From the iPad Mini to the iPad Air or iPad Pro, these premium tablets consistently find their way to the top of performance charts. They offer 10 hours of battery life, clear and crisp displays, and access to thousands of apps in the App Store. And because Apple keeps updating and enhancing iPadOS, the iPad keeps gaining valuable features like widgets on the home screen, trackpad support, new Apple Pencil features, and more Mac-like features, while differentiating the tablet lineup from the iPhone. Below, you’ll find Apple’s current iPad lineup and details about what differentiates each model in a bid to help you find the best iPad model for your budget and needs. Also:
The best iPad keyboardsThe best iPad accessoriesThe best iPad Air cases The best iPad drawing appsThe best iPad apps for productivityThe best note-taking apps for iPad
Apple’s 2022 iPad Pro lineup is by far the most capable and impressive iPad lineup I’ve seen, making it my best overall pick. It’s also the most expensive by a long shot. The design hasn’t changed much on the outside, but on the inside, you’ll find Apple’s M2 processor, which consists of 20 billion transistors – 25 percent more than the M1. It’s the same exact processor that Apple is using in the new 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. ZDNET writer Jason Cipriani spent some time with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and found it to be faster and more capable than any other iPad model he’s tested to date. You can expect download speeds up to 2.4Gbps, twice as fast as the previous model, 15 percent faster performance, and up to 35 percent faster graphics performance. Review: iPad Pro (2022) review: I’m cautiously optimistic. Or foolish Cipriani was particularly impressed by the Pro’s power when handling a large workload. “The combination of Stage Manager and external monitor support means you can have up to eight apps open and in use on the iPad Pro at the same time. This, of course, will tax the performance of the tablet, but Apple’s M2 processor is the most capable when it comes to powering through whatever you throw at it,” he said. The Pro also supports the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil, and there’s a new hover feature thanks to the M2 chip. The feature works like this: When the tip of the Apple Pencil gets within 12 millimeters of the display, parts of the interface come to life in apps that support the new feature. Although the differences between the 5th-generation and this 6th-generation model are more subtle, the M2 chip is really what makes it a powerhouse tablet. The iPad Pro, combined with iPadOS and the M2 chip, is as close as you can get to a laptop without actually buying a laptop. Also: M1 iPad Pro (2021) vs M2 iPad Pro (2022): Is it worth the upgrade? Apple’s tried-and-true tablet, the base model iPad, is arguably the best value in the group. You get the same features as the more expensive Pro and Air models in a lightweight form factor with a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone and thinner bezels than the previous generation. Review: iPad 2022 (10th Gen) review: Better than the Pro in two ways Apple updated the iPad in the fall of 2022 with the A14 Bionic processor, USB-C support, 5G support for on-the-go tasks, and a new 12MP ultra-wide camera. It also has support for the Magic Keyboard Folio made specifically for this iPad and includes an adjustable kickstand with a 14-key function row for shortcuts. ZDNET Editor June Wan went hands-on with the iPad and puts the model ahead of even the M2 iPad Pro. “The area where the regular iPad edges out the Pro is camera placement,” he said. “Generally speaking, having the camera located on the long side really does bring an improvement to how you’re presented in video calls and photos.” It also comes in fun colors that break out of the standard space gray and silver we have seen for so long. The colors include pink, blue, yellow, and classic Apple silver. One major downside of the new iPad is that it doesn’t support the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil. Instead, you’ll have to connect your 2nd-generation Apple Pencil to a dongle in order to use it, making it an unnecessary hassle. Apple’s latest update to the iPad Air is more of a catch-up announcement than anything. The 5th-generation iPad Air keeps the same design we saw Apple bring to the Air in late 2020, but it now boasts an M1 processor and 5G connectivity. That’s a lot of performance for the cost, which starts at $599. Review: iPad Air (2022) review: So good I almost regret buying my iPad Pro Cipriani ran tests on its performance, and the iPad Air is almost as powerful as the iPad Pro. “Geekbench 5 on the iPad Air resulted in a single-core score of 1,701 and a multi-core score of 7,137,” he said. “I ran the same test on my personal 12.9-inch iPad Pro with the same M1 processor with 16GB of memory, compared to the iPad Air’s 8GB, and the scores were much closer than I anticipated: the iPad Pro scored 1,708 for single-core and 7,297 in the multi-core test.” With a 10.9-inch display and a Touch ID sensor that doubles as a power button on the side of its housing, the iPad Air is more affordable and slightly different than the iPad Pro. The new iPad Air still works with the Magic Keyboard and 2nd-generation Apple Pencil. Apple also updated the color lineup for the Air, matching the iPad Mini’s color lineup, with the addition of a new blue color. Where the iPad Pro is the model for those who want nothing but the best, the iPad Air is the model for those who want to use the tablet for work and play, without big sacrifices in performance or features. Also: iPad Air (2022) vs iPad Pro (2022): How to choose If you want something smaller and more manageable, the Apple iPad Mini fits the bill. Apple’s recent update to the Mini brought it current with the company’s new flat-edge design, a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, and support for the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil. It’s powered by the A15 Bionic processor, and the display size was increased from 7.9 inches to 8.3 inches. By removing the home button and putting Touch ID in the top button, the overall size of the Mini actually decreased. Review: Why the iPad Mini 6 is Apple’s most exciting new product in years ZDNET writer Jason Perlow said that the iPad Mini with 5G would be his “desert island device.” “It is powerful enough to be the one and only Apple device that a large group of customers will ever need,” he said, adding, “It has the same A15 Bionic SoC used on iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro/Max.” There’s also a spot on the right side of the tablet to charge the Apple Pencil, and it makes for a fantastic tablet to draw or write notes on. If your list primarily consists of consumption activities, like watching videos and reading news, odds are the base model iPad is what you should go with. However, if you want to do a fair amount of emailing, messaging, writing, and web browsing, then the iPad Air is where your search should begin. As for the iPad Pro, it’s clear that it’s now meant for users who plan to push it to its limits while they work by connecting multiple accessories and monitors or other peripherals. If you need a laptop replacement and love the iPad, then the iPad Pro is where to start your search. The Pro is also great for drawing since it supports the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil, with a magnetic spot on the side to charge it. As far as Samsung tablets go, these devices will run on Android OS and are closer to iPads in terms of performance, design, and features. The Galaxy Tab S series is ideal for users who need power, such as creators and professionals. The tablets in this series have larger screens and more processing power, comparable to the iPad Pro. On the other hand, Samsung also makes a Galaxy Tab A series, which comes at a lower price point with smaller screens for those who need a simple tablet for everyday tasks and entertainment.
