We break down the best iPads available right now.
Apple’s iPad lineup offers levels of performance for certain needs at prices that make sense for different users, whether you’re looking for a tablet for doing casual day-to-day tasks or running power-hungry apps for professional creative work.
If you’re stuck on figuring out which iPad is best for you, it’s probably because distinguishing between models is more complicated than ever. Currently, Apple sells four main models: the basic iPad, the iPad Mini, the iPad Air, and the iPad Pro, and all of them share industry-leading hardware, excellent battery life, and support for iPadOS 16.
There’s the premium and recently upgraded iPad Pro, where choosing between the 11-inch and 12.9-inch model matters. The iPad Air and iPad Mini are still excellent options. And then there’s the new 10th-gen iPad, which brings a bevy of upgrades to Apple’s most basic tablet. However, those upgrades come at a steep price, which is why we still recommend the ninth-generation iPad for most people.
To help you decide which iPad is right for you, I break down the pros and cons of the best iPads below — all based on my near-decade experience of hands-on testing.
Best iPad overall: iPad (2021)The ninth-gen iPad is the best option for most people.
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Pros: Most affordable iPad, excellent front camera, Apple Pencil support, increased 64GB storage for base model
Cons: Dated iPad design
The 10th-generation basic iPad features some long-awaited upgrades from its predecessor, including modern design tweaks, a larger display, new placement of the front camera, and a USB-C port. But those features come at a premium. There’s a $120 price difference between the 10th-gen iPad (starting at $449) and the ninth-gen iPad (starting at $329 and regularly available under $300), which is a big enough price gap to recommend the previous generation over the newest one.
To be clear, the ninth-gen iPad doesn’t house the latest hardware, nor does it offer the fastest performance, but it’s still capable of doing essential daily tasks like running apps, playing games, or streaming video. If you’re looking to pick up your first Apple tablet, the 2021 iPad is an excellent option, particularly for students.
In almost every respect, it’s hard to find fault in the ninth-gen iPad. The 10.2-inch Retina display with 2,160 x 1,620 resolution is sharp and clear. The display also supports True Tone, a feature that automatically adjusts the screen color’s temperature based on ambient light. The ultra wide 12-megapixel front camera is on par with premium iPad models, even though it’s not landscape-oriented like on the 10th-gen iPad.
The ninth-gen iPad runs on Apple’s A13 Bionic processor, which is the same chip used in 2019’s iPhone 11 series. It’s perfectly capable for most apps and even demanding games. The tablet also supports Apple’s Smart Keyboard and the first-generation Apple Pencil, a reliable stylus with virtually no lag.
It’s important to note that the ninth-gen iPad is the only tablet in the current lineup that adheres to Apple’s older design language, which means it’s marginally thicker than the 10th-gen iPad and features larger top and bottom bezels. It also has a Lightning port instead of USB-C.
But don’t let the outdated design deter you. The ninth-gen iPad is still an incredible tablet for most needs. At the end of the day, it offers the best combination of price and performance than any other iPad available right now.
Read the full review of 2021 iPad
Best mid-range iPad: iPad Air (2022)The fifth-gen iPad Air is an excellent upgrade from the basic iPad.
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Pros: Excellent screen, speedy M1 performance, thin design, second-gen Apple Pencil support
Cons: Only 64GB of storage for base model
The most noteworthy aspect of the 2022 iPad Air is the fact that it runs on Apple’s M1 chip, the same computer-grade processor as the 13-inch MacBook Air and the Mac Mini. It has the most power out of any tablet we know about in the $600 range.
While the fifth-gen iPad Air is priced between the new basic iPad and the iPad Pro, it’s best understood as a more affordable version of the 2022 iPad Pro than as a premium version of the standard iPad. It would be misguided to recommend anyone who uses the iPad for simple day-to-day tasks to splurge $270 more for the 2022 iPad Air.
There are many commonalities between the 2022 iPad Air and 2022 iPad Pro. The iPad Air supports Stage Manager in iPadOS 16, which brings a level of Pro-level multitasking to the table. They both have USB-C ports and support Apple’s second-gen Apple Pencil. The iPad Air’s display is also just as big as the 11-inch iPad Pro.
While there are differences worth noting, the biggest to consider is storage options. The 2022 iPad Air base model is a measly 64GB, with a $150 upgrade option to 256GB, which bumps the price up to $750. If you need more than 64GB of storage, but not as much as 256GB, your best bet is to snag the 11-inch iPad Pro, which starts at 128GB and costs $800. You’d get an upgrade to the M2 chip, plus Apple’s ProMotion display that runs at 120Hz instead of 60Hz for super smooth animations.
But if you think the limited storage and differences in display won’t make or break your experience, the iPad Air is the best option for price and performance for those who want a step-up from the basic iPad.
Read the full review of the 2022 iPad Air
Best small iPad: iPad Mini (2021)The sixth-gen iPad Mini a smaller, more powerful version of the 10th-gen iPad.
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Pros: Compact and more portable than larger iPads, powerful processor, sharp screen, second-generation Apple Pencil support
Cons: Pricey
With an 8.3-inch display, the 2021 iPad Mini is Apple’s smallest and most portable tablet.
The sixth-gen iPad Mini’s Liquid Retina display is the same you’ll find on the 2022 iPad Air, and it produces slightly bolder colors than the ninth-gen iPad. It has more pixel density than those aforementioned iPads, which means it’s technically sharper.
This iPad Mini is powered by the same A15 Bionic processor found inside the iPhone 13 lineup, which means it has ample power for years to come. Arguably, it has two extra years of performance life than the ninth-gen iPad, which runs on the A13 Bionic processor that’s two generations old.
The iPad Mini supports the second-gen Apple Pencil, and combined with its compact size, it makes the Mini a truly useful tablet for note-taking or quick drawing.
Overall, the iPad Mini is the best choice for those who prioritize portability above all else in a tablet. I’d even say that most people would find the iPad Mini more comfortable to use than larger iPads. If you want a screen that’s bigger than your phone for running apps and streaming videos, all while maintaining a portable footprint, the iPad Mini is absolutely worth considering.
Read the full review of the 2021 iPad Mini
Best iPad for power users: iPad Pro (2022)The 2022 iPad Pro is a powerhouse tablet designed for professionals
Antonio Villas-Boas/Insider
11-inch model
12.9-inch model
Pros: Powerful M2 chip, best-in-class screen, premium finish, hover feature for second-gen Apple pencil
Cons: Front camera still in awkward location, iPadOS still needs work to maximize performance
Apple’s 2022 iPad Pros come equipped with the company’s M2 processor, bringing the power of the 2022 MacBook Air in a thin and lightweight device. It also includes a super-fast Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port for transferring large files from an external hard drive.
Arguably, you could simply buy the 2022 MacBook Air if you’re looking for a powerful slim and light machine — the iPad Pros become much heavier, thicker, and more expensive once you add a keyboard/trackpad cover like Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro that starts at $300.
However, the 2022 iPad Pros are indispensable if you like to use the second-generation Apple Pencil for your work, which the MacBook Air doesn’t support. The 2022 iPad Pros with the M2 processor also unlock Apple’s Hover feature with the second generation Apple Pencil, which adds better accuracy and useful new interactions.
Also, the 2022 iPad Pros take high-quality photos or videos for your project, either as a primary camera, or a substitute that happens to be your workstation, too.
The larger 12.9-inch model has a display that uses mini-LED technology and includes XDR (Apple’s version of HDR), meaning it has much greater brightness and contrast compared to Apple’s other tablets for HDR projects and content.
At the end of the day, the iPad Pro’s high price and power mean that it’s best-suited for creative professionals looking to get power-hungry work done on their tablet rather than casual users.
Check out the full review of the 2022 iPad Pro
The best iPads compared
iPad Mini (2022)
iPad (2021)
iPad Air (2022)
iPad Pro (2022)
Price
From $499
From $329
From $599
From $799
Processor
A15 Bionic
A13 Bionic
M1
M2
Display
8.3-inch Liquid Retina
10.2-inch Retina
10.9-inch Liquid Retina
11-inch Liquid Retina, 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR
Storage
64GB, 256GB
64GB, 256GB
64GB, 256GB
128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Dimensions
7.69 x 5.3 x 0.25 inches
9.8 x 6.8 x 0.29 inches
9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 inches
9.74 x 7.02 x 0.23 inches (11-inch), 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.25 inches (12.9-inch)
Weight
.66 pounds
1.09 pounds
1.02 pounds
1.03 pounds (11 inch), 1.51pounds (12.9-inch)
When does Apple release new iPads?
Apple typically announces new iPads in the fall and spring.
The 10th-generation iPad and 2022 iPad Pros were recently updated, so the next new iPads we’re expecting to be announced are the iPad Mini and iPad Air.
The iPad Mini series doesn’t get updated every year, so we might expect a new model in the fall of 2023. If not, perhaps even the fall of 2024 — rumors are still scant for the next iPad Mini.
Apple has consistently updated iPad Air models every 18 months for the last couple releases, so we might expect the next iPad Air in the fall of 2023.
When is the best time to buy an iPad?
As is the case with most electronics, Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday are usually the best times to buy a new iPad. We saw modest discounts across all models during Black Friday last year, including the 2022 iPad Pros. You can also take advantage of Apple’s back-to-school promotion if you’re a qualified student, parent of a student, or an educator.
