Skip to content
TechPP

Festive sale: the best deals in one sheet. See the deals

The Best iPad to Buy (2026)

Blue iPad 11-inch with A16 chip

iPad 11-inch

$449starting
Wi-Fi

Everything most people need from an iPad at the lowest price.

Best forStudents, families, entertainment, online classes, notes and everyday work.

Features

  • Full iPadOS and App Store experience
  • Large screen for classes, movies and documents
  • Good performance for everyday apps and games
  • Apple Pencil support for notes and drawing
  • Magic Keyboard Folio with keyboard and trackpad support
  • Landscape Center Stage camera for video calls
  • Starts with 128GB storage
  • Available in four bright colours

Why buy it

This is the best choice for users who mainly want an iPad for watching content, studying, taking notes, browsing and light office work.

Why someone should upgrade

Upgrade to the Air when the user wants Apple Intelligence, Apple Pencil Pro, a better display, stronger multitasking or demanding creative apps.

The regular iPad supports Apple Pencil USB-C and the first-generation Apple Pencil. It supports the Magic Keyboard Folio but does not support Apple Intelligence.

Purple iPad mini with A17 Pro chip

iPad mini

$599starting
Wi-Fi

The complete iPad experience in a small device that is easy to carry anywhere.

Best forReading, travelling, handheld gaming, field work and quick handwritten notes.

Features

  • Compact enough to hold comfortably in one hand
  • Apple Intelligence support
  • Apple Pencil Pro support
  • Better colour reproduction than the regular iPad
  • Anti-reflective display for easier outdoor use
  • Strong performance for games and creative apps
  • Easy to carry in a small bag
  • Optional cellular connectivity

Why buy it

Choose the mini when portability matters more than screen size. It works especially well as a digital notebook, ebook reader, travel companion or handheld gaming device.

Important limitation

The mini is not the best laptop replacement. It has a smaller display and does not have a dedicated Apple keyboard with a trackpad.

The current mini has an A17 Pro chip, Apple Intelligence, an anti-reflective wide-colour display and Apple Pencil Pro support.

Best pick
Blue iPad Air 11-inch with M4 chip

iPad Air 11-inch

$749starting
Wi-Fi

The best balance between price, power, portability and premium features.

Best forCollege students, professionals, creators, artists and users who want to keep the iPad for several years.

Everything the regular iPad offers, plus

  • Apple Intelligence
  • Much more power for demanding apps
  • Better multitasking and professional workflows
  • More colour-accurate and less reflective display
  • Apple Pencil Pro support
  • Better Magic Keyboard with a large trackpad
  • Support for professional creative apps
  • Better long-term performance headroom

Why buy it

This should be your default recommendation for most users. It is powerful enough for work, gaming, drawing, photo editing and video editing without the high price of the Pro.

Why someone should upgrade

Move to the Pro only when the user cares about the best display, smoother motion, Face ID, professional connectivity or advanced creative workflows.

The current Air uses the M4 chip. It supports Apple Intelligence, Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard for iPad Air. Its display adds wide colour and an anti-reflective coating over the regular iPad.

Purple iPad Air 13-inch with M4 chip

iPad Air 13-inch

$949starting
Wi-Fi

All the benefits of iPad Air with much more room for work and creativity.

Best forSplit-screen work, digital art, presentations, editing and laptop-style use.

Everything in the 11-inch Air, plus

  • Larger canvas for drawing and handwritten notes
  • More room for running apps side by side
  • Better experience with spreadsheets and documents
  • Larger video preview while editing
  • Better movie and gaming experience
  • More laptop-like when connected to a keyboard

Why buy it

Choose this when the user wants a large display but does not need the advanced screen and professional features of the iPad Pro.

Important clarification

The 13-inch Air is not meaningfully more powerful than the 11-inch Air. Both use the M4 chip. The additional price mainly buys a larger display.

Space Black iPad Pro 11-inch with M5 chip

iPad Pro 11-inch

$1,199starting
Wi-Fi

Pro-level display, performance and connectivity in a portable size.

Best forProfessional artists, video editors, designers, photographers, musicians and demanding users.

Everything the Air offers, plus

  • OLED display with much better contrast and HDR
  • Smoother scrolling, drawing and animations
  • Face ID instead of Touch ID
  • Four-speaker audio for a better media experience
  • Studio-quality microphones
  • Faster transfers to professional drives and accessories
  • Better external-monitor support
  • ProRes video workflows
  • LiDAR for scanning and advanced AR work
  • Premium Magic Keyboard support

Why buy it

Choose it when the iPad is being used as a serious professional tool. The display and professional connectivity are the biggest everyday improvements over the Air.

Why many users should still choose the Air

The Air already handles normal work, games, drawing and editing extremely well. The Pro is mainly valuable when the user will benefit from its display, audio, port and professional tools.

The current Pro has an M5 chip, tandem OLED Ultra Retina XDR display, ProMotion, Face ID, four-speaker audio, LiDAR and Thunderbolt/USB 4 connectivity.

Space Black iPad Pro 13-inch with M5 chip

iPad Pro 13-inch

$1,499starting
Wi-Fi

The largest and most immersive iPad for professional work.

Best forFull-time creators, designers, editors and users replacing a laptop for visual work.

Everything in the 11-inch Pro, plus

  • Largest available iPad display
  • More space for editing timelines
  • Better side-by-side multitasking
  • Larger canvas for illustrations and design
  • Better workspace for music and production apps
  • More immersive movies and games
  • Strongest laptop-replacement experience

Why buy it

Choose it when screen space directly improves the user’s work. It is especially valuable for illustration, video editing, architecture, design and complex documents.

Important clarification

The 13-inch model does not provide a completely different performance tier from the 11-inch Pro. The main benefit is the larger workspace. Both use the M5 chip and offer the same main Pro capabilities.

Recommended: iPad Air 11-inch M4

Specifications

iPad 11-inchiPad mini
Best pick
iPad Air 11-inch		iPad Air 13-inchiPad Pro 11-inchiPad Pro 13-inch
Starting price$449$599$749$949$1,199$1,499
Introduced202520242026202620252025
Display size10.86-inch8.3-inch10.86-inch12.9-inch11.1-inch13-inch
DisplayLiquid Retina IPSLiquid Retina IPSLiquid Retina IPSLiquid Retina IPSUltra Retina XDR tandem OLEDUltra Retina XDR tandem OLED
Resolution2360 × 1640 · 264 ppi2266 × 1488 · 326 ppi2360 × 1640 · 264 ppi2732 × 2048 · 264 ppi2420 × 1668 · 264 ppi2752 × 2064 · 264 ppi
Brightness500 nits500 nits500 nits600 nits1,000 nits SDR · 1,600 peak HDR1,000 nits SDR · 1,600 peak HDR
Refresh rate60Hz60Hz60Hz60HzProMotion 10–120HzProMotion 10–120Hz
ProcessorA16A17 ProM4M4M5M5
CPU / GPU5-core / 4-core6-core / 5-core8-core / 9-core8-core / 9-core9-core / 10-core at 256GB and 512GB9-core / 10-core at 256GB and 512GB
MemoryNot specified by AppleNot specified by Apple12GB unified memory12GB unified memory12GB at 256/512GB · 16GB at 1/2TB12GB at 256/512GB · 16GB at 1/2TB
Storage128GB · 256GB · 512GB128GB · 256GB · 512GB128GB · 256GB · 512GB · 1TB128GB · 256GB · 512GB · 1TB256GB · 512GB · 1TB · 2TB256GB · 512GB · 1TB · 2TB
Wi-Fi storage prices128GB $449 · 256GB $549 · 512GB $749128GB $599 · 256GB $699 · 512GB $899128GB $749 · 256GB $849 · 512GB $1,049 · 1TB $1,349128GB $949 · 256GB $1,049 · 512GB $1,249 · 1TB $1,549256GB $1,199 · 512GB $1,399 · 1TB $1,799 · 2TB $2,299256GB $1,499 · 512GB $1,699 · 1TB $2,099 · 2TB $2,599
Apple IntelligenceNoYesYesYesYesYes
AuthenticationTouch ID · top buttonTouch ID · top buttonTouch ID · top buttonTouch ID · top buttonFace ID · TrueDepthFace ID · TrueDepth
Rear camera12MP Wide · 4K6012MP Wide · 4K6012MP Wide · 4K6012MP Wide · 4K6012MP Wide · 4K ProRes · LiDAR12MP Wide · 4K ProRes · LiDAR
Front cameraLandscape 12MP Center Stage12MP Center StageLandscape 12MP Center StageLandscape 12MP Center StageLandscape 12MP Center Stage · TrueDepthLandscape 12MP Center Stage · TrueDepth
Apple PencilUSB-C · 1st generationPencil Pro · USB-C · hoverPencil Pro · USB-C · hoverPencil Pro · USB-C · hoverPencil Pro · USB-C · hoverPencil Pro · USB-C · hover
KeyboardMagic Keyboard FolioBluetooth keyboardsMagic Keyboard for iPad AirMagic Keyboard for iPad AirMagic Keyboard for iPad ProMagic Keyboard for iPad Pro
PortUSB-C · USB 2 up to 480Mb/sUSB-C · USB 3 up to 10Gb/sUSB-C · USB 3 up to 10Gb/sUSB-C · USB 3 up to 10Gb/sThunderbolt / USB 4Thunderbolt / USB 4
External displayUp to 4K at 60HzUp to 4K at 60HzUp to 6K at 60HzUp to 6K at 60HzUp to 6K at 60HzUp to 6K at 60Hz
WirelessWi-Fi 6 · Bluetooth 5.3Wi-Fi 6E · Bluetooth 5.3Wi-Fi 6E · Bluetooth 5.3Wi-Fi 6E · Bluetooth 5.3Wi-Fi 7 · Bluetooth 6 · ThreadWi-Fi 7 · Bluetooth 6 · Thread
Cellular option5G · eSIM5G · eSIM5G · eSIM5G · eSIM5G with C1X · eSIM5G with C1X · eSIM
AudioLandscape stereo · dual micsLandscape stereo · dual micsLandscape stereo · dual micsLandscape stereo · dual micsFour speakers · studio-quality micsFour speakers · studio-quality mics
Weight · Wi-Fi477g293g464g616g444g579g
Thickness7.0mm6.3mm6.1mm6.1mm5.3mm5.1mm
BatteryUp to 10 hours on Wi-FiUp to 10 hours on Wi-FiUp to 10 hours on Wi-FiUp to 10 hours on Wi-FiUp to 10 hours · fast-charge capableUp to 10 hours · fast-charge capable
ColoursSilver · Blue · Pink · YellowSpace Grey · Blue · Purple · StarlightSpace Grey · Blue · Purple · StarlightSpace Grey · Blue · Purple · StarlightSilver · Space BlackSilver · Space Black
Nano-texture optionNoNoNoNo1TB and 2TB only1TB and 2TB only