Best iPads in 2025

When it comes to buying a smartphone, we're spoiled by the choices, because I’d say that both iPhones and top-end Android phones are equally good and offer a lot of features for the price. If you’re shopping for a tablet, on the other hand, it makes a lot more sense to go for an iPad because of just how good it is. In terms of hardware capabilities, design, and even pricing, Apple dominates its competitors with such superiority that you would need some very specific reasons to choose a Windows or Android tablet instead. But we’re glad to note that both Android and Windows tablets have been improving steadily with time because competition makes the market better for us overall as buyers.

Back to Apple, there’s a variety of iPads to choose from. They are all good, but ultimately which one you choose will depend on your requirements. Whether you’re a designer, or creative professional on the move, or just looking for a tablet to browse while you laze on your couch, there’s an iPad for you. In fact, there are so many options that it can get confusing to try to select the right one for you. That's where this article comes in - read on to learn more about the best features of each iPad on the market.

Our top picks for iPads in 2024

The new 2024 iPad Pro is so powerful that it's borderline overkill. Powered by Apple's M4 chip and available with up to 16GB of RAM, it's a beast of machinery that can double as a real computer for some users who are looking for that.

The reason we and many others say the iPad is the best tablet isn't just due to the tablet's raw power, but rather its superior app ecosystem and unparalleled synergy between hardware and software. Virtually any app you can think of runs well on the iPad and will often look better than the Android tablet's counterpart. The M4 is so capable and efficient that you can use it for 4K video editing and then still have enough battery power left to binge-watch some shows afterward.

With a gorgeous Tandem OLED screen that has those perfect blacks you'd expect, it's a gorgeous canvas to get creative or watch content on. If you splurge a bit and pair this with Apple's Magic Keyboard and an Apple Pencil, you'll have yourself a do-it-all creativity machine. You also get the very useful Center Stage feature that allows the iPad's front-facing camera to automatically track your face and keep you center-framed during video calls.

If you want the most powerful tablet available, this is it. The 2024 M4 iPad Pro can handle anything you throw at it, from video editing to prolonged gaming sessions. Plus, if you want the power of the Pro but also would like to save some cash, you can opt for the smaller 11-inch model that starts at just $999 as opposed to the larger 13-inch model that starts at $1299.

The iPad Air (2024) brings back almost the exact same design as the 2022 model, and you're still getting an IPS 60Hz display alongside a Touch ID fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button. For the first time in the Air lineup, you are finally getting the option to choose an 11-inch or a 13-inch model.

But this new iPad Air has major upgrades inside, most notably the silicon. It has been bumped up to the M2 chip, which isn't as powerful as the M3 or M4 but is still great. Otherwise, you're still getting the 8GB of RAM and a 12MP ultra-wide camera that were introduced with the 2022 model.

The iPad Air is more than suitable for stretches of work on the go at coffee shops or airport lounges, and it'll handle tasks like watching movies, playing games, or sketching with the Apple Pencil with absolute ease.

With the powerful M2 chip, solid all-around hardware, and an affordable pricepoint, this iPad Air is a very attractive deal.

The “classic” Apple iPad gets a refresh every few years, but the changes to this 2022 version were significant. With the 10th generation release, gone are the massive bezels and the Home button. We’re surprised the Home button lasted this long, but we’re happy to see it go, even though we miss Touch ID.

This tablet also gets a larger display at 10.9 inches across (vs. 10.2-inches in the 9th gen) and is equipped with the Apple A14 Bionic chip. The screen itself also got an upgrade from the prior model, as it’s now a Liquid Retina panel. Visually, this iPad is pretty similar to the 2022 iPad Air (though it lacks the M1 chip, of course).

These iPads are available in 4GB/64GB and 4GB/256GB configurations, and you can buy them in Silver, Blue, Pink, and Yellow color options. Powering the device is a 7606 mAh Li-Po battery, giving you about 10 hours of use on a full charge. This 2022 iPad 10 has a Type-C USB 2.0 port for charging, and it also supports DisplayPort, in case you want to hook it up to a screen. It has 12MP cameras on both the back and front, with the back camera capable of recording 4K footage at 60 FPS. The front camera is decent too, and manages 1080p video recording at 60 FPS.

All in all, this iPad packs a serious punch for its price, and even though it’s the most basic iPad model, it works wonderfully as a tablet for general use.

Apple's tiny iPad Mini, measuring just 7.69 x 5.3 x 0.25 inches and weighing just 0.65 pounds, finally got a modern refresh a few years ago with slimmer bezels and a home button-less design that matched up with the top-end iPad series in terms of esthetics. Now, the iPad Mini (A17 Pro) was just updated in 2024 to feature a faster processor capable of running Apple Intelligence.

The slimming of bezels brings practical benefits, too. The iPad Mini has a larger screen (8.3 inches) than older models, yet it has smaller dimensions. This thing is so petite that when you attach the Apple Pencil Pro or USB-C to it, the Pencil's length almost stretches the entire length of the iPad Mini's edge.

That means this is a very easy item to carry in a small bag or in one hand. And it’s not lacking in power either, as it runs on the Apple A17 Pro, which will have enough processing power to last you for years to come. Unfortunately, that's about where the changes end compared to the iPad Mini (2021).

While there are many excellent third-party keyboard options for the iPad (so users don't have to buy the official Magic Keyboard unless they want to), there are not many good stylus alternatives to the Apple Pencil for the iPad. So if you want to sketch, take notes, or just have a finer point for photo or video editing, the Apple Pencil Pro is the best option out there.

The good news is that Apple's Pencil Pro is really quite good. It's arguably the best consumer-grade stylus, and it's Apple's best pencil yet. It offers intuitive features such as double tap and squeeze to control tool type and color, barrel roll motion to use brushes more precisely, and haptic feedback to replicate sensations of using a pencil. It also supports the hover feature, which casts a helpful "virtual shadow" on the screen below the pencil tip. Apple's newest pencil offers a truly premium experience.

Do note that the Apple Pencil Pro only works with these iPads:

• iPad Pro 13-inch (M4)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
• iPad Air 13-inch (M2)
• iPad Air 11-inch (M2)
• iPad Mini (A17 Pro)

If you want a stylus for the iPad 10 and newer, check out the USB-C Apple Pencil, which we've listed below.

The USB-C version of the Apple Pencil was unveiled in 2023, and it definitely got a lot of Apple users excited thanks to its low price and universal charging mechanism. It has a lot in common with the 1st and 2nd Gen Apple Pencils — it has the same responsiveness and accuracy, and latches onto the side of your iPad magnetically.

It gets its name from its USB-C port, which you have to use when it’s low on juice. It also supports the hover feature, which is one of the best parts of using a stylus on an iPad. But on the flip side, this affordable pencil skimps on pressure sensitivity; if you’re used to drawing and shading with the other Pencil models, this one may feel a bit off. It also doesn’t support wireless charging or double-tap like the much pricier Apple Pencil 2 or Apple Pencil Pro.

That said, it’s a fantastic option for non-power users, as it’s a budget purchase that gives you most of the features you’d want in a stylus and works flawlessly.

The bottom line

Regardless of the iPad you pick from all the options above, you can expect top-notch performance for both work and play. While the Pro models can be overkill for someone looking for a basic tablet to browse on, something like the 2024 iPad Air (our personal favorite) still delivers the goods in terms of processing power, thanks to the M2 chipset.

We highly recommend getting an Apple Pencil to go with your iPad; it can really transform your usage experience, plus we have an affordable option with the USB-C model. And if you plan to get an iPad Pro and use it as your main work machine, the Magic Keyboard will improve your experience by a huge margin.