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The best iPads offer the performance and features for certain needs at prices that make sense for different users, whether you’re looking for a tablet to run casual apps and stream videos or a powerful tablet that supports particular accessories for professional creative work.
Apple currently sells four main models: the 2022 iPad, the 2024 iPad Mini A17 Pro, the 2024 iPad Air, and the 2024 iPad Pro. While extraordinarily capable, the iPad and iPad Mini fit into the casual tablet category. The iPad Air and iPad Pro make up Apple’s premium and professional-grade performance line of tablets. They all share industry-leading hardware, excellent battery life, and support for iPadOS 18.
To help you decide which iPad to buy, we break down the pros and cons of the best iPads below based on our testing and extensive experience reviewing iPads. Overall, the best iPad for most people is the 10th-generation standard iPad with its combination of performance, features, and price. The best budget option remains the ninth-generation standard iPad, which is still sold at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy in new condition despite Apple’s discontinuation of the model. It offers unbeatable value, even if it has an outdated design.
Our top picks for the best iPad
Best overall: 10th-generation iPad (2022) – See at Amazon
Best budget: 9th-generation iPad (2021) – See at Amazon
Best mid-range: iPad Air M2 (2024) – See at Amazon
Best small size: iPad Mini A17 Pro (2024) – See at Amazon
Best for power users: iPad Pro M4 (2024) – See at Amazon
Best overall
Apple iPad (2022)
The 10th-generation iPad features a modern Apple tablet design, USB-C, and a centered front camera for better video calls. It runs basic tasks capably on the older A14 Bionic chip, and its recent price drop makes it an enticing budget option.
The 10th-generation standard iPad from 2022 remains our top option for most people. It’s suited for casual users looking for a similar experience as their iPhone to run basic, popular apps and play games, but on a larger display. It’s also ideal as a simple video streaming device. It doesn’t include features that professional video content creators might appreciate or need, like a super powerful processor with a dedicated media encoding/decoding engine or support for the Apple Pencil Pro.
As the latest generation of Apple’s standard tablet, the 2022 iPad has a larger 10.9-inch display and a modern design that aligns with the rest of the current iPad lineup relative to the dated design of the 9th-generation iPad. As such, it’s closer to the iPad Air and iPad Pro in terms of looks and feel for a lower price. It has enough power to run popular apps, games, and streaming video, making it the best option for most people looking for a similar experience to their iPhones but on a larger display.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
Most gamers will find the 10th-generation iPad to be perfectly sufficient. The A14 Bionic processor from the iPhone 12 series released in 2020 still runs demanding games like “War Thunder” at high graphics settings around 30 frames-per-second. However, discerning gamers who want better graphics with smoother gameplay should either wait for a new standard iPad model or go for the new iPad Air or iPad Pro. The 2022 iPad doesn’t support ray tracing for enhanced lighting graphics, nor does it support AAA titles like “Assassin’s Creed Mirage,” “Resident Evil 4,” and “Death Stranding,” among others.
The 10.9-inch Liquid Retina LED display is just as sharp as the 11-inch iPad Pro and iPad Air (around 1640p), and it gets just as bright (500 nits) as the iPad Air. It supports a more basic color standard with less depth and range of colors than the 2024 iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad Mini (sRGB versus Wide P3 color, respectively), but the 2022 iPad’s colors and display overall still offer a superb video experience.
The 2022 iPad has a USB-C port for charging and data transfers, but charging and transfer speeds are the same as the 2021 iPad’s Lightning port. Still, it’s gratifying that you can charge the 2022 iPad with the same cable that charges your laptop, the iPhone 16 series, and many other devices.
The 2022 iPad supports the Apple Pencil (USB-C). It also supports the first-generation Apple Pencil with a Lightning connector, but it’s more expensive and less compatible with the 2022 iPad (requiring an adapter to pair and charge) relative to the tablet’s seamless support for the Apple Pencil (USB-C).
Like all of Apple’s newest iPads, the 2022 iPad’s front camera is centered on the tablet’s longer edge, which captures a better forward-facing angle of your face during video calls in landscape mode. It’s worth noting, as our budget pick, the 2021 iPad, has its front camera on the shorter edge of the tablet, which is less practical.
The 2022 iPad starts at $349, a $100 price reduction from its launch price of $449 in 2022. That’s good value considering its updated design and performance relative to the 2021 iPad, but if you’re looking for the least expensive iPad that can still run apps and most apps fairly well or simply stream video, the 2021 iPad poses the best budget value while it remains available.
There are a couple of caveats to consider with the 2022 iPad. The base model still comes with 64GB of storage, which is low for today’s standards but should suffice for most basic needs. You might need to upgrade to the more expensive 256GB option if you plan on downloading videos for a flight, for instance. At that price, we’d rather recommend you spend an additional $100 on the 2024 iPad Air, which comes with 128GB standard for significantly better performance, longevity, and support for Apple Intelligence, as the 2022 iPad doesn’t support Apple’s fledgling AI suite.
Read our full 10th-generation iPad (2022) review.
Best budget iPad
Apple iPad (9th Generation)
The ninth-generation iPad remains a great budget option for those who need an iPad for simple and basic tasks, like streaming videos, browsing the web, and running apps.
Apple officially discontinued the ninth-generation iPad in 2024, but it is still widely available in new condition from retailers like Amazon and Best Buy for around $230. It remains an excellent option for those on a budget, as it’s the most accessible price point for an Apple tablet.
Released in 2021, the ninth-gen iPad has comparatively older hardware relative to Apple’s current lineup, but its A13 Bionic chipset still runs the iPadOS 18 operating system, basic apps, and basic games well enough for its price.
In most respects, 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 the 10th-gen iPad.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
The ninth-gen iPad’s A13 Bionic processor runs capably in most apps, and it can run most games at around 30 frames per second. Some demanding titles may need lower graphics settings enabled to run smoothly, but the fun is still there. The tablet also supports Apple’s Smart Keyboard and the first-generation Apple Pencil, a reliable stylus with virtually no lag.
The ninth-gen iPad 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 is also the last iPad to use a Lightning port.
But don’t let the outdated design deter you. The ninth-gen iPad is still ideal for budget users who need a simple tablet to run apps, stream videos, and play most games on a larger display. While supplies last from third-party retailers, it continues to offer an outstanding combination of price and performance.
Read our full ninth-generation iPad (2021) review.
Best mid-range iPad
Apple iPad Air (2024)
The 2024 iPad Air runs on Apple’s M2 processor introduced in certain Apple computers in 2022, making it a veritable ultra-portable powerhouse for visual creative work. It comes in the standard 11-inch option and a brand new 13-inch model, which gives you a powerful large tablet for a significantly lower price than the 13-inch iPad Pro.
The 2024 iPad Air can be understood as a premium version of the 2022 iPad that offers significantly better performance and longevity, a slightly better display, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro.
It shares many commonalities with the 2022 iPad, like a USB-C port with the same charging and USB 3 data transfer speeds, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor on the power button, identical speaker setups, and similar camera quality. However, the high level of performance from the laptop-grade M2 processor means it runs intensive apps and games (including demanding AAA titles) faster and more smoothly. Indeed, the 2024 iPad Air is the most powerful tablet in the $600 range.
Visual content creation professionals will appreciate the M2 processor’s performance compared to the 2022 iPad’s A14 Bionic chip. It’s also a useful tool for video editing, as its media engine supports hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC formats and features a video encoder and decoder. They’ll also value the 2024 iPad Air’s display with Wide P3 color and its support for the Apple Pencil Pro.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
The 2024 iPad Air lacks some key features of the 2024 iPad Pro that a professional user may benefit from, like faster Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4 transfer speeds, the Ultra Retina XDR OLED display that supports up to 1,000 nits brightness, and HDR at 1,600 nits. And for those who work (or intend to work) with the ProRes, ProRes RAW, and AV1 video formats, the 2024 iPad Pro running on the M4 processor is the only option, as the 2024 iPad Air with the M2 doesn’t support those formats.
For the first time, the latest iPad Air is available in a 13-inch display model in addition to the typical 11-inch model. Both start with 128GB of storage, which is the standard minimum these days. That may be fine for most casual users, but professionals working with larger files may want to upgrade to higher storage options, including 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.
Unlike the 2022 iPad, the 2024 iPad Air supports Apple Intelligence features. However, the true worth of Apple Intelligence has yet to be fully tested, pending its official release this month, and it’s likely not a reason to upgrade to the 2024 iPad Air if you’re also considering the 2022 iPad.
With all this in mind, the iPad Air is an ideal high-end version of the 2022 iPad or “budget” pro machine for those who could use the extra power in visual-based tasks, like photo and video editing, especially rendering. It’s just a shame it doesn’t come with at least some iPad Pro premium features, like Apple’s 120HZ ProMotion display and Face ID.
See our guide to the 2024 iPad Air launch for more information.
Best small size
Apple iPad Mini (2024)
The seventh-generation iPad Mini runs on Apple’s powerful A17 Pro processor, which spun the wheels in the iPhone 15 Pro models. It’s set to run Apple Intelligence AI features and supports the Apple Pencil Pro and the Apple Pencil (USB-C). It also has a base 128GB storage, compared to 64GB in the previous generation.
We’ve only had a short time with the 2024 iPad Mini, released on October 23, but our initial testing gives us undeniable confidence that it’s the best small iPad to buy compared to its predecessor, the 2021 iPad Mini, which Apple has discontinued (though it remains available from third-party retailers like Amazon).
While the 2024 iPad Mini is a relatively minor advancement from and essentially very similar to the 2021 iPad Mini, the new model does offer a few meaningful upgrades for performance and longevity, like a more recent and capable processor and faster data transfer speeds.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
With an 8.3-inch display, the 2024 iPad Mini is Apple’s smallest and most portable tablet. Its Liquid Retina display is the same as the 2024 iPad Air, though the iPad Mini has more pixel density, so it’s technically sharper. Its display is also identical to the 2021 iPad Mini’s.
The 2024 iPad Mini is powered by the same A17 Pro processor found inside the iPhone 15 Pro lineup, which means it runs demanding apps and games quickly and smoothly and will do so for years to come. It also supports Apple Intelligence and 10Gbps USB 3 transfer speeds, which are nice benefits over the 2021 iPad Mini’s A15 Bionic chip (incompatible with Apple Intelligence) and slower 480Mbps USB 2 transfer speeds.
The 2024 iPad Mini supports the latest Apple Pencil Pro and the USB-C Apple Pencil, which, combined with the tablet’s compact size, make the Mini a truly useful tablet for note-taking or quick drawing.
Overall, the 2024 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 new iPad Mini is absolutely worth considering.
Best for power users
Apple iPad Pro (2024)
The 2024 iPad Pro represented some of the biggest updates to the iPad Pro series with the Apple M4 processor, OLED displays in 11 or 13 inches, a thinner design, and a repositioned front-facing camera.
We haven’t tested Apple’s 2024 iPad Pro yet, but based on its upgrades and our experience with the 2022 iPad Pro, we feel confident in recommending the 2024 model as Apple’s best powerhouse tablet. Considering its high $999 starting price, hardware, and features, the 2024 iPad Pro is primarily designed for professional video editing and other intensive tasks, though casual users and gamers can also enjoy its exclusive premium features.
Indeed, the 2024 iPad Pro runs on Apple’s M4 processor, which is newer and more powerful than the M3 processor in the contemporary MacBook Pro. In addition to basic video formats, the M4 processor supports high-end features like ProRes and ProRes Raw encoding and decoding and AV1 decoding. It also supports hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC formats in 8K resolution.
Apple; Business Insider
Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4 support on the 2024 iPad Pros’ USB-C port let video editors transfer large files at up to 40Gbps between the tablet and a computer or external storage drive. Just note that whatever device you use to transfer to and from the iPad also needs to support Thunderbolt 3 or USB 4 to achieve those speeds. External USB 3 devices will still work, but “only” at their own 10Gbps rated speed, which is also incredibly fast.
Apple’s new Ultra Retina XDR OLED display for both the 11- and 13-inch 2024 iPad Pros can achieve a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits for SDR content and 1,600 nits for HDR content. On the previous iPad Pro generation, only the 12.9-inch iPad Pro supported HDR and could achieve such high brightness. The 2024 iPad Pro’s display supports the same Wide P3 color standard as the 2024 iPad Air, but it outclasses the 2024 iPad Air’s contrast and brightness thanks to OLED technology.
Apple’s 120Hz ProMotion technology displays smoother animations than the 60Hz refresh rates of all other current iPad models while swiping around iPadOS 18, apps, and games that support 120 frames per second. Video streams and games on the 2024 iPad Pro’s OLED display with superior contrast also look better than on the LED displays of other iPads.
Notably, the 2024 iPad Pro is the only model in Apple’s current lineup that features Face ID for tablet unlocking, which has proven more reliable and convenient overall than the Touch ID on other iPads.
The latest Pro models are also incredibly thin at a 0.21-inch depth for the 11-inch model and 0.2 inches for the 13-inch model, and incredibly lightweight at 0.98 pounds for the 11-inch model and 1.28 pounds for the 13-inch model. In fact, both iPad Pro models are thinner and lighter than the iPad Airs with respective display sizes.
The 2024 iPad Pros support the Apple Pencil Pro and the USB-C Apple Pencil. Apple also released a new Magic Keyboard designed specifically for the latest iPad Pro models; it has an aluminum palm rest, a larger trackpad, and a new function row with controls similar to those on a MacBook.
At the end of the day, the iPad Pro’s high price and power mean that it’s best suited for creative professionals who want to do power-hungry work on their tablet rather than casual users.
See our guide to the 2024 iPad Pro launch for more information.
The best iPads compared
What to look for in an iPad
Isabel Fernandez Pujol/Business Insider
There are three main iPad traits to look for when making a decision. In no particular order, those traits include screen size, performance, and storage. Add Apple Pencil support if you’re a note-taker or artist or like the extra control from a stylus.
Screen size and portability could be the deciding factor early on. The standard iPad screens are between 10 and 11 inches, but if you want a more portable tablet, you’ll know to buy the iPad Mini with an 8.3-inch display. Similarly, the 13-inch iPad Air and 13-inch iPad Pro are the biggest of Apple’s lineup, which makes things easier if you want the biggest screen available. If the standard 10 to 11-inch iPad screen is enough for you, you’ll be deciding between Apple’s 2021 standard iPad, the 2022 standard iPad, the 2024 11-inch iPad Air, and the 2024 11-inch iPad Pro.
Casual value-seeking users should opt for the 2021 or 2022 standard iPad. Those seeking a more future-proof iPad for casual needs should go for the 2024 iPad Air. If you’re often editing photos and videos, especially with rendering, the performance of the iPad Air and iPad Pro starts to make sense. If you’re looking for the absolute best and most premium experience, even for running casual apps and gaming, the iPad Pro is the pick.
Factoring in storage needs can make a big impact on your choice. For example, the base 2022 iPad comes with a paltry 64GB when the realistic minimum standard these days is 128GB. Indeed, if you want more than 64GB of storage in the 2022 iPad, it might actually make more sense to buy the 2024 iPad Air with 128GB storage — for $100 more, you get significantly better performance and longevity.
Finally, if you’re an Apple Pencil devotee, every currently available iPad supports at least one Apple Pencil model, but the 2024 iPad Air, 2024 iPad Mini, and 2024 iPad Pro models support the best option, the Apple Pencil Pro, with its unique “squeeze” function for bringing up a tool palette, among many other new features for enhanced functionality.
How we test iPads
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
In reviewing iPads, we use each model as if it were our own for daily use for running apps, games, and streaming video. We note the screen, audio, and design quality and consider how much storage a base model comes with related to the price.
We also consider the upgrades to new models compared to previous generations. We compare peripheral specifications, like data transfer speeds through the USB-C ports, and support for accessories like the Apple Pencil and keyboard cases.
We also run standard tests on each tablet. To measure performance, we use the Geekbench 6 benchmarking app and the 3D Mark Wild Life Stress Test. To test battery life, we stream a video over WiFi at full brightness until the battery dies and compare the battery’s duration results.
FAQs
When does Apple release new iPads?
Apple typically releases new iPads in the fall and spring, though the company has upgraded iPad models on a sporadic schedule in contrast to the routine annual release of new iPhones.
For instance, the newest iPad is the seventh-generation iPad Mini (A17 Pro), released in October 2024, and the previous-generation iPad Mini launched in September 2021.
Which iPad is best for students?
In our testing, the best iPad for most students remains the 10th-generation standard iPad from 2022. With its features, performance, and price, the 2022 iPad is our top pick for most people, and it can ably manage most school-related tasks.
However, students who need a more powerful tablet for projects like intensive video editing should opt for the 2024 iPad Air or 2024 iPad Pro. It’s also worth noting that, among Apple’s current tablet lineup, only the 2024 iPad models support Apple Intelligence.