
In March 2025, Apple updated the iPad Air and entry-level iPad, delivering unspectacular but solid spec upgrades for those looking at Apple's cheaper tablets. Those updates came on the heals of an October 2024 update for the iPad mini, leaving the iPad Pro from May 2024 as the least updated iPad in the lineup.
In this guide, we're taking a look at how the various models compare to help potential buyers choose which one is right for them.
iPad Comparison

Which iPad Is Right for You?
If price is your biggest consideration, you'll want to look at the standard 11th-generation iPad, knowing that it contains some older technologies and limitations but is still plenty good enough for many users, especially given its recent update. If you're looking for portability, check out the iPad mini, and if you want a mid-sized iPad with more to offer than the entry-level iPad, check out the iPad Air, which as of 2024 is available in two sizes.
What about the iPad Pro? Apple's high-end iPads are in a class of their own, and it shows in their higher prices. Unless you're a pro-level user or price is no object, you'll probably want to look to cheaper options, but the iPad Pro models deliver cutting-edge technology for those who need it.
With that quick overview out of the way, let's take a look at what each model has to offer.
iPad Models
11-inch iPad
Apple's 11th-generation version of the iPad has an 11-inch display and the A16 chip, and it starts at $349 for the Wi-Fi only model. This is the cheapest iPad currently sold by Apple, and it offers a good mix of features, although it does not support Apple Intelligence features given its lower-end specs.
Apple gave the iPad an entirely updated design with the 10th-generation model in 2022 and that carries over to the 2025 model, ditching the Home button and adopting the slim bezel design of the iPad Air and iPad Pro. It does still have Touch ID, but it's been moved to the power button on the top edge of the device. It also features USB-C instead of Lightning, and it has an improved 12MP Wide rear-facing camera.

This is still on the low end of the iPad family lineup, however, so you won't get support for the Apple Pencil 2 (only the first-generation model or the USB-C model). Thankfully, Apple saw fit to boost storage options with the latest model, and it now starts at 128GB with the ability to upgrade to 256GB or, for the first time in an entry-level iPad, 512GB.
Key specifications include:
- An 11-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone
- Side button with Touch ID
- A16 chip
- 12MP Wide back camera and 12MP Landscape Ultra Wide front camera
- First-generation Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil with USB-C compatibility
- Magic Keyboard Folio compatibility
- USB-C port
- Available in Blue, Pink, Silver, and Yellow
iPad mini
Next up is the iPad mini, which was updated in October 2024 and starts at $499 for Wi-Fi only models. Apple similarly doubled the base storage to 128GB with this update, offering a better value for buyers at the low end, while also offering up to 512GB of storage at the high end.
With a display size of 8.3 inches, you can't quite call it pocketable, but the iPad mini is definitely great for having something small on the go that still offers a much larger screen size than even Apple's largest iPhones.

Looking beyond the display size, this is a capable device using an A17 Pro chip to deliver support for Apple Intelligence features, so it's a fairly speedy tablet. You'll get an improved display compared to the entry-level iPad, a 12-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, and support for the most advanced Apple Pencil Pro.
Key specifications include:
- Fully laminated 8.3‑inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone
- Touch ID in the power button
- A17 Pro chip with 5-core graphics and 16-core Neural Engine
- 12MP Wide back camera with Smart HDR 4 and 4K video
- 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Smart HDR 4 and 1080p HD video
- Landscape stereo-speaker audio
- Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C) compatibility
- Bluetooth keyboard compatibility
- 10Gbps USB-C port
- Available in Space Gray, Blue, Purple, and Starlight
Moving toward the higher end of the iPad family is the iPad Air, which was updated with the M3 chip in March 2025. As of 2024, the iPad Air is available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, with the smaller model starting at $599 for Wi-Fi only connectivity and the larger model starting at $799. The iPad Air is the perfect mid-tier option that offers many of the same features as the top-of-the-line iPad Pro but at a lower price point, and it's a great option for many users.

Apple also released a new Magic Keyboard accessory specifically for the iPad Air, offering much of the same experience as the version for the iPad Pro with a cantilever design, function keys and, a large trackpad, but stripped down a bit to hit a lower price point.
Key specifications of the iPad Air include:
- Fully laminated 11‑inch or 13-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone
- Touch ID in the power button
- M3 chip
- 12MP Wide rear camera with Smart HDR 4 for photos and 4K video at up to 60 fps
- Landscape 12MP FaceTime HD front camera with Smart HDR 4
- Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil with USB-C compatibility
- Magic Keyboard and Bluetooth keyboard compatibility
- USB-C port
- Available in Space Gray, Blue, Purple, and Starlight
iPad Pro
If you're looking for true portable workstation power, then the last two iPads in the lineup, the iPad Pro models, could be what you're interested in. These tablets were updated in May 2024 with the M4 chip, OLED displays, thinner designs, higher starting storage capacities, and more. Pricing starts at $999 for the 11-inch model and $1,299 for the 13-inch model.
While these are now the oldest iPad's in Apple's lineup, they are still a step up from the iPad Air in almost every way, from the crisp OLED displays with 1... Click here to read rest of article
Article Link: Picking the Best iPad to Buy in 2025
- Article Link
- https://www.macrumors.com/guide/best-ipad-to-buy/
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