iPad Buying Guide

I will try to keep this article updated as new iPads are released. This article is current as of March 5 2025. If any new iPads have come out since then you may want to contact me.

iPad is Apple's most varied product line, so it easily gets confusing when trying to decide which one to pick. Hopefully, this chart will help out.

When purchasing an iPad you have 4 decisions to make:

1. Model (refer to my table below
2. Color
3. WiFi or WiFi+Cellular (read on for my take)
4. Accessories you'll need

In addition to what's in the table below, the iPad Pro models do have a lot of upgrades over the other models:

• Face ID instead of Touch ID
• Significantly better speakers
• Better mic including Audio Zoom while taking video (it uses microphone tech that can "zoom" in on a distant subject like a camera zoom)
• LiDAR scanner
• The USB-C connector supports Thunderbolt/USB 4 speeds
• ProMotion display with 120Hz refresh rate
• Brighter, more accurate OLED screen

If you are unsure, I usually recommend the iPad Air. For more detailed comparisons, including with older models, you should visit Apple's iPad Comparison Tool.

	iPad mini A17Pro (7th Gen)	iPad A16 (11th Gen)	iPad Air 11" M3	iPad Air 13" M3	iPad Pro 11" M4	iPad Pro 13" M4
(image sizes not proportional)
Retail Starting Price	$499	$349	$599	$799	$999	$1,299
Price for 256 GB (for apple-to-apples comparison)	$599	$449	$699	$899	$999	$1,299
Purchase Link	Apple / Best Buy / B&H Photo / Amazon	Apple / Best Buy / B&H Photo / Amazon	Apple / Best Buy / B&H Photo / Amazon	Apple / Best Buy / B&H Photo / Amazon	Apple / Best Buy / B&H Photo / Amazon	Apple / Best Buy / B&H Photo / Amazon
Who It's For	Someone who values portability above all else, and is happy with an iPad the size of a paperback book. Good for reading in bed because it's much smaller and therefore lighter.	Someone who values cost above all else and is fine with a lower-quality screen. Great for kids or for casual use.	Best for most people. A good balance of quality and cost. Great for people who spend a lot of time on their iPad.	Best for most people who want a larger screen. Great for	Best for media professionals or people who wan to spend extra on something thin with an incredible screen	Best for media professionals or people who wan to spend extra on something thin with an incredible screen
Drawbacks	No support for Stage Manager	Low picture quality compared to other iPads. Screen is not "laminated" which means the glass and the display has a noticeable gap between. No support for Apple Intelligence. Slowest iPad. No support for Stage Manager.	None really that I can think of.	If you use it for watching movies on an airplane you may find that it's too large for many tablet holders.	It's far more powerful than most people need.	The cost is more than a MacBook Air.
Screen Size	8.3"	10.9"	10.9"	12.9	13"	13"
Processor	A17 Pro	A16	Apple M3	Apple M3	Apple M4 - 9-core (256/512 GB models) or 10-core (1 or 2 TB models)	Apple M4 - 9-core (256/512 GB models) or 10-core (1 or 2 TB models)
Speed Compared to iPad Air, per Geekbench	About ⅔ the speed	Slight more than half as fast	Baseline	Baseline	25-30% faster	25-30% faster
Authentication	Touch ID	Touch ID	Touch ID	Touch ID	Face ID	Face ID
Apple Pencil Support	Apple Pencil Pro / Apple Pencil USB-C	Apple Pencil 1 / Apple Pencil USB-C	Apple Pencil Pro / Apple Pencil USB-C	Apple Pencil Pro / Apple Pencil USB-C	Apple Pencil Pro / Apple Pencil USB-C	Apple Pencil Pro / Apple Pencil USB-C
Capacities	128 GB 256 GB 512 GB	129 GB 256 GB 512 GB	128 GB 256 GB 512 GB 1 TB	128 GB 256 GB 512 GB 1 TB	256 GB 512 GB 1 TB 2 TB	256 GB 512 GB 1 TB 2 TB

Where to Buy. I recommend purchasing from any authorized reseller. This includes direct from Apple, Best Buy, Amazon (if sold by Amazon), Target, B&H Photo, Adorama, and more. I don't generally recommend buying used unless you trust the seller. There are a lot of stolen iPads on marketplaces such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist that are locked and cannot be used. And oftentimes when someone is selling an iPad it's because it has a problem. You may want to shop around a bit because you can often find iPads discounted $50 to $100, and sometimes only a particular color is discounted.

Cellular + WiFi vs. WiFi. Getting cellular allows you to connect your iPad to the internet without the use of WiFi or a mobile hotspot. The cost for cellular is an additional $150 for most models and $200 for iPad Pro, as well as a monthly fee from your cell phone provider for an additional line. For most people, I recommend just using WiFi or a mobile hotspot. You cannot add the cellular hardware later without replacing the iPad, but if you get the cellular model you are not required to pay for the cellular service.

Storage Capacity. You cannot upgrade your storage capacity without replacing your iPad, so make sure you choose the amount that meets your needs. 128 GB is probably enough for the lightest around-the-house iPad or to download a few movies for flights. If you want to keep a large video library go for the 512 GB. The 1 and 2 TB storage are probably overkill for most people, but could be useful for digital artists or people who just need gobs of data on their device.

Two tiers of iPad Pro: It's not well-advertised unless you look into the specs, but there are actually two different models of iPad Pro within each size option. The 256 GB and 512 GB storage options have 3 high-performance cores and 8 GB of RAM. The 1TB and 2TB models bump you up to 4 high-performance cores and 16 GB of RAM. This theoretically makes that model about 30% faster and less likely to need to reload apps when switching. Additionally, only the higher-capacity models are available with the $100 nano-textured glass upgrade.

Covers/Keyboards. As for accessories, generally, the only one I pretty much universally recommend is some sort of cover. That can either be one with or without an integrated keyboard. If you don't want a keyboard, you can just get the "Smart Folio" which is a simple magnetic cover that protects the front and the back.

• For the most simple options, check out what Apple has to offer.
• For more durable cover options at the expense of size, check out OtterBox.
• For a keyboard with better protection or for more options at the expense of size, check out Logitech.

Apple Pencil. Many people have an interest in the Apple Pencil, but you should know that the Apple Pencil is not meant to be a tool to navigate the iPad in place of your finger. It can do that somewhat but it doesn't work as well as your finger. It is intended for drawing and writing. So unless you intend to use the iPad for taking handwritten notes or for drawing, I recommend you skip the Apple Pencil altogether. Most people don't need it. And most people who buy it never use it. There are four models available, so make sure you are getting the correct one. Each iPad only works with specific models.

Chargers. All iPads come with a USB-C cable. Most models beginning in 2024 do not have a charging block. If you want additional blocks or cables or want one that can charge multiple devices, I recommend looking at Anker rather than Apple. They are more affordable, usually smaller, and they offer a larger variety of configuration options.

Screen Protectors. I don't recommend the use of screen protectors. They can interfere with the touch sensitivity. And they don't do what most people think they do. They will not protect your screen from cracking. Anything that strikes the iPad with enough force to crack the screen will do so through a thin sheet of plastic or glass. They only protect from scratches, which is not very likely if you have a cover anyway.

Featured image courtesy Apple, Inc.