iPads have become essential tools for work, school, and entertainment. These sleek tablets offer the power of a computer with the convenience of a mobile device. Whether you need a device for taking notes, drawing, watching videos, or playing games, there’s an iPad model that fits your needs.
Apple continues to refine its iPad lineup in 2025 with powerful new hardware, updated designs, and smarter software. This year’s models feature major upgrades: blazing-fast M3 and M4 chips, stunning OLED and Liquid Retina displays, and new AI-powered features thanks to Apple Intelligence. We’ve also seen major improvements in battery life and accessory support across the lineup.
When shopping for an iPad, pay attention to screen size, storage capacity, and connectivity options. These choices impact how you’ll use the device daily. A larger screen benefits multitaskers and creatives, while more storage helps those managing big files or lots of media. Cellular models offer true on-the-go connectivity for frequent travelers or remote workers.
We’ve tested the current iPad lineup and broken it down by best use case—whether you need raw power, portability, or great value. Here’s what we recommend in mid-2025.
Deciding which iPad to buy in 2025 depends largely on your needs, budget, and how you plan to use the device. Apple has a range of options, from entry-level models to powerful professional tablets.
A Breakdown Of Which iPad To Buy In 2025
1. iPad (11th-gen, 2025) – Best for Most People & Budget-Conscious Users
- Overview: The latest iteration of the standard iPad offers a great balance of performance and affordability. It’s an excellent all-rounder for everyday tasks.
- Key Features:
- Processor: Apple A16 Bionic chip, providing solid performance for general use, Browse, streaming, and light productivity.
- Display: 11-inch Liquid Retina display. While not as advanced as the Air or Pro, it’s bright and sharp for most users.
- Storage: Starts at 128GB, a welcome upgrade from previous base models.
- Accessories: Supports the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Magic Keyboard Folio.
- Ideal for: Students, casual users, media consumption, note-taking, and basic productivity. It’s a fantastic value for a first iPad or an upgrade from an older model.
2. iPad Air (M3, 2025) – Best for Students & Creatives
- Overview: The iPad Air bridges the gap between the standard iPad and the Pro models, offering significant power in a more affordable package. It now comes in two sizes.
- Key Features:
- Processor: Powerful M3 chip, delivering substantial performance for more demanding apps, multitasking, and creative work like graphic design or light video editing.
- Display: Available in 11-inch and 13-inch Liquid Retina IPS displays. While not OLED or ProMotion, they offer wide color support and an anti-reflective coating.
- Storage: Starts at 128GB, with options up to 1TB.
- Accessories: Supports the new Apple Pencil Pro and the all-new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air, which includes a larger trackpad and function row.
- Ideal for: College students, aspiring artists, light video editors, and users who need more power than the base iPad but don’t require the advanced features (or price tag) of the Pro.
3. iPad mini (A17 Pro, 2024) – Best for Portability
- Overview: The iPad mini offers a compact design without sacrificing much on performance. It’s perfect for on-the-go use.
- Key Features:
- Processor: A17 Pro chip, providing excellent performance for its size.
- Display: 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display.
- Storage: Starts at 128GB.
- Accessories: Supports the Apple Pencil Pro.
- Ideal for: Users who prioritize portability, reading, gaming, quick note-taking, and those who find larger tablets cumbersome.
4. iPad Pro (M4, 2024) – Best for Professionals & Power Users
- Overview: The most powerful and premium iPad, designed for demanding professional workflows and content creation. It’s incredibly thin and light for its capabilities.
- Key Features:
- Processor: Cutting-edge M4 chip, offering desktop-class performance for intensive tasks like 4K video editing, 3D rendering, and professional design software.
- Display: Available in 11-inch and 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR OLED displays with ProMotion (120Hz refresh rate), offering incredible contrast, brightness, and color accuracy.
- Storage: Options up to 2TB, with higher storage tiers offering more RAM.
- Cameras: Advanced camera system with LiDAR scanner.
- Connectivity: Thunderbolt 4 for extremely fast data transfer.
- Accessories: Supports the Apple Pencil Pro and the advanced Magic Keyboard.
- Ideal for: Graphic designers, video editors, music producers, developers, and anyone who needs the absolute best performance and display quality in a tablet, potentially as a laptop replacement.
iPad Comparison Table (2025 Models)
| Feature | iPad (11th-gen) | iPad Air (M3) | iPad mini (A17 Pro) | iPad Pro (M4) |
| Processor | A16 Bionic | M3 | A17 Pro | M4 |
| Display Size | 11-inch | 11-inch, 13-inch | 8.3-inch | 11-inch, 13-inch |
| Display Type | Liquid Retina (LCD) | Liquid Retina (LCD) | Liquid Retina (LCD) | Ultra Retina XDR (OLED) |
| ProMotion | No | No | No | Yes |
| Starting Storage | 128GB | 128GB | 128GB | 256GB |
| Apple Pencil Compatibility | USB-C Pencil, 1st-gen Pencil | Apple Pencil Pro, USB-C Pencil | Apple Pencil Pro, USB-C Pencil | Apple Pencil Pro, USB-C Pencil |
| Keyboard Compatibility | Magic Keyboard Folio | Magic Keyboard for iPad Air | Bluetooth Keyboards | Magic Keyboard |
| Front Camera Location | Landscape edge | Landscape edge | Portrait edge | Landscape edge |
| Starting Price (approx.) | $349 | $599 (11-inch) / $799 (13-inch) | $399 | $899 (11-inch) / $1100 (13-inch) |
| Ideal For | Everyday use, students, casual users | Students, creatives, demanding tasks | Portability, reading, gaming | Professionals, content creators, power users |
Note on “Apple Intelligence” and iPadOS 18/26:
As of March 2025, Apple released the iPad (A16) and iPad Air (M3), both of which are “Built for Apple Intelligence.” The iPad Pro (M4) is also designed to leverage these AI capabilities. While specific details on iPadOS 26 are emerging, it’s expected to bring significant enhancements to productivity, multitasking, and AI features, which will be best utilized by iPads with M-series chips. The A16 Bionic in the standard iPad provides a solid experience, but the M-series chips in the Air and Pro models will offer the full range of advanced features.
iPad Air (M3, 2025): Best for Most People
The 2025 iPad Air is now powered by Apple’s M3 chip and available in 11- and 13-inch sizes for the first time. It delivers near-Pro performance at a much lower price point. With Apple Pencil Pro support, advanced multitasking in iPadOS 17, and vibrant Liquid Retina displays, it strikes the ideal balance for most users.
In our testing, the M3 iPad Air handled everything from light video editing to cloud gaming without slowdown. Battery life consistently topped 10 hours, and Stage Manager multitasking made it a productivity powerhouse. It’s our top recommendation for students, professionals, and everyday users alike.
iPad Pro (M4, 2025): Best for Power Users
Now featuring an Ultra Retina XDR OLED display and the M4 chip, the 2025 iPad Pro is Apple’s thinnest and most powerful tablet ever. Available in 11- and 13-inch sizes, it’s perfect for advanced creative work like 3D modeling, video editing, or digital illustration.
We pushed the Pro through Adobe apps, multitasking, and high-end gaming—and it never stuttered. The Pencil Pro experience is fluid and intuitive, and the new Magic Keyboard adds a MacBook-like feel. For professionals, this is the no-compromise option.
iPad (11th Gen, A16): Best Budget iPad
The latest 11th-generation iPad received a big internal update with the A16 Bionic chip, 5G support, and a USB‑C port. It’s fast enough for everyday tasks—streaming, browsing, Zoom calls, and light gaming—while retaining its accessible price point. Apple also moved the front camera to the landscape edge, which makes video calls much more natural.
This iPad remains the most affordable way to get into Apple’s ecosystem with modern hardware. It works great for students, kids, and families, especially when paired with a Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil (1st gen with USB-C adapter).
iPad Mini (7th Gen): Best Compact Option
The iPad Mini hasn’t been refreshed in 2025, but the 2024 7th generation model remains the top choice for portability. With an A16 chip, 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, and 2nd-gen Pencil support, it’s ideal for one-handed reading, notetaking, or quick sketching.
If you value compact size and want a powerful tablet for travel, journaling, or casual use, the iPad Mini still holds strong—though some may want to wait for its next update if future-proofing is a priority.
What’s New in iPadOS and Apple Intelligence?
iPadOS 18 (expected fall 2025) will bring major upgrades including floating app windows, enhanced Apple Intelligence features (on M-series iPads), and AI-based productivity tools like Smart Script handwriting refinement and contextual autofill. These tools will be exclusive to newer iPads with M-series chips—making the iPad Air (M3) and Pro (M4) even more appealing.
Older A-series iPads will continue to receive core updates, but they won’t support Apple Intelligence or some advanced multitasking tools. If you’re buying an iPad to last several years, going with an M3 or M4 model is the best future-proof move.
