Apple iPad Guide

The iPad lineup in 2026 is more crowded than ever, which makes the question “which iPad should I buy?” a tough one to answer. You’ve got six different models, four different screen sizes, and four different processors. It’s a lot to sort through.

But that’s why I have all of them on my desk. I’ve spent weeks testing each one, from the basic $349 iPad to the wallet-destroying 13-inch Pro. The good news is there isn’t a bad iPad in the bunch. The bad news is that the best one for you depends entirely on what you plan to do with it.

This guide breaks down every current iPad and who it’s actually for. I’ve run the benchmarks, drained the batteries, and typed more emails than I can count to find the right fit for everyone from students to creative professionals.

 

 

The Best iPads for Most People

Apple iPad 11th Generation A16

The base model iPad starts at $349, and it’s the easiest recommendation for casual use. If you just want a great screen for watching YouTube, browsing the web, and playing some Apple Arcade games, this is the one. It’s simple, reliable, and does the basics exceptionally well.

Apple upgraded this model with the A16 Bionic chip, which gives it a nice performance boost for everyday multitasking. In my testing, it actually outlasted the more expensive models in straight video playback, making it a fantastic entertainment device. The 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display is bright and sharp for the price.

The Downside: You don’t get support for the newer Apple Pencil Pro. It only works with the older, first-generation Pencil, which is a bit of a letdown for anyone who wants to do more than basic sketching.

 

 

Apple iPad mini A17 Pro

The iPad mini costs $499, and its main selling point is its size. The 8.3-inch screen makes it incredibly portable and easy to hold in one hand, which is perfect for reading on the train or taking notes in a cramped lecture hall. I found myself reaching for it more often than any other iPad for quick tasks.

But don’t let the size fool you. It’s powered by the A17 Pro chip, giving it more than enough muscle for casual creative work and even some light gaming. And unlike the base iPad, it supports the Apple Pencil Pro, with that slick magnetic charging on the side.

The Downside: That small screen is great for portability but feels cramped for any serious multitasking. Trying to use two apps side-by-side is a tight squeeze.

 

 

Apple iPad Air M3 11-inch

Starting at $599, the 11-inch iPad Air is the sweet spot of the entire lineup. It’s the model I’d recommend to most people who want more than just a basic tablet. It perfectly balances performance, features, and price.

The M3 chip inside is a huge leap over the A-series chips, making photo editing in apps like Lightroom incredibly snappy. It also works with the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro, turning it into a legitimate laptop alternative for work and school. Plus, you get Wi-Fi 6E and better landscape speakers than the base model.

The Downside: The screen is stuck at a 60Hz refresh rate. It still looks great, but once you’ve used the 120Hz ProMotion display on the Pro models, it’s hard to go back.

 

 

Apple iPad Air M3 13-inch

For $799, you can get the iPad Air with a bigger, 13-inch screen. This is for people who want a larger canvas for productivity or media without paying the premium for an iPad Pro. That extra screen real estate makes a real difference when you’re working in Split View or editing video timelines.

It has the same speedy M3 chip and accessory support as its smaller sibling. I easily got 10 hours of battery life during my mixed-use testing, which is more than enough to get through a workday. If you plan to use an iPad as your primary portable computer, the larger screen is worth the extra cost.

The Downside: At 617 grams, it’s noticeably heavier than the 11-inch model. It’s less comfortable to hold for long reading sessions.

 

 

The Best iPads for Professionals and Creators

Apple iPad Pro M5 11-inch

The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999, and this is where things get serious. It’s built for professionals who need maximum performance. The new M5 chip is an absolute monster, flying through 4K video exports and complex AI tasks faster than some laptops I’ve tested.

The screen is the other major upgrade. It’s an Ultra Retina XDR display with ProMotion, meaning you get a super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate and incredible color accuracy. For photographers and video editors who need a color-perfect display, this is it. You also get Face ID instead of Touch ID and a LiDAR scanner for AR apps.

The Downside: The price is steep. For most people, the power of the M5 chip is overkill, and the benefits won’t justify the high cost over the M3 iPad Air.

 

 

Apple iPad Pro M5 13-inch

At $1299, the 13-inch iPad Pro is the absolute pinnacle of Apple’s tablet lineup. It takes everything from the 11-inch Pro and puts it on a gorgeous, expansive 13-inch tandem OLED display. The contrast is unbelievable—blacks are truly black, which makes editing HDR photos and videos a dream.

This is the ultimate portable studio for creative professionals. The M5 chip combined with up to 16GB of RAM means you can tackle huge projects in apps like Final Cut Pro or Octane without a stutter. Thunderbolt support also means you can connect to high-speed external drives and displays.

The Downside: The accessories are incredibly expensive. Adding the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro pushes the total cost into high-end MacBook Pro territory.

 

 

Must-Have iPad Accessories

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Air/Pro

The Magic Keyboard costs $299, and it’s the best way to turn your iPad Air or Pro into a laptop. The typing experience is excellent, with backlit, clicky keys that feel just as good as a MacBook’s. The floating cantilever design is sturdy and lets you adjust the viewing angle perfectly.

The built-in trackpad is what really makes it work, offering precise cursor control and support for all the multi-touch gestures in iPadOS. It also has a USB-C port for pass-through charging, which frees up the iPad’s own port for other accessories. I wrote this entire guide on one.

The Downside: It adds a lot of weight and bulk. An iPad Air with a Magic Keyboard attached weighs almost as much as a 13-inch MacBook Air.

 

 

Apple Pencil Pro

The Apple Pencil Pro is $129, and it’s an essential tool for artists, designers, and students who take a lot of handwritten notes. It attaches magnetically to the side of the iPad Air, Pro, and mini for easy pairing and charging. You’ll never have to worry about a dead pencil again.

The writing and drawing experience is best-in-class, with virtually no lag. New features like the squeeze gesture and haptic feedback give you more control, letting you quickly switch tools without touching the screen. The hover feature, which shows you a preview of your mark before you make it, is another great touch.

The Downside: It’s not compatible with the entry-level 11th-generation iPad, which forces those buyers to use the older, less convenient first-gen Pencil.

 

 

The Bottom Line: How to Choose

So, which iPad should you buy? It boils down to three things: screen size, performance, and budget. If you just want a tablet for media and browsing, the standard iPad 11th Gen is a fantastic value at $349.

If you need more power and want a potential laptop replacement, the M3 iPad Air is the answer for almost everyone. I’d go for the 11-inch model at $599 unless you know you need the extra screen space of the 13-inch version. It’s the perfect middle ground.

The Pro models are only for people who will truly push the M5 chip to its limits. Unless you’re a professional video editor, 3D artist, or developer who needs the absolute best display and performance, you can save your money and be perfectly happy with an Air.