receive, living with them for extended periods of time to learn just how they perform in real-world settings. This means working on them, playing games, watching TV and movies, reading e-books, taking photos, capturing video, and using all of the latest and most demanding apps. In other words, we use them exactly as you would use them, and while we naturally value innovative and quirky features, we also love tablets that simply get the basics right. Using them regularly also means we learn the particularities of each iPad we test, including their weakness and strengths, allowing us to make informed recommendations.
As you can see, there’s not really a “one-size-fits-all” iPad since Apple split it up into multiple models. However, the iPad Air comes closest to the best all-around iPad, so we recommend that one for those who want pro power for less. Otherwise, those on a tight budget should consider the iPad (2021), and those who want a small or big iPad should go for the iPad mini (2021) or 13-inch iPad Pro, respectively.
No matter which model you go with though, an iPad is one of the best tablets on the market. Apple will continue to provide support for these through iPadOS software updates for at least several years after your purchase. So whether you pick up a base-level iPad or go big with the Pro, it’ll be a great choice either way. The model you want to buy just depends on your needs.
