How to pick out the most productive Apple pill for you through NewsFlicks

Display measurement: 11 inches or 13 inches | Show solution: 2360 x 1640 (11-inch), 2732 x 2048 (13-inch) | Garage: As much as 1TB | RAM: 8GB | Weight: 1.01 kilos (11-inch), 1.36 kilos (13-inch) | Battery existence: As much as 10 hours | Entrance digital camera: 12MP | Rear digital camera: 12MP

Learn our complete Apple iPad Air M3 evaluation

The lately refreshed iPad Air stays the Apple pill we’d suggest to the general public. Sure, it prices greater than the entry-level iPad, and sure, there’s nonetheless a gulf between it and the higher-end iPad Professional. However no iPad moves a greater steadiness between value, efficiency and lines. It’s Apple’s “good” pill — complicated sufficient to be a excitement each day however no longer eye-wateringly pricey.

The most recent iPad Air, released in March 2025, earned a rating of 89 in our evaluation. It begins at $599 for an 11-inch fashion or $799 for a variant with a 13-inch show. Out of doors of a better brightness score at the 13-inch fashion (600 nits as opposed to 500 nits), the 2 are nearly equivalent, so which one is very best merely depends upon what display screen measurement you favor. Maximum will almost certainly spring for the 11-inch model for the reason that it’s less expensive and far more straightforward to carry. However the added display screen actual property at the 13-inch model is excellent in case you usually use your iPad with a keyboard case, or simply need more space for observing motion pictures, taking part in video games or multitasking for paintings.

Each fashions are a lot pricier than the bottom iPad, however the Air’s upgrades most commonly justify the top rate. It now runs on Apple’s M3 system-on-a-chip (SoC), which is identical silicon present in last-gen MacBooks and iMacs. It’s overkill for internet surfing, video streaming and different elementary duties, nevertheless it method efficiency will have to hardly, if ever, be a subject.

It will have to additionally make the Air a bit of extra futureproof, as numerous iPadOS options are simplest obtainable with M-series chips or more moderen A-series silicon. The entire Apple Intelligence AI gear, for example, aren’t to be had on the most recent entry-level iPad, nor are the ports of tough video video games like Dying Stranding and Resident Evil 4. The Level Supervisor multitasking mode may be limited to extra robust iPads lately — despite the fact that that is converting with the approaching iPadOS 26 replace, which can convey a extra powerful windowing formula on the whole. (The bottom iPad nonetheless may not have complete exterior show give a boost to, then again, and it won’t run Level Supervisor as smartly at the complete.) The M3 Air additionally has a wholesome 8GB of RAM and 128GB of base garage; the usual iPad additionally begins with 128GB now however nonetheless has slightly much less reminiscence at 6GB.

The iPad Air’s 60Hz LCD show isn’t as colourful or clean in movement because the 120Hz OLED panel on the most recent iPad Professional, and it’s beginning to display its age in 2025 when some smartphones be offering a better refresh price for masses of bucks much less. Nonetheless, it’s shiny, sharp and quite correct. It’s additionally a step up from the entry-level iPad, because it’s totally laminated, because of this there’s no visual hole between the show and the entrance glass. That won’t sound like a lot, nevertheless it’s a type of issues that’s laborious to forget about if you’ve noticed the variation. The Air’s panel additionally has an antireflective coating to additional decrease glare, plus it helps a much broader P3 colour gamut.

The iPad Air has had nearly the similar square-edged design for 4 generations now, nevertheless it stays robust, sublime and quite relaxed. It nonetheless provides a cast 10-ish hours of battery existence, a USB-C port and a Contact ID fingerprint scanner constructed into its persistent button (however no Face ID, annoyingly). Apple moved the front-facing digital camera to the pill’s lengthy edge with the previous-gen fashion, and that continues to be a a lot more herbal place for FaceTime calls in panorama mode.

Not like the entry-level iPad, the Air works with the Pencil Professional, Apple’s maximum featured stylus. (Regardless that it’s no longer appropriate with the older second-gen Pencil — sure, the stylus state of affairs is messy.) It doesn’t paintings with the corporate’s very best aluminum keyboard case, nevertheless it helps a new Magic Keyboard with a few of that fashion’s upgrades, together with a extra spacious trackpad and a devoted serve as row. This model remains to be most commonly fabricated from plastic, and its loss of backlit keys is tricky to excuse when the older Magic Keyboard — which is fortunately nonetheless to be had — didn’t have that factor, nevertheless it stays extremely relaxed for typing. All of those equipment upload a just right bit to the Air’s final analysis, however for virtual artists or common typers, they’re there.

The M3 iPad Air is a simple spec bump, so there’s no actual wish to improve in case you’re coming from the M2 or M1 fashions. In reality, if you’ll be able to nonetheless discover a refurbished model of the M2 Air at a cheaper price, that’ll be a greater price at the complete. But when your iPad is slowing down, you’re purchasing your first Apple pill or you need a 13-inch iPad with out completely torching your financial savings account, the Air will have to be the 1st fashion you believe.

Display measurement: 11 inches | Show solution: 2360 x 1640 | Garage: As much as 512GB | RAM: 6GB | Weight: 1.05 kilos | Battery existence: As much as 10 hours | Entrance digital camera: 12MP | Rear digital camera: 12MP

Learn our complete Apple iPad (A16) evaluation

The entry-level iPad (A16) isn’t as great because the iPad Air, however the two proportion the similar design language, and the less expensive fashion remains to be completely competent on the core iPad Issues. For $349, that makes it a compelling discount for many who desire a trendy iPad for as little money as conceivable.

The bottom iPad seems to be nearly just like the iPad Air from afar. It’s simplest marginally thicker and heavier, whilst its 11-inch panel is simply as sharp and shiny. Battery existence is available in on the similar 10-ish hours, and there’s nonetheless a USB-C port and Contact ID sensor. The cameras are just about the similar, too, with the selfie cam positioned alongside its lengthy edge. Most significantly, it will get you just about all of the similar conveniences of iPadOS for $250 much less.

This fashion runs on a quite cut-down model of the A16 Bionic chip present in 2022’s iPhone 14 Professional and 2023’s iPhone 15, plus 6GB of RAM. This combo gained’t dangle up in addition to higher-end iPads years down the street, and it may well’t run Apple Intelligence or prolong to an exterior show by way of Level Supervisor. Plus, the M3 Air is already noticeably sooner for exporting 4K movies or taking part in probably the most taxing iPad video games. 

However the A16 is greater than fast sufficient for the duties the general public in reality do with an iPad, be it observing Netflix, sending emails, taking part in informal Apple Arcade video games and even modifying footage in Lightroom. If the rest, many of us will want not to have their pill push AI on them. And with the iPadOS 26 replace later this 12 months, this iPad could have get admission to to lots of the similar Mac-style productiveness and multitasking options as its pricier siblings. Past that, it begins with the similar wholesome 128GB of garage because the Air.

The iPad (A16) does have a worse show than the Air, and not using a lamination, no give a boost to for the broader P3 colour area and no antireflective coating. Put the 2 aspect through aspect and the Air certainly produces quite bolder colours and holds up higher towards glare. The loss of lamination makes writing with the Apple Pencil really feel extra abstracted at the less expensive fashion, too.

For the fee, despite the fact that, this display screen remains to be sharp, with ease sized and devoid of main colour accuracy problems. The distance right here isn’t just about as dramatic as the only between the Air’s and iPad Professional’s shows. Likewise, whilst the Air’s twin audio system sound fuller and extra rounded, the bottom iPad will get loud and transparent sufficient to steer clear of critical issues.

There are different downgrades. The iPad (A16) is not appropriate with the Apple Pencil Professional, simply the lesser USB-C Pencil — which lacks drive sensitivity — and historic first-gen fashion. It doesn’t paintings with the similar Magic Keyboards; as a substitute, it makes use of its personal Floor-like accent referred to as the Magic Keyboard Folio, which has a serve as row however isn’t as strong in your lap. It helps Wi-Fi 6 however no longer Wi-Fi 6E. The USB-C port is technically slower for information transfers, too, maxing out at 480 Mbps as a substitute of 10 Gbps.

Like we mentioned with our height advice, a refurbished M2 iPad Air is value taking into account over the iPad (A16) if you’ll be able to to find one at a just right value. It’s been discontinued, so we will be able to’t make it a proper pick out, nevertheless it stays a greater piece of {hardware}. But when that’s no longer an possibility, the bottom iPad is a sturdy discount. It’s worse than the iPad Air, nevertheless it’s no longer $250 worse for the ones on a tighter price range, other folks upgrading from the Ninth-gen iPad or somebody who simply doesn’t push their iPad to the restrict as a rule.

Display measurement: 8.3 inches | Show solution: 2266 x 1488 | Garage: As much as 512GB | RAM: 8GB | Weight: 0.65 kilos | Battery existence: As much as 10 hours | Entrance digital camera: 12MP | Rear digital camera: 12MP

Learn our complete iPad mini 7 evaluation

The iPad mini is precisely what it seems like: the small iPad. Apple up to date it in past due 2024 with a brand new chip and give a boost to for the Apple Pencil Professional, and it is nonetheless the shortest and lightest iPad within the present lineup through a ways. As prior to, it has an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina show that’s more straightforward to make use of with one hand.

We gave the iPad mini a evaluation rating of 83. Its design follows carefully after that of the iPad Air: squared-off edges, skinny bezels, no House button, a Contact ID sensor within the persistent button, stereo audio system, first rate cameras and a USB-C port. Its show is technically sharper, however another way offers you the similar max brightness, lamination, antireflective coating and large colour gamut. It doesn’t have a “Good Connector” to hook up Apple-made keyboards, nevertheless it does paintings with the top-end Apple Pencil Professional and the more economical USB-C Apple Pencil. The Pencil Professional is a step up over the older second-generation Apple Pencil the prior mini used, with haptic comments, a gyroscope and a “squeeze” characteristic for opening up a broom palette.

The mini runs on Apple’s A17 Professional chip, the similar as the only in 2023’s iPhone 15 Professional sequence. Whilst this chip isn’t moderately as robust because the M3 within the iPad Air, it’s greater than succesful sufficient to maintain what the general public will wish to do with this iPad. Significantly, it’s additionally robust sufficient for Apple Intelligence. That may not be one thing that compels folks to improve at this time (or possibly ever), however the level is that the brand new mini is extra futureproof than its predecessor.

The mini begins at $499 for a 128GB fashion. Apple in any case noticed have compatibility to double the bottom garage, which makes the most cost effective fashion more straightforward to suggest than prior to. In the event you in particular desire a smaller pill — whether or not it’s to simply stuff in a bag, use with one hand or deal with like a high-end e-reader — that is the one one Apple sells, and the most suitable option in its measurement vary. 

Display measurement: 11 inches or 13 inches | Show solution: 2420 x 1668 (11-inch), 2752 x 2064 (13-inch) | Garage: As much as 2TB | RAM: As much as 16GB | Weight: 0.98 kilos (11-inch), 1.28 kilos (13-inch) | Battery existence: As much as 10 hours | Entrance digital camera: 12MP | Rear digital camera: 12MP

Learn our complete Apple iPad Professional (M4) evaluation

The newest iPad Professional is the costliest iPad and extra pill than the general public want, complete prevent. However when you’ve got money to burn, are decided to make use of an iPad as your major cell pc or simply need probably the most technically spectacular iPad conceivable, that is it.

We gave the brand new iPad Professional a rating of 84 in our evaluation. Just like the iPad Air, it is available in 11- and 13-inch fashions: The previous begins at $999, whilst the latter begins at $1,299. That’s prohibitively pricey for the general public, however for the cash you get numerous top rate, if inessential, upgrades over Apple’s different pills.

Probably the most vital of those is the Professionals’ “tandem OLED” show. In comparison to the LCD display screen at the iPad Air, this produces richer colours and deeper, extra uniform black tones. Gaming and scrolling internet pages glance extra fluid due to its sooner 120Hz refresh price. It might additionally get considerably brighter, attaining as much as 1,000 nits in SDR and as much as 1,600 nits with HDR highlights.

That is the place the “tandem” section is available in. Necessarily, Apple is stacking two OLED panels on height of each other to support height brightness, which is frequently a (relative) weak spot of conventional OLED shows. It’s a step forward, however all you actually wish to know is this display screen is an absolute satisfaction — one of the most very best we’ve noticed on any client tool, let by myself a pill. For observing motion pictures or modifying media, you actually can’t do higher. This similar show tech is used on each the 11- and 13-inch iPad Professional, in contrast to preceding fashions, so which one is very best simply comes down to non-public desire.

The design this is extensively very similar to that of the iPad Air, however quite thinner and lighter. The variation isn’t large on paper, however the Professionals’ slimmed-down frames cause them to simply that little bit more straightforward to carry. That is in particular significant with the 13-inch fashion.

The opposite headline improve is Apple’s M4 SoC. If the M3 is overkill for the majority of informal and pro-level iPad duties, then the M4 is mega-kill; it simply chewed via absolutely anything we threw at it. However it will have to be much more futureproof, and it will save a couple of seconds right here and there in case your paintings comes to high-res media modifying, heavy use of system studying and the like.

Past that, the bottom iPad Professional has 256GB of garage, which is two times up to some other iPad. Just like the M3 Air, it additionally helps complicated options like hardware-accelerated ray tracing on its GPU, which is able to assist lighting fixtures in video games, plus a sooner neural engine, which is able to assist with the AI options Apple has been rolling out.

In the event you actually wish to max issues out, observe that the 1TB and 2TB configurations have two times as a lot RAM (16GB) and use a technically extra robust model of the M4 with an additional efficiency core unlocked. Leaping to a type of SKUs prices a minimal of $1,599, despite the fact that — and that’s prior to you upload equipment. The ones having a look to make use of the iPad Professional as a (very pricey) media intake tool don’t want this, however in case you paintings with memory-hungry apps or want the very best, simply observe it’ll charge you.

The iPad Professional is the one iPad with Face ID, which stays slightly extra handy than attaining for a fingerprint scanner. It’s the one one with a Thunderbolt USB-C port, which is technically sooner for moving huge recordsdata. It sounds extra powerful than the Air, with 4 integrated audio system as a substitute of 2. Its digital camera formula is not that other, nevertheless it features a flash for extra simply scanning paperwork, and it may well file video in Apple’s ProRes layout. Its entrance digital camera is at the lengthy edge, too. As for equipment, the Professional by myself can use Apple’s very best Magic Keyboard, which itself is wildly pricey however has a extra top rate aluminum end, backlit keys and haptic comments along a bigger trackpad and a row of serve as keys. It additionally helps the Pencil Professional stylus (however no longer the second-gen Pencil).

If these kind of options sound area of interest to you, smartly, yeah, that’s the speculation. Until you might be prepared to pay for that terrific OLED display screen, the iPad Air will get shut sufficient for a a lot more palatable value. And despite the fact that the iPad Professional is a class-leading pill, it’s in the end nonetheless an iPad. Sure inventive execs have used it simply advantageous as a computer substitute, however in the past, iPadOS has made multitasking and different computer-y duties extra convoluted than they’re on a Mac. The iPadOS 26 replace seems to head far in opposition to rectifying persistent customers’ longstanding lawsuits, however lots of the options coming there may also be to be had at the less expensive fashions. Regardless, the Professional is an excellent iPad — rapid, narrow and sumptuous. And dear.