The 5 best iPads of 2026: We've tested every iPad available – these are the best ones

The iPad remains one of the best tablets available due to its extensive selection of quality apps and content, as well as its product integration within the Apple ecosystem. Apple introduced the sixth-generation iPad Air and the 11th-generation iPad over the past year, joining the iPad Pro and the iPad Mini. We’ve thoroughly tested all iPad models currently available on the market and have delineated their key differences below.

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What is the best iPad right now?

At ZDNET, our comprehensive testing of current and past iPad models informs our current top pick: the iPad 11th generation. This iPad is the best choice for most tablet users, providing nearly all of the tablet’s best features at an affordable price.

Read on for our detailed analysis of the current iPad lineup, based on our team’s hands-on experience and rigorous product testing. We also offer buying advice for each model to help you choose the best one for your needs and financial considerations.

Also: Best Windows tablet: Asus, Lenovo, & more

In our January update, we replaced the 7th-generation iPad Pro with the newer, 8th-generation iPad Pro based on hands-on and lab testing.

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Why we like it: Our top pick for the best iPad for most users is the latest standard model. Launched last spring, the 11th-generation iPad features an A16 Bionic chip, 6GB of RAM, USB-C charging, 5G support, 4K video capture, Wi-Fi 6, and 128GB of base storage. The tablet starts at $349, but you can currently buy it on sale for $299 via Amazon.

This iPad is also equipped with a front-facing camera that is centered horizontally and optimized for video calls when the iPad is in the landscape position while docking in its keyboard case or on a stand, which is the preferred configuration for many iPad users. This feature unequivocally makes the iPad 10th-gen the best iPad for FaceTime calls, Zoom meetings, and other video conferencing applications.

Who it’s for: Most people use their iPad for watching movies, reading, browsing the web, playing games, and making video calls. Apple’s base iPad model excels at all of these functions. It’s also very easy to put in a rugged case and let kids use it for movies, shows, and games.

Review: You don’t need to spend $800 on a good iPad – this budget model proves it

Who should look elsewhere: Based on customer feedback, this iPad is a suitable option for the majority of users, even those new to Apple, kids, and seniors. Power users or creatives who require more intense processing power would probably benefit from a more robust tablet like the iPad Air or iPad Pro.

iPad (11th-gen) specs: Display: 11-inch Liquid Retina display | Processor: A16 Bionic chip with 16-core Neural Engine | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB | Biometrics: Touch ID | Colors: Silver, Pink, Blue, Yellow | Cameras: 12MP f/1.8 wide, 12MP Landscape f/2.4 front | Weight: 1.05 pounds | Dimensions: 9.79 x 7.07 x .28 inches | Connections: USB-C, Smart Connector | Battery life: Up to 10 hours of video playback with USB-C charging | Price: $349

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Why we like it: Apple’s 2025 iPad Pro lineup is by far the most capable and impressive iPad lineup we’ve seen, and it has the best battery life we’ve tested in any tablet. The design is much slimmer than previous Pro models and includes Apple’s powerful M5 processor. This chip outperformed every other iPad model by a landslide in our Geekbench 6 testing.

Apple included enhanced connectivity features with the C1X and N1 chips on the iPad Pro. The chips give the iPad Pro Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread, and faster 5G connectivity, all of which translate to faster downloads, a better and more reliable AirDrop experience, and smoother hotspot use.

Who it’s for: In my hands-on review with the iPad Pro, I said that Apple finally made the iPad the intuitively responsive tablet I’ve always wanted. That’s because the iPad Pro is faster and more consistent in rendering graphics and loading assets than my M1 MacBook Pro, and is even noticeably snappier than my M3 iPad Air. It is the best tablet for power users I’ve tested — and one that is finally capable of replacing a laptop for everyday computing.

Review: Is an iPad Pro still worth it? I tested the M5 model for weeks, and here’s my advice

The Magic Keyboard also received an upgrade with the new model (a stronger construction and an aluminum palm rest along both sides of the wider trackpad), so it makes it even easier for those looking to ditch the MacBook Pro for the iPad Pro.

Who should look elsewhere: This particular iPad is for power users for the highest of high-end professionals. Unless you are an artist or a designer using the Apple Pencil Pro with it every day, or putting it to use in other creative-intensive fields, the standard 11th-generation iPad would be a better option for regular tablet users.

Apple iPad Pro tech specs: Display: 11- or 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR OLED display | Processor: Apple Silicon M5 | Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB | Biometrics: Face ID | Colors: Silver, space black | Cameras: 12MP wide (4K, ProRes), Landscape 12MP ultra-wide | Weight: 11-inch: .98 pounds, 13-inch: 1.28 pounds | Dimensions: 9.83 x 6.99 x .21 inches or 11.09 x 8.48 x 0.20 inches | Connections: USB-C connector with support for Thunderbolt / USB 4 | Battery life: Up to 10 hours of surfing the web | Price: $999+

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Why we like it: The latest iPad Mini features the A17 Pro chip, the same processor found in the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. This chip is also compatible with Apple Intelligence, including Writing Tools, the redesigned Siri with ChatGPT, Priority Notifications and Messages, Summarization tools, Smart Reply, the Clean Up tool in Photos, and more.

Who it’s for: The iPad Mini sometimes feels more like a big smartphone than a small tablet. It can easily slip into bags, purses, and even the pockets of some cargo pants and vests. Compared to a phone, it’s better for reading e-books, PDFs, documents, news apps, and other digital content. The iPad Mini’s portability and support for the new Apple Pencil Pro make note-taking a popular use case.

Review: I tested the iPad Mini 7 for a week, and it’s the ultraportable tablet to beat at $100 off

Customers who bought the new iPad Mini reported in reviews that they were impressed by the new tablet, “an enlarged iPhone with a whole new experience.” It also has more storage options than the last generation — up to 512GB.

Who should look elsewhere: I went hands-on with the iPad Mini, and to me, the AI features aren’t this tablet’s selling point. I would not recommend buying an iPad Mini 7 simply because of the AI features, but I recommend it to someone looking for a future-proofed entertainment tablet that can go almost anywhere.

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The iPad Air was once our most-recommended iPad, but now it’s dropped to the bottom of the list — getting squeezed by the iPad Pro at the high end and the standard iPad (11th-gen) for nearly everyone else.

Why we like it: The 2025 iPad Air keeps the same design we saw Apple bring to the Air in late 2022, but it now boasts an M3 processor, compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro, and two size choices — 11 or 13 inches. The big draw of the iPad Pro was always its bigger size, but that benefit has now come down-market to a much more accessible price tier.

Review: Can an iPad replace a MacBook? I tested the M3 Air for weeks, and here’s my verdict

I was impressed by the snappy performance of the M3 processor in her hands-on review. I think the latest iPad Air’s performance is noticeably better than last year’s M2 model, with about 17% gains in CPU improvements on benchmark tests. These improvements are most noticeable in better app performance, multitasking, and rendering speeds.

Who it’s for: The iPad Air is a great option for creatives and students. It’s not a midrange tablet but is one of the middle iPads, in between the base model and the iPad Pro. The iPad Air is so good, it’s likely too powerful for most tablet users, capable of handling heavy editing work and entertainment alike.

Who should look elsewhere: However, if you plan to buy the iPad Air, you’ll probably also get the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil Pro, and maybe even add cellular connectivity and increase the storage. At that point, you’ll be over $1,000 and only about $200 cheaper than a similarly configured iPad Pro. In that case, just get the Pro.

If you don’t need all that power, then you can get away with the iPad (11th-gen) and you can even pair it with a much less expensive Logitech Combo Touch or ESR case and save a lot of money but still get a lot of the benefits of an iPad Air or iPro Pro.

iPad Air (seventh-gen) specs: Display: 11-inch or 13-inch Liquid Retina IPS, 60Hz | Processor: Apple Silicon M2 | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB | Biometrics: Touch ID | Colors: Space gray, starlight, purple, blue | Cameras: 12MP rear camera, 12MP webcam (landscape-oriented) | Weight: 11-inch: 1.02 pounds, 13-inch: 1.36 pounds | Dimensions: 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 inches and 11.04 x 8.46 x .24 inches | Connections: USB-C port and magnetic connector for Apple Pencil Pro | Battery life: 10 hours | Price: $599+

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Why we like it: The ninth-gen iPad is filled with last-generation technology such as the Lightning connector for charging, a Touch ID home button, 4G LTE connectivity, the A13 chip, and the 1st-gen Apple Pencil. It has a 12MP front-facing camera, and so it’s still a good video call device. Overall, these older technologies are still good enough to handle the basics for most people and will be for several years to come.

Who it’s for: If you just need a basic, full-screen iPad to watch videos, play games, answer messages, and do an occasional video call, for example, then the base-level iPad (ninth-gen) will suit plenty of people just fine. It’s a great first iPad for kids. It’s also a good one to give elderly relatives and friends who are still a little uncomfortable with technology and just need a device to do a few simple things.

Review: Apple iPad (2021) review: If it’s not broke, don’t fix it

The customer reviews speak for themselves — 98% of customers who have purchased this iPad at Best Buy would recommend it to a friend and rated it 4.9 out of 5 stars.

Who should look elsewhere: The ninth-gen iPad is great for a lot of users, including the younger crowd. If you’re looking for more high-end performance or a more future-proof tablet, you should look into at least the 11th-gen iPad or greater.

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While the iPad lineup is certainly powerful, it really depends on personal preference and if you are an Apple person or not. We named the 11th-gen iPad the best tablet for most people due to its easy interface, versatility, and compatibility with what you can do. The iPad has access to the same App Store as the iPhone, with many apps optimized to take advantage of the larger display on the iPad.

As far as Samsung tablets go, these devices will run on Android 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.

Whether you’re buying a new iPad or upgrading an old iPad, the first thing to do before you buy is to get really clear about what you’re planning to use it for the most.

Choose this iPad…	If you want…
iPad (11th-gen)	The best overall option when it comes to power, storage, and user-friendliness. The Apple iPad is the best tablet for anything.
iPad Pro (eighth-gen)	A high-performance tablet with the best battery life. It has AI capabilities and is compatible with accessories, making it a great option for creatives.
iPad Mini (seventh-gen)	A smaller, more manageable iPad model with an 8.3-inch display.
iPad Air (seventh-gen)	A lightweight tablet for those who want something for work and play, without big sacrifices in performance or features.
iPad (ninth-gen)	A budget-friendly tablet. It’s a great first-iPad for kids, and can also handle basics like watching videos, playing games, quick video calls, and more.

If you’re looking to buy an iPad, here are the top factors you should consider before making a purchase:

Mobility: The iPad lineup now ranges from the very small and light iPad Mini to the iPad Pro 13-inch. This can heavier and bulkier than a laptop once you attach the Magic Keyboard Case or another third-party case. In between these two you have the rest of the iPad lineup that comes in slight variations of the traditional 10-inch iPad form factor. Think about how much you want to use the iPad on the go and the bag you want to carry it in. Will you be carrying just the iPad or will you also be carrying a laptop?
Accessories: Think about which iPads are compatible with the accessories you’d like to use such as the Magic Keyboard Case and the three different versions of the Apple Pencil.
Price: There are now iPads for nearly every budget, especially when you include the last-generation models we’ve highlighted below in the Alternatives section. You can get a standard iPad for around $300 and it will be fine for watching videos, doing light web surfing, and answering messages. This is a great choice for a first iPad or to upgrade an older one used for the same tasks. The premium iPad Pro models are loaded with features, have incredible displays, and cost the same as a premium laptop. However, they are best for creative professionals, artists, and those who want to use the device as their full laptop replacement, which can still be a frustrating endeavor if you’re a power user with a long history on a laptop and you have a lot of work to do.

We’ve tested all of the current iPad models in real-world situations to evaluate their features, design, performance, and overall value.

We’ve used the iPad Mini to take notes and read documents on the road, used the standard iPad for web browsing and watching YouTube, and used the iPad Pro models for lots of Zoom calls, Slack, web apps, creating Google Docs, as well as downloading and watching videos while traveling. We’ve also used the Magic Keyboard case since it props up the iPad quite nicely.

We’ve also tried using the iPad Air for all the things the iPad Pro can do and found that it works great with only two exceptions: the battery life isn’t as good, and the fingerprint sensor isn’t as convenient as Face ID for all day use during a long day of meetings or work.

For a deeper look into our testing process, check out our comprehensive tablet testing methodology.

The latest iPads include the 11th-gen iPad (2025), the seventh-gen iPad Air (2025), the eighth-gen iPad Pro (2025), and the 7th-gen iPad Mini (2024). All tablets, except the base model iPad, have Apple Intelligence compatibility.

The newest iPad is the base model, the 11th-gen iPad. This tablet has double the base storage as the iPad 10, starting at 128GB, and costs the same. It’s reliable, with a strong A16 Bionic chip, and fast, with 6GB of RAM.

The new iPad Air comes in two sizes — 11 inches and 13 inches — and features the M3 chip. In addition, the iPad Air now starts at 128GB instead of the mere 64GB that Apple previously included in the base model.

The iPad Pro now comes with the new M5 chip, which Apple says delivers 5.6 times faster performance than the M1 processor. It also touts the best battery life out of any iPad in the lineup.

The iPad Mini features the A17 Pro chip, found in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, for faster performance. It also supports the Apple Pencil Pro and has more storage options.

All of these new iPad models are compatible with iPadOS 26, which includes Apple Intelligence features like new Siri upgrades, a redesign of the Photos app, tools like generative AI for writing and proofreading across apps, and more. The new OS also comes with the highly requested Calculator app and a Passwords app to keep track of all your sensitive passwords.

Generally, avoid any iPad that is older than one generation since the latest model. This means you can buy the sixth-gen iPad Pro from 2022, but you shouldn’t consider the fifth-gen iPad Pro from 2021. The older an iPad model is, the less likely it will be able to handle new iOS upgrades, therefore slowing down the device.

To utilize your iPad to its fullest, you’ll definitely want to invest in a stylus, particularly the Apple Pencil. There are multiple generations of the Apple Pencil, so be sure to see which is most compatible with your chosen iPad model.

Also: Everything you need to set up a new iPad

An iPad case is also necessary to protect your device. Cases can also enhance your iPad’s functionality thanks to features like keyboards, magnetic stands, and more.

In addition, don’t forget a screen protector since the touchscreen is the most important aspect of the iPad.

Yes, hearing aid mode is accessible on all iPads running iPadOS 18.1. To use the AirPods Pro 2 as over-the-counter hearing aids, users must first complete a hearing test to determine their levels of hearing loss. The test can be accessed on a compatible iPad. Additionally, users can input the results of an existing hearing test taken by an audio health professional. If you take the test on your iPhone or iPad, your AirPods Pro 2 must be connected to the device and placed firmly in your ears.

See more: Turn your AirPods Pro 2 into hearing aids: Testing and tracking hearing health in iOS 18.1

The base model iPad is the best tablet for kids since it’s easy to use, lightweight, and can grow with your child as they need it for different purposes. The iPad Mini would also be a good choice since it’s the smallest iPad in the lineup and perfect for little hands.

It’s easy to see the price difference between one of Amazon’s Fire tablets and an iPad. However, you have to remember that Amazon designs and builds its tablets as entry-level tablets that do the bare minimum. Performance is going to be slower and app selection is going to be worse on Amazon’s Fire tablet lineup. The iPad has access to the same App Store as the iPhone, with many apps optimized to take advantage of the larger display on the iPad.

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.

Latest updates

Our latest Jan. 2026 update included replacing the seventh-generation iPad Pro with the newer eighth-generation iPad Pro as our pick for best iPad for battery life.
Our Sept. 2025 update included information about the iPadOS 26 launch date, as well as updated pricing and context to align with the latest news.
ZDNET has tested the latest versions of the flagship 11th-gen iPad and seventh-gen iPad Air to compare with competitors from other brands and previous iterations of the device.

Other iPad alternatives we’ve tested

The previous generation of the iPad Pro is just as impressive as the newer model. It has the M2 chip, 2TB of storage, Wi-Fi 6E, and 1,000 nits of full‑screen brightness.

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This is a good iPad Air alternative for Android users. It offers reliable performance, a 13.1-inch display, and an IP68 rating that the iPad lacks. It also includes the S Pen.

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The 5 best iPads of 2026: We've tested every iPad available – these are the best ones

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