There are lots of great iPads to choose from in 2024, but trying to find the best iPad for you and your needs can be a challenge. Should you save your money and get the most affordable iPad? Is it worth spending a bit more for the iPad Air? Do you need to go all out with the most expensive iPad Pro? There's a great deal to consider, and it can quickly become overwhelming.
Here's the good news: we're here to help. The Mobile team at Digital Trends regularly tests new iPad releases to determine what's good, what's bad, and what deserves to be at the top of your shopping list. Without further ado, here are our picks for the best iPads in 2024.
Quick overview
- iPad Air (2024): The best iPad for most people, offering a great balance of modern specs and features at a reasonable price.
- iPad (2022): If you want to save some cash but still get a great iPad, you can't do better than the base iPad.
- iPad Pro (2024): An incredible choice for creatives, productivity machines, and avid gamers.
- iPad mini (2021): The iPad to buy if portability is your top concern.
- iPad (2021): Want to get an iPad for as little money as possible? This is the one to buy.
Best overall iPad
iPad Air (2024)
- Thin, light, and portable
- Huge power reserves
- 128GB minimum storage
- Great for games and video
- Good for general work with a keyboard
- 60Hz screen
- Slow charging
- Little incentive to upgrade
| Specification: | |
| Size | 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm (11-inch), 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.1mm (13-inch) |
| Weight | 462g (11-inch), 617g (13-inch) |
| Screen | 11 or 13-inch Liquid Retina, 60Hz |
| Processor | M2, 8-core CPU, 9-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Cameras | 12MP rear camera, 12MP front camera |
| Apple Intelligence | Yes |
As you begin your shopping for the best iPad, the best place to start looking is the iPad Air (2024). It's one of the highest-rated iPads we've reviewed this year, and for most people, it's likely to be the best choice.
Why is that? It all starts with the hardware. The iPad Air is thin, lightweight, and incredibly easy to carry around the house without much hassle. The whole package feels high-quality, too, and while there's no Face ID, you do get a Touch ID sensor embedded in the power button — and it works very well.
Performance on the iPad Air (2024) is fantastic, too. Inside the tablet is Apple's M2 chip, which is more than fast enough for gaming, watching movies, and running multiple apps at once. You also get 128GB of storage space by default, which is a considerable upgrade from the 64GB that used to be the starting amount for older iPad Airs.
The 11-inch display is another highlight. It's bright, colorful, and generally very nice to look at. Only having a 60Hz refresh rate isn't ideal, but if that doesn't bother you, this is a fantastic screen.
If you're buying your first iPad or upgrading from one that's a few years old, the iPad Air (2024) is a very easy recommendation. It feels great to use, has ample specs, a quality display, and also supports an excellent suite of accessories. And with a $599 starting price, it won't put too big of a dent in your wallet.
Note that the iPad Air (2024) comes in 11- and 13-inch display options. Our senior mobile writer, Andy Boxall, reviewed the 11-inch version, but the 13-inch model has all of the same specs and features — just a larger display and battery.
Best value iPad
iPad (2022)
- Updated, modern design
- Wonderfully vibrant colors
- Larger display is fantastic
- A14 chip is plenty powerful
- Strong battery life
- USB-C is finally here
- The headphone jack is gone
- Apple Pencil situation is a mess
- Non-laminated screen
| Specification: | |
| Size | 248.6 x 179.5 x 7mm |
| Weight | 477g |
| Screen | 10.9-inch Liquid Retina, 60Hz |
| Processor | A14 Bionic, 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine |
| Storage | 64GB, 256GB |
| Cameras | 12MP rear camera, 12MP front camera |
| Apple Intelligence | No |
OK, so you like the iPad Air, but it's a bit too rich for your blood. That's fair! $599 may be more than you're willing to spend, and if that's the case, I'd recommend you check out the iPad (2022) instead. I reviewed this iPad when it launched a couple of years ago, and I'll be honest — I really miss the review unit I had to send back to Apple.
While it may not be as technically impressive as the iPad Air, the iPad (2022) still delivers a really nice user experience for considerably less money. It's a tiny bit bigger and heavier than the Air, but it remains very easy to hold and carry. I also adore the saturated colors it comes in, particularly the yellow one you can see in the photo above.
The 10.9-inch display has the same 2360 x 1640 resolution as the iPad Air and the same 500 nits of brightness. The A14 Bionic chip delivers good performance, battery life is reliable, and you can recharge it via USB-C. It's all great stuff. Just be aware that Apple Intelligence features are not available, if that matters to you.
The best part, though, is the price. While it initially released with a $449 starting price, the iPad (2022) now retails for just $349. That's for the model with 64GB of storage, which may not be enough for some people, but upgrading to 256GB only raises the price to $499. If you need an iPad for browsing the web while you laze on the couch, playing some light games, or for watching movies on the plane — and you can't stomach the price of the Air — this is your best choice.
Best premium iPad
iPad Pro (2024)
- Sublime OLED screen
- Lovely design and build
- Top-notch speakers
- Surprisingly good battery life
- Blistering performance
- Excellent keyboard and stylus
- iPadOS is achingly lacking
- It's extremely expensive
- Pricey accessories
| Specification: | |
| Size | 249.7 x 177.5 x 5.3mm (11-inch), 281.6 x 215.5 x 5.1mm (13-inch) |
| Weight | 444g (11-inch), 579g, (13-inch) |
| Screen | 11- or 13-inch Tandem OLED, 120Hz |
| Processor | M4 9 or 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Cameras | 12MP rear camera, 12MP front camera |
| Apple Intelligence | Yes |
The iPad Pro (2024) isn't for everyone. It's big, expensive, and likely overkill for what you need in an iPad. But if money isn't an object and you just care about getting the most capable iPad possible, you've found your match.
Digital Trends contributor Nadeem Sarwar reviewed the iPad Pro (2024) for us earlier this year, calling it "the best tablet I've ever used." What makes it so good? It's a combination of the iPad Pro's OLED display, incredible hardware, long battery life, and top-notch performance.
The iPad Pro is the only iPad on this list with an OLED screen, and the only iPad with a 120Hz refresh rate. It's exquisite in every sense of the word, and one of the main reasons to buy the iPad Pro. The other reason is the M4 chip, which is the chip you want if you plan on playing graphically intense games, editing 4K video, or doing serious app multitasking.
Alone, the iPad Pro is great. But it gets even better when you pair it with the Apple Pencil and — most importantly — the Magic Keyboard. The iPad Pro isn't the only iPad with accessories like this, but it certainly makes the best use of them.
Of course, all of this comes at a very pretty penny. The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999, and the 13-inch model we reviewed starts at $1,299. Add another $129 for the Apple Pencil Pro and $299 for the Magic Keyboard, and you're looking at a huge bill. However, if you have a job or hobby that demands a tablet like the iPad Pro — such as a video editor or an artist — it's well worth the investment.
Best small iPad
iPad mini (2021)
- Big enough to perform most tasks
- Compact enough to travel easily
- Powerful performance
- Loud speakers
- USB-C
- Screen is not bright enough
- Too small for content creation
- No headphone jack
| Specification: | |
| Size | 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3mm |
| Weight | 293g |
| Screen | 8.3-inch Liquid Retina, 60Hz |
| Processor | A15 Bionic, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine |
| Storage | 64GB, 256GB |
| Cameras | 12MP rear camera, 12MP front camera |
| Apple Intelligence | No |
The iPad mini is the most controversial member of the iPad lineup. Some love it for how compact and portable it is, while others think it's too small to be any more useful than a large iPhone. There's an argument to be made for both sides, and we'll try to help you decide if the mini is right for you.
Why might the iPad mini (2021) be a good fit? Given how small and light it is, you can easily fit it in any bag, and maybe even a pocket. For reading e-books, catching up on YouTube videos, or playing daily Wordle puzzles, it's the perfect size for casual, comfortable use.
However, if you want to do more intensive tasks on your iPad, the mini may leave you wanting — particularly if you want to draw with the Apple Pencil or edit videos. You can technically do those things on the iPad mini, but you'll likely find the whole experience quite cramped — something former Digital Trends contributor Adam Doud discovered when he reviewed the tablet.
Beyond the size debate, the rest of the iPad mini (2021) is quality across the board. The A15 Bionic chip is fast, the speakers are loud, and now that it's been out for a while, you can easily find it on sale for $400 or less.
That all said, keep in mind that there is a new iPad mini (2024) now available. It's largely the same tablet, just with a newer chip and more base storage. We aren't recommending it yet as we've not reviewed it, but keep an eye out for that coming soon. In the meantime, the iPad mini (2021) remains our recommendation of the best small iPad we've tested.
Best affordable iPad
iPad (2021)
- Great battery life
- Powerful internals
- Big upgrade to the front-facing camera
- Amazing software support
- Base storage more acceptable at 64GB
- Display doesn't get bright enough
- Still has a Lightning port
- Slow Touch ID sensor
| Specification: | |
| Size | 250.6 x 174.1 x 7.5mm |
| Weight | 487g |
| Screen | 10.2-inch Retina, 60Hz |
| Processor | A13 Bionic, 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 8-core Neural Engine |
| Storage | 64GB, 256GB |
| Cameras | 8MP rear camera, 12MP front camera |
| Apple Intelligence | No |
Last but not least, we have the iPad (2021). It's the oldest iPad on our list, and with the least performant specs. If you want an iPad that can play the latest games and has the best display for watching movies, you're better off with other picks on this list.
That said, if you want an iPad for web browsing, casual gaming, and other simple tasks, the iPad (2021) still handles them perfectly. The 10.2-inch screen is easy to read, the A14 Bionic is no slouch in 2024, and it's the only iPad on this list with a Home button — something you may not be ready to give up quite yet.
When he originally reviewed the iPad (2021), former Digital Trends contributor Adam Doud said the iPad (2021) was "arguably the best tablet you can buy on a budget." Fast forward to 2024, and that holds true.
Although the iPad (2022) is a better overall value, $349 may be a bit more than you're willing to spend. The iPad (2021) can be found for as little as $200 these days, which is an unbelievable price for a new iPad. If you're OK sacrificing some features and specs in exchange for an incredible deal, the iPad (2021) is well worth your consideration.
What to consider
How much iPad storage do you need?
No matter which iPad you decide to buy, you'll be met with an important thing to decide: how much storage do you need? That's a personal question you'll need to decide for yourself, but here's some advice to get you on the right track.
The iPad (2022), iPad mini (2021), and iPad (2021) all come with 64GB of storage by default. That's probably fine if you don't plan on downloading too many games or movies, but if you can afford it, upgrading to the 256GB models is money well spent. The 128GB of starting storage for the iPad Air (2024) is much more reasonable and likely enough for most folks, and if you get the iPad Pro (2024), you're treated to 256GB by default.
Which iPads have Apple Intelligence?
Apple Intelligence is the hot new feature for iPads right now. Of the iPads mentioned here, the iPad Air (2024) and iPad Pro (2024) both support Apple Intelligence features. The iPad (2022), iPad mini (2021), and iPad (2021) do not work with Apple Intelligence.
Which iPads are compatible with the Apple Pencil?
If you're interested in using your future iPad with an Apple Pencil, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that all of the iPads here work with the Apple Pencil. The bad news is that it can be a little tricky to know which Apple Pencil model works with each iPad. Here's a cheat sheet to keep in mind:
- iPad Air (2024): Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C
- iPad (2022): Apple Pencil USB-C and Apple Pencil 1st gen
- iPad Pro (2024): Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C
- iPad mini (2021): Apple Pencil USB-C and Apple Pencil 2nd gen
- iPad (2021): Apple Pencil 1st gen
Which iPad is best for drawing?
If you want an iPad specifically for drawing, you want an iPad that's compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro. As such, your best options are the iPad Air (2024) and iPad Pro (2024). The Apple Pencil Pro has all of the same features on both tablets, so the key difference comes down to the display. The Tandem AMOLED panel on the iPad Pro is one of the best available on a tablet today, and the 120Hz refresh rate means you get a more fluid and natural drawing experience. Casual doodlers and sketchers will be more than well-suited with the iPad Air, but if you're a more professional artist, you should seriously consider going for the iPad Pro.
How we chose
All of the iPads recommended here were used, tested, and reviewed by Digital Trends. From analyzing display quality, running various apps and games to test performance, evaluating battery life, etc., we spent time with all of the iPads here to make sure we give you the best recommendation possible. To get an even closer look at our review process, see our guide explaining how we test products at Digital Trends, plus a more specific guide about how we test tablets.
Why trust us
Digital Trends has been covering all things consumer tech since 2006, meaning we were there to review the original iPad in 2010 and have continued reviewing every subsequent model since. I've been reviewing and writing about consumer tech since 2012, including reviews of the iPhone 16 and iPad Pro (2022) here on Digital Trends. The other Digital Trends writers/contributors with iPad reviews featured here have similar years of experience.
