The Best iPad to Buy (and a Few to Avoid)
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FINDING THE BEST iPad should be simple. You just get whatever’s new, right? If only. Apple sells four main iPad models, each with its own strengths. In addition, a growing number of older iPads are floating around the eBays of the world. Since all these devices largely look the same, it’s important to know what you’re buying and what you should pay for it. This guide covers the best iPad models available right now, what’s coming up, the important differences between them, and the old versions that exist (including the ones you shouldn’t buy at any price). I also break down which Apple Pencil is right for you.
Be sure to check out all our buying guides, including the Best iPad Accessories, Best iPhones, Best iPhone 16 Cases, Best Tablets, and Best MacBooks.
Updated March 2025: We've added details on the new base iPad (A16) and iPad Air (M3).
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Which iPad Do You Own?
There are tons of iPads out in the world, and it can be tough to figure out exactly what model you own if you're thinking of selling it or you're looking for accessories and want to make sure they'll work with your iPad. Apple also doesn't name its slates sequentially as it does with the iPhone, only adding to the confusion. No matter. Finding your model is simple.
- Look at the back of your iPad. Etched on the back cover, near where it says "Designed by Apple in California," should be a model number starting with the letter A.
- Head to this website from Apple. Look for your corresponding model number, and that's it! You found your iPad model. (Pro tip: Use your browser's "Find in Page" function to type in your model number and find it quickly.)
Accessory makers usually indicate which iPad a case, folio, or keyboard cover is designed to work with. If you see a retailer mentioning a specific generation, this is Apple's current lineup:
- iPad: 11th generation (A16, 2025)
- iPad Mini: 7th generation (A17 Pro, 2024)
- iPad Air 11-inch: 7th generation (M3, 2025)
- iPad Air 13-inch: 2nd generation (M3, 2025)
- iPad Pro 11-inch: 5th generation (M4, 2024)
- iPad Pro 13-inch: 7th generation (M4, 2024)
Exclusive iPadOS Features
There are a few features only available on M1, M2, M3, and M4-powered iPad models, while others are exclusive to the iPad Pro. Be sure to check out our iPadOS 18 roundup for the latest features.
- Reference Mode: Available on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with M1, M2, and M4. Reference Mode allows you to use the tablet as a reference monitor to ensure color accuracy and consistent image quality when editing photos or videos with a secondary display.
- Stage Manager: Available on iPads with M1, M2, M3, M4, and older iPad Pro models (2018 onward) with the A12X and A12Z chips. For a desktop-like multitasking experience, Stage Manager allows you to resize windows, overlap them, and group them together. You'll also see recently used apps and windows appear on the left side of your screen.
- External Display Support: Available on iPads with M1, M2, M3, and M4. When using Stage Manager, you can also connect the iPad Pro and iPad Air to an external display with resolutions up to 6K. That way, instead of mirroring the iPad to the display, you can access four apps on the external display and four apps on the tablet.
- Virtual Memory Swap: Available on iPads with M1, M2, M3, and M4. If you're in need of more memory for RAM-intensive apps, Virtual Memory Swap will increase the available memory for all your apps and provide up to 16 GB for more taxing apps. If you're using an M1-powered iPad Air, this feature is only available on the 256-GB version.
- Apple Pencil Hover: Available on both sizes of the iPad Pro (M2 and M4) and iPad Air (M2 and M3). Using the second-generation Apple Pencil (on the M2-powered iPad Pro) and Apple Pencil Pro, you can hover the stylus millimeters above the screen and see a preview of what will happen before touching the display. For example, with a third-party graphic editing app like Pixelmator, hovering allows you to cycle through presets to see a live preview, or you can hover over a cropped photo to see the original image.
Which iPads Support Apple Intelligence?
Apple has been on a tirade touting Apple Intelligence, a suite of artificial intelligence features available in select hardware across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. We break down many of the new Apple Intelligence features in our iOS 18 roundup if you'd like to learn more. Unfortunately, it’s not available on all iPad models. The following iPads support Apple Intelligence:
- iPad Mini (7th gen, A17 Pro)
- iPad Air (5th gen, M1)
- iPad Air (6th gen, M2)
- iPad Air (7th gen, M3)
- iPad Pro (5th gen, M1)
- iPad Pro (6th gen, M2)
- iPad Pro (7th gen, M4)
Avoid These iPads
The iPad Mini 1 through 5 and iPad 1 through 9 have low-resolution, pixelated screens or are just too old. Forget buying one of the old 2014 iPad Air 1 or 2015 Air 2—those are too long in the tooth. Just don’t. Yes, money is tight, but your sanity is important. There’s a chance an older iPad could perform decently, but unless someone is giving you one for free, try to hunt for a newer model. Many of the older iPads no longer receive software updates, and they'll seem quite slow compared to your phone and your computer.
Peruse our Best Tablets guide for ideas if you don't want to spend a lot. If you’re buying something for a child to use, our Best Kids' Tablets guide has good options with kid-friendly features and parental controls.
Should You Buy an Older iPad Pro?
Apple has always packed a little extra into its iPad Pro tablets. It's still totally fine to buy new (not refurbished) versions of the 2021 11-inch iPad Pro and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but try not to spend more than $600 and $850, respectively. The same goes for the 2020 11-inch iPad Pro and the 2020 12.9 incher, but avoid spending more than $500 and $700. Anything more and you may as well buy the latest. These models are all powerful and match the current Pro slates in many ways; they also work with the first-generation Magic Keyboard with Trackpad. But again, cross-check prices with more recent models.
The older 2018 iPad Pro, 10.5-inch, 10-inch, and 13-inch iPad Pro tablets are not worth buying (if you can even find them). They're just too old.
Is Now a Good Time to Buy?
Yes. Apple launched a new iPad Air and base iPad in March of this year. There was also a new iPad Air and iPad Pro in May of 2024, along with a new iPad Mini in October. Apple may be working on launching an M5-powered iPad Pro later this year, but the M4 model is still an excellent tablet and plenty powerful.
Other Good iPads
Apple no longer sells these iPads, but these slightly older models are still good options, as long as you can find them for the right discount. I recommend checking third-party retailers (like Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H). I also suggest cross-checking the price with the latest models to make sure you're spending a fair amount less on the older tablet. Older models not mentioned here are increasingly hard to find and might not be worth it.
iPad Pro (2022, 6th Gen): These iPad Pro tablets (7/10, WIRED Review) use the same M2 chip that's inside the MacBook Air (2022), Mac Mini, and iPad Air (2024). It also has an excellent mini-LED screen (with a 120-Hz screen refresh rate) along with a dual camera system (with a lidar sensor), a front-facing camera with support for Center Stage, as well as great speakers and mics. It's compatible with the original Magic Keyboard case, second-generation Apple Pencil, and Apple Pencil with USB-C. I only recommend it if you can find the 11-inch for $749 or less and the 12.9-inch for $900 or less.
iPad Air (2022, 5th Gen): This iPad Air has an M1 processor (which can also be found in the 2020 MacBook Air), a 10.9-inch LCD screen, a USB-C port, Touch ID built into the top power button, and support for 5G. It's a great, lightweight tablet that's plenty powerful for most tasks. It packs support for the second-generation Apple Pencil, Apple Pencil with USB-C, and the Magic Keyboard case. I only recommend it for $450 or less.
iPad (2022, 10th Gen): The 10th gen iPad comes with an A14 Bionic chip (the same that's in the iPhone 12), a modern design (in fun colors, too), 10.9-inch Liquid Retina (IPS LCD) display, a USB-C port, Touch ID integrated into the power button, a 12-megapixel selfie camera, 12-megapixel rear camera, and support for 5G. It's also compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil, Apple Pencil (USB-C), Magic Keyboard Folio, Smart Folio. It's worth noting, however, that the display isn't fully laminated, so there's a gap between the screen and the glass that might make the Apple Pencil feel less precise. It's a solid choice if you're looking for a basic, affordable iPad. But seeing as how it's now three years old, I only recommend it for $260 or less.
iPad Air (2024, M2): This iPad Air (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is less than a year old, so it's still an excellent option. You'll have the choice between an 11-inch and a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, but both are powered by an M2 chip (the same one that powers the 13-inch MacBook Air and MacBook Pro from 2022). Additional features include a USB-C port, Touch ID built into the power button, and a 12-megapixel sensor in landscape orientation (with support for Center Stage). It's also compatible with Apple Pencil (USB-C), Apple Pencil Pro, first-gen Magic Keyboard case, and the Smart Folio case. I only recommend it if you can find the 11-inch version for under $400 and the 13-inch for $600 or less.
Great iPad Accessories
iPad accessories are endless. Below, we've highlighted some of our favorites to round out your tablet experience, and you can find more in our Best iPad Accessories guide.
Zugu Case for $50: This is our favorite folio case for the iPad for multiple reasons. It's not only durable (complete with a rigid bumper), it also has a magnetized cover that stays shut and a flap that allows you to position the screen at eight different angles. The case is magnetic, allowing you to stick it on the fridge securely. It's also reasonably priced, comes in an array of colors, and has a spot for your Apple Pencil.
Satechi M1 Wireless Mouse for $30: We're already big fans of Satechi's accessories at WIRED, and this mouse didn't disappoint. It has a comfortable ergonomic design, a sleek aluminum finish, and smooth scrolling. It has great battery life too—with a built-in lithium-ion battery, I've been using it for the past four months and have yet to charge it.
Mageasy CoverBuddy Case (iPad Pro) for $65: This case allows you to magnetically connect it to Apple's Magic Keyboard case without having to take off the case each time. It feels durable and doesn't add too much bulk to the iPad. There's also a slot for the Apple Pencil Pro or the USB-C version. The company also offers the CoverBuddy Lite for the iPad Air (M2).
Logitech Combo Touch (10th-Gen) for $160: The Combo Touch (8/10, WIRED Recommends) comes with a built-in keyboard, trackpad, and kickstand, making it ideal for getting work done on your iPad. It's also detachable, so you can easily remove the keyboard when you don't need it. It connects via Apple's Smart Connector, meaning you never need to tinker with Bluetooth or bother charging it. It's also available for the iPad Pro (M4) (although it does add a bit of weight to such a thin tablet) and the iPad Air (M2).
Casetify Impact Screen Protector for $56: If you're worried about damaging your iPad screen, I recommend this protector from Casetify. It's super thin, has excellent touch sensitivity, and is mostly fingerprint-resistant (I've wiped some smudges here and there). It's painless to apply—the company supplies a microfiber cloth, a de-dusting sticker, and wet and dry wipes.
Paperlike Charcoal Folio Case for $70: Paperlike is known for its screen protector, but the company also offers a great case. It's designed to feel like a sketchbook, complete with a polyester fabric cover that feels lightweight and high-quality. You can also prop your iPad up at two different levels. It doesn't come with an Apple Pencil slot, but there is a large flap closure that keeps it from falling out. I tested it with the iPad Air, but it's also available for the iPad Pro (both sizes).
Twelve South StayGo Mini USB-C Hub for $52: Ports are limited regardless of the iPad model. This hub from Twelve South has an 85-watt USB-C port with passthrough charging, a USB-A port, an HDMI, and a headphone jack. If you have trouble fitting it on an iPad with a case, the included socket-USB-C-to-plug-USB-C cable will fix this.
Apple Magic Trackpad (USB-C) for $129: For a spacious trackpad, the Magic Trackpad 2 is a great choice. Instead of physical buttons, it has Force Touch sensors where you can feel different levels of pressure on the pad. With support for various iPadOS gestures, you won't have to touch the screen as much. It automatically pairs with your iPad via Bluetooth and recharges with the Lightning port.
Logitech K380 Bluetooth Keyboard for $48: If you prefer an external keyboard, it's hard to go wrong with the Logitech K380. It's lightweight and portable and can be connected to up to three devices via Bluetooth (with dedicated buttons to switch between them). The keyboard is powered by AAA batteries, which lasted us around four months, so you don't have to worry about carrying a charger around.
Twelve South HoverBar Duo 2.0 for $80: The HoverBar serves two purposes. You can mount it to the side of your bed, kitchen counter, or shelf (to view content comfortably and hands-free) or you can use the included stand at your desk. With the 2nd-gen version, you can now remove the arm from the clamp and attach it directly to the stand—making it easier to swap between both modes.