There are quite a few iPad models available in the market. It’s like going to an Ice Cream parlour with countless flavours, toppings, and sizes. There’s the reliable base model iPad (dependable just like vanilla), the compact iPad Mini (pocketable like an Ice Cream Sandwich), the versatile iPad Air (serves all like a scoop of blueberry ), and the king of all: the iPad Pro (multi-layered Chocolate Fudge Brownie). So, without further ado, let’s find the best iPad to satisfy your digital cravings.
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List of Available iPads in Apple’s Lineup?
Currently, four different types of iPad models are available in the company’s lineup, each catering to a different set of users. Here are the main selling points of each of them:
- iPad: The most affordable iPad that will cater to most users. It is available in a single size of 11 inches and does not support Apple Intelligence features.
- iPad Air: For those looking for better performance while on a budget, the iPad Air offers the best speed and design without costing a leg and an arm. You can purchase it in 11-inch and 13-inch size variants.
- iPad Pro: The flagship iPad is designed for content creators, editors, and graphic designers. Made for professionals, it has all the advanced features, such as an Ultra Retina XDR display with ProMotion and the latest chip. It is available in 11-inch and 13-inch variants.
- iPad mini: The smallest and most compact iPad for those on the move. It prioritizes portability while still maintaining an affordable price tag. It is only available in an 8.3-inch size option.
Best iPad to Buy
Best iPad for Students (Most Users): iPad 11th Gen
- 11-inch Liquid Retina display
- A16 Bionic Chip
- 6GB of memory
- 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage options
- 12MP Wide rear camera and 12MP Ultra-Wide front camera with Center Stage
- Up to 10 hours of battery life
- Support for Apple Pencil (1st generation) and Apple Pencil (USB-C)
- Price: $349
The new iPad 11th Generation is the perfect choice for most users. Powered by the A16 chipset, it has the same processing power as the iPhone 15. It can handle demanding games as well as all of your multitasking needs. Moreover, the 11-inch Liquid Retina is excellent for taking notes and research. Talking about notes, it supports Apple Pencil (USB-C) and supports Magic Keyboard Folio.
The 12-megapixel front camera can serve all your needs for online classes and video calls. With up to 10 hours of video playback, you can binge-watch all your favourite TV shows on a single charge. However, there’s no Apple Intelligence support since it lacks the 8GB of RAM and Apple Intelligence support. But the good news is that the base model now starts at 128GB instead of 64GB while retaining the same price. Overall, it’s the best iPad if you are a first-time tablet buyer or a student.
Reasons to buy:
- 11-inch Liquid Retina display
- Powerful A16 processor
- Available in multiple colour options
- Apple Pencil support
- The base model now has 128GB of storage.
Reasons to skip:
- No Apple Intelligence support
- 60Hz refresh rate
- Need to purchase
Also Read:
- Apple Announces iPad Air M3 and iPad 11th Gen With Faster Processing Power: Price, Specs
- You Can Use the Apple Pencil as a Camera Button for Your iPad
Best iPad for Those on the Go: iPad Mini
- 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display
- A17 Pro chip with Apple Intelligence
- 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage options
- 12MP Wide rear camera and 12MP Center Stage camera
- Up to 10 hours of battery life
- Support for Apple Pencil Pro
- Price: $499
The iPad Mini is the perfect tablet for those constantly on the move. Slightly bigger than a Kindle and the iPhone 16 Pro Max, it is the best travel companion. It weighs only 293 grams and is 6.3 mm thick, so you can easily fit it in your purse or backpack. The compact nature means you can easily hold it in one hand.
Unlike the 11th generation iPad, there is support for Apple Intelligence thanks to the more powerful A17 Pro chipset found in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Oh, and there is also support for Apple Pencil Pro, which supports features like squeeze, double tap, hover barrel roll, and even haptic feedback. The iPad mini has all the multitasking features despite its smaller form factor, and you can also purchase it in a cellular variant. Overall, it’s the best compact iPad that Apple has to offer.
Reasons to buy:
- Compact 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display
- Apple Intelligence support
- More powerful than iPad 11th Gen
- Support for Apple Pencil Pro
- Option for cellular connectivity
Reasons to skip:
- The price is more expensive than iPad 11th Generation
- No folio keyboard case from Apple
Best iPad for Note Taking and Performance: iPad Air M3
- 11-inch/13-inch Liquid Retina display
- M3 chip with Apple Intelligence
- 128GB, 256GB, 512GB,1TB storage options
- 12MP Wide rear camera and 12MP Ultra-Wide front camera with Center Stage
- Up to 10 hours of battery life
- Support for Apple Pencil Pro
- Price: $599
If you can extend your budget further and want a bigger and more powerful tablet than the iPad Mini and 11th Generation, the iPad Air M3 is for you. As the name suggests, it is powered by the new M3 chipset, which is the same one that you can find on MacBooks and other Macs.
The M3 chip is twice as fast as the M1 and 3.5 times faster than the A14 Bionic in the iPad 10th Gen. It is the ideal combination of performance and value. Available in two sizes, 11-inch and 13-inch, it is the perfect canvas for drawing and multitasking. There’s also Apple Intelligence support, just like the iPad Mini, and having a chip also means you get Stage Manager for next-level multitasking. All of these features make the best iPad for multimedia on a budget.
Reasons to buy:
- The most powerful iPad in the segment with an M3 chipset
- Available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes
- Stage Manager support
- Apple Pencil Pro support
- Magic keyboard support
Reasons to skip:
- 60Hz refresh rate (No ProMotion)
- No antiglare coating option
Also Read:
- How to Remove Frequently Used Emojis on iPhone and iPad
- 3 Standout Features of Calculator App in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18
Best Budget iPad/Cheapest iPad: iPad 10th Gen
- 10.2-inch Retina display
- A14 Bionic chip
- 64GB or 256GB storage options
- 8MP Wide rear camera and 12MP Ultra-Wide front camera with Center Stage
- Up to 10 hours of battery life
- Support for Apple Pencil (1st generation)
- Price: $269
Are you in the market for the cheapest and most affordable iPad? The iPad 10th Generation offers the same features as the 11th generation except for a slower chipset and less base storage. It uses the A14 Bionic chip, the same one found on the iPhone 12, and is a bit dated now. However, it’s still good enough to watch videos and play casual games.
The primary reason for buying the iPad 10th Gen is its cheaper price tag since it is the most affordable iPad you can currently get. The design, display, camera,s and battery backup are the same as the new iPad 11th Generation, so there isn’t a lot that you are missing out on. However, the only major downside is that you get 64GB of storage in the base variant, and bumping up to 128GB could cost you the same as the newer iPads.
Reasons to buy:
- The most affordable iPad available
- It has the same design, display, cameras, and battery as the iPad 11th Gen
- Multiple colour options
- Apple Pencil support
Reasons to skip:
- Only 64GB of storage in the base model
- A14 Bionic feels outdated
- No Apple Intelligence support
Best iPad for Creators/Most Expensive iPad: iPad Pro M4
- 11-inch/13-inch Ultra Retina XDR display with ProMotion technology (Optional nano-texture glass)
- M4 chip with Apple Intelligence
- 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB storage options
- 12MP Wide rear camera, 10MP Ultra-Wide rear camera, and 12MP Ultra-Wide front camera with Center Stage
- Up to 10 hours of battery life
- Support for Apple Pencil Pro
- Price: $999
Last but not least is the iPad Pro, the most powerful iPad you can currently buy. Catering to “Pro” users who demand the highest-end performance, these crazy thin iPads have everything turned up to 11. Measuring just 5.1mm and just 444 grams for the 11-inch model, it’s the thinnest product from the company. Furthermore, the Ultra Retina XDR combines two OLED panels for a fantastic contrast ratio and colour accuracy.
The M4 chip inside is 4 times faster than the M2, letting you edit 4K videos in Final Cut Pro with multiple timelines or play games with ray tracing. For creators, you get AV1 hardware acceleration for playback and the ability to edit up to 5 streams 4K ProRes. With a 12-megapixel dual camera setup on the back, you can capture ProRes videos on the go. With up to 2TB of storage, you can save all your video files and projects locally. All of these features make it the best iPad currently on sale.
Reasons to buy:
- Shockingly thin at just 5.1mm and lightweight
- Beautiful tandem OLED screen with 1600 nits of peak brightness
- Up to 2TB of storage is available
- Support for Apple Pencil Pro
- Support for Stage Manager
Reasons to skip:
- iPadOS feels limiting for a device with such capabilities
What accessories are available for my iPad?
Apple Pencils:
- Apple Pencil (1st generation): This is the original Apple Pencil. It offers precise drawing and note-taking but has a less convenient charging method (it requires plugging into the iPad’s Lightning port). It’s compatible with older iPads and the 11th-generation iPad (with an adapter).
- Apple Pencil (2nd generation): This model features a more refined design, wireless charging (attaches magnetically to compatible iPads), and gesture controls. It’s compatible with the iPad Mini (6th generation), iPad Air (4th generation and later), and iPad Pro (3rd generation and later).
- Apple Pencil (USB-C): Similar to the 2nd generation, but charges via USB-C. It is compatible with iPad (10th generation), iPad Air (5th generation and later), and iPad mini (6th generation).
- Apple Pencil Pro: The most advanced Apple Pencil with added features like a customizable side button, tilt and pressure sensitivity, and more precise “hover” accuracy. Compatible with iPad Pro (M4), iPad Air (M2 and later), and iPad mini (7th generation).
Keyboards:
- Magic Keyboard: A premium keyboard with a trackpad and backlit keys designed for iPad Pro and iPad Air. It provides a laptop-like typing experience.
- Magic Keyboard Folio: Designed for the 10th and 11th generation iPads, this keyboard folio offers a comfortable typing experience with a function row and trackpad.
- Smart Keyboard Folio: A slim, lightweight keyboard compatible with iPad Pro and iPad Air.
Cases:
- Smart Folio: Provides front and back protection for iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad Mini. It folds into a stand for comfortable viewing and typing.
- Third-party cases: Different brands offer various cases, offering different levels of protection, features (like Apple Pencil holders), and styles.
iPad Compatible Accessories
| Accessory | iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) | iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) | iPad Air 13-inch (M3) | iPad Air 11-inch (M3) | iPad (11th generation) | iPad mini (7th generation) |
| Apple Pencil (1st generation) | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Apple Pencil (2nd generation) | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Apple Pencil (USB-C) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Pencil Pro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Magic Keyboard for iPad Air | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Magic Keyboard Folio | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Smart Keyboard Folio | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Smart Folio | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Logitech Crayon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Third-party Keyboards | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Third-party Cases | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
