Which‌ ‌iPad‌ ‌Should I‌ ‌Buy? That's a question that plagues all Apple enthusiasts. Especially since these products are so expensive and we always want the best. Interestingly, there aren't that many iPad models on the market. Apple had manufactured 4 base models of its iPads, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. 

Apart from these 4 models currently on sale, there is an increasing number of older used iPads on sites like eBay and though they all look the same, each one will be quite different from the other. Of course, there are much cheaper alternatives as well.

Let me take you through the current line-up of Apple iPads and their amazing features along with the important differences between each of them to help you make your choice on which iPad to buy.

After reviewing all the iPads thoroughly based on design, specs, performance, battery, and price. We zeroed in on the following as well. We further put these four through stress tests to determine the best. We found that:

The iPad Air (5th generation) is the best overall iPad in 2024 for a number of reasons. It has a powerful M1 chip, a beautiful Liquid Retina display, and support for the Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard. It's also relatively affordable, starting at $599.

If you're looking for the best possible iPad experience, the iPad Pro is the better choice. But if you're on a budget or don't need the extra power of the iPad Pro, the iPad Air is the best option for you.

Related: Best Cheap iPad Alternatives

Which‌ ‌iPad‌ ‌Should I‌ ‌Buy?

The best iPad for you to buy in 2024 depends on your needs and budget. Here are my recommendations:

• Best overall: iPad Air (5th generation)
• Best for creative professionals: iPad Pro (6th generation)
• Best for students: iPad (10th generation)

Check out the latest iPad on Amazon!

iPad Air (5th generation)

The iPad Air (5th generation) is designed for people who want a powerful and versatile tablet, but don't need the top-of-the-line features of the iPad Pro. It's perfect for students, professionals, and creatives alike.

Design

The iPad Air has a large and beautiful Liquid Retina display that measures 10.9 inches diagonally. The display is surrounded by narrow bezels, which gives the iPad a sleek and modern look. The display is also very bright and sharp, making it perfect for watching movies, playing games, and browsing the web.

On the back of the iPad Air, you'll find a single rear camera lens and a Touch ID sensor. The rear camera is capable of taking 12-megapixel photos and 4K video, while the Touch ID sensor allows you to unlock your iPad and authenticate payments with your fingerprint.

Display

The iPad Air (5th generation) has a stunning Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2360x1640 pixels. This makes for incredibly sharp and vibrant images. Whether you're watching movies, playing games, or browsing the web, you'll enjoy the immersive experience that the Liquid Retina display provides.

The display also features a wide color gamut (P3) and True Tone technology. This means that the display can produce a wider range of colors than traditional displays, and it can also automatically adjust the white balance to match the ambient light in your environment. This results in a more natural and comfortable viewing experience.

Performance

The iPad Air (5th generation) is powered by the same M1 chip that's found in the latest MacBook Air and iMac. This makes it incredibly fast and can handle even the most demanding tasks with ease. Whether you're editing videos, playing games, or multitasking, the iPad Air will keep up with you.

The iPad Air also has a very long battery life. You can easily use it all day long without having to worry about running out of power.

Camera

The iPad Air (5th generation) has a single 12-megapixel rear camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide front camera. The rear camera is capable of taking sharp and detailed photos in good lighting conditions, and it can also record 4K video at up to 60fps. The front camera is also very good, and it's perfect for video calls and selfies.

However, the iPad Air's camera is not without its flaws. In low light conditions, the rear camera can produce noisy images, and the front camera can struggle to focus. Additionally, the iPad Air does not have some of the advanced camera features that are found on the iPad Pro, such as LiDAR and a telephoto lens.

iPad Air Technical Specifications

Display	Retina Display (10.9” IPS LED); 2360 x 1640px, 264ppi
Operating System	iPadOS 15
Storage	64GB/256GB
Camera	12MP Wide HDR Rear Camera
Processor	M1 Chip
FaceTime HD Camera	12MP with Retina Flash
Connectivity	WiFi / WiFi + Cellular
Sim Card Compatibility	eSim or Apple Sim (Nano)
Battery	28.6Wh Li-Po built-in battery
Price	$599

Pros

• Amazing performance with M1 Processor
• Premium design with small bezels and large screen
• Affordable when compared to Pro models

Cons

• 60Hz display

iPad Pro (6th generation)

The iPad Pro (6th generation) is the best iPad for 2024, offering a powerful M2 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina XDR display, and a versatile camera system. It's also the first iPad to support ProRes video capture, making it ideal for creative professionals.

Design

The iPad Pro (6th generation) has a sleek and minimalist design, with a flat aluminum frame and a glass back. It's available in two sizes: 11 inches and 12.9 inches. The 11-inch model is lightweight and portable, while the 12.9-inch model is better suited for productivity tasks and creative work.

Display

This device is equipped with a Liquid Retina XDR display, which is one of the best displays on any tablet. It offers a high resolution, wide color gamut, and excellent contrast ratio. The display is also bright enough to use outdoors, even in direct sunlight.

Performance

Powering the iPad Pro is the M2 chip, which is Apple's latest and greatest mobile processor. The M2 chip makes the iPad Pro incredibly fast and responsive, even when handling demanding tasks like video editing and 3D rendering. In fact the chip is so good that the entire experience on the iPad Pro is lag-free.

Camera

The camera system on the 6th gen iPad Pro is phenomenal; with a 12MP wide-angle lens, a 10MP ultrawide-angle lens, and a 12MP TrueDepth front-facing camera. The rear cameras can shoot 4K video at up to 60fps, and the front-facing camera can shoot 1080p video at up to 60fps.

Other features

The iPad Pro (6th generation) also comes with a number of other features, including Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, a 5G cellular option, and a long-lasting battery. It also supports the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard, making it a great productivity device.

iPad (10th generation)

The iPad (10th generation) is one of the best iPads of 2024 for a number of reasons. It's affordable, has a large and beautiful display, and is powered by the powerful A14 Bionic chip. It's also compatible with all of the latest iPadOS features, including Scribble, Split View, and Slide Over.

Design

The iPad (10th generation) features a new all-screen design with a larger 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display. The display is surrounded by narrow bezels, giving the iPad a more modern look. The home button has been removed, and the Touch ID sensor is now integrated into the power button on the top edge of the device.

Display

The display on the iPad (10th generation) is excellent. It is bright, sharp, and has vibrant colors. It has a resolution of 2360x1640 pixels and a pixel density of 264 pixels per inch. It is also fully laminated, meaning that there is no air gap between the display and the glass.

The True Tone technology automatically adjusts the white balance of the display to match the ambient light in your environment, which makes it easier to read and view content in any situation.

The display is also very responsive and supports multi-touch. This means that you can use multiple fingers to interact with the display at the same time. This is useful for tasks such as zooming, scrolling, and drawing.

Performance

The iPad (10th generation) is powered by the A14 Bionic chip, which is one of the fastest mobile processors on the market. This means that the iPad can handle even the most demanding tasks with ease, such as gaming, video editing, and multitasking.

In benchmarks, the iPad (10th generation) outperforms all other Android tablets on the market. It also scores higher than the previous generation iPad (9th generation) in both single-core and multi-core performance.

In real-world use, the iPad (10th generation) is very fast and responsive. Apps launch quickly, games run smoothly, and there is no lag when multitasking. Even when using multiple apps at the same time, the iPad remains smooth and responsive.

Camera

The iPad (10th generation) has a 12-megapixel rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture. The front-facing camera has a 12-megapixel sensor with an f/2.4 aperture. Both cameras can record video in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second.

The rear camera on the iPad (10th generation) takes good photos in well-lit conditions. The colors are accurate and the details are sharp. However, the camera struggles in low-light conditions, and the photos can be noisy and blurry.

The front-facing camera is also good for taking selfies and video calls. The images are sharp and the colors are accurate. However, the camera can also struggle in low-light conditions.

iPad Mini

At a slightly higher price of $499, the iPad Mini is a compact device that is built for speed and multi-tasking. The iPad Mini is extremely thin and lightweight making it easy to carry around and use in one hand. 

Available in both Wi-Fi and 4G LTE, the Mini is the lightest iPad in the market and with better features than the iPad 8.3”

iPad Mini Features

Though the iPad Mini can not actually be pocketed comfortably, it still is quite small with a larger display than the iPhones making them great to own.

• The iPad Mini features an 8.3” Retina display with True Tone technology. This multi-touch LED has a resolution of 2048x1536 at 326ppi.

• Equipped with a 12MP main camera, the iPad Mini shoots in HDR while recording at 1080p HD. The FaceTime camera is a powerful 12MP lens with Retina flash and 1080p HD video recording functionality.

• The iPad Mini runs on an updated A15 Bionic chip and an embedded M12 coprocessor delivers a smooth and flawless experience. The device is powered by a built-in 19.1 Wh Li-Po battery that delivers up to 10 hours of uninterrupted playtime.

iPad Mini Technical Specifications

Display	Retina Display (7.9” LED); 2048 x 1536px, 326ppi
Operating System	iPadOS 15
Storage	64GB/256GB
Camera	12MP HDR Rear Camera
Processor	A15 Bionic Chip
FaceTime HD Camera	12MP with Retina Flash
Connectivity	WiFi / WiFi + Cellular
Sim Card Compatibility	eSim or Apple Sim (Nano)
Battery	19.1Wh Li-Po built-in battery
Price	$499

Pros

• Tiny compared to other iPads
• Excellent performance
• Supports Apple Pencil

Cons

• Expensive when compared to the previous iPad Mini
• No keyboard support

iPad (9th Generation)

The lowest-priced Apple iPad, the iPad 10.2” is a basic iPad for everyday users and does not cost much, at $329 for the Wi-Fi model it is ideal for those on a budget or if you’re looking to get some work done.

This latest iPad 10.2” is amazingly capable. Not only does it come with a super fast bionic A13 chip but it also supports both the Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard making all your tasks super quick.

Furthermore, you can really multi-task with the launch of iOS 14. For example, you can facetime and take down notes at the same time. The combination of the A13 chip and the OS results in some immersive graphics. You can play games with fluid movements. The games themselves are extremely detailed and offer amazing performance.

It also comes with an 8MP back camera that can help you take some amazing photographs. You can take complete advantage of the big screen and edit these photos to perfection.

iPad (9th Generation) Features

The iPad 10.2” has some really important features that make it one of the most desired products in their line-up. 

• A decently sized 10.2” Retina display is basically a LED-backlit multi-touch display with IPS technology. The display has a pixel resolution of 2160 x 1620 and comes with 500 nits brightness making it ideal in low-lit rooms. Check out our guide on Which‌ ‌iPad‌ ‌Should I‌ ‌Buy for all the details.

• The cameras on the iPad 10.2” are pretty basic but have decent sensors on them, the rear camera has an 8MP setup that uses HDR and Hybrid IR Filter and a Backside illumination feature to deliver crisp images. The FaceTime camera is a 12MP HDR camera that uses Retina Flash and True Tone technology to enhance the photos captured.

• The iPad 10.2” runs on the new A13 Bionic chip and is powered by a built-in 32.4Wh Li-Po battery that can deliver up to 10 hours of usage on a single charge.

iPad (9th Generation) Technical Specifications

Display	Retina Display (10.2” IPS LED); 2160*1620px, 264ppi
Operating System	iPadOS 15
Storage	32GB/128GB
Camera	8MP HDR Rear Camera
Processor	A13 Bionic Chip
FaceTime HD Camera	12MP with Retina Flash
Connectivity	WiFi / WiFi + Cellular
Sim Card Compatibility	eSim or Apple Sim (Nano)
Battery	32.4Wh Li-Po built-in battery
Price	$329

iPad 10.2

Pros

• Most affordable iPad
• Good performance
• Large display

Cons

• Large bezels
• Poor cameras
• No stereo speakers

iPad Pro

The iPad Pro is a true champion as it acts as a portable workstation. The latest models of these iPad’s come with improved camera capabilities and two-size variants. 

Priced at $799 for the 11” model and $999 for the 12.9” model, the iPad Pro is not meant for all because of the steep price and its extremely powerful processor.

iPad Pro Features

The iPad Pro is available in the largest sizes imaginable and is by far the most powerful iPad launched to date. Here are its primary features:

• Available in two sizes, the 11” and the 12.9”. Both variants come with a Liquid Retina display which is IPS LED multi-touch screen. The iPad Pro uses ProMotion technology and has a display brightness of 600 nits.  

• The Rear camera setup consists of a 12MP wide primary lens, a 10MP ultra-wide lens with a 125-degree field of view, and a LiDar Scanner. Capable of recording 4K, 1080p, and 720p HD videos, this setup is the most brilliant array on any iPad ever made to date. The TrueDepth front camera is a 7MP lens that supports portrait mode, portrait lighting, and Smart HDR.

• In terms of processing speed, the iPad Pro uses Apple’s latest and fastest processor, the A12Z Bionic Chip which uses an embedded M12 coprocessor making every task seem fluid and lag-free. 

• Both iPad Pro variants have different battery capacities; the 11” iPad Pro is powered by a built-in 28.65Wh Li-Po battery whereas, the 12.9” Pro uses a 36.71Wh Li-Po battery. Both devices carry a run time of approx 10 hours from a single charge.

iPad Pro Technical Specifications

	11” iPad Pro	12.9” iPad Pro
Display	Liquid Retina Display (11” IPS LED); 2388 x 1668p, 264ppi	Liquid Retina Display (12.9” IPS LED); 2732 x 2048p, 264ppi
Operating System	iPadOS 15	iPadOS 15
Storage	128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB	128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB
Camera	12MP Wide HDR + 10MP ultra-wide Rear Camera	12MP Wide HDR + 10MP ultra-wide Rear Camera
Processor	M1 Chip	M1 Chip
FaceTime HD Camera	12MP with Retina Flash	12MP TrueDepth Camera with Retina Flash
Connectivity	WiFi / WiFi + Cellular	WiFi / WiFi + Cellular
Sim Card Compatibility	eSim or Apple Sim (Nano)	eSim or Apple Sim (Nano)
Battery	28.65Wh Li-Po built-in battery	36.71Wh Li-Po built-in battery
Price	$799	$1099

Pros

• Pro Motion display with 120 Hz Refresh Rate is a treat
• Excellent performance with the M1 processor
• Cameras are impressive for a tablet

Cons

• Expensive
• 11 inch Pro model is not as impressive

iPad (10th Generation)

Even the regular iPad has finally received a facelift, but at a cost. Apple recently announced the new iPad 10th Gen, with a redesign. The new iPad 10th Gen cones with a flat metal design on the back and even bezels on the front. 

The iPad 10th Gen looks more like a modern tablet now. However, the bezels are still thick compared to the iPad Air or competitors like the Mi Pad 5 and Samsung Galaxy Tab S& FE. You also get upgraded cameras with the new iPad.

The newest iPad gets a chip upgrade too. You now get an A14 Bionic chip compared to the A13 Bionic found on the older iPad 9th Gen. This gives a good performance boost. You now get stereo speakers too, which improves the content consumption experience. 

Overall, the new iPad 10th Gen is a good upgrade but is it worth it? The new model starts at $449, while the old model still exists at $329. And frankly, it doesn't make sense. Apple should have priced it under 400 USD. 

The iPad Air can be found for around $500 on Amazon and other sites, making it so much better. Don't buy the iPad 10th Gen at $449. Get it if goes under $400. We don't recommend buying it.

iPad (10th Generation) Features

The iPad 10th Gen has some cool features that make it a good upgrade, 

• 10.9 inch Retina display is larger than the 10.2 inch display found on the older iPad 9th Gen.
• Sleek, modern design with symmetric bezels on all sides.
• Improved cameras both on the front and back.
• Powered by Apple A14 Bionic gives a good performance upklift.
• Large battery and USB-C fast charging.  

iPad (10th Generation) Technical Specifications

Display	10.9 inch Liquid Retina Display, 2360 x 1640 pixelsat 264ppi
Operating System	iPadOS 16
Storage	64GB/256GB
Camera	12MP HDR Rear Camera
Processor	A14 Bionic Chip
FaceTime HD Camera	12MP with Retina Flash
Connectivity	WiFi / WiFi + Cellular
Sim Card Compatibility	eSim or Apple Sim (Nano)
Battery	28.6Whr Li-Po built-in battery
Price	$449

Pros

• Large Display with minimal bezels
• Flat, premium design
• Support for new Magic Keyboard Folio
• Better Cameras

Cons

• Expensive
• Support for 1st Gen Apple Pencil

How to Choose an iPad

These are the factors I consider before buying an iPad for my friends and family. 

Form factor

iPads can be found in different sizes. The size of an iPad can make or break the experience you have with it. Large-screen iPads are great for productivity, while smaller ones are excellent for entertainment like movies and games. Some people prefer large screens over smaller ones, so choose based on your needs and wants.

In terms of screen size and weight, you can choose from 5 options,

iPad Mini (2021): 8.3 inches, 293 g

iPad: 10.2 inches, 487 g

iPad Air: 10.9 inches, 458 g

iPad Pro 11: 11 inches, 468 g

iPad Pro 12.9: 12.9 inches, 682 g

While larger screens offer an immersive experience for movies and TV shows, they sacrifice ergonomics and weight. You can see that the iPad Mini is super lightweight for a tablet of its caliber, while the iPad Pro 12.9 is almost double its eight. 

For some people, the iPad Pro 12.9 version can be unwieldy while the iPad Mini might be too small. This is why I prefer the iPad Air and the iPad Pro 11-inch versions. They strike a good balance between size and weight. 

On the other hand, gamers and people with small hands should go for the iPad Mini as it is ergonomically amazing. People who want all the screen estate for productivity should get the iPad Pro 12.9 version. 

Performance

While screen size, weight, and form factors are important, there are other factors that could affect your choice. Performance is an important factor when choosing an iPad but luckily Apple has made it easy. 

All iPads perform well for tablets and their price. The iPad 10.2 is the slowest of the bunch given its cost, but it still performs well thanks to the A13 Bionic hip in it. It can handle anything you throw at it with ease. Games, videos, and browsing tabs are all taken care of without any issues. 

The iPad Mini is powered by an A15 Bionic chip, the same chip found in iPhone 13. This is also plenty enough for a tablet of its size. It can handle any game or program you throw at it. 

And finally, the iPad Air and iPad Pros feature an M1 chip which is just ridiculous. The M1 chips found in the iPad are so powerful that they can't even use the full performance because of the limitations of the OS itself.

Nevertheless, all iPads perform great, but if you are a professional and want your iPad to handle heavy applications, getting the iPad Air or iPad Pro will keep you happy for a few years. 

Connectivity

All iPads offer the choice between WiFi-only or cellular+WiFi models, but only some support 5G.

If you are someone who needs cellular connectivity on your iPads and wants the best network speeds, then you should avoid iPad 10.2 model. All other iPads offer 5G support when you choose the cellular variants.

Price

Price will affect your buying decision the most. For some people, money won't be a limiting factor and they can even get the iPad Pro 12.9 version. But for some, like me, we have to be frugal, so the price is a limiting factor. 

The cheapest iPad, the 10.2-inch model costs just 329 USD but lacks features. On the other hand, the iPad Mini starts at 499 USD which makes sense as it is unlike any other tablet. 

The iPad Air is where things get interesting, it costs 599 USD and offers all the features you will need. It is my favorite iPad in the current lineup. 

The iPad Pros are expensive, with the 11-inch model starting at 799 USD and the 12.9 model costing an eyewatering 1099 USD. If you want the best, get the iPad Pro 12.9.

However, if you are looking at the iPad Pro 11, I would recommend going with iPad Air to save money on accessories. The iPad Air is 200 USD cheaper but offers almost the same experience. 

Why I prefer iPad Air over iPad Pro 11-inch

iPad Air is my favorite iPad model. They are everything I need and want in an iPad especially since the new iPad Air features an M1 chip. With the M1 chip, the iPad Air is just as powerful as the iPad Pro. iPad Air has a slim design with small bezels just like the Pro models. And all this for 200 dollars cheaper.

The only advantages to the iPad Pro are some better microphones, dual cameras, and a LiDAR sensor along with the inclusion of a Thunderbolt/USB 4 port. iPad Pro 11-inch has a slightly better screen with 600 nits of brightness compared to 500 nits on iPad Air. You also get the option for more storage variants.

So if you are someone like me, then you would go with the iPad Air over the iPad Pro 11 inch. For me, the increase in brightness, a Thunderbolt port, and better cameras, don't make enough of an impact. These small upgrades don't make sense for a lot of people. Unless you need the LiDAR camera, you are better off with the iPad Air.

The new iPad Air is just as performant as the iPad Pro 11 inch, and ticks all the boxes that I need in a tablet. It is simply perfect and the price is the icing on the cake. If I had to recommend an iPad for everyone, then it will be the iPad Air. 

Can I use an iPad instead of a MacBook?

Recent iPads are so close to being MacBooks, it's ridiculous. In some ways, iPads are even better than MacBooks. The new iPad Air and Pros come with the same processor as the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. 

iPads also have support for external keyboards in the form of the Magic Keyboard and Smart Folio keyboard. With these accessories, you can use the iPad as a laptop. The only shortcoming of iPads is that they can't run some macOS-specific apps.

Apart from that one disadvantage, iPads are cheaper, have better cameras, are easier to carry around and have long battery life. But the best advantage is that iPads have touch and Apple Pencil support while MacBooks don't.

All this makes me think that iPads are better than entry-level MacBooks and you can use them as MacBook replacements for light tasks.

Verdict - The Best iPad is

The iPad Air. After looking at all 4 models Apple has to offer, the iPad Air is the perfect all-rounder with powerful computing speeds and a reasonable price point making it one of the most sought-after iPads.

If you prefer something smaller with similar processing speeds, then the iPad Mini is the right one for you. 

However, if you’re looking for something that is designed to be truly powerful, large display, brilliant camera, larger battery, and the ability to use the 2nd gen Pencil along with the Magic Keyboard, then the right choice to make would be the iPad Pro or the iPad Air depending on your budget. 

The recent additions to Apple’s lineup have provided potential users with a wide array of options to choose from. I hope that this breakdown on which iPad to buy was informative and helped you decide on the iPad model to go for. Check out our guide on Which‌ ‌iPad‌ ‌Should I‌ ‌Buy? for all the details

Best iPad - FAQs