Apple has three levels of iPad and a sliding scale for what you could pay…well, four if you count iPad Mini, last updated in 2024, but I'm not getting into that one here. And the question, as always, is: which one? As the M4 iPad Air gets ready to arrive March 11, let's figure it out.
While Apple clearly has different people in mind for different tiers of its phones or Macs or iPads, the iPad's always been tough because the sliding scale depends on what you define an iPad to be. Is it a casual couch companion? A graphics machine? A full laptop-like option? And how much money do you have to spend?
I've reviewed just about every iPad for over a decade now, so I've seen all the iterations. And I'm one of those people who uses the iPad to write a fair amount with a keyboard. Plus, I definitely use it for movies and videos and checking up on things when I travel. It's still not a full laptop replacement for me, but in a lot of ways, it gets close if you pair a keyboard case.
I love a cheap iPad. But Apple doesn't seem inclined to update its basic iPad this year, and the Air costs a lot more. The Pro, even more so. They all basically feel the same in that they're touchscreen tablets, all pretty cleanly designed. But I do love the zippier speeds of the faster ones.
Here, I want to compare the iPad Pro and iPad Air in particular, but let's just break them all down quickly and maybe help you figure this out fast. This is basically what I'd tell my family if they asked me.
Entry-level iPad (11th gen)
The basic iPad's fine for basic stuff. If I'm watching a movie or checking mail and Bluesky and Safari on it, no big deal. The limits come in with an older processor that now lags behind the M4 and M5 chips on the Air and Pro models by a large margin. Try to multitask, and you'll feel the creakiness. The design here is very similar to the iPad Air, otherwise, with a big enough screen.
Alas, it only works with older Pencil models. And it connects with different keyboard cases than the Air and Pro. But you can get optional cellular on this one for $150 more, if you want. I do like that all the iPads have side-mounted front cameras for video chats and auto-zooming Center Stage software.
Give this to a kid, and they'll be very happy. I just wish it were a little more powerful, and I don't like the Keyboard Folio case Apple made for this one…it's not as lap-friendly as the Magic Keyboard for Air and Pro.
Last updated March 2025
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