The best iPads for 2024

There are four iPads: the iPad, iPad Mini, iPad Air and iPad Pro. Each has a different user (and budget) in mind.

The Apple iPad brand still dominates the tablets market despite being launched back in 2010 and they're some of the most expensive tablets. 

Here, we take you through the similarities and differences between the latest versions, based on their specs and how well they did in our tests, so you can pick the right model for you. We'll also show you which retailers have the best prices.

Want to see how iPads measure up against Amazon Fire, Android, Samsung and Windows tablets? Take a look at our expert pick of the best tablets 

Which iPad should I buy? iPad specs and prices compared

There are four iPad models. 

• The standard iPad is the cheapest 
• The Mini is a slightly more powerful but smaller option 
• The Air is the same size as the standard iPad but tends to have better specs 
• There are also the iPad Pros, which have bigger screens and the best specs.

Which iPad has the best specs isn't always an exact science. A freshly updated iPad may be better than an older iPad Air that hasn't had an update in a few years, for example. 

Our table below shows all the current iPads and their key specs. After the table, you'll see our in-depth verdict on which iPad will suit you best. 

(Typical lowest price is for wi-fi tablets with the lowest hard drive size from apple.com/uk)

Best iPads compared: iPad 2022 vs iPad Mini, iPad Air and iPad Pro

The standard iPad is an iconic tablet - and where the market begins and ends for some people. It's the cheapest way to get an iPad but, at £499 for the entry-level model, it's still far from cheap.

It's the least powerful of the bunch as it uses the A14 chip, while the Air and Pro use the same processors you'll find in MacBooks. The iPad Mini sits in between with its A15 chip. The processor primarily dictates speed and the tablet's ability to cope with demanding apps. 

Ram is the other side of that coin and an iPad with more of it should feel quicker and more responsive with faster load times. The iPad and iPad Mini both have 4GB, but moving up to the Air and Pro sees this figure jump to 8GB - or even 16GB if you choose a Pro with a larger hard drive. 

The standard iPad matches up nicely to more expensive models with its screen, though. The standard iPad uses the same Retina Display technology as other iPads, and it's known for lustrous colours and detail-rich, precise images.

None of the iPads should feel underpowered or look drab, so which you choose will largely fall down to the screen size. The standard iPad has enough power to cope with most people's needs and the iPad Mini is a good option for anyone who needs something more portable.

The Air and 11-inch Pro are for people who need more from their tablet. If you use editing software for photos or video, or create 3D art, the extra power from the M1 and M2 chips will help. The 12.9-inch Pro is more like a laptop and you should consider a keyboard if you want to get the most out of it, or a stylus if your interests are more art-focused.

If you're a Which? member, you can log in to find out how the different iPads compared in our lab tests. Not yet a member? Join Which? to unlock our exclusive iPad test results, plus all of our online reviews - from tablets, to laptops to electric cars.

You will also be able to access our full expert Apple iPad 2022 review, Apple iPad Mini review, Apple iPad Air review and Apple iPad Pro review.

iPad prices compared

iPads, and Apple products generally, don't tend to get many discounts, but keeping an eye on prices from retailers other than Apple is the best way to find reductions. Here, you'll find the best prices we could find at the major retailers for the latest models.

For the majority of people, the iPad or iPad Mini will do the trick, so there's no real need to spend hundreds more on an Air or Pro.

iPad 

Pick this if you want a slick tablet with a strong-enough processing power Ram to play games and not be sat waiting for apps to load. You like videos and pictures, so you want a vibrant screen with high resolution.

iPad Mini 

This is for you if you want a smaller-screen tablet. It's more portable and comfortable to hold with one hand, but you won't have to compromise on speed, responsiveness or screen quality

iPad Air 

You're after an 11-inch tablet, but you want something that can cope better with handling multiple demanding apps, potentially at the same time without too much of a drop in speed. Plus you want something that's still good for relaxation, with a bright, high-resolution screen for videos and games. Step forward, the iPad Air.

iPad Pro 

You need a beefy processor to handle demanding photo and video editing apps, or you'd like a bigger screen to work on - the Pro gives you the option of going up to 12.9 inches.

Looking to see how iPad prices measure up against other, good tablets? Our experts have tracked down the best iPad and tablet deals.

The best iPad for kids

Unless you've got a budding Banksy on your hands, you probably don't need a big-screen, art-focused tablet with a stylus. A more basic version will work just fine.

An iPad Mini makes sense for smaller hands, but the cheaper and bigger iPad from 2021 is probably your best bet. It's unlikely the lucky recipient will be running any advanced software and the bigger screen is nice for games and videos. Plus, it's the cheapest of all the iPads currently available and Apple's generous support periods means you've probably still got two to three years of software support.

If you need a tablet with a bit more oomph then we'd go for the iPad Air. Its M1 processor will be better for design-focused apps as well as photo and video editing. 

Still, for most kids, we reckon the 2021 iPad will be ideal and you can see where to buy it cheapest in the following table.

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How much storage do I need on an iPad?

Because iPads can’t have extra storage added post-purchase – unlike Android tablets with microSD card slots – it’s important to pick the right amount. 

This is what we would recommend for different uses:

• 64GB This is the lowest amount you can get on newer iPads and it's likely enough for most people. There's enough room for you to download books, a few series on Netflix and hundreds of images before you need to resort to iCloud storage. 
• 128GB If you have lots of apps and games, and also plan on downloading lots of TV and films, it's worth getting more storage.
• 256GB If you're planning to use your iPad Pro like a laptop – with multimedia projects such as music, video and photos – it's sensible to invest in this amount. 
• 1TB and 2TB These enormous hard drives (1,000GB and 2,000GB respectively) are only available on the iPad Pro range. Most people won't need this much, but if you're editing raw 4K footage it might be wise to go with the most storage you can.

It’s still possible to pick up a new version of a previous-generation iPad, plus you can save money by buying refurbished - find out more about buying a refurbished iPad. 

Which generation of iPad is best?

Although Apple will typically only sell one generation of each iPad at a time, there are often several available from other retailers. You can find even older iPads refurbished or second-hand.

Generation means version - for example, the current iPad released in 2022 is the 10th generation. It would be helpful if Apple called it the iPad 10, but it doesn't.

So which generation is best? Well, broadly speaking, you're best off getting the most recent version or, if you want to save money, at least one released in the two years previous. That's because it will have newer components more capable of handling the latest apps and websites. You're also going to get longer software support (five years or more on iPads), so you'll get the latest versions of the iPadOS operating system and security patches for longer.

Current iPad generations

• iPad (2022) - 10th generation
• iPad Pro (2022) - 6th generation
• iPad Air (2022) - 5th generation
• iPad Mini (2021) - 6th generation

The best iPad for drawing

As styluses have improved, tablets have become better tools for drawing and many an iPad advert features a budding young Hayao Miyazaki scribbling away with an Apple Pencil (it's called 'Pencil' but it's still a stylus).

A lot of art, particularly those used in films and video games, are drawn onto specialist illustration tablets, such as Wacom tablets and Xencelabs slates, but iPads make for fantastic canvases, too.

Which iPad you go for really depends on what size screen you want to draw on. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is your best bet if you want the maximum space for your masterpiece. But the bright, high resolution 10.9-inch screen on the far cheaper standard iPad is a great shout, too. You can see the best prices we can find for these two models below.

Do you need an Apple Pencil?

You can draw with your finger, but if you really want to take your art to the next level, or you'd prefer not to have greasy fingerprints all over the screen, then a stylus is a good option.

The Apple Pencil is an expensive stylus designed with iPads in mind. The latest 2nd generation one costs £129 direct from Apple, but it's more than just point and press. It actually behaves like a pencil with pressure and tilt sensors built-in, so you can really finesse your shading. These features aren't as useful if you're just using it to select links on a website or cells on a spreadsheet, though.

You don't need to buy an Apple-branded stylus either, there are plenty of cheaper ones available from other brands. These are worth a look if you don't need all the extra illustration-focused features of the Apple Pencil. 

An Apple Pencil is only really worth the hefty price if you're actually going to draw with it. And if you do want it, you can usually get it cheaper from retailers other than Apple.

Apple Pencil compatibility

There are three different versions of the pencil: the 1st gen model, the 2nd gen model and a USB-C charging version. They are all compatible with different iPads, so check to see if yours will work.

USB-C Apple Pencil

• iPad (10th generation)
• iPad mini (6th generation)
• iPad Air (4th generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (all generations)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later)

Apple Pencil 2nd generation

• iPad mini (6th generation)
• iPad Air (4th generation and later)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (all generations)

Apple Pencil 1st generation

• iPad mini (5th generation)
• iPad (6th, 7th, 8th and 9th generation)
• iPad (10th generation)*
• iPad Air (3rd generation)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd generation)
• iPad Pro 10.5-inch
• iPad Pro 9.7-inch

Your top 5 iPad queries answered

iPads are basically big phones and our tests find them to be intuitive to use, but there are still intricacies and functions that aren't immediately apparent.

How to take a screenshot on an iPad

Press the power and either volume button quickly, there's no need to hold it down. When you release the buttons your screenshot will be taken and you'll see a small thumbnail of it in the corner of the screen for a few seconds. If you have an iPad with a power button then the process is the same, but you press the home and power button instead. 

How to reset an iPad 

This is an important operation if you're planning on selling or giving away your iPad, since it removes all your data. Go to Settings then General and scroll down until you see Reset. Press it then select Erase All Content and Settings. Enter your password and your iPad will be as personal data-free as the day you bought it. You may also need to remove your Apple ID account, too.

How to clear the cache on an iPad 

This is more to do with your browser than your iPad, but since this is Apple you're more than likely using its Safari browser. Open Settings and scroll all the way to Safari (it's quite far down). Press it then select Clear History and Website Data. That's it, all selected website data will be cleared, so you'll need to log in to websites again.

How to get rid of split screen on an iPad 

Seeing two apps at once on screen is useful, until you can't figure out how to get back to just seeing one. You'll see a black divider between the two windows and you can drag this around to resize the two boxes. Drag the slider left or right to make one of the windows smaller and, if you drag it all the way to the side of the screen then the window you've been making smaller will disappear.

How to rotate the screen on an iPad 

This should happen automatically when you hold the tablet upright, also known as portrait, or horizontally, also known as landscape. If it doesn't then either the app doesn't support landscape or portrait mode, or the auto screen rotate is turned off. To turn it on again, swipe down from the top-right of the screen to open the Control Centre, then find Rotation Lock and make sure it's turned off.

Wondering how Apple iPads compare to their rivals? Check out all of our independent tablet reviews.