Best iPad: our expert breaks down Apple's tablet line
There are six iPads to choose from right now – let us help you pick the best one
If you’re looking for the best iPad for you or someone you love, you’ve never had more choice – and it’s probably never been as confusing to pick. Believe it or not, Apple’s iPad lineup is the most varied of all of Apple’s product lines right now, unless you lump all of its desktops in with its laptops, and even then, it’s close.
There are six new iPads to pick from. Two entry-level iPads, two mid-tier Apple tablets, and two high-end models. As we approach the holidays, you can get every single model at a discount – we’re even seeing deals on the new 10.9-inch iPad, which for $50 off, is cheaper than ever. That’s the deepest price cut on the updated iPad since Apple announced it earlier this year.
I’ve made sure to include all of the iPads here, so you can see just where each one fits in the crowd and make the most informed decision you can.
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1. 2021 iPad
Best budget iPad
✅ Great performance-to-cost value ratio
✅ 12MP front camera supports Center Stage feature
❌ Dated design
CPU: Apple A13 Bionic chip | RAM: 3GB | Available storage: 64GB, 128GB | Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.2, available LTE | Physical connectivity: 1 lightning connector | Camera: 12MP 1080p ultra wide (front), 8MP 1080p lens (rear) | Battery life: Up to 10 hours | Dimensions: 9.8in x 6.8in x 0.29in | Weight: up to 1.09lbs | Biometric authentication: TouchID home button
Don’t let the dated look of the 2021 iPad fool you. The A13 Bionic chip at the heart of this machine, while not as powerful as the M2 chip or even the A14 that drives the 2022 model, still has enough oomph most people won’t notice a difference between it other iPad models when web browsing, streaming video or gaming. It even has the same 1080p front-facing lens found on all the other modern iPads, which means it has the neat Center Stage feature that follows you when on FaceTime.
Power users like artists, music or video producers, and more might consider one of the more capable Apple tablets, though.
2. 2022 iPad Air
Best iPad overall
✅ As powerful as the iPad Pro for most uses
✅ Comes in fun colors
❌ No Thunderbolt port
CPU: Apple M1 chip | RAM: 8GB | Available storage: 64GB, 256GB | Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, available 5G | Physical connectivity: 1 USB-C 3.1 Smart Connector, Magnetic Connector | Camera: 12MP 1080p ultra wide (front), 12MP 4K wide lens (rear) | Battery life: Up to 10 hours | Dimensions: 9.74in x 7.02in x 0.24in | Weight: 1.02lbs | Biometric authentication: TouchID power button
The 2022 iPad Air is the best overall iPad because it’s almost as powerful a handheld computer as this year’s Pro model. It packs an M1 chip with 8GB of RAM, uses USB-C for charging and peripherals, and uses the same magnetic connection and Smart Connector tech that’s in the iPad Pro. Its screen features the same 264ppi pixel density and it even comes with
The only people who might want to skip the iPad Air are those who would benefit from the faster transfer speeds of the iPad Pro’s Thunderbolt connection, as well as that tablet’s bigger screen (when buying the 12.9-inch version), higher available storage and RAM. I suppose I should also mention it doesn’t have the extra ultra wide camera lens on the Pro models, but, to put it gently, the iPad cameras aren’t good enough to care about.
Right now, it’s on sale for $100 at both Amazon and Best Buy, making this a great time to buy this as a gift for someone (or a reward for yourself for all the hard work you’ve done this year!)
Still looking for a PlayStation 5? Check out PS5 restock status updates
3. iPad mini
Best iPad for portability
✅ Surprisingly powerful A15 Bionic processor
✅ Great e-reader
❌ The small screen isn’t great for multitasking
CPU: Apple A15 Bionic | RAM: 4GB | Available storage: 64GB, 256GB | Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, available 5G | Physical connectivity: 1 USB-C 3.1, Magnetic Connector | Camera: 12MP 1080p ultra wide (front), 12MP 4K wide lens (rear) | Battery life: Up to 9 hours | Dimensions: 7.69in x 5.3in x 0.25in | Weight: 0.66lbs | Biometric authentication: TouchID power button
Apple’s most portable iPad, the iPad Mini is also its most fun, and it’s on sale right now for up to $100 off at $399 for the 64GB version. Although it’s miniature form factor prevents it from being particularly great for multitasking, the tablet is nevertheless a great little work companion. Weighing less than three quarters of a pound, it’s easy to carry it around one-handed and take notes, with the magnetic connector along the side giving you Apple Pencil 2 support.
The iPad Mini is also the perfect bedtime e-reader, thanks to its compact design. If you’re looking for a tiny, powerful tablet you can take with you just about anywhere, the 2021 iPad Mini is it.
4. 2022 iPad Pro 11”
Best iPad upgrade pick
✅ Extremely powerful M2 processor
✅ Smooth-scrolling 120Hz display
❌ 1st party keyboard accessories are way too expensive
CPU: Apple M2 chip | RAM: 8GB, 16GB | Available storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, available 5G | Physical connectivity: 1 Thunderbolt 4, Smart Connector, Magnetic Connector | Camera: 12MP 1080p ultra wide (front), 12MP 4K wide lens (rear) | Battery life: Up to 10 hours | Dimensions: 9.74in x 7.02in x 0.23in | Weight: 1.03lbs | Biometric authentication: FaceID sensor
The best upgrade pick is the 11-inch 2022 iPad Pro, if you really want a buttery-smooth display and you need the better cameras and faster Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. For the vast majority of people, the M2 chip and 8GB RAM is going to be massive overkill, but frankly, so are the chips in almost all the iPads, and even Apple’s laptops. That doesn’t mean you don’t want it, of course.
The 11-inch display is a touch too small to make this iPad a great laptop replacement, which is just fine by me, because the keyboard accessories are horrendously expensive. It makes a great upgrade pick over the iPad Air though, especially if you use an iPad for artwork. I’m not the world’s greatest artist, but I do my share of doodling and this model of iPad is a great tool for it.
5. 2022 iPad Pro 12.9”
Best iPad for professional use
✅ Gorgeous display
✅ Big screen
❌ Price makes it hard to justify over a regular laptop
CPU: Apple M2 chip | RAM: 8GB, 16GB | Available storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, available 5G | Physical connectivity: 1 Thunderbolt 4, Smart Connector, Magnetic Connector | Camera: 12MP 1080p ultra wide (front), 12MP 4K wide lens (rear), 10MP 1080p ultra wide lens (rear) | Battery life: Up to 10 hours | Dimensions: 11.04in x 8.46in x 0.25in | Weight: 1.5lbs | Biometric authentication: FaceID sensor
Apple’s biggest iPad, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which starts at $1,099 but is down to $1,039 right now, is its best for professional users, thanks to what is the nicest-looking display on any tablet to date. Its mini-LED screen gives it contrast approaching OLED, but with up to 1,600 nits peak brightness in HDR, along with all the other benefits of the 11-inch model.
The only trouble is the pesky cost of the Magic Keyboard – if you want to turn the iPad Pro into a fully self-contained laptop replacement, you’re going to have to shell out an exhausting $349. It’s one of Apple’s most egregiously-expensive products. There are cheaper third-party options, but they tend to involve some compromise or another.
6. 2022 iPad
Best iPad for FaceTime calls
✅ The most brightly-colored iPad
✅ FaceTime camera on the long side
❌ A little too expensive for what you get
CPU: Apple A14 Bionic chip | RAM: 4GB | Available storage: 64GB, 256GB | Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, available 5G | Physical connectivity: 1 USB-C connector, Smart Connector | Camera: 12MP 1080P ultra wide (front), 8MP 4K lens (rear) | Battery life: Up to 10 hours | Dimensions: 9.79in x 7.07in x 0.28in | Weight: 1.05lbs | Biometric authentication: TouchID power button
If your primary use for your iPad is FaceTime calls, or you just really like bold, bright colors, the 2022 10th-generation iPad is for you. It represents the last iPad in the lineup to transition to Apple’s new flat-sided design language, and although it’s missing a few features as we discussed when covering its most recent sale price, it’s nevertheless a great iPad.
However, if its new features aren’t appealing to you, we strongly recommend going with the 2021 iPad, instead, as it’s extremely unlikely you’d notice the performance boost you’d get from the 2022 model in normal use, and the price difference is too great. That’s even as this one is sitting at its lowest-ever price of $399.
Updated: December 6, 2022