Apple’s iPad is the recommended default tablet. It sets the bar for what the best tablet should be, and many devices have tried to follow in their footsteps and follow different degrees of success. Now, Apple has grown its iPad lineup to a very broad range, large and small, with super-charged, surprisingly modest devices. There are so many devices to choose from, and it can be difficult to hit the right one, as multiple generations of the same model often oppose each other. Additionally, Apple has just released a new iPad (A16) and a new M3 iPad Air model, bringing additional options and price drops to the older generation of tablets.
TL;DR – These are the best Apple iPad models:
We have tested Apple tablets with just a handful of years, and have a sense of what makes each stand out. Get advanced display and powerful M-Series chipsets with Apple’s latest iPad Pro models. For portability, Apple packs quite a bit of its iPad Mini, which is enough to actually make it a bigger iPhone at a surprisingly lower price than the phone counterpart. Also, when your needs are simple, like e-reader exchanges, Apple’s base iPad still offers an impressive mountain of performance and value.
Of course, Apple is not the only tablet manufacturer on the market. If you’re not trapped in Apple’s ecosystem, we recommend considering options that may offer quality upgrades at a better price. Or, if you’re dead set on your iPad, you’ll need to look into some great iPad accessories like keyboards to make the most of it.
Additional contributions Mark Throws and Daniel Abraham
1. Apple iPad (10th generation)
Best overall iPad
Screen size
10.9 inch, 2360 x 1640 liquid retinal display
Processor
Apple A14 Bionic Chip 6-core CPU + 4-core GPU
camera
12MP (rear), 12MP (front)
Better display than the 9th generation
I’m still using A14 bionic instead of M1
Apple does an amazing job of making the base-level iPad an exceptional option for most users. This is the ideal choice for anyone who buys a 10th generation iPad. For one thing, its prices are much more familiar than most other iPad options, like the pro models that can surge over $1,000 for many bells and whistles.
The 10th generation iPad may not have the most advanced display, but a 10.9-inch liquid retinal display is still available. The visuals are very sharp as there is a resolution of 2360×1640 across that panel. You may not be able to get a 120Hz refresh rate for a high-rise model, but the high refresh rate is something you really don’t know that it’s missing until it appears. You can also use the first generation Apple Pencil on this iPad model, so you have a creative outlet option.
The 10th Gen model gets a refreshed design from previous versions, shaving a little thick and a few grams of weight, and a bezel update gives it a modern look even the border around the display. Perhaps the bigger shift is the camera arrangement at the front, which is above the landscape (as opposed to portraits). When combined with the center stage, the camera effectively tracks during calls, allowing you to roam around while properly framed for video calls and recordings.
Under the hood, the 10th generation iPad packs an A14 bionic chip with 4GB of memory. It’s a small but important upgrade via the 9th generation model for those who want to exhaust more performance and lifespan from the hardware. The tablet charges USB-C instead of a lightning connector with a date. This provides a bit more future prevention for the tablet, as USB-C has gained the advantage of the device.
I finally got an update for this iPad, but it’s now available. The 11th generation iPad offers an A16 processor, doubles the starting storage of previous iPad models.
2. Apple iPad (9th generation)
Best budget iPad
Screen size
10.2 inch retina
camera
8 megapixel rear, 12 megapixel front
All trades iPad
You can fall behind other tablets
Looking for the overall best budget tablet available? Although released in 2021, the iPad (9th generation) is a budget choice thanks to its extremely solid performance, a crisp, clear 10.2-inch Retina (backlit) display and low starting price under $300. In fact, it’s often sold on Amazon so you can find it much cheaper (sometimes as low as $250 during Prime Day or Black Friday).
This iPad is currently running the latest version of iPads to optimize performance and speed, despite the processor being a few years old. It doesn’t have the same bells and whistles as the iPad Air, iPad Mini, or iPad Pro, but it’s an iPad that has access to the same apps as other Apple tablets, such as a faster processor, thinner bezel, or more modern design. Some of the more intensive ones don’t work well.
If you’re planning on using it to keep up with the news, if you’re just planning on using it to play basic iOS games, or reading e-books, the 9th generation iPad will finish your work at an affordable price. It also makes it a great iPad for kids. Simply wrap a durable iPad case around it to avoid damage.
3. Apple iPad Pro (2024, M4)
Best Premium iPad
Screen size
11 inch, 12.9 inch
Storage
256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
camera
12MP wide camera (rear), 12MP ultra overall camera (front)
Great for artists and video editors
In fact, a decent camera
You need to buy lots of accessories to make it a true workstation
The iPad Pro has always been beautiful technology, but Apple took a proven design, thinned it out, defeating the iPad Air, making it the thinnest iPad ever. The chassis cut the thickness from there, but it packed Apple with an Apple M4 chip, making it even stronger than the latest MacBook Air. This makes the already excellent iPad even better for creative professionals.
The 7th generation iPad Pro also introduces another new OLED display of the iPad. This is absolutely gorgeous. When reviewing this 7th-generation iPad Pro, Jacqueline Thomas pointed out that it quickly became her favorite device for watching and reading something. The colour is bright and contrasts well with dark elements in any scene, adding something vivid to almost everything that appears on your tablet.
The M4 also makes sure that beautiful displays are being used effectively. With an 8-core GPU, I found that the iPad Pro does simple tasks on any game that runs natively on the device, making this a de facto game tablet (at least if you’re not counting your handheld gaming PC). The processor is also excellent in creative workloads where tablets are designed. With the new Apple Pencil Pro Intention Combining powerful hardware and gorgeous displays, you’ll need to pay an extra to make this a great choice for artists and photo editors who need a touchscreen to get the job done.
However, if you want this to be your default workstation, you will need to fork over a large amount of cash to make it happen. For the official model, the Magic keyboard costs nearly $300 on its own, and the Apple Pencil also adds $129. There is an Apple Pencil alternative, which can basically be paired with a keyboard, but you know it can fit in.
Read reviews: Apple iPad Pro (7th generation)
4. Apple iPad Mini (7th generation)
Perfect for reading and portability
Screen size
8.3 inch liquid retina
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB
camera
12 megapixel rear, 12 megapixel front
There are no major design changes to the new model
when The best iPhone It’s a little too small, and the other 10-inch or more iPads are more screen real estate than necessary. The iPad Mini is the perfect option for reading. With a stunning 8.3-inch liquid retinal display and 10.4 ounces of heft, this iPad’s compact design makes it a great option that’s easy to put in your bag or jacket pocket on the go.
Readers can hold it comfortably with one hand, so they are drawn to this little tablet, and the Apple App Store is full of reading apps such as Apple Books, Amazon Kindle and more comixologyLibby, Scribd, etc. That’s one of them Passthecontroller’s Favorite Reading Tablet For reasons. Compatible with Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C) also creates iPad Mini as a viable option for note-taking and sketching.
Like most iPads, the high quality build of Mini leaves a lot of stuff Best Android Tablets At a similar price in the dust. For under $500, the sturdy recycled aluminum body looks great and withstands wear and tear well. Its design is one of the few iPads that offer touch IDs, as its design is almost the same as the previous generation.
Under the hood, the 7th generation mini model has significantly improved performance. MINI’s A17 Pro processor, but the same silicon as found on the same iPhone 15 Proit cannot compete with the M4 and M3 chips found in air and PRO models, but is still zippy enough for compact devices. Something like watching YouTube or scrolling through Tiktok is refreshing. The game is even more viable and the mini is compatible with several The best phone controller To increase convenience.
5. OnePlusPad 2
Best iPad Alternatives
Screen size
12.1 inch, ips, 2120 x 3000
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
camera
13 megapixel rear, 8 megapixel front
Shorter OS support than Apple
Samsung is not the only brand that makes great Android tablets. The OnePlus Pad 2 started up quite a bit with a smash. It may not attract much mainstream attention, but it definitely deserves it. It started at $549, but since then I’ve seen the discount at $449, which is a solid deal for the tablet.
The OnePlus Pad 2 is basically the iPad Pro in the Android tablet market. It has a 12.1-inch display that’s pretty much something. The IPS panel offers 10-bit color depth, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and 900-knit peak brightness. It also runs at a buttery 144Hz refresh rate, making everything smoother while you ink your artwork with a game, web page scrolling, or optional stylus. The tablet supports the OnePlus Stylo 2, which is pressure sensitive, with tactile feedback and can be charged against a magnetic connection to the tablet. The display is surrounded by six speakers, not two, but six, not six, for impressive spatial audio.
Inside, the OnePlus Pad 2 features the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip with many of the flagship Android smartphones of 2024, providing enough juice to run the latest apps and games. With a default of 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage, there was plenty of room for large games and multiple apps to run simultaneously.
Testing on the OnePlus Pad 2 also showed an incredible battery life. A 9,510mAh battery was hidden inside, leading to the task of providing about 12 hours of heavy use. When it comes to charging, it supports 80W charging, which is faster than most laptops, and fully backs up in just over an hour.
OnePlus doesn’t plan to leave this tablet anytime soon. Released on Android 14, the company has promised three years of OS updates and four years of security updates.
Read the full review: OnePlus Pad 2
Future iPad models
If you are waiting for a brand new Apple tablet at the edge of your seat, you are in luck. Introducing the 11th generation iPad with an A16 processor running on the M3 chip and a new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air model. Also, the Compact Tablet comes with an A17 Pro processor, so I recently got an update to the iPad Mini.
Which Apple iPad is right for me?
Since its introduction in 2010, the iPad has originally been instrumental in filling the digital gap. For some people it is intended to be between mobile devices that are more portable than laptops but more powerful than smartphones, but for others it can actually function as a wholesale laptop exchange.
If you are looking to buy your first iPad or want to upgrade from an older model, here is this handy buyer guide on what to look for on your 2025 iPad.
Tablet size
Currently there are six iPad models with five different screen sizes for a variety of uses. The smallest in the family is the iPad Mini with an 8.3-inch liquid retina (LCD) display that is perfect for reading e-books, magazines, comic books, articles and more. It is also very portable and extremely lightweight at just 10 ounces (or 293g), making it ideal for casual use with one hand.
For the larger ones, both baseline iPad models, the 9th and 10th generations, have a 10.2-inch retina (backlight) and a 10.9-inch liquid retinal display. The 11th generation model features an 11-inch screen. Meanwhile, the M3 iPad Air also features an 11-inch or 13-inch liquid retinal display, but is more powerful on its M processor than the standard model that features the A13, A14, A16 and A17 Pro bionic chips, respectively.
In fact, the 11-inch size is large enough to consume media, but compact enough for portability, making it considered the “sweet spot” of iPad models. These models are perfect for most people who want to watch videos, play games, or browse the web while taking on productivity tasks.
The biggest iPad you can pick up is the iPad Pro. This comes in two models: an 11-inch liquid Retina display and a Granddaddy 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR OLED display. Both Pro models feature the same Apple M4 processor, so the iPad Pro is perfect for creatives and professionals who need to replace their laptop.
Differences in storage capacity
When it comes to onboard storage space, most iPad models start at 64GB and go up to a whopping 2TB on the iPad Pro. For most people, 64GB is plenty of space for apps, games, video downloads, and more.
However, if you are planning to take lots of high-resolution photos and videos, we recommend that you consider getting a higher capacity iPad. For creatives and professionals, it’s best to pick models with at least 1TB of storage, especially for photographers and video editors. Additionally, if you need more than 2TB of storage, you will need to connect an external hard drive to your iPad via a USB-C port.
Peripherals to consider
Speaking of which, all iPad models (except for the 9th generation iPad that uses the old-fashioned Lightning port) have USB-C ports for charging and peripherals, including external hard drives. However, it is best to connect a solid-state hard drive, as it does not require much power to work from the iPad itself. iPados has a built-in file app, allowing you to easily access files on your iPad or from an external hard drive.
Bluetooth is the best way to connect many of the best iPad accessories, including the Apple Pencil, Apple Smart Keyboard Folio, and Apple Magic Keyboard. Apple AirPodsWirelessly on your iPad, such as an Xbox or PS5 game controller. Make sure the peripheral you want to connect to is compatible with your iPad. One of the Passthecontroller experts I reviewed Apple Airpods 4 on ANCgives the headphones a high rating and an 8/10 rating. These earbuds work seamlessly on the iPad and offer similar performance in several catagories while still costing less than the AirPods Pro 2.
Connectivity
There are two versions for each iPad model. It’s Wi-Fi-only and Wi-Fi + Cellular. The first version only connects to the internet via Wi-Fi, so it’s best to use it at home, in the office, or almost anywhere with a stable Wi-Fi connection, such as a coffee shop or an airport.
The second allows you to connect to Wi-Fi and cellular networks via 4G LTE mobile data. Apple iPhone. This means that if you are connecting to the internet without a Wi-Fi connection, you will need to obtain a mobile data plan from a cellular carrier such as T-Mobile or AT&T. These models also have GPS, making them ideal for use as entertainment displays in your car.
Of course, the Wi-Fi + Cellular version is more expensive than the Wi-Fi-only iPad model, as it has more antennas and sensors inside.
Price comparison
The iPad starts at $269 for the 10th generation model. In fact, big shopping events like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday can make this model even cheaper. At the high end, the largest iPad Pro can travel for over $2,000. This is an iPad Pro with all the bells and whistles, including a 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR display, 2TB of storage space, Wi-Fi + cellular connectivity and more. If you want the best, this iPad Pro is for you.
Which iPad is the best for kids and teens in 2025?
Our top pick for kids and young families is the iPad Air M2, as you can see on the top iPads list for kids. If you’re heading to school, we’ve also included a comprehensive guide to the best iPads for students.
Rudie Obias is a high-tech freelance writer and editor who also has an interest in film, pop culture, music, the NBA and science fiction. His works include Fandom, TV Guide, Metacritic, Yahoo! , Mashable, Mental Floss and of course Passthecontroller. Follow him on Twitter and ig.