In 2025, there are many excellent iPads to choose from, but finding the best one for your needs can be challenging. Should you save money and go for the most affordable option? Is it worth spending a bit more to get the iPad Air? Or do you need to invest in the premium iPad Pro? With so many factors to consider, the selection process can quickly become overwhelming, especially with some of the best tablets available on the market.
The good news is that we're here to help. The Mobile team at Digital Trends regularly tests new iPad releases to evaluate their performance, strengths, and weaknesses, helping you identify which ones deserve a spot on your shopping list. Without further delay, here are our top picks for the best iPads in 2025 — including two models that were released this year.
Best overall iPad
iPad Air (2025)
- Clean design
- Sharp screen for creativity and productivity
- M3 power boost at no added cost
- More affordable new Magic Keyboard
- Good battery life
- Expensive storage and connectivity upgrades
- Display needs better smudge-resistance
- iPadOS has its quirks
- Accessories are quite pricey
| Specification: | |
| Size | 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm (11-inch), 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.1mm (13-inch) |
| Weight | 460 grams (11-inch), 616 grams (13-inch) |
| Screen | 11-inch, 13-inch Liquid Retina display, 60Hz |
| Processor | M3, 8-core CPU, 9-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB |
| Cameras | 12MP Wide camera (rear), Landscape 12MP Center Stage camera (front) |
| Apple Intelligence | Yes |
The iPad Air (2025) represents a significant enhancement in Apple’s tablet lineup, available in both 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, with starting prices of $599 for the smaller model and $799 for the larger one. This makes it a compelling option for users looking for high-quality performance without breaking the bank, especially since it is priced $400 less than the iPad Pro models.
At the heart of the iPad Air (2025) is the powerful M3 chip, a notable upgrade from the previous year's M2 chip. The M3's advanced 3-nanometer manufacturing process not only boosts performance but also enhances power efficiency, allowing users to enjoy longer battery life—even during demanding tasks like video editing and graphic design. This improvement makes the iPad Air an attractive choice for both professional and everyday use, capable of handling multitasking and resource-intensive applications with ease.
On the design front, the iPad Air (2025) stays true to Apple's timeless aesthetic, but with modern tweaks that refresh its appeal. It now sports a sleeker look, omitting the "iPad Air" branding on the back for a more minimalist appearance. The device is available in four vibrant colors: Blue, Purple, Starlight, and Space Grey, giving users the ability to choose a style that suits their personality.
In addition to the iPad itself, Apple has also revamped the Magic Keyboard accessory, which now comes at a lower price point—$269 for the 11-inch version and $319 for the 13-inch version. One of the standout features of the updated keyboard is the inclusion of a 14-key function row. This addition allows users to easily adjust various settings on the fly, such as brightness, volume, and media playback controls, making it a more versatile tool for both productivity and leisure.
Overall, the iPad Air (2025) not only offers impressive hardware upgrades but also brings refinements in design and functionality, positioning it as a strong contender in the tablet market. It caters to a wide range of users, from students and artists to professionals seeking a reliable yet affordable device.
Best value iPad
iPad (2025)
- Clean design and premium build
- Sharp display for the price
- Plenty of A16 silicon firepower
- 128GB storage for the same price
- Battery life doesn’t disappoint
- Accessories are a little too pricey
- No Apple Intelligence or Stage Manager
- Stylus support is outdated
- Non-laminated display, again
- Slow charging
| Specification: | |
| Size | 248.6 x 179.5 x 7mm |
| Weight | 477 grams |
| Screen | 11-inch Liquid Retina, 60Hz |
| Processor | A16, 5-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB |
| Cameras | 12MP Wide camera (rear), landscape 12MP Center Stage camera (front) |
| Apple Intelligence | No |
The 2025 iPad (11th generation) retains the same price of $349 as its predecessor, while offering improved specifications, including increased storage on the base model and a new processor. It has a 100% recycled aluminum chassis available in four colors and maintains its premium build quality along with an 11-inch LCD display featuring a 60Hz refresh rate.
The iPad's strengths include its comfortable one-pound weight, balanced design, and an integrated Touch ID sensor in the power button for quick authentication. It also retains the 12-megapixel cameras on both the front and back, with the front camera conveniently positioned along the device’s long edge to enhance video calls.
While this iPad isn't a revolutionary upgrade, it continues to meet the needs of most users, even though it lacks some advanced Apple features. The display isn’t laminated, which creates a visible air gap, and it lacks an anti-reflective coating, making it more reflective than higher-end models. However, the upgrade to 128GB of base storage is seen as a significant improvement, making the basic iPad "perfect again" for everyday users who require space for apps, games, and media.
Best premium iPad
iPad Pro (2024)
- Sublime OLED screen
- Lovely design and build
- Top-notch speakers
- Surprisingly good battery life
- Blistering performance
- Excellent keyboard and stylus
- iPadOS is achingly lacking
- It's extremely expensive
- Pricey accessories
| Specification: | |
| Size | 249.7 x 177.5 x 5.3mm (11-inch), 281.6 x 215.5 x 5.1mm (13-inch) |
| Weight | 444g (11-inch), 579g, (13-inch) |
| Screen | 11- or 13-inch Tandem OLED, 120Hz |
| Processor | M4, 9 or 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB |
| Cameras | 12MP rear camera, 12MP front camera |
| Apple Intelligence | Yes |
The iPad Pro (2024) isn't for everyone. It's big, expensive, and likely overkill for what you need in an iPad. But if money isn't an object and you just care about getting the most capable iPad possible, you've found your match.
Digital Trends contributor Nadeem Sarwar reviewed the iPad Pro (2024) for us in 2024, calling it "the best tablet I've ever used." What makes it so good? It's a combination of the iPad Pro's OLED display, incredible hardware, long battery life, and top-notch performance.
The iPad Pro is the only iPad on this list with an OLED screen, and the only iPad with a 120Hz refresh rate. It's exquisite in every sense of the word, and one of the main reasons to buy the iPad Pro. The other reason is the M4 chip, which is the chip you want if you plan on playing graphically intense games, editing 4K video, or doing serious app multitasking.
Alone, the iPad Pro is great. But it gets even better when you pair it with the Apple Pencil and — most importantly — the Magic Keyboard. The iPad Pro isn't the only iPad with accessories like this, but it certainly makes the best use of them.
Of course, all of this comes at a very pretty penny. The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999, and the 13-inch model we reviewed starts at $1,299. Add another $129 for the Apple Pencil Pro and $299 for the Magic Keyboard, and you're looking at a huge bill. However, if you have a job or hobby that demands a tablet like the iPad Pro — such as a video editor or an artist — it's well worth the investment.
Best small iPad
iPad mini 2024
- Pocketable size and gleefully light
- Better aspect ratio than other iPads
- Sharp and colorful display
- A17 Pro silicon is plenty powerful
- Battery life doesn't disappoint
- Screen should be brighter
- Apple Intelligence is still half-baked
| Specification: | |
| Size | 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3mm |
| Weight | 293–297 grams |
| Screen | 8.3-inch P3 wide color, True Tone, and antireflective coating |
| Processor | A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural engine |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Cameras | 12MP rear camera, 12MP front camera |
| Apple Intelligence | Yes |
Great things sometimes come in small packages, and the iPad mini 2024 is the small tablet you'll want to get this year. It's compact enough to fit in the pocket of your cargo pants, coat, or your Loungefly bag. It can be propped up against even lightweight objects that would otherwise tip over, like a plushie. And it allows you to do more of what you want to do on it while on the go than other iPads.
The latest model of the iPad mini houses the A17 Pro chip, giving it much higher performance than its predecessor, especially when it comes to playing mobile games. Geekbench tests show its processing speeds surpass those of the iPad mini 2021, as it runs 36% faster on single-core tests and 32% quicker on multi-core tests. That makes it powerful enough for users to play Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, Hades, and other mobile games at 60 frames per second (fps) at high graphics settings without any issues. You can play games for 20 minutes or longer, and it won't overheat to the point where it blacks out thanks to the all-metal chassis and 20,000 RPM cooling fan that handles heat dissipation better than current-gen iPhones and most other iPads.
The 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display makes the iPad mini 2024 look cute and charming to people of any age. The 1.52:1 aspect ratio, along with the 2266 x 1488 resolution and brightness of 500 nits, makes it great for streaming movies and reading books. By "books," we mean light material like comic books and novels, not school-issued textbooks. While it does handle productivity tasks like video editing and writing on WordPress, it's not the best when it comes to studying for exams, no matter what stage of your academic career you're in. It's simply not quite big enough. You can take notes on it with the Apple Pencil, but that's about it.
You may want to be careful with Apple Intelligence, though. While it's a great addition to Apple's current generation of electronic devices, it's not as reliable on the iPad mini 2024 as it would be on the iPhone 16, especially when Siri is paired with ChatGPT.
The iPad mini 2024 is great for kids who don't need an iPhone anytime soon, but want a device that's a close second in size and function. The display is even better for their eyes since the brightness levels aren't as high as they are on other iPads.
What to consider
How much iPad storage do you need?
No matter which iPad you decide to buy, you'll be met with an important thing to decide: how much storage do you need? That's a personal question you'll need to decide for yourself, but here's some advice to get you on the right track.
The iPad (2022), iPad mini (2021), and iPad (2021) all come with 64GB of storage by default. That's probably fine if you don't plan on downloading too many games or movies, but if you can afford it, upgrading to the 256GB models is money well spent. The 128GB of starting storage for the iPad Air (2024) is much more reasonable and likely enough for most folks, and if you get the iPad Pro (2024), you're treated to 256GB by default.
Which iPads have Apple Intelligence?
Apple Intelligence is the hot new feature for iPads right now. Of the iPads mentioned here, the iPad Air (2024) and iPad Pro (2024) both support Apple Intelligence features. The iPad (2022), iPad mini (2021), and iPad (2021) do not work with Apple Intelligence.
Which iPads are compatible with the Apple Pencil?
If you're interested in using your future iPad with an Apple Pencil, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that all of the iPads here work with the Apple Pencil. The bad news is that it can be a little tricky to know which Apple Pencil model works with each iPad. Here's a cheat sheet to keep in mind:
- iPad Air (2024): Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C
- iPad (2022): Apple Pencil USB-C and Apple Pencil 1st gen
- iPad Pro (2024): Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C
- iPad mini (2021): Apple Pencil USB-C and Apple Pencil 2nd gen
- iPad (2021): Apple Pencil 1st gen
Which iPad is best for drawing?
If you want an iPad specifically for drawing, you want an iPad that's compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro. As such, your best options are the iPad Air (2024) and iPad Pro (2024). The Apple Pencil Pro has all of the same features on both tablets, so the key difference comes down to the display. The Tandem AMOLED panel on the iPad Pro is one of the best available on a tablet today, and the 120Hz refresh rate means you get a more fluid and natural drawing experience. Casual doodlers and sketchers will be more than well-suited with the iPad Air, but if you're a more professional artist, you should seriously consider going for the iPad Pro.
How we chose
All of the iPads recommended here were used, tested, and reviewed by Digital Trends. From analyzing display quality, running various apps and games to test performance, evaluating battery life, etc., we spent time with all of the iPads here to make sure we give you the best recommendation possible. To get an even closer look at our review process, see our guide explaining how we test products at Digital Trends, plus a more specific guide about how we test tablets.
Why trust us
Digital Trends has been covering all things consumer tech since 2006, meaning we were there to review the original iPad in 2010 and have continued reviewing every subsequent model since. I've been reviewing and writing about consumer tech since 2012, including reviews of the iPhone 16 and iPad Pro (2022) here on Digital Trends. The other Digital Trends writers/contributors with iPad reviews featured here have similar years of experience.
