The best iPads to buy for convenient computing, entertainment and productivity

In the most radical shake-up of a more affordable iPad in years, this Apple slate comes in four vibrant colours – blue, pink, yellow, and silver – and ditches the physical home button and Lightning connector found in the entry-level model in favour of the same “all-screen” design and USB-C port of the more expensive iPad Air. It’s for anyone who wants an iPad with a more playful design and better specs than the basic model, but without the need for the powerful M1 or M2 chips in the Air or Pros.

That’s not to say the 10th gen iPad lacks punch: it houses an A14 chip (the same as the iPhone 12 smartphones) that’s more than enough for internet browsing, watching streaming shows and light gaming, while the camera is 12MP instead of 8MP, and it’s also available with 5G.

You do have to pay around £130 more for this model than the entry-level iPad; however, if you want an Apple tablet that’s slightly more future-proofed we reckon it's worth the money. While it’s a bit of a shame that this model still only works with the 1st generation Apple Pencil (the Air works with the more recent 2nd generation) we love that unlike the basic model, it’s fully compatible with the Magic Keyboard Folio.

That pop-on case features a trackpad so it more effectively works like a full-blown travel laptop – ideal if you’re working on-the-go. You don’t get the super-powerful specs of the iPad Pros, but this is an ideal middle-ground between the most affordable model and the mid-range iPad Air. Read more in our iPad (10th generation) review.

The iPad Air may sit in the middle of Apple’s range, but it’s far from an awkward middle child. This one packs all the main features of the Pro models at a more sensible price. Whether you want to get work done, draw and take notes, or watch videos and read the news on a bigger screen than your phone, we think this is the best iPad for most people.

It has the same M2 chip that fuels the previous generations of the iPad Pro and MacBook Air as well as the Vision Pro headset, so it’s packing in some serious computing power. It can handle multitasking with ease and works well with the latest Apple Pencil Pro and the excellent Magic Keyboard for when you’re composing emails. We reviewed the 2024 iPad Air, using it for video calls, social media, photo editing and writing, and it never struggles with any of these tasks.

The versatile USB-C port makes it more capable when connecting to card readers, external storage or displays, and we like how it includes a fingerprint reader for authenticating our online shopping habits and unlocking the device.

The Pro models may add facial recognition for unlocking and displays that are smoother and higher quality, but the Air is high-spec enough to work as a laptop replacement too and delivers most features from the Pro for less cash. It also comes in the widest range of fun colours compared to other iPads, available in blue, grey, purple, and a champagne gold “Starlight” finish.

One of the best things about the 2024 update to the iPad lineup is that there’s now a 13-inch variant of the mid-range iPad Pro. Before this, anyone wanting a bigger screen iPad would have to upgrade all the way to the highest-end iPad Pro with its massive display, but it’s now possible to get all the benefits at a lower cost.

What are those perks? Well, with the 13-inch screen, we find it’s much easier to read more text at once, multitask, and see more on FaceTime calls. Your videos will, of course, be much bigger and that makes this an excellent option if you’ll be using the iPad to watch shows and movies on streaming services.

The terrific M2 chip powering this iPad means it has more computing power than most of us will ever require, and it’s exceptionally fast and capable with everything we use it for. If you compare it directly to the Pro, you may notice the lack of facial recognition authentication and that the Pro has outstanding OLED display tech, but we don’t think these are quite as noticeable in everyday use, and you’ll appreciate the much more sensible price.

Like the 11-inch iPad Air in 2024, it also supports the latest Apple Pencil Pro and continues to support the super handy Magic Keyboard that we use all the time when we want to get some proper work done on the tablet. It will still last for 10 hours on its battery and isn’t too much heavier to hold than the 13-inch iPad Pro (2024), increasing from 579g to 618g.

The 2024 refresh of the iPad Mini brings a handful of upgrades to the ultra-portable model. Now equipped with Apple’s A17 Pro chip, it has enhanced performance to bring it closer to Apple’s higher-end devices.

This both enables it to run pro apps more smoothly and makes sure it's ready for upcoming Apple Intelligence (AI) features. Overall, this model is ideal for users looking for an iPad that’s compact enough for travel but powerful enough for some productivity tasks, gaming, photo editing and light multitasking.

One of the most noticeable improvements is the bump in storage, with the base model starting at 128GB – double what the previous generation offered. It shares its 8.3-inch, edge-to-edge screen design with the 2021 model, but now supports the latest Apple Pencil Pro, a stylus with advanced features like “squeeze” gestures and better orientation sensing. It’s ideal for note-taking.

Starting at £499, the iPad Mini is the top small tablet we recommend. It's a bit less of a productivity device but ideal for on-the-go entertainment. It's perfect for readers, commuters, and anyone looking for a high-quality device that’s larger than a smartphone but far lighter and smaller than a standard tablet. Read more of our thoughts in our iPad Mini (2024) review.

For those already using the 2021 model, the upgrades are incremental and moving to the newest model won't be necessary.

We don’t think most users need the sheer power from the iPad Pro models, especially with the most recent updates to the Air, but if you’re looking for something that can deal with the most intensive computing jobs, you’ll want to consider the Pro tablet, which was updated in 2024 to add the speedy and efficient Apple M4 chip. It’s also now far thinner and more sleek than ever before, with updated display technology, which you can read about in our iPad Pro (2024) review.

Perhaps you’re after an iPad that can manage more intensive video and photo editing. Or design and animation? If you know you’ll be pushing the tablet to its limits (or you’re buying this as a gift for someone who will), you may want to pick this over the iPad Air because it can be upgraded with far more storage space – up to a vast 2TB.

This 11-inch model has a smoother and brighter display with a slightly higher resolution than the mid-range Air – now boasting vibrant and clear OLED screens for better contrast and clarity – which makes the interface feel more fluid and refined. It’s a proper rival to a laptop that supports even better accessories than the Air, including the latest Apple Pencil Pro and an updated Magic Keyboard with a function row, aluminium construction and improved trackpad.

When it comes to the other improvements, this one has a better speaker system, a Lidar laser system and flash, and facial recognition to unlock the device rather than a fingerprint sensor.

This massive 13-inch iPad Pro is overkill for all but the most demanding users, but it is the closest Apple has to a full laptop replacement. Picking this is a bit like going for a MacBook with a touchscreen, although it’s worth adding that iPadOS isn’t quite on the same level as the Mac operating system when it comes to managing your files and using multiple windows at once.

It’s a bigger variant of the 11-inch Pro, so if you like the sound of a smoother and brighter display, this is a top option. It’s also now thinner than the 11-inch variant and weighs 579g, making it a device you could realistically slip into your bag without noticing it. Of course, most users will also want to add the new Magic Keyboard, which doubles the thickness and adds to the weight.

Editors, designers and animators will appreciate this high-end iPad the most, as the high refresh rate on the stunning OLED display makes everything look seamless, and it’s now powered by the efficient and fast M4 chip. This powerhouse works with Apple’s best iPad accessories, including its premium keyboards and the newer version of the stylus, the Apple Pencil Pro.

For most of us, the computing power of this device (or the 11-inch Pro model) will be unnecessary, but if you’re looking for a high-performance tablet with a whopping display that can speed through any task you throw at it, this is the one to pick.