Buying an iPad should be simple. You just buy whatever’s new, right? If only. Apple sells four main iPad models, each with its own strengths. In addition, there are a growing number of older iPads floating around the eBays of the world. Since all these devices generally look the same, it’s important to know what you’re buying and what you should pay for it.
This guide covers the best iPads available right now, the important differences between each model, and every old model that exists, including the ones you shouldn’t buy at any price.
Be sure to check out all our buying guides, including the Best iPhones, Best Tablets, and Best MacBooks.
Updated for September 2020: We’ve added the new iPad Air and iPad 2020 models.
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Photograph: Apple
A Good iPad
Apple iPad (10.2-inch, 2020)
Apple has refreshed its most affordable tablet, but just like last year, don’t expect any drastic new changes. We haven’t gotten our hands on it yet, but the 8th-generation iPad still gets you a 10.2-inch screen, a home button with Touch ID, as well as support for the Apple Pencil (first-gen) and the Smart Keyboard (Amazon). What’s new is the processor: Apple has stuffed the iPad with the A12 Bionic, the same chip that debuted in the iPhone XS back in 2018. It’s plenty powerful for most people and will run all your favorite apps and games.
The only downside is it still has a bit more air gap (space between glass and screen) than the iPad Air, Mini, and Pro, so it isn’t our top choice for drawing with the Pencil, though it is compatible and works just fine.
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Photograph: Apple
A Better iPad
Apple iPad Air (10.9-inch, 2020)
Apple’s fourth-generation iPad Air will make you wonder if there’s any need to shell out for the iPad Pro. It looks exactly like it, with uniform and slim edges around the 10.9-inch screen. You also get many of the same features, including support for the second-generation Apple Pencil—which can magnetically attach to the edge for automatic charging and pairing—and a USB-C charging port. That last note means you can use your MacBook charger to juice this tablet up. The Air is also the first Apple product to use the new A14 Bionic processor (which will likely power the next iPhone), putting it on par with (if not a little more powerful) than the iPad Pro.
What makes the Air unique is that despite the redesign, it hasn’t lost Touch ID. Yes, there’s no home button, but Apple has integrated Touch ID into the power button, so you can still use your fingerprint to unlock the slate or to authenticate purchases. There’s no Face ID—making it the option for anyone that hates the idea of using face recognition for security. It’s compatible with Apple’s Smart Keyboard as well as the new Magic Keyboard, and will be available this October. What’s not so great? It’s pricier than its predecessor, and the base model only has 64-gigabytes of storage.
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Photograph: Apple
The Ultimate iPad
Apple iPad Pro (11 or 12.9-inch, 2020)
If you’re thinking about getting an iPad Pro, we think you should consider the new iPad Air. It’s probably good enough for you and has a similarly large edge-to-edge display for less money.
The iPad Pro is the absolute best iPad, but it doesn’t come cheap. Unlike the others, it doesn’t have a home button or Touch ID, but it uses the front camera for Face ID just like most modern iPhones. It has slim edges around the screen, which allows for a larger display that comes in two sizes. The 12.9-incher is about the size of a magazine, and it’s wonderful for drawing with the Apple Pencil (a separate purchase), but the 11-inch model is plenty for most people. The Pencil is like the one on the new iPad Air—it magnetically sticks to the edge of the iPad Pro and wirelessly charges.
The 2020 Pro is still one of the most powerful iPads you can get, not just in performance but with other facets as well. It has more speakers for better sound quality, more microphones to pick up your voice clearer, and you get an extra camera. The 12-megapixel main camera is joined by a 10-megapixel ultrawide lens for snapping sweeping scenes, like on the iPhone 11. There’s also a lidar sensor, the kind used to measure depth for self-driving cars, but here it’s used for better augmented reality. However, as senior writer Lauren Goode notes in her review (9/10, WIRED Recommends), it’s not a drastic improvement, especially if you barely use AR apps. It’s also the only iPad in the lineup with a 120-Hz screen refresh rate, which makes everything look silky smooth.
Like the Air, it’s compatible with the Magic Keyboard and the Smart Keyboard.
