The most effective iPad for 2025: Learn how to decide the very best Apple pill for you

We’ve lengthy thought-about Apple’s iPads to be the best tablets available on the market, however figuring out precisely which mannequin you should purchase isn’t at all times easy. Do you simply need a massive display for streaming and internet looking? Do you wish to use it like a pseudo-laptop? Do you care about Apple Intelligence in any respect? Should you’re unsure, enable us to assist. We’ve examined each iPad obtainable immediately and damaged down which of them ought to finest suit your wants beneath.

The most effective iPads for 2025

How we check the very best iPads

The highest fringe of the iPad mini.

Photograph by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget

Very similar to we do for our information to the best tablets overall, we spend a number of days with every iPad to see how they really feel and carry out with completely different duties: watching movies, internet looking, enjoying each informal and graphically intense video games, enhancing 4K photographs and video, operating a number of apps side-by-side, making FaceTime calls and the like. To raised measure efficiency particularly, we use benchmarking assessments like Geekbench 6, 3DMark and GFXBench Metal, plus we measure how lengthy it takes for every pill besides up and open varied apps. We additionally verify how effectively every pill holds up long-term, whether or not it’s with a evaluate unit supplied by Apple or an iPad mannequin that’s owned by a member of the Engadget workers.

To assist evaluate the colour efficiency and brightness of the shows, we play the identical movies on completely different iPads, side-by-side, at equal brightness ranges. We use every pill in direct daylight outdoor to see how effectively they maintain as much as glare, and we play a handful of the identical musical tracks to guage speaker efficiency. For battery life, we hold observe of how lengthy every pill usually lasts earlier than it wants a recharge, however we additionally play a 1080p film on a loop at roughly 70 p.c brightness with power-sapping background processes off. We additionally check every system with an Apple Pencil and notice how responsive the stylus feels. Lastly, we fastidiously pore over spec sheets and software program updates to maintain observe of which options can be found on sure iPads however not others.

iPad FAQs

A pink 11-inch Apple iPad rests on top of a silver 13-inch iPad Air. Both tablets are face down on a gray carpet with beige and white streaks. — The iPad (A16) on prime of an 13-inch iPad Air.

How lengthy do iPads sometimes final?

If historical past is any indication, count on Apple to replace your iPad to the newest model of iPadOS for at the very least 5 years, if not longer. The iPadOS 18 update, for instance, is available on iPad Professional fashions relationship again to 2018 and different iPads relationship again to 2019. How lengthy your iPad’s {hardware} will final is determined by which mannequin you purchase and the way effectively you keep it. (Should you’re significantly clumsy, think about an iPad case.) A extra highly effective iPad Professional will really feel quick for an extended time than an entry-level iPad, however every mannequin ought to stay at the very least serviceable till Apple stops updating it, at minimal.

What’s the distinction between the iPad and the iPad Air?

In comparison with the Eleventh-gen iPad, the iPad Air runs on a stronger M3 chip (as an alternative of the A16 Bionic) and has 2GB extra RAM (8GB whole). Each include 128GB of storage by default. The Air can be obtainable in two sizes, 11 and 13 inches, whereas the Eleventh-gen iPad would not provide the bigger display possibility. The M-series SoC provides the Air higher long-term efficiency, plus entry to sure iPadOS options comparable to Apple Intelligence and Stage Manager. Its show helps a wider P3 shade gamut, has an antireflective coating and is absolutely laminated. The latter means there’s no “air hole” between the show and the glass masking it, so it feels extra such as you’re immediately touching what’s on display as an alternative of interacting with a picture beneath the glass. The Air additionally works with the newer Pencil Professional stylus and extra snug Magic Keyboards, and its USB-C port helps quicker information switch speeds. It technically helps faster Wi-Fi 6E, too, whereas the lower-cost iPad makes use of Wi-Fi 6.

Beginning at $349, the Eleventh-gen iPad is $250 cheaper than the iPad Air. It has a equally elegant design with flat edges, skinny bezels, USB-C port, and a Contact ID reader. Battery life is rated on the identical 10 hours, and each gadgets have their front-facing digital camera on their lengthy edge, which is a extra pure place for video calls. The cheaper iPad works with the first-gen and USB-C Apple Pencils – that are more convoluted to cost – and a singular keyboard accent known as the Magic Keyboard Folio.

How do I take a screenshot on an iPad?

As we notice in our screenshot how-to guide, you possibly can take a screenshot in your iPad by urgent the highest button and both quantity button on the identical time. You probably have an older iPad with a Residence button, concurrently press the highest button and the Residence button as an alternative.

Current updates

April 2025: We’ve calmly edited this information to make sure all particulars and hyperlinks are nonetheless right. We’re additionally maintaining a tally of how the Trump administration’s tariff policy impacts the pricing and inventory of the iPad lineup (and each different tech class). All of our picks are nonetheless obtainable at regular costs immediately, however we’ll replace this information if that adjustments.

March 2025: We have reviewed the iPad (A16) and named it our new price range decide, eradicating the discontinued Tenth-gen iPad within the course of.

March 2025: The recently-launched iPad Air M3 has changed its predecessor as our prime general advice. We’ve additionally made a notice relating to the brand new iPad (A16), which we plan to check within the close to future and count on to develop into our new price range decide. We’ve made a handful of edits elsewhere within the information to mirror Apple’s newest {hardware}.

January 2025: We’ve calmly edited this information for readability. Our suggestions stay the identical.

October 2024: We have up to date our information to incorporate the brand new iPad mini 7.

June 2024: We’ve touched up this information to mirror among the new iPadOS options Apple introduced at WWDC, although our picks stay the identical.

Nathan Ingraham contributed to this report.

This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cellular/tablets/best-ipads-how-to-pick-the-best-apple-tablet-for-you-150054066.html?src=rss

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