The iPad Comparison Chart

Which iPad is best for you? Compare all of the models

By
Daniel Nations
Daniel Nations
Daniel Nations
Writer
  • University of Texas at Arlington
Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, and other publications. He is a developer who has published apps in the Apple App Store, Google Play marketplace and Amazon Appstore; he also has worked as a data analyst and DB administrator.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
Updated on November 16, 2021

The iPad has consistently been the best of the best in the world of tablets. Each new release seems to set a new threshold, with the latest iPad Pro rivaling the power of most laptops. While it's easy to choose an iPad, it's not as easy to narrow down that choice to a specific model. The iPad lineup is now broken into the Pro level of tablets and the basic iPad models. We break them down below.

New iPads in 2021 and 2022

In 2021, Apple unveiled a new iPad (9th generation), iPad Pro (5th gen), and iPad mini (6th gen). The new iPad has a 10.2-inch screen, like its predecessor, but is upgraded to the Apple A13 Bionic processor.

Apple released a new iPad Air (5th generation) in March 2022. The latest model uses the company's proprietary M1 chip.

Current iPad Lineup Comparison

If you plan to purchase a new iPad, this chart represents the iPad models currently for sale and supported by Apple.

 iPad Pro (2021) iPad 9 (2021) iPad Mini 6 (2021) iPad Air 5 (2022)
Entry Price $799+ $329 $499 $599
CPU Apple M1 A13 Bionic chip with Neural Engine A15 Bionic chip with Neural Engine Apple M1
Motion Processor Yes Yes Yes Yes
Resolution 2732x2048 (12.9") 2388x1668 (11") 2160x1620 2266x1488 2360x1640
Security Face ID Touch ID Touch ID Touch ID
Display 11- or 12.9-inch IPS LED-backlit with TrueTone 10.2-inch LED-backlit with IPS 8.3-inch LED-backlit with TrueTone 10.9-inch IPS LED-backlit with TrueTone
Storage 128 GB 256 GB 512 GB 1 TB 2 TB 64 GB 256 GB 64 GB 256 GB 64 GB 256 GB
Rear Camera 12 MP, 10 MP Ultra Wide, 4K video support, LiDAR scanner for AR 8 MP, 1080p video 12 MP, 1080p video 12 MP wide, 4K video support
Front Camera 12 MP with Retina Flash 12 MP 12 MP with Retina Flash 12 MP Ultra Wide
Data Rate Gigabit-class LTE Gigabit-class LTE Gigabit-class LTE 5G NR
Wi-Fi 802.11 ax 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 ax
MIMO Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bluetooth 5.0 4.2 5.0 5.0
Connectivity USB-C Lightning Lightning USB-C
Apple Pencil Gen 2 Gen 1 Gen 1 Gen 2
GPS Yes Yes Yes Yes

iPad Pro Comparison

The following chart shows the differences between the older lineup of iPad Pro models and the newest. Some of these are still available to buy from the Apple Store or third-party retailers, while others can only be found if you buy a used iPad or a refurbished one.

12.9 iPad Pro (2021) 11 iPad Pro (2021) 12.9 iPad Pro (2020) 11 iPad Pro (2020) 12.9 iPad Pro (2018) 11 iPad Pro (2018)
Entry Price $1099 $799 $999 $799 $799 $649
CPU Apple M1 Apple M1 A12Z Bionic chip with Neural Engine A12Z Bionic chip with Neural Engine A12X Bionic chip with Neural Engine A12X Bionic chip with Neural Engine
Motion Processor Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Resolution 2732x2048 2388x1668 2732x2048 2048x1536 2732x2048 2388x1668
Security Face ID Face ID Face ID Face ID Face ID Face ID
Display 12.9-inch IPS LED-backlit with TrueTone 11-inch IPS LED-backlit with TrueTone 12.9-inch IPS LED-backlit with TrueTone 11-inch IPS LED-backlit with TrueTone 12.9-inch IPS LED-backlit with TrueTone 11-inch IPS LED-backlit with TrueTone
Storage 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
Rear Camera 12 MP, 10 MP Ultra Wide, 4K video support, LiDAR scanner for AR 12 MP, 10 MP Ultra Wide, 4K video support, LiDAR scanner for AR 12 MP (wide); 10 MP (ultrawide) with 4K video support 12 MP (wide); 10 MP (ultrawide) with 4K video support iSight 12 MP with 4K video support iSight 12 MP with 4K video support
Front Camera 12 MP with Retina Flash 12 MP with Retina Flash 7 MP with Retina Flash 7 MP with Retina Flash 7 MP with Retina Flash 7 MP with Retina Flash
Data Rate Gigabit-class LTE Gigabit-class LTE Gigabit-class LTE 4G LTE 4G LTE 4G LTE
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
MIMO Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bluetooth 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 4.2 4.2
Siri Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Barometer Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GPS Yes Yes Yes Yes Assisted Assisted

iPad and iPad Air Comparison

The most recent version of the iPad, the 9th generation, came out in 2021. The new iPad supports the second-generation Apple Pencil and uses the A13 Bionic processor. This chip is the same one that runs iPhone 11 models and the Studio Display.

iPad 9 (2021) iPad 8 (2020) iPad 7 (2018) iPad 6 (2017)
Entry Price $329 $329 $329 $329
CPU A13 Bionic Neural Engine A12 Bionic Neural Engine 2.34 Ghz Quad-Core 64-bit Apple A10 Fusion 1.85 Ghz Dual-Core 64-bit Apple A9
Resolution 2160x1620 2160x1620 2048x1536 2048x1536
Touch ID Yes Yes Yes Yes
Display 10.2 IPS LED-backlit 10.2-inch IPS LED-backlit 9.7-inch IPS LED-backlit 9.7-inch IPS LED-backlit
Storage 64 GB
256 GB		 32 GB
128 GB		 32 GB
128 GB		 32 GB
128 GB
Rear Camera 8 MP Wide 8 MP iSight 8 MP iSight 8 MP
Front Camera 12 MP Ultra Wide 1.2 MP 720p 720p
Data Rate Gigabit-class LTE Gigabit-class LTE 4G LTE 4G LTE
Wi-Fi 802.11
a/b/g/n/ac		 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
MIMO Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bluetooth 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.2
Barometer Yes Yes Yes Yes
GPS Cellular version only 4G version only 4G version only 4G version only

iPad Air Comparison

The latest version of the iPad Air, the fifth overall, came out in March 2022. It's the first non-Pro iPad to use Apple's M1 chip.

iPad Air 5 (2022) iPad Air 4 (2020) iPad Air 3 (2019) iPad Air 2 (2014) iPad Air (2013)
Entry Price $599 $599 $599 n/a n/a
CPU Apple M1 Apple A14 Bionic A14 Neural Engine 1.5 Ghz Tri-Core 64-bit Apple A8X 1.4 Ghz 64-bit Apple A7
Resolution 2360x1640 2360x1640 2060x1640 2048x1536 2048x1536
Touch ID Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Display 10.9-inch IPS LED-backlit 10.9-inch IPS LED-backlit 10.2-inch IPS LED-backlit 9.7-inch IPS LED-backlit 9.7-inch IPS LED-backlit
Storage 64 GB
256 GB		 64 GB
256 GB		 64 GB
256 GB		 16 GB
32 GB
64 GB
128 GB		 16 GB
32 GB
64 GB
128 GB
Rear Camera 12 MP Wide 12 MP 12 MP iSight 8 MP iSight 5 MP
Front Camera 12 MP Ultra-Wide 7 MP 7 MP 720p 720p
Data Rate 5G NR GSM
LTE		 Gigabit-class LTE 4G LTE 4G LTE
Wi-Fi 802.11 Wi-Fi 6 802.11 Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n
MIMO Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bluetooth 5.0 5.0 5.0 4 4
Barometer Yes Yes Yes No No
GPS iBeacon iBeacon 4G version only 4G version only 4G version only

iPad Mini Comparison

The iPad Mini 6 came out in 2021, and it's the biggest "small" iPad Apple has made.

iPad Mini 6 (2021) iPad Mini 5 (2020) iPad Mini 4 (2015) iPad Mini 3 (2014) iPad Mini 2 (2013) iPad Mini (2012)
Entry Price $499 $399 n/a n/a n/a n/a
CPU A15 Bionic chip with Neural Engine A12 Bionic chip with Neural Engine 1.5 Ghz 64-bit Apple A8 1.29 Ghz 64-bit Apple A7 1.29 Ghz 64-bit Apple A7 1 Ghz Dual-Core Apple A5
Motion Processor Yes Yes M8 M7 M7 None
Resolution 2266x1488 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536 1024x768
Touch ID Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
Display 8.3-inch LED-backlit with TrueTone 7.9-inch LED-backlit with TrueTone 7.9-inch IPS LED-backlit 7.9-inch IPS LED-backlit 7.9-inch IPS LED-backlit 7.9-inch IPS LED-backlit
Storage 64 GB, 256 GB 64 GB, 256 GB 128 GB 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB
Rear Camera 12 MP, 1080p video 8 MP, 1080p video iSight 8 MP iSight 5 MP iSight 5 MP iSight 5 MP
Front Camera 12 MP with Retina Flash 7 MP with Retina Flash 720p 720p 720p 720p
Data Rate Gigabit-class LTE Gigabit-class LTE 4G LTE 4G LTE 4G LTE 4G LTE
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n 802.11 a/b/g/n 802.11 a/b/g/n
MIMO Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Bluetooth 5.0 5.0 4 4 4 4
Barometer Yes Yes No No No No
GPS Yes Yes 4G Version Only 4G Version Only 4G Version Only 4G Version Only

Vintage and Obsolete iPad Models

The iPad models that Apple hasn't sold for the last 5 to 7 years are designated as vintage by Apple. These models no longer receive software support but are eligible to receive hardware service from Apple.

The iPad models that were discontinued more than 7 years ago are designated as obsolete by Apple. These no longer receive any service for software or hardware.

Is your iPad obsolete? To find out, read our article on obsolete and outdated iPad models.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What's the difference between an iPad and a tablet? The iPad is a tablet, but it's the only tablet that runs on the iOS operating system. Tablets from other companies like Google and Samsung typically run on Android. The iPad also uses Apple's proprietary hardware, such as the powerful M1 chip found in the 2021 iPad Pro.
  • Which iPad should I buy? It entirely depends on your needs. Are you looking for a device just to watch movies and read books? You're probably fine with the base model iPad or iPad Air. Are you a creative professional, or are you looking for a potential laptop replacement? Then you might want an iPad Pro. Check out our iPad buyer's guide for more information.
  • What is the cheapest iPad model to buy? Currently, the 32 GB iPad 2020 model is the cheapest at $329. You may be able to find an even cheaper device if you're willing to buy refurbished or used.
Was this page helpful?