If you’re thinking of purchasing an Apple tablet, you’ll face questions about display tech, glare reduction, stylus choices, keyboards, processors, RAM, and storage. Here’s how to pick the right iPad.
In the 15th year since the first iPad model appeared, Apple’s tablet range has become, some would say, richly diverse—though others might find it confusing. Four main lines (mini, Air, Pro, and the “basic” iPad) overlap, with the Air and Pro each in two screen sizes. In total, that’s six different hardware variants to consider, before factoring in colours, storage tiers, and cellular options.
Brief Summary
- Apple’s tablet pricing spreads ever wider.
- The basic iPad offers a lot for the money.
- Spending more is worthwhile only for certain needs.
Entry-Level from €400
Cheaper than any Mac or iPhone is the straightforward iPad at €400. Now in its 10th iteration, it features a fairly speedy A14 Bionic processor, a 10.9-inch high-res display, a 12-megapixel camera, and 64GB of Flash storage. It can work with an Apple Pencil, and Apple makes a suitable keyboard for it.
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Air vs. Pro
The iPad Air has a far faster processor, a better anti-glare display, Pencil Pro support, and a keyboard that includes a second USB-C connector. You can also get it in a larger 13-inch version. The iPad Air starts at €700.
For at least €1200, you can buy the 11-inch iPad Pro—or from €1550, a 13-inch iPad Pro. These were among the first devices to feature Apple’s M4 chip, offering top-level performance plus an optionally anti-glare 120Hz display.
In October, Apple refreshed the iPad mini’s processor. Its 8.3-inch screen is compact and convenient, but the device starts at €600. At least it supports the Pencil Pro, though there’s no official Apple keyboard for it.
What the iPad Is Not
Differences vs. iPhones & MacBooks
Technically, iPads and iPhones aren’t drastically different apart from screen size—but iPads can’t do traditional phone calls or SMS on their own. The cellular “iPad” versions only handle data, so you can use cheaper data-only plans. Meanwhile, iPhones typically have multiple rear cameras (with better photo quality overall), including 48-megapixel sensors for the latest models. iPads, even new ones, still top out at 12 megapixels. An iPhone also doesn’t support an Apple Pencil or comparable stylus.
MacBooks, on the other hand, lack a touchscreen and built-in cellular. They do have a proper keyboard, more ports, and run macOS. A MacBook is generally easier for multi-monitor setups and professional software. Weight-wise, an iPad plus a keyboard cover can be similar to a MacBook.
Optional Cellular
You can get cellular on nearly every iPad line, paying extra for 5G support. Apple calls it “Cellular.” The newest Air, Pro, and mini rely on an eSIM only; the entry-level iPad 10 still has a physical nano-SIM slot. These cellular upgrades cost €170 to €250 and include GPS.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are standard. The latest Air, Pro, and mini use Wi-Fi 6E (6GHz) and Bluetooth 5.3. The slightly older iPad 10 remains on Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. USB-C is also standard, supporting charging, video out, and data transfer—though speeds differ. The Air/mini get USB 3 speeds of up to 10 Gbps, the Pro has Thunderbolt 3, and the iPad 10 is limited to USB 2 (480 Mbps). You can connect memory card readers, mics, audio interfaces, external monitors, webcams, or hubs to USB-C.
Authentication
Gone is the home button on every current iPad. Instead, you’ll either have:
- Touch ID on the power button (iPad mini, iPad 10, iPad Air), or
- Face ID via an IR sensor (iPad Pro).
No headphone jack remains in any new iPad; you’ll need Bluetooth or USB-C headphones—or Apple’s adapter.
Cameras, Processors & Battery
Cameras
All current iPads have a 12MP wide-angle rear camera that can do 4K/60fps. Only the Pro and mini add a small LED that doubles as a flashlight. The Pro also has a LiDAR scanner for distance measurement or AR apps.
Front cameras are all 12MP, but only record video up to 1080p at 60 fps. They support Center Stage for automatically re-framing during video calls. On Pro, Air, and iPad 10, the camera is centred on the long side so you’re not staring off to the side during calls. The iPad mini’s camera is still on the short edge.
Inherited Processors
Apple uses the same family of chips across iPads, iPhones, and Macs. The Pro/Air contain M-series chips from Macs, the mini and regular iPad have iPhone-grade chips. The Pro was, in fact, the first device with the M4. Apple’s SoCs also include a neural engine, ISP, GPU, etc. The M-chips excel at video rendering and advanced tasks; for simpler tasks, even the older A14 Bionic in the iPad 10 is fine.
Performance & Battery
In tests, the iPad Pro with M4 soared past the others, with the Air (M2) close behind. The iPad mini 7 (A17 Pro) edges out the Air’s M1 in some areas but not all. The iPad 10’s A14 is far behind in benchmarks but usually sufficient for day-to-day use. Power users tackling 3D gaming or heavy video editing will want the M or A17 generation.
Our battery test (video loop at 200 nits) found iPad 10 lasted 8.8 hours, mini 10.4 hours, Air 13″ ~11 hours, and Pro ~16 to 17 hours. So if you want a multi-day tablet, you need the Pro.
RAM, Display Choices & Second-Hand Options
RAM & SSD
- iPad 10 has 4GB of RAM, all others have 8GB (unless you get a Pro with ≥1TB storage, which then has 16GB).
- The entry iPad 10 has 64GB flash, while Pro starts at 256GB. Air and mini begin at 128GB.
- Apple charges high fees for storage upgrades, but iPadOS makes offloading large documents to external media fairly easy (though not apps).
Displays
- The standard iPad gets an IPS panel without anti-reflective coating and an air gap that can cause slight double reflections.
- Air, mini, and Pro are laminated and anti-glare, show the P3 colour space, and have better reflections.
- The Pro alone has an OLED with 120Hz refresh, bright enough for HDR (up to 1600 nits). You can optionally get “Nano-Texture” glass to diffuse reflections on the Pro.
Used iPads
It might be worth buying older or refurb units—particularly older Pros—if you want advanced features but have a smaller budget. However, if you want new features like Apple Intelligence or the M4 chip, you need a recent model.
Accessories, Audio & In the Box
Styluses & Keyboards
- The iPad 10 works with the Pencil 1 (plus an adapter) or the newer USB-C Pencil (no magnetic charging).
- The mini, Air, and Pro each support the Pencil Pro, which charges inductively at the iPad’s edge.
- Apple sells dedicated keyboards for most models except the mini—though they’re expensive. The iPad 10 keyboard (Magic Keyboard Folio) costs €300, the older Magic Keyboard for Air is €349–€399 depending on size, and the latest Magic Keyboard for Pro is similarly pricey. Cheaper third-party options exist.
- The Pencil Pro is more sophisticated (pressure, double-tap gestures, “hover” previews, etc.) but also more expensive.
Audio
- All have stereo speakers and at least two mics. The Pro has four speakers and four mics.
- “Hey Siri” is supported if you’d prefer voice commands.
Box Contents & Colours
- Apple no longer includes a charger, just a USB-C cable.
- The iPad 10 comes in silver, blue, yellow, and pink. The Air/mini’s colours are more subdued (grey, blue, violet, starlight). The Pro is in silver or space black only.
Stage Manager & External Displays
- Only the Air and Pro can run Stage Manager, keeping your main active app centered while showing other apps on-screen edges for quick switching.
- You can also attach an external monitor to Air/Pro, which some apps can use as a secondary display or preview window.
Model Comparisons
Basic iPad (iPad 10)
From €399, it delivers a solid 10.9″ display, A14 Bionic chip, 12MP cameras, and optional Pencil/keyboard support. Perfect for school, casual web browsing, streaming, or reading. Downsides include less advanced display lamination, no Wi-Fi 6E, and limited performance compared to M-series iPads.
iPad mini
At €599+, it has premium features like an anti-reflection coated, laminated display, Pencil Pro support, and a fast A17 Pro chip. Its 8.3″ screen is tiny, though, and Apple doesn’t make a keyboard for it. Great for those who love an ultra-compact, go-anywhere form factor.
iPad Air
Seen as the “semi-pro” iPad, starting at €699 (11″) or €949 (13″). It shares much with the Pro line—laminated P3 display, Pencil Pro, Wi-Fi 6E—but lacks 120Hz refresh, LiDAR, Flash, Face ID, or Thunderbolt. It still features an M2 chip, making it a strong choice for heavier workloads, including Apple Intelligence functions.
iPad Pro
From €1199 (11″) or €1549 (13″), the Pro delivers top-tier performance. With an M4 chip, 120Hz OLED, brightness up to 1600 nits for HDR, optional Nano-Texture, Thunderbolt 3, and 16GB RAM in higher storage variants, this is the absolute best iPad. It’s expensive and mostly aimed at power users, video editors, artists, or those seeking ultra-high-end performance.
Conclusion
For many people, the iPad 10 offers the best value for simple to moderate tasks. If you want better reflection control, a bigger screen, or Apple Intelligence features, the iPad Air is a more future-proof option.
Pros are truly premium, aimed at creatives who need the fastest chips, high brightness, and 120Hz. The mini is for anyone who needs a smaller, more portable form factor at a moderate cost. If a MacBook is still in your budget, do compare: once you add a pricey Apple keyboard and stylus, an iPad can near or exceed MacBook territory.
Ultimately, Apple’s 2025 iPad range should accommodate most needs—from casual media consumption to professional video editing—and this guide will help you navigate which model suits your priorities and budget.