Apple’s iPad is one of the most popular devices on the market, and for good reason. With so many options available, it can be tough to decide which iPad is right for you. In this buying guide, we will walk you through all of the different features and specs of each iPad model to help you make the best decision possible!
iPad 2021: the baseline
The iPad is the most popular tablet on the market for a reason. It’s affordable, lightweight, and powerful enough to handle all of your needs. If you’re looking for an iPad that can do it all, this is the one for you. It has a 10.2″ Retina display, and while not being the best quality out there, you will get your money’s worth. The new iPad is available at 64GB and 256GB options and is the only remaining iPad to support the 1st-gen Apple Pencil.
It might have an old and a little outdated form factor, but it keeps the price low and accessible to a lot of people. If it is for watching content on Netflix, or you might intend to give it to your parents or children, it will be a great option that will satisfy them and meet all their needs. Being an iPad, it will have software support for a very long time, and will not need to be replaced for at least 5 years down the line.
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iPad Mini: the small
For a long time, the iPad mini was compared to the regular iPad in terms of features and performance, but with the release of the new 6th-gen Mini, it is much more similar to the much more capable iPad Air. The new iPad Mini was redesigned to a more modern look, has surpassed the regular iPad in memory and chip, and received support for the newer Apple Pencil 2. with an 8.3″ Liquid Retina display, it is still small and portable, but with a lot more power – featuring the A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13 line. Also, it has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, with instant unlocking upon touching the power button.
With portability in mind, the iPad Mini closes the gap even more between power efficiency and the ability to take it everywhere. If you need a small and powerful device that will give you more screen real estate than your phone, the new iPad Mini is right up tour ally.
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iPad Air 2022: the best value
The iPad Air was redesigned back in 2020 to support the new Apple Pencil and features a larger display than the standard iPad. In this generation, however, the iPad Air is getting the M1 chip that was introduced on the MacBooks in late 2020 and was brought to the iPad Prosthe next year. With an identical design to the 11″ iPad Pro, you will be forgiven for mistaking one for the other, but there are a few key differences between them.
The iPad Air has a single rear camera and a regular USB-C connector, whereas the iPad Pro features a 12MP dual-camera system and Thunderbolt 4. In addition, the fingerprint sensor from the previous-gen has not been replaced by FaceID. The most noticeable difference is the display refresh rate, with the Air’s 60hz compared to the Pro’s 120hz smoothness. When you consider your purchase, remember that power on both the Air and the Pro is the same, except for the display, cameras, and storage options. As a mid-level tablet, The iPad Air is currently the best overall value for the average user.
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iPad Pro: the powerhouse
The iPad Pro is the most powerful and feature-rich iPad on the market. If you need an iPad for professional or creative use, this is the one you want. It features an 11″ Liquid Retina display alongside a 12.9″ Liquid Retina XDR display with mini-LED backlighting and a 120hz refresh rate on both. It has the long criticized FaceID sensor, LiDAR scanner for 3D rendering (does anyone actually use that?), and as mentioned before, the M1 chip.
Being the most capable tablet on the market right now, the iPad Pro is not that pricy on its own, and if you don’t use a lot of keyboard and mouse on your workflow, you might just get away with using it instead of a laptop. Of course, the special features might not appeal to the mass market, but hey – that’s why we have the iPad Air. If you are a PRO or just have a ton of money to spend, and can make use of these overpriced features, you will have a great time with the best tablet experience available.
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