Computers, Laptops & Tablets > Apple 456 456 people found this article helpful The Best iPads Worth Buying in 2023 Which iPad is the best for you? By Daniel Nations Daniel Nations Twitter 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 March 28, 2023 Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr Twitter University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Tweet Share Email Apple iPad Macs Falling somewhere between a laptop and an iPhone, iPads can function as both when needed, with the help of accessories. Thanks to the chips inside, the latest big-screen iPad Pros are more powerful than many laptop computers. Here's a look at the current lineup of iPads. The Rundown iPad Pro: Apple 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2022 (6th Gen) at Amazon Jump to Review iPad Pro: Apple 11-inch iPad Pro 2022 (4th Gen) at Walmart Jump to Review iPad Air: Apple iPad Air 2022 (5th Gen) at Amazon Jump to Review iPad: Apple iPad 2022 (10th Gen) at Amazon Jump to Review iPad: Apple iPad 2021 (9th Gen) at Walmart Jump to Review iPad Mini: Apple iPad Mini 2021 (6th Gen) at Walmart Jump to Review in this article Expand Our Picks What to Look For in an iPad FAQ iPad Pro Apple 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2022 (6th Gen) Amazon View On Amazon View On Apple What We Like Has Apple M2 chip Fastest Wi-Fi technology What We Don't Like Can get pricy The 12.9-inch 2022 iPad Pro upgrades from its predecessor's Apple M1 chip to the M2, offers faster Wi-Fi, and has a new Apple Pencil hover feature. Otherwise, it sports the same display and has the same set of cameras with a few minor tweaks. It ships with iPadOS 16, which includes features like editing and undoing sent texts, smart photo sharing, Siri improvements, and focus schedules. The 6th gen iPad Pro is available with up to 2TB of built-in storage. CPU: M2 | RAM: 8GB or 16GB | Display: 12.9-inch, 2732x2048 | Models: Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi+Cellular | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB iPad Pro Apple 11-inch iPad Pro 2022 (4th Gen) Verizon View On Walmart View On Best Buy View On Apple What We Like Apple M2 chip Great set of cameras What We Don't Like Not a huge upgrade over previous model The 11-inch iPad Pro of 2022 (4th Gen) shares the same high-resolution display as its predecessor but sports an upgraded chip (Apple M2) and faster Wi-Fi. Like the 4th generation model, the 2022 iPad Pro has 5G connectivity, Apple Pencil (2nd gen) support, Face ID, and 12MP Wide and 10MP Ultra Wide cameras. Like the 12-9 inch iPad Pro, you can get up to 2TB of built-in storage. CPU: M2 | RAM: 8GB or 16GB | Display: 11-inch, 2388x1668 | Models: Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi+ Cellular | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB iPad Air Apple iPad Air 2022 (5th Gen) Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy What We Like Upgraded front-facing camera USB-C connector What We Don't Like Front camera is awkwardly placed for video chats The 5th generation iPad Air builds on previous iterations with the now-classic edge-to-edge screen that minimizes the bezels. It has a top-mounted fingerprint sensor for easy unlock and a gorgeous 10.9-inch 2360x1640 resolution Liquid Retina IPS display. Under the hood is a powerful Apple M1 chip, and you can pick from 64GB or 256GB of storage. The rear camera is a capable 12MP sensor that can record at 4K. The front camera gets upgraded from the 4th generation's 7MP FaceTime camera to a 12MP Ultra Wide camera with Center Stage technology. As with other newer iPad models, the Air 5 has a USB-C connector for charging. CPU: M1 | RAM: 8GB | Display: 10.9-inch, 2360x1640 | Models: Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi+Cellular | Storage: 64GB, 256GB iPad Apple iPad 2022 (10th Gen) Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy What We Like Larger screen than previous generation 5G cellular connectivity What We Don't Like Pricier than previous models The 10th-generation iPad improves on the 9th gen model in several ways. It has a bigger screen (10.9 inches), a Liquid Retina Display, the newer A14 Bionic chip, a 12MP primary camera, 4K video, and it uses a USB-C connector. It offers the same storage capacities (64GB and 256GB) but has faster Wi-Fi and 5G cellular connectivity. CPU: A14 Bionic | RAM: 4GB | Display: 10.9-inch, 2360x1640) | Models: Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi+Cellular | Storage: 64GB, 256GB iPad Apple iPad 2021 (9th Gen) Walmart View On Walmart View On Apple View On B&H Photo Video What We Like Better front facing camera Built-in storage doubled What We Don't Like No USB-C The 9th generation iPad offers some meaningful upgrades over its predecessor. Perhaps most significantly, it has a 12MP front-facing camera, which takes much better selfies and video than the previous iPad with its 1.2MP camera. It's crucial if you plan to use your iPad for Zoom meetings. It shares the same screen size and technology as the previous iPad model (10-2 inch Retina display). Additionally, the 9th-gen iPad doubles the previous model's storage by offering 64GB and 256GB variants instead of 32GB and 128GB. It also gets a more powerful processor in the A13 Bionic. It's only compatible with the first gen Apple Pencil. CPU: A13 Bionic | RAM: 3GB | Display: 10.2-inch,2160x1620 | Models: Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular | Storage: 64GB, 256GB iPad Mini Apple iPad Mini 2021 (6th Gen) B & H Photo Video View On Walmart View On Apple View On B&H Photo Video What We Like Supports 2nd gen Apple Pencil USB-C port What We Don't Like Older model The latest iPad Mini (released in 2021) boosts performance significantly over its predecessor, both in processing and graphical power, so that it can handle more demanding apps. It also sports the standard USB-C port found in all Android devices. This update makes it more widely compatible with non-Apple products. Other changes with this edition of the iPad Mini include support for the second-generation Apple Pencil, a slightly larger screen, and Wi-Fi 6 and 5G compatibility. Another positive is that much of its construction is made of recycled materials, making the device more environmentally friendly. CPU: A15 Bionic | RAM: 4GB | Display: 8.3-inch, 2266x1488 | Models: Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi+Cellular | Storage: 64GB, 256GB Lifewire What to Look For in an iPad Storage A possible disadvantage of iPads is the lack of convenient expandable storage. There's no microSD card slot, and even the newer models, which start with 64GB of internal storage, will probably fill up faster than you think. If you want to store a lot of data on your iPad, it's probably worth springing for the upgraded models with extra storage. Processor If you're buying the latest iPad, you need not concern yourself too much with the processor (also known as the CPU). This is part of the iPad that determines how many applications you can run and how well those applications will be able to run. The processor in a new iPad will handle everything you can throw at it for a good few years. However, if you buy an older used iPad, you'll get an older, slower processor that might struggle to keep up with modern applications. FAQ How much is an iPad? If you're looking for a basic multimedia and browsing slate with the option for some mild productivity uses, the 64GB iPad with Wi-Fi will cost you less than $400. On the most costly end, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at over $1000 for the base 128GB Wi-Fi model, but you can make it as expensive as a laptop if you load it up with extra storage and cellular connectivity. The iPad mini and iPad Air fall between these two extremes, offering a mix of multimedia and productivity. What are the alternatives to an iPad? Apple isn't the only company to make tablets. Samsung's Galaxy Tab line is well-regarded, as is Microsoft's Surface line. Read our roundup of best tablets to get an idea of how the best tablets compare. Are iPads good for photography? While iPads are equipped with cameras similar to what you'd find in an iPhone, they're not exactly the best tool for capturing photos though ok in a pinch. Many photographers find iPads excellent tools for processing images on the road. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit