Quizience is supported by you the audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
The iPad remains one of the best tablets available due to its extensive selection of quality apps and content, as well as its product integration within the Apple ecosystem. Apple introduced the sixth-generation iPad Air and the 11th-generation iPad over the past year, joining the iPad Pro and the iPad Mini. We’ve thoroughly tested all iPad models currently available on the market and have delineated their key differences below.
iPad (11th-gen) – Best iPad overall
Why we like it: Our top pick for the best iPad for most users is the latest standard model. Launched this spring, the 11th-generation iPad features an A16 Bionic chip, 6GB of RAM, USB-C charging, 5G support, 4K video capture, Wi-Fi 6, and 128GB of base storage. The tablet starts at $349, but you can currently buy it on sale for $299 via Amazon.
This iPad is also equipped with a front-facing camera that is centered horizontally and optimized for video calls when the iPad is in the landscape position while docking in its keyboard case or on a stand, which is the preferred configuration for many iPad users. This feature unequivocally makes the iPad 10th-gen the best iPad for FaceTime calls, Zoom meetings, and other video conferencing applications.
Who should look elsewhere: Based on customer feedback, this iPad is a suitable option for the majority of users, even those new to Apple, kids, and seniors. Power users or creatives who require more intense processing power would probably benefit from a more robust tablet like the iPad Air or iPad Pro.
iPad (11th-gen) specs: Display: 11-inch Liquid Retina display | Processor: A16 Bionic chip with 16-core Neural Engine | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB | Biometrics: Touch ID | Colors: Silver, Pink, Blue, Yellow | Cameras: 12MP f/1.8 wide, 12MP Landscape f/2.4 front | Weight: 1.05 pounds | Dimensions: 9.79 x 7.07 x .28 inches | Connections: USB-C, Smart Connector | Battery life: Up to 10 hours of video playback with USB-C charging
iPad Pro (seventh-gen) – Best iPad for power users
Why we like it: The design in Apple’s new 2024 iPad Pro lineup is slimmer than previous Pro models and sports Apple’s powerful M4 processor. This chip consists of a new 10-core GPU, next-generation machine learning accelerators to handle various tasks, and ProMotion technology, enabling variable screen refresh rates ranging from 10 to 120Hz.
The Pro also supports the new , which has a range of features, including a squeeze gesture for quick tool, color, and other changes, a gyroscope for precise control of pens and brush tools with a simple rotation, and custom haptic feedback that you can feel via a pulse. It also pairs with the newly revamped , which is thinner and lighter, has a larger trackpad, and a new row of function keys this year, making the keyboard case more essential than ever for the whole iPad experience.
Who it‘s for: The iPad Pro is perfect for creators and power users. ZDNET reviews editor Kerry Wan tested the 13-inch Apple iPad Pro and was especially impressed by the new Tandem OLED screen.
“In practice, Tandem OLED makes the iPad Pro a phenomenal tablet for visual experiences. I’ve been able to complete text-heavy and photo-editing work — which often require adequate viewing angles — under a New York City sun that thinks it’s already summer,” Wan wrote in his review. “Watching Netflix and Disney+ on the iPad is straight eye candy; colors pop, and the darker, moodier scenes have a level of shadow detail unseen on older Pro models.”
iPad Pro (seventh-generation) specs: Display: 11- or 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion | Processor: Apple Silicon M4 | Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB | Biometrics: Face ID | Colors: Silver, space black | Cameras: 12MP wide (4K, ProRes), Landscape 12MP ultra-wide | Weight: 11-inch: .98 pounds, 13-inch: 1.28 pounds | Dimensions: 9.83 x 6.99 x .21 inches or 11.09 x 8.48 x 0.20 inches | Connections: USB-C connector with support for Thunderbolt / USB 4 | Battery life: Up to 10 hours of surfing the web
iPad Mini (seventh-gen) – Best iPad for portability
Why we like it: The latest iPad Mini features the A17 Pro chip, the same processor found in the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. This chip is also compatible with Apple Intelligence, including Writing Tools, the redesigned Siri with ChatGPT, Priority Notifications and Messages, Summarization tools, Smart Reply, the Clean Up tool in Photos, and more.
Who it’s for: The iPad Mini sometimes feels more like a big smartphone than a small tablet. It can easily slip into bags, purses, and even the pockets of some cargo pants and vests. Compared to a phone, it’s better for reading e-books, PDFs, documents, news apps, and other digital content. The iPad Mini’s portability and support for the new Apple Pencil Pro make note-taking a popular use case.
Customers who bought the new iPad Mini reported in reviews that they were impressed by the new tablet, “an enlarged iPhone with a whole new experience.” It also has more storage options than the last generation — up to 512GB.
iPad Mini (seventh-gen) specs: Display: 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display | Processor: A17 Pro | Storage: 128GB, 245GB, 512GB | Biometrics: Touch ID | Colors: Space gray, blue, purple, starlight | Cameras: Rear: 12MP, Front: 12MP ultra-wide camera with Center Stage | Weight: 0.65 pounds | Dimensions: 7.69 x 5.31 x .025 inches | Connections: USB-C | Battery life: 10 hours
iPad Air (seventh-gen) – Best iPad for creatives and students
The iPad Air was once our most-recommended iPad, but now it’s dropped to the bottom of the list — getting squeezed by the iPad Pro at the high end and the standard iPad (11th-gen) for nearly everyone else.
Why we like it: The 2025 iPad Air keeps the same design we saw Apple bring to the Air in late 2022, but it now boasts an M3 processor, compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro, and two size choices — 11 or 13 inches. The big draw of the iPad Pro was always its bigger size, but that benefit has now come down-market to a much more accessible price tier.
I was impressed by the snappy performance of the M3 processor in her hands-on review. I think the latest iPad Air’s performance is noticeably better than last year’s M2 model, with about 17% gains in CPU improvements on benchmark tests. These improvements are most noticeable in better app performance, multitasking, and rendering speeds.
Who it’s for: The iPad Air is a great option for creatives and students. It’s not a midrange tablet but is one of the middle iPads, in between the base model and the iPad Pro. The iPad Air is so good, it’s likely too powerful for most tablet users, capable of handling heavy editing work and entertainment alike.
iPad Air (seventh-gen) specs: Display: 11-inch or 13-inch Liquid Retina IPS, 60Hz | Processor: Apple Silicon M2 | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB | Biometrics: Touch ID | Colors: Space gray, starlight, purple, blue | Cameras: 12MP rear camera, 12MP webcam (landscape-oriented) | Weight: 11-inch: 1.02 pounds, 13-inch: 1.36 pounds | Dimensions: 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 inches and 11.04 x 8.46 x .24 inches | Connections: USB-C port and magnetic connector for Apple Pencil Pro | Battery life: 10 hours
iPad (ninth-gen) – Best iPad on a budget
Why we like it: The ninth-gen iPad is filled with last-generation technology such as the Lightning connector for charging, a Touch ID home button, 4G LTE connectivity, the A13 chip, and the 1st-gen Apple Pencil. It has a 12MP front-facing camera, and so it’s still a good video call device. Overall, these older technologies are still good enough to handle the basics for most people and will be for several years to come.
Who it’s for: If you just need a basic, full-screen iPad to watch videos, play games, answer messages, and do an occasional video call, for example, then the base-level iPad (ninth-gen) will suit plenty of people just fine. It’s a great first iPad for kids. It’s also a good one to give elderly relatives and friends who are still a little uncomfortable with technology and just need a device to do a few simple things.
iPad (ninth-gen) tech specs: Display: 10.2-inch Retina display | Processor: A13 Bionic | Storage: 64GB or 256GB | Biometrics: Touch ID | Colors: Silver, space gray | Cameras: 8MP rear, 1080p video, 12MP FaceTime camera with Center Stage | Weight: 1.07 pounds | Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.29 inches | Connections: 3.5mm headphone jack, Lightning port | Battery life: 10 hours | Price: $319+