The Apple iPad is without question the most famous iPad yet built, and it’s perhaps the ultimate choice for many users. But, with Apple growing its iPad line-up practically every year, it might not be easy to choose which iPad is best for you.
In this article, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the top iPads. Rather than settling on a particular iPad and declaring it the finest, we’ve selected the best iPads in a variety of areas.
So, whether you’re searching for an iPad with the most excellent user experience out there, a budget iPad, or the best iPad with a tiny screen, don’t worry; we have got you covered.
What iPad Do You Need?
Choosing the best iPad might be difficult, particularly if you don’t invest your days in studying tech news.
Apple presently sells in four main categories:
- the iPad Pro
- the iPad Air
- the iPad Mini
- the standard iPad
When you include in possible improvements like a bigger screen on certain versions and cellular network compatibility, there are over a dozen distinct iPads to pick from, and even more when you consider older versions that are still on the market.
Anyway, let’s discuss the four main types with a focus on specs, features, and price.
iPad Pro
With the release of the fifth-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro in 2021, Apple’s most costly tablet received a major upgrade. Let’s see its primary specs and features.
Specifications and Features
- M1 processor
- Pro camera system: Wide and Ultra Wide cameras. Wide: 12MP, ƒ/1.8 aperture. Ultra Wide: 10MP, ƒ/2.4 aperture, and 125° field of view
- 12.9-inch display with a resolution of 2732 x 2048 pixels
- Storage options are 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB.
- USB-C port
- 1.5 pounds in weight
- 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 with optional 5G
A large number of users have it as their leading choice. The iPad Pro 12.9-inch is the iPad to have if you like huge screens, and it’s the one we suggest if you need one for whatever reason.
The 12.9-inch screen has a resolution of 2732 x 2048, but the true advancement in the display is now in the underlying technology.
The huge iPad 2021 features mini-LED technology in its display, which means it can emit richer tones and darker blacks by providing more backlights.
It is powered by Apple’s M1 chip, a laptop-grade CPU first seen in last year’s MacBook Pro.
iPad Pro 12.9-inch is expected to be capable of doing whatever a current laptop can, like gaming, video editing, streaming, and so on.
However, the larger size means this won’t become as portable as the 11-inch model.
Price
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is available in silver or space grey, with memory options of 128Gigabytes, 256Gigabytes, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB.
These versions are priced at $1,099, $1,199, $1,399, $1,799, and $2,199, in that order.
11-inch vs. 12.9-inch iPad Pro
The iPad Pro is also available with an 11-inch display, and it is at least $300 cheaper than 12.9-inch iPad.
When it comes to the display, there are two differences: size and brightness. While the 11-inch iPad Pro features Apple’s Liquid Retina LCD, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro features Apple’s “Liquid Retina XDR” display. It employs an array of thousands of micro-LED backlights grouped in 2596 lighting zones to give it outstanding brightness and contrast.
iPad Air
The 5th-generation iPad Air was revealed on March 8, 2022, with a March 18 release date.
Specifications and Features
- M1 processor
- Pro camera system: Wide and Ultra Wide cameras. Wide: 12MP, ƒ/1.8 aperture. Ultra Wide: 10MP, ƒ/2.4 aperture, and 125° field of view
- 10.9-inch (2360 x 1640 pixels) Liquid Retina
- 64GB/256GB
- USB-C port
- 1 pound in weight
- Wi-Fi 6, optional 5G
The iPad Air does not support a 120Hz refresh rate, which is a minor but visible distinction between both the iPad Pro as well as the iPad Air.
Despite this, at 10.9 inches and a resolution of 2360 x 1640 pixels, it has the same number of pixels per inch — 264 — as the Pro. You’ll like watching movies and TV shows and browsing the site’s data.
Nonetheless, with a terrific CPU, slimline attractive aesthetics, and excellent usability, the iPad Air achieves the sweet spot between top performance and cost.
Price
The iPad Air isn’t as cheap as the entry-level iPad, which receives our vote in the “Greatest Budget” category, but if your budget can stretch beyond $600, it’s the best iPad you can purchase right now.
iPad Mini
The 6th-generation iPad Mini, which was announced and released in September 2021, is the most recent model.
Specifications and Features
- A15 Bionic processor
- Camera 12MP resolution (front and rear)
- 8.3-inch display (2266 x 1488 pixels) Retina Liquid
- Storage capacities: 64GB and 256GB
- USB-C port
- 0.7 pounds in weight
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6, with the option of 5G. (Sub-6)
The iPads described above are really likable, and many users buy them, but none of them is as transportable or light as the newest iPad mini (which, to be truthful, should be named the iPad Air mini). It boasts the small bezels & thin sides of an iPad Air, as well as compatibility with the second-generation Apple Pencil and USB-C.
Furthermore, its A15 Bionic CPU is lightning quick, and its battery capacity is astonishingly long for a tablet this compact. It is also used with just one hand. Some other iPads are more difficult to use with one hand.
Best Portability
The iPad Mini 2021 is Apple’s most recent tablet. If you’re looking for the ideal traveling companion, this is our top selection.
Gaming iPad
If you want something a bit smaller, the iPad Mini is one of the ultimate gaming tablets available. It’s small but strong, and it can run the most recent releases as well as movies or TV shows.
Price
The iPad mini 6 is priced at $499 for the Wi-Fi alone device and $649 again for Wi-Fi + Cellular model. The Wi-Fi-only & Cellular iPad mini 6 models both include 64GB or 256GB of non-expandable memory.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Cellular iPad mini 2021 versions include 5G connectivity.
Standard iPad
The standard Apple iPad is in its 9th generation, with the most recent model being released in September 2021.
Specifications and Features
- A13 Bionic processor
- 8MP (rear), 12MP (front) camera resolution (front)
- 10.2-inch display with a resolution of 2160 x 1620 pixels
- Storage capacities: 64GB and 256GB
- USB-C port
- 1.07 pounds in weight
- 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi with optional LTE
We enjoy the new 9th Generation iPad since it accomplishes everything you would expect from a standard iPad. Excellent screen, excellent audio and battery power, and sometimes even quicker speed than ever before. Yes, even if it looks identical to previous generations, the iPad 2021 still seems to be worth considering.
If you make a lot of video calls, you’ll notice how much clear this iPad looks compared to previous generations, thanks to Apple’s increase of the 1.2MP front-facing camera to a 12MP sensor.
The A13 Bionic chip is a nice performance boost, as iPad OS 15 becomes smarter and services like Live Text (which allows you to copy/paste texts from photos) benefit from a quicker CPU.
Price
It’s Apple’s cheapest tablet, starting at $329, yet it comfortably outperforms Android versions that cost significantly quite so much.
Conclusion
Now you understand what iPad is right for you. If you want an iPad which is easily portable, then you should buy an iPad Mini (which is also best for gaming).
However, if you want an iPad which is better in the display department, then the best choice for you is the iPad Pro-12.9-inch which has the best-LED technology on show.
Lastly, if you are on a budget, buy the standard Apple iPad. It does most of what the other iPads do at a fraction of the cost.
