Take your notes on the go, stream your favorite shows and more with the best iPads.
But for those not using their iPads for professional work, especially those who want to replace their laptop on the go, the Apple 11-Inch iPad Pro (4th Generation) is another great choice for travelers. And, of course, the Apple iPad Mini (6th Generation) wins as a small, portable tablet. No matter your needs, these are the best iPads you can buy in 2024.
- Best iPad Overall: Apple 12.9-Inch iPad Pro (6th Generation)
- Best Budget iPad: Apple 10.2-Inch iPad (9th Generation)
- Best iPad For Video Calls: Apple 10.9-Inch iPad (10th Generation)
- Best iPad For Students: Apple 10.9-Inch iPad Air (5th Generation)
- Best Small iPad: Apple iPad Mini (6th Generation)
Best iPad Overall
If Money Is No Object
Apple 12.9-Inch iPad Pro (6th Generation)
Weight: 1.5 pounds | Dimensions: 8.5 x 11 x .2 inches | Display: Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED 120 Hz | Resolution: 2048 x 2732 | CPU: Apple M2 | Storage: 128 GB (up to 2 TB) | Battery: Up to 10 hours | Rear camera: 12 MP, 10 MP, LiDAR | Front camera: 12 MP
Best for: Getting the absolute best Apple tablet on the market.
Pros:
- Beautiful mini-LED screen
- M2 chip is future-proofed
- Apple Pencil 2nd-Gen support
Cons:
- 128 GB base storage isn’t enough
- Battery life could be better
- Expensive with all the accessories
The Apple 12.9-Inch iPad Pro is undoubtedly the top Apple tablet available. It has the best hardware on an iPad, including the large Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display. It’s great for enjoying for rich colors and deep blacks, and can provide reference colors for coders, artists, and graphic designers. Powered by the same M2 chip used in Apple’s MacBook Air, it offers laptop-level power in a more friendly size, better graphics—perfect for high-end gaming and video editing—and faster memory. The Apple Pencil gains hover support, meaning your iPad can recognize it when it’s up to 12 cm away from the display.
The cameras can record Apple ProRes video, and the Thunderbolt port allows you to record and edit footage directly from a fast SSD. Like any Apple product, the best of the best doesn’t come cheap. It starts at $1,099, although you’ll likely want to upgrade that storage as 128 GB isn’t enough to take advantage of all the iPad’s key features. It’s also compatible with the Apple Magic Keyboard, which offers a laptop-like form factor including a keyboard and trackpad—though this will cost you $350 extra.
What the writers say: Our writer says, “The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is the Porsche of the iPad range. It’s the jewel in Apple’s technology crown, and it comes at a high price, but it’s worth it. I’ve owned every model since the first, and while it becomes very heavy with the Magnetic Keyboard, there’s no denying the overall value it offers. That said, I wouldn’t consider it a replacement for your laptop. Although it has the M2 chip and should—in theory, at least—be as powerful as the MacBook Air, iPadOS doesn’t take advantage of all the power.”
Best Budget iPad
Get What You Need Without Breaking The Bank
Apple 10.2-Inch iPad (9th Generation)
Weight: 1.1 pounds | Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x .3 inches | Display: 10.2-inch LED IPS | Resolution: 1,620 x 2,160 | CPU: A13 Bionic | Storage: 64 GB, 256 GB | Battery: Up to 10 hours | Rear camera: 8 MP | Front camera: 12 MP
Best for: General content consumption, like streaming, and note-taking at an affordable price.
Pros:
- Excellent value for money
- Wide range of compatible accessories
Cons:
- The A13 Bionic processor is older
- Lightning, not USB-C, port
- 64 GB storage is low
For many people, the Apple iPad (9th Generation) is a far better choice, especially if you don’t mind the older design, the Lightning port and the smaller display. To some people—especially those with existing Lightning accessories or family members who aren’t ready to switch to an all-screen design—the iPad (9th Gen) is a better choice than the 10th-gen. The A13 Bionic chip, also found in the iPhone 11, works great as a powerful chipset for a budget-friendly tablet. It’s compatible with many accessories, including the first-generation Apple Pencil and Apple’s Smart Keyboard. The display is smaller at 10.2 inches, with the TouchID fingerprint sensor in the home button underneath and a curved rear design like the original iPad.
Some might find the 64 GB storage a little low; if this is the case, you can upgrade to 256 GB of storage, for a slightly higher price. True Tone Display adjusts the display’s color to match the ambient lighting and reduce eye strain. The 12 MP camera also supports Center Stage, so you’ll always be in the frame for video calls. Unlike the 10th-Gen iPad, it also doesn’t come in a range of colors, with Silver and Space Gray the only choices.
Best iPad For Video Calls
Catch Up With Friends And Family
Apple 10.9-Inch iPad (10th Generation)
Weight: 1.1 pounds | Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.1 x .3 inches | Display: 10.9-inch Liquid Retina IPS | Resolution: 2,360 x 1,640 | CPU: Apple A14 Bionic | Storage: 64GB, 256GB | Battery: Up to 10 hours | Rear camera: 12 MP | Front camera: 12 MP Ultra Wide
Best for: Catching up with friends and family or taking meetings on a budget-friendly Apple device.
Pros:
- USB-C port for future-proofing
- 5G support
- Upgraded 12 MP cameras for video calls
Cons:
- 64 GB isn’t enough storage for most
- Older CPU
Apple’s entry-level iPad doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the Air or the Pro, but it offers most of the same experience at a much more affordable price. The A14 Bionic chipset—the same chipset used in the iPhone 12—is powerful enough for almost every task and the display is larger than the previous generation despite almost identical measurements.
The cellular model adds 5G support, and the port has been changed from Lightning to USB-C, offering future-proofing and a better range of accessories. Like the iPad Air, the Touch ID sensor is now integrated into the power button on the top edge of the iPad.
The biggest improvement with this model is the position of the 12 MP ultra-wide FaceTime camera. Now it’s positioned in the middle of the iPad when horizontal, and support for Center Stage—the Pro feature that moves the camera around during video calls to keep you centered in the frame—make this the perfect iPad for FaceTime, Google Meet and Zoom calls. The iPad (10th Gen) finally ditches the Lightning port in favor of USB-C, but there’s no magnetic charging for the Apple Pencil (2nd Gen). This limits your Apple Pencil options to either the less-capable USB-C model or the older Apple Pencil (1st Gen), which requires the additional USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter to charge.
Best iPad For Students
Get Apple Pencil 2nd Gen Support For All Your Notes
Apple 10.9-Inch iPad Air (5th Generation)
Weight: 1 pound | Dimensions: 9.8 x 7 x .2 inches | Display: 10.9-inch Liquid Retina | Resolution: 1,640 x 2,360 | CPU: Apple M1 | Storage: 64 GB, 256 GB | Battery: Up to 10 hours | Rear camera: 12 MP | Front camera: 7 MP
Best for: Taking all your schoolwork on the go.
Pros:
- Powerful M1 chipset
- Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) support
- Always-On 5G connection
Cons:
- Lacking certain iPad Pro features even though the M1 supports it
- Expensive for the best configuration
The iPad Pro may be Apple’s flagship tablet, but the iPad Air is the right device for most—especially students. It looks and feels like an iPad Pro, and supports the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil (2nd Gen).
It features an M1 chipset inside to handle most tasks, and it comes with 8 GB of RAM and either 64 GB or 256 GB of storage, depending on your preference. The Liquid Retina display doesn’t get as bright as the flagship, but it’s a fantastic display that feels immersive when watching movies.
The iPad Air ticks every box for students, but it will cost more than you think. Once you add the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil and upgrade the storage to 256 GB, it could cost you $200 less than a similar iPad Pro 11. That being said, it’s a device for note-taking, reading emails and everyday usage. It’s capable of almost all tasks—although Apple limits certain M1-compatible features to its Pro lineup only—and comes in a wider range of colors than the iPad Pro. We recommend the 5G variant if you’re a student: Using the always-on 5G connection on the go is far more convenient than connecting to Wi-Fi or a hotspot from your phone. It also lacks the ProRes video capture, Face ID biometrics, and ultra-wide camera on the iPad Pro. But if you don’t plan to use these features, especially as a student, you won’t notice they’re missing.
What the writers say: Our writer says, “When Apple launched the iPad Air, I was intrigued. On paper, it seemed like a mishmash of Pro and non-Pro features, and I couldn’t help but try it. What I found was surprising: this mishmash was delightful, and the iPad Air was the best representation of the quintessential iPad experience. It has a ton of power thanks to the M1 chip. It’s technically overkill for what the iPad Air can do, but Apple has intentionally future-proofed it by using an M1 chip. This means your iPad Air will likely be supported for longer, with future updates bringing more features.”
Best Small iPad
Great For Kids , Too
Apple iPad Mini (6th Generation)
Weight: .6 pounds | Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.3 x .2 inches | Display: 8.3-inch Liquid Retina | Resolution: 1,488 x 2,266 | CPU: A15 Bionic | Storage: 64 GB, 256 GB | Battery: Up to 10 hours | Rear camera: 12 MP | Front camera: 12 MP
Pros:
- Compact size with flagship power
- 5G support
- A range of color choices
Cons:
- High starting price
- A15 Bionic isn’t future-proofed
The iPad Mini (6th Generation) changes the narrative of the iPad Mini range. The design makes the iPad Mini feel like a smaller iPad Air, and it (mostly) delivers on this expectation. The 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display is smaller than the 10.9-inch iPad Air’s, and it offers the same overall experience, typically at a $100 lower starting price. If you like the iPad Air but want something more portable, the iPad Mini is a great choice. However, it isn’t perfect for everyone.
It has a higher starting price than the entry-level iPad, a limited range of compatible accessories and an underwhelming battery life. It features less RAM than the iPad Air (4 GB versus 8 GB), which doesn’t affect most tasks, but makes it far less future-proofed. Similarly, it’s powered by the Apple A15 Bionic chipset, whereas the iPad Air has the far more capable and future-proofed Apple M1 chipset.
Despite these trade-offs, it still represents a great overall experience. The iPad Mini won’t be perfect for everyone, but it’s the perfect extra-portable media player or note-taking tablet. If you need something you can throw in your pocket or bag, the iPad Mini is a great choice. Similarly, it’s a great tablet for kids as it’s more ergonomic for them to hold and use. It’s also available in various colors for a fun flair.
What the writers say: Our writer says, “I love my iPad Mini (6th Gen). Although it’s two years old, it offers a powerful, portable design that supports the Apple Pencil (2nd Gen). I also bought an iPad Mini for my two-year-old niece. I chose the iPad Mini because of its smaller size; my niece loves it. It’s the perfect size for even the smallest hands to hold and features the same all-screen design as the iPad Pro. My two-year-old niece loves her iPad Mini and carries it everywhere. Even when I put my 12.9-inch iPad Pro in front of her, she prefers the smaller iPad Mini. It’s not the perfect device for everyone, but for kids and people who want a smaller tablet, the iPad Mini is a great choice.”
- Nirave Gondhia is an industry veteran with 18 years of experience reviewing the latest phones, tablets, computers and wearables across three continents. He ran his own tech website before running some of the biggest niche tech websites in the world.
- Since a heart attack at the age of 33, he’s been focused on the intersection of technology and humanity. When he’s not busy hosting awards around the latest technology at House of Technology, he can usually be found with a good book or watching F1 or Soccer. He carries an iPhone and Android phone every day, and his bylines can be found on Forbes, Android Police and others.
- The tech section is overseen by consumer tech and electronics editor Rebecca Isaacs, who has personal experience going hands-on with many of the devices on this list.
How We Chose The Best iPads
To pick the best iPads, the Forbes Vetted tech team combined our first-hand experience with real customer reviews. We’ve reviewed every flagship iPad, iPhone, Android phone and tablet released over the past decade, and we applied our knowledge of the tablet space into our picks.
- We’ve reviewed every flagship iPad, iPhone, Android phone and tablet released over the past decade.
- We use many iPads on the list daily for media consumption, professional apps and note-taking with the Apple Pencil. We’ve thoroughly tested every iPad on this list since each was launched, including
- We also considered which iPads will receive software upgrades and which iPads will remain compatible with features that require specific hardware, such as Apple’s M1 or M2 chipset.
- We combined this data with our hands-on observations—built from decades of experience reviewing the latest technology—to provide you with the best iPads you can buy right now.
Which Is Better: iPad or iPad Air?
Both iPads are comparable for simple tasks like video streaming, casual app usage, or web browsing. The iPad Air’s better processor will produce a superior gaming experience, and you’ll find demanding tasks like photo or video editing much easier with the M1 chipset. We break it down further, pitting the iPad Pro versus the iPad Air based on Apple expert David Phelan’s testing, too.
Do I Need The Magic Keyboard?
Make no mistake about it: Apple’s Magic Keyboard accessory is incredibly heavy. It’s heavy enough to make a bag overweight, and you will likely find the total weight, including the iPad, unbearable. Lighter third-party keyboards are worth considering, although these may not be backlit with a built-in trackpad.
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