As we said above, the best iPad features right now are distributed across models, making it hard to single out a go-to "perfect" iPad right now. Price, performance, front camera quality, accessory support and display quality vary across models. Most people tend to buy iPads for family or personal use, and you'll need to decide how much you want to spend. There are also frequent sales of iPads that can change the equation too. The iPad as a product line is great overall. Models tend to have long lives, and all models on sale now are solid at running apps and games and even multitasking. The good news is all current models are good at doing a lot of things via iPadOS.
The one area that the basic iPad is left out of is Apple Intelligence, Apple's suite of AI tools spread across iPadOS. These features can sometimes be helpful (message summaries, a new Siri interface, writing tools, transcription services, photo editing tools and more), so it may make sense to consider upgrading to a newer iPad for them. Even so, for basic family iPad use, you may not need them.
All the current iPads, with the exception of the iPad Mini, have landscape-oriented front-facing cameras now which are much better for video chats with a keyboard attached, or standing a case up on a table.
iPad, iPad Air, iPad Pro, and iPad Mini: what's the difference?
Think of the iPad line as a gradual set of increases in features and price, from the entry 11th-gen iPad all the way to the iPad Pro. The Mini sits on its own, sort of a smaller (but newer) twin of the 11th-gen model.
The 11th-gen model is the most affordable. It has an A16 processor onboard, but this iPad also costs less overall. The Air adds an M3 processor and more storage options, plus support for the Pencil Pro stylus. The Pro is lighter and thinner than the Air, has an even newer and faster M4 chip, a higher-quality, faster-refresh-rate OLED display that's a first for the iPad family, and both Face ID and rear lidar camera sensors.
The Air and Pro feel like two versions of the same product, one nicer than the other. Both have 11 and 13-inch screen sizes, and support for Apple's Magic Keyboard cases. The 11th-gen basic iPad is a little different, with a different Apple keyboard folio case option.
The new Mini also supports the Pencil Pro, but only has an A15 chip instead of an M-series like the Air/Pro line.
All currently sold iPads can use Apple Intelligence, Apple's very embryonic AI revamp for iPadOS, except for the iPad 11th-gen.
What is an M1/M2/M3/M4 chip and do I need it?
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