Gear

The Best iPad to Buy (and the Ones to Avoid)

With several new iPads on the market, choosing the right one is more complicated than ever. We’re here to help.

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, a growing number of older iPads are floating around the eBays of the world. Since all these devices look fairly identical, 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 iPhone 12 Cases and Accessories, Best Tablets, and Best MacBooks.

Updated November 2020: We've added our thoughts on the new iPad and iPad Air.

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  • Image may contain Electronics Computer Pc Tablet Computer and Laptop
    Photograph: Apple 

    A Good iPad

    Apple iPad (10.2-inch, 2020)

    Apple's standard iPad (the 8th generation of them) is still the best buy for most circumstances. The 2020 version of it has the A12 Bionic chip (which debuted on the 2018 iPhone XS) instead of the years-older A10. That means it will run your favorite apps and games slightly faster and can handle more multitasking. Like last year, it has 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). With the keyboard, you can even get some light work done.

    The only downside you may notice: There is more of an air gap, or space between the glass and screen, than the iPad Air, Mini, and Pro. It's completely usable and a fantastic tablet, but the pixels on the screen don't feel as flush with the glass, which is especially noticeable when drawing with the Pencil.

    $329 at Apple
    $329 at Amazon
  • Photograph: Apple 

    A Better iPad

    Apple iPad Air (10.9-inch, 2020)

    Apple's 4th-generation iPad Air (read our review here) will make you wonder if there's any need to shell out for the iPad Pro. Its speed and performance is on par with the Pro, and it uses the new A14 Bionic, just like the iPhone 12 range). It also looks exactly like the Pro, with uniform and slim edges around its 10.9-inch screen. You 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 port. That last note means you can use your MacBook charger to juice up this tablet.

    It has 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 also no Face ID, making it the option for anyone who hates the idea of using face recognition for security. WIRED's Lauren Goode reviewed this model and said Touch ID occasionally takes a few tries to work, but it's fast when it does register. She's also noticed the screen's backlight bleeding at the edges, which some buyers have complained about. If you notice this problem, you may want to ask Apple for a replacement.

    $599 at Apple
    $599 at Amazon
  • Photograph: Apple

    The Ultimate iPad

    Apple iPad Pro (11 or 12.9-inch, 2020)

    Most people considering an iPad Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) should really get the iPad Air, as it offers almost all the goods for a much lower price. Still, there are some reasons to go Pro. Take size, for example. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is like a magazine; it's wonderfully large for drawing with the Apple Pencil (a separate purchase). The Pencil is like the one on the new iPad Air—it magnetically sticks to the edge of the iPad Pro and wirelessly charges. This slate is also the only iPad with Face ID if you really want the convenience of hands-free authentication, plus it has ProMotion, which offers a 120-Hz screen refresh rate for smoother scrolling and a more fluid software experience.

    The 2020 Pro is still one of the most powerful iPads you can get. It has more speakers for better sound quality, more microphones to pick up your voice clearer, more base storage, and the main camera is joined by an ultrawide lens for snapping sweeping scenes, like on the iPhone 12. There's also a lidar sensor—the kind used to measure depth for self-driving cars. It's used to improve augmented reality features, though there's a good chance you barely use AR apps. Like the Air, it's compatible with the Magic Keyboard and the Smart Keyboard.

    $749 at Apple (Choose 11- or 12.9-Inch)
    $749 at Amazon (11-Inch)
    $999 at Amazon (12.9-Inch)
  • Photograph: Apple

    Best for Travel

    Apple iPad Mini (7.9-inch, 2019)

    Apple updated the iPad Mini (5th generation) in 2019 with a speedy new A12 Bionic processor, which is the same one inside the new standard iPad. Outside of the speed bump, it's nearly identical to the old iPad Mini 4—though it starts with 64 gigabytes of base storage. The big draw is the 8-inch screen, which is perfect for smaller hands and for traveling. Its thin, laminated display also makes it an ideal (albeit petite) tablet for writing and drawing, thanks to its new first-gen Apple Pencil support.

    $399 at Apple Store
    $394 at Amazon
  • Photograph: Apple

    About Those Older Pros

    Apple iPad Pro (10.5 inch, 2017)

    Apple has always packed a little extra into its iPad Pro tablets. The 2018 iPad Pro is still worth buying if you can find it for $650 or less. It's very powerful and matches the 2020 model in many ways. The Magic Keyboard with Trackpad supports it, too.

    The 2017 iPad Pro 10.5 is a little harder to find these days, but it's worth purchasing if it's cheaper than $350. It's slower than the new iPad Air, but it has two extra speakers, a bit more RAM, and a smoother 120-Hz display, which we like. It's not worth considering older 10-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro tablets (if you can even find them). They're just too old.

  • Photograph: Apple

    For the Right Price …

    Apple iPad Air 3, iPad 2019, iPad Mini 4

    The iPad Air 3 (2019) and the 10.2-inch (2019) iPad are no longer sold by Apple, but if you find them refurbished or new at another store, they'll serve you well. Don't expect either to be your forever iPad, but they should last for a couple of years, at least. Both are compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. Try not to pay more than $200 for the 2019 iPad or more than $400 for the iPad Air 3. If you go any higher, you may as well buy the latest models. (They'll last you much longer.)

  • Photograph: Apple

    Avoid These iPads!

    Apple iPad 1-4, iPad Mini 1-3, iPad Air

    Just don’t. Yes, money is tight, but your sanity is important, too. Yes, there’s a chance an older iPad could still perform decently, but unless someone is giving you one for free, try to hunt for a newer model. Many of the older iPads no longer receive software updates, and they'll seem quite slow compared to your phone and your computer.

    The Mini 1-4 and iPad 1-4 have low-res screens or are just too old. Forget buying an iPad Air 1 or Air 2—those are too long in the tooth. Peruse our Best Tablets guide for ideas if you don't want to spend a lot. If you’re buying something for a child to use, try Amazon’s Fire tablets, which are cheaper than any new iPad and still have tons of kid-friendly features and parental controls.

Julian Chokkattu is a senior associate editor at WIRED, covering personal technology and reviewing consumer products. Previously he was the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, steering coverage and reviews of smartphones and smartwatches, and an intern at TechCrunch. He graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor's degree in... Read more
Senior Associate Reviews Editor
Jeffrey Van Camp is an editor for WIRED, specializing in personal technology reviews and coverage. Previously he was the deputy editor of Digital Trends, helping to oversee the site’s editorial operations, and before that, its mobile editor. He’s covered tech, video games, and entertainment for more than a decade, and... Read more
Reviews Editor
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