When the iPad first launched in 2010, there was only one model available. Now, there are five different iPad models to choose from, each with their own benefits and drawbacks to consider.
What makes the iPad Pro different to the iPad Air? Which is the most affordable iPad? Which iPad should you buy? Let's take a look at the lineup and help you find the best iPad for you.
By virtue of the larger screen, it's hard not to recommend the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th Generation) to anyone looking at using their tablet for artistic purposes. Coupled with the second-generation Apple Pencil, the iPad Pro is a force to be reckoned with for digital artists who want to sketch, paint, and refine their ideas on a tablet.
The 2021 edition of the iPad Pro is equipped with a 10MP Ultra Wide camera, 12MP Wide lens, studio-quality mics, and a LiDAR Scanner. The latter addition was first introduced as a new feature for Apple's tablet lineup in 2020 with the 4th-generation tablet. The scanner measures the distance to surrounding objects up to five meters away. Coupled with the iPad Pro's other sensors, this allows for a more professional video and photo editing workflow, as well as improved AR performance.
But for most other users, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will likely feel a bit big. It's too large to hold with one hand comfortably, so it's not ideal for browsing Facebook on the couch. Its size also makes it a little harder to transport in a small bag. One of the reasons consumers turn to tablets is for their superior portability, so this is worth keeping in mind.
The brains of the operation is Apple's M1 chip, making the device more powerful than many Windows computers. In essence, this means the iPad Pro will be able to handle more intensive processes, though much of the extra grunt is put to use simply driving the larger display. This includes capturing and editing 4K video, for example.
When you buy an iPad Pro, you're paying for a flagship user experience. The iPad Pro features the smallest bezel on any Apple tablet ever and also incorporates Face ID biometrics first seen on the iPhone X.
- Face ID support
- Powered by Apple's M1 chip
- Smallest bezel of any iPad
- Brand: Apple
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
- CPU: Apple M1
- Memory: 6GB
- Operating System: iPadOS
- Battery: 40.88Wh
- Ports: USB-C
- Camera (Rear, Front): 12MP/10MP, 7MP
- Display (Size, Resolution): 12.9-inch, 2732x2048
- Support for second-generation Apple Pencil
- Largest screen in the iPad range
- Rear camera has 10MP Ultra Wide & 12MP Wide lenses and LiDAR Scanner
- Most expensive iPad available
- One of the heaviest iPads
The Apple iPad Air (4th Generation) is the Apple tablet with the broadest appeal. The iPad Air provides the right balance between value and power to suit most users. It features a 10.9-inch display and is powered by Apple's A14 Bionic chip, which was unveiled in 2020 alongside the iPad Air.
That means the Air can handle most tasks you throw at it, including demanding 3D games and resource-intensive digital audio workstations. The 10.9-inch display is large enough to provide clear benefits over a smaller smartphone display, without being so large that it's unwieldy.
Compatibility with Apple's Smart Keyboard attachment is a bonus for students or anyone who anticipates using their tablet for writing purposes. There's also support for the second-generation Apple Pencil which is perfect for handwritten notes, annotating PDFs, or doodling and sketching.
There are some limitations placed on the Air that defies its broad appeal. There's no support for Face ID, so you can only unlock it with the slightly outmoded Touch ID fingerprint sensor button on the side, and it's only available in with either 64GB or 256GB of storage.
- Ships with iPadOS 14
- 10.9-inch display
- Powered by Apple's A14 Bionic chip
- Brand: Apple
- Storage: 64GB, 256GB
- CPU: Apple A14 Bionic
- Memory: Not published
- Operating System: iPadOS
- Battery: 10 hours
- Ports: USB-C
- Camera (Rear, Front): 12MP, 7MP
- Display (Size, Resolution): 10.9-inch, 2360 x 1640
- Support for second-generation Apple Pencil
- Compatibility with Apple's Smart Keyboard
- No Face ID support
Apple's entry-level tablet is known simply as the Apple iPad (8th Generation). The main attraction here is the iPad's price; it is significantly cheaper than Apple's other tablets. The iPad received a refresh in 2020, evolving the iconic device to its eighth generation.
The iPad comes with a 10.2-inch display and is powered by Apple's A12 Bionic chip. This was first introduced in 2018 alongside the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. However, despite not being a cutting edge device, the iPad is still a capable tablet for everyday tasks. It will give you no problems browsing the web, checking social media, responding to email, streaming videos and music, and even playing most games.
The eighth-generation iPad also ships with Apple's latest tablet-specific operating system, iPadOS 14. In many other respects, the iPad is similar to the iPad Air, albeit 0.08 pounds heavier. However, the iPad's 8MP rear-facing camera is eclipsed by the iPad Air's 12MP lens. The iPad is somewhat lacking in the front-facing camera, taking 1.2-megapixel photos compared to the iPad Air's 7-megapixel captures.
The tablet is compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil and also supports the Smart Keyboard, as well as third-party Bluetooth keyboards. While Face ID is available for iPhone and iPad Pro users, the iPad ships only with Touch ID. Like many Apple products, the iPad is available in a variety of storage capacities up to 128GB.
- Powered by Apple's A12 Bionic chip
- 10.2-inch display
- Touch ID biometric identification
- Brand: Apple
- Storage: 32GB, 128GB
- CPU: Apple A12 Bionic
- Operating System: iPadOS
- Battery: 32.4Wh
- Ports: Lightning connector
- Camera (Rear, Front): 8MP, 1.2MP
- Display (Size, Resolution): 10.2-inch, 2160 x 1620
- Only 0.08 pounds heavier than the iPad Air
- Ships with iPadOS 14
- Ideal for everyday tasks
- Lacklustre 1.2MP front-facing camera
- Only compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil
The Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (5th Generation) might be able to replace your laptop when coupled with the Smart Keyboard Folio. While iPadOS isn't as powerful as macOS or Windows, the vast selection of apps available helps make up for it. The iPad Pro costs as much as a mid-range laptop---a price that doesn't include the optional keyboard or stylus accessories.
The lastest revision of iPadOS, the iPad's operating system, brings with it the ability to use a trackpad with your Apple tablet. Not only has this feature been explicitly designed for the iPad, rather than directly importing the Mac experience, but there's also a new detachable keyboard---the Magic Keyboard---to go alongside the update.
While your own experience may vary, typing on the Smart Keyboard Folio is a pleasant experience. Despite sitting almost flat against the desk, the keyboard is comfortable and allows you to type at speed as a comparably-sized MacBook would. This wasn't the case with Apple's original 9.7-inch iPad Pro folio, which felt cramped.
Furthermore, the Apple M1 chip found inside the iPad Pro outshines many laptops in terms of raw power and overall system performance. You'll have no problems editing 4K videos in iMovie, playing intensive 3D games, or using two apps side-by-side with all that power at your disposal. Fortunately, aside from the size, both the 12.9-inch and 11-inch models of the iPad Pro come equipped with the same hardware and software.
The iPad Pro's chassis was redesigned in 2020 for the 4th Generation device with a reduced bezel. It includes Face ID for unlocking your tablet with a glance, rather than a fingerprint. It also comes in sizes of up to 2TB, compared to the iPad Air's 256GB.
- Face ID support
- Powered by Apple's M1 chip
- Five studio-quality microphones
- Brand: Apple
- Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
- CPU: Apple M1
- Operating System: iPadOS
- Battery: 28.65Wh
- Ports: USB-C
- Camera (Rear, Front): 12MP/10MP, 7MP
- Display (Size, Resolution): 11-inch, 2388x1668
- Rear camera has 10MP Ultra Wide & 12MP Wide lenses and LiDAR Scanner
- Support for second-generation Apple Pencil
- Fingerprint-resistant coating
- Not substantially cheaper than the 12.9-inch model
- Significantly smaller battery than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro
In March 2019, Apple released the iPad mini (5th Generation). Before this, the small device hadn't seen a refresh since 2015. The updated tablets feature the same A12 Bionic chip found in the iPhone XS. That means they've got enough power under the hood to chew through most apps and processes.
But the main reason to choose the iPad mini is its form factor. With a 7.9-inch display, the iPad mini can fit into a small handbag or large pocket. Its width and height resemble many hardback books, and so it makes a compelling e-reader too.
Apple's smallest tablet fits inside the same chassis as its predecessor. There's also a Touch ID fingerprint scanner for unlocking and making purchases. You can get the iPad mini in sizes of up to 256GB. Ultimately, the main reason to pick up a Mini is that you want a very small tablet.
- Powered by Apple's A12 Bionic chip
- Portable 7.9-inch display
- Support for first-generation Apple Pencil
- Brand: Apple
- Storage: 64GB, 256GB
- CPU: Apple A12 Bionic
- Operating System: iPadOS
- Battery: 19.1Wh
- Ports: Lightning connector
- Camera (Rear, Front): 8MP, 7MP
- Display (Size, Resolution): 7.9-inch, 2048 x 1536
- Touch ID for biometric identification
- Up to 256GB of storage
- The small form means the battery is smaller as well
- The device is portable but the small display is less suited to media
FAQ
Q: What Is the Newest iPad in 2021?
Despite the challenges facing most businesses in 2020, Apple refreshed the majority of the iPad range. The company released updated iPad Pro models (in both 12.9-inch and 11-inch variants) in March 2020. Then, at an event in September, Apple launched the iPad (8th Generation) and iPad Air (4th Generation).
Following this, in May 2021, Apple updated the iPad Pro range, upgrading the iPad Pro 12.9-inch and iPad Pro 11-inch to 5th-generation devices.
Q: Should You Get an iPad Pro or iPad Air?
The iPad Pro is a large tablet (available in 12.9-inch and 11-inch variants) designed for productivity. Despite running Apple's iPadOS tablet operating system, the iPad Pro is commonly thought of as a laptop replacement, especially when coupled with the Magic Keyboard. As a result, the iPad Pro is the longest-lasting, highest storage iPad, but it is also the most expensive.
The iPad Air is designed to be portable, but a step up in performance hardware from the original iPad. This tablet isn't intended to be a laptop replacement but is a high-performance tablet, capable of most tasks, and the 10.9-inch display makes it ideal for watching videos on the go.
Q: Which Is the Best iPad in 2021?
The highest-performance Apple tablet is the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th Generation). This iPad has the largest storage capacity, biggest battery, largest screen, and most high-spec features in the range. However, it is also the most expensive, and therefore isn't right for everyone. Additionally, it is intended as a laptop replacement, so it's not overly portable.
The best portable iPad is the iPad Air (4th Generation). This tablet was refreshed in September 2020 and has the most up-to-date processor, display technology, and ships with iPadOS 14.
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