Picking the Best iPad to Buy in 2021

In September 2021, Apple introduced a completely redesigned 8.3-inch iPad mini and an updated 10.2-inch iPad, following the introduction of updated 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models in April. Those models, combined with the 10.9-inch iPad Air released in late 2020, constitute Apple's full tablet lineup.

iPad Comparison

Which iPad Is Right for You?

If price is your biggest consideration, you'll want to look at the basic 10.2-inch ‌iPad‌, knowing that it contains some older technologies, even though it recently received an update to Apple's A13 Bionic chip for better performance. If you're looking for portability, check out the ‌iPad mini‌ with the latest hardware, and if you want a mid-sized ‌iPad‌ with more to offer than the entry-level ‌iPad‌, check out the ‌iPad Air‌.

What about the ‌iPad Pro‌? Apple's high-end iPads are in a class of their own, and it shows in their higher price. Unless you're a pro-level user or price is no object, you'll probably want to look to cheaper options, but the ‌iPad Pro‌ models deliver cutting-edge technology for those who need it.

With that quick overview out of the way, let's take a look at what each model has to offer.

iPad Models

10.2-inch iPad

Starting at the low end of the ‌iPad‌ price spectrum, Apple has the basic 10.2-inch ‌iPad‌ starting at $329 for the Wi-Fi only model. This ‌iPad‌ is perfect if you're on a budget as it is also frequently on sale once it's been on the market for a bit, and is popular in the education field.

It has the most important features users are looking for in an ‌iPad‌, like a generous display, Touch ID, and a decent rear camera, as well as support for the first-generation Apple Pencil if you're into drawing, handwritten notes, and other tasks that don't work quite as well with your finger.

Apple has also just added an improved front-facing Ultra Wide camera with a 122º field of view and support for Center Stage, Apple's feature originally introduced in the ‌iPad Pro‌ which tracks faces in the field of view and digitally pans to follow you as you move.

The low-end price tag of the ‌iPad‌ does mean there are a few sacrifices, however, such as with the display that lacks an antireflective coating seen on other models that helps minimize glare on other models. The display also isn't laminated to the cover glass, so you'll notice a bit of an air gap rather than feeling like you're directly touching the screen.

Key specifications include:

• A 10.2‑inch Retina display with True Tone
• Home button with ‌Touch ID‌
• A13 Bionic chip
• 8MP back camera with HDR for photos and 1080p HD video
• 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with HDR for photos and 1080p HD video
• Two-speaker audio
• First-generation ‌Apple Pencil‌ compatibility
• Smart Keyboard and Bluetooth keyboard compatibility
• Lightning port
• Available in silver and space gray

iPad mini

Next up is the ‌iPad mini‌, which now starts at $499 for Wi-Fi only models. That's $100 more than the previous generation's starting price, but the September 2021 update brought a massive upgrade to Apple's smallest tablet.

With a display size of 8.3 inches, you can't quite call it pocketable, but the ‌iPad mini‌ is definitely great for having something small on the go that still offers a much larger screen size than even Apple's largest iPhones.

Looking beyond the display size, this is a very capable device using the same A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13 (albeit running slightly slower), so it's a speedy tablet. You'll get an improved display compared to the entry-level ‌iPad‌, a better 12-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, and support for the more advanced second-generation ‌Apple Pencil‌.

Key specifications include:

• Fully laminated 8.3‑inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone
• ‌Touch ID‌ in the power button
• A15 Bionic chip with 5-core graphics and 16-core Neural Engine
• 12MP back camera with Smart HDR 3 and 4K video
• 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Smart HDR 3 and 1080p HD video
• Landscape stereo-speaker audio
• Second-generation ‌Apple Pencil‌ compatibility
• Bluetooth keyboard compatibility
• USB-C port instead of Lightning
• Available in space gray, pink, purple, and starlight

iPad Air

In the middle of the ‌iPad‌ family sits the 10.9-inch ‌iPad Air‌, which starts at $599 for Wi-Fi only models and is now in many ways a larger sibling to the ‌iPad mini‌. The ‌iPad Air‌ is also the perfect mid-tier option that offers many of the same features as the top-of-the-line ‌iPad Pro‌ but at a lower price point.

Key specifications of the 10.9-inch ‌iPad Air‌ include:

• Fully laminated 10.9‑inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone
• ‌Touch ID‌ in the power button
• A14 Bionic chip with Neural Engine
• 12MP rear camera with Smart HDR 3 for photos and 4K video at up to 60 fps
• 7MP FaceTime HD front camera with Smart HDR
• Landscape stereo-speaker audio
• Second-generation ‌Apple Pencil‌ compatibility
• Magic Keyboard, ‌Smart Keyboard‌ Folio and Bluetooth keyboards compatibility
• USB-C port instead of Lightning
• Available in silver, space gray, rose gold, green, and sky blue

iPad Pro

If you're looking for true portable workstation power, then the last two iPads in the lineup, the iPad Pro models, could be what you're interested in. These tablets were updated in April 2021 with faster processors, 5G connectivity, a new display technology, and more.

These iPads, which start at $799 for the smaller 11-inch model and $1099 for the 12.9-inch model, are a step up from the ‌iPad Air‌ in almost every way, from 120Hz ProMotion technology for smoother display responsiveness, Thunderbolt, and mini-LED, to a more powerful M1 chip, dual rear cameras, and a LiDAR scanner for more immersive augmented reality experiences.

The ‌iPad Pro‌ is overkill for most users, but if you're a pro-level user or just want the latest technology, the ‌iPad Pro‌ has a lot to offer.

Key specifications of the two ‌iPad Pro‌ models include:

• 11‑inch and 12.9-inch Liquid Retina displays with ProMotion technology and True Tone
• Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display on the 12.9-inch model for HDR and Dolby Vision
• Face ID
• ‌M1‌ chip
• Two rear cameras: 12MP wide and 10MP ultra wide
• Smart HDR for photos, 4K video at 30 fps or 60 fps
• 12MP TrueDepth front camera with Center Stage, Portrait mode, Portrait Lighting, and Smart HDR
• Four-speaker audio
• 5G connectivity
• Second-generation ‌Apple Pencil‌ compatibility
• Magic Keyboard, ‌Smart Keyboard‌ Folio and Bluetooth keyboard compatibility
• Thunderbolt / USB 4 connector
• Available in silver and space gray

Customization Options

Now that we've looked at the base specs of each of ‌iPad‌ models, it's time to think about various options like storage, cellular connectivity, and AppleCare+.

Storage: There are several storage options for each ‌iPad‌, so think about how much you might need. On the low end, the 10.2-inch ‌iPad‌ is available in two sizes: 64GB ($329) and 256GB ($150 upgrade at $479). This is a nice boost in storage, as both levels are double the amount offered in the previous generation.

For the ‌iPad mini‌ and ‌iPad Air‌, Apple is offering two storage options: 64GB ($499 for mini and $599 for Air) and 256GB (a $150 upgrade on the previous prices).

Lastly, the ‌iPad Pro‌ has the most storage capacity options. You can choose from the base 128GB option ($799 for 11-inch and $1099 for 12.9-inch), or 256GB ($100 upgrade from base), 512GB ($300 upgrade from base), 1TB ($700 upgrade from base), and 2TB ($1,100 upgrade from base).

Power-heavy users should always look to the higher-capacity ‌iPad‌ models to ensure they don't have to worry about constantly deleting apps and other files for storage space. Otherwise, Apple's iCloud is a great way to offload files and lets you opt for a cheaper ‌iPad‌ with less storage.

Unless you're storing a large local music library, downloading lots of video for offline playback, have a ton of huge apps, or doing pro-level work requiring lots of large files, mainstream users can usually get away with the lowest-tier storage options, particularly now that all models start with at least 64GB.

Cellular Connectivity: If you need to ensure that you can use your ‌iPad‌ at any time, including when you're not near a Wi-Fi connection, you can opt for a Wi-Fi + Cellular option to ensure you're always connected.

Cellular support adds $130–$150 onto the price of all corresponding Wi-Fi ‌iPad‌ models, depending on which ‌iPad‌ and which storage capacity. You'll also have to sign up for a data plan for an additional cost with a supported carrier, like AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon in the United States.

All told, it's not a cheap upgrade, and many users prefer using their phone as a hotspot to deliver connectivity to a Wi-Fi ‌iPad‌ while on the go. But if your phone plan doesn't allow for hotspot usage or you just want the convenience of having your ‌iPad‌ connected directly to a cellular network at all times, the option is there.

Something else worth considering is that the ‌iPad Pro‌ and ‌iPad mini‌ are the only models to support 5G, which is significantly faster than 4G LTE on all of the other ‌iPad‌ models. The ‌iPad Pro‌ supports both widespread sub-6GHz and faster-but-limited-availability mmWave 5G in the U.S., while the ‌iPad mini‌ supports only sub-6GHz 5G.

AppleCare+: New iPads come with one year of hardware repair coverage through Apple's limited warranty policy, as well as up to 90 days of complimentary support. But if you want more coverage, Apple offers optional ‌AppleCare‌+ packages priced at $69 for the 10.2-inch iPad, iPad mini, and iPad Air, $129 for the 11-inch iPad Pro or $149 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Monthly pricing options are also available.

‌AppleCare‌+ extends your ‌iPad‌'s coverage to two years from the purchase date and adds up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage, subject to a service fee of $49 plus applicable taxes in the United States. Prices vary elsewhere.

‌iPad‌ ‌AppleCare‌+ plans also cover accidental damage to the ‌Apple Pencil‌ for up to two years with a $29 fee plus tax per incident. ‌AppleCare‌+ provides 24/7 priority access to support advisors via online chat or phone for up to two years after the ‌iPad‌'s original purchase date.

Apple charges high fees for accidental damage to a new ‌iPad‌ without ‌AppleCare‌+, so as with most forms of insurance, the plan can pay for itself if ever used. ‌AppleCare‌+ must be added within 60 days of purchasing a device.

Accessories

Each ‌iPad‌ has a plethora of accessories to choose from for protection, style, or usability, many of which Apple creates and sells itself on Apple.com and in Apple retail stores.

Apple Pencil: The ‌Apple Pencil‌ is a stylus most popular with artists but also used by others, providing a comfortable and streamlined way to interact with the tablet. The second-generation ‌Apple Pencil‌ introduced sleek design changes, magnetic charging on the ‌iPad mini‌, ‌iPad Air‌, and ‌iPad Pro‌, and gesture controls, none of which are available on the original ‌Apple Pencil‌.

It might be unclear which iPads support which ‌Apple Pencil‌ models, so check out our list below. In short, the ‌iPad Pro‌ and latest ‌iPad Air‌ use the second-generation ‌Apple Pencil‌ while cheaper ‌iPad‌ models work with the first-generation ‌Apple Pencil‌.

• First-Generation Apple Pencil ($100): 10.2-inch ‌iPad‌ (2019), 10.2-inch ‌iPad‌ (2020 and 2021), fifth-generation ‌iPad mini‌ (2019), third-generation ‌iPad Air‌ (2019)
• Second-Generation Apple Pencil ($130): sixth-generation ‌iPad mini‌ (2021), fourth-generation ‌iPad Air‌ (2020), 11-inch and 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ (2018, 2020, and 2021)

In the end, if you're only looking to purchase an ‌iPad‌ as a convenient app-browsing, email-checking, or ‌FaceTime‌ device, you don't need an ‌Apple Pencil‌. But if you're an artist or other creative with a penchant for drawing or taking digital handwritten notes, Apple's stylus is definitely an enhancement to the ‌iPad‌ experience.

For a more in-depth look at the differences between the two Apple Pencils, check out our comparison.

Cases: Apple sells Smart Cover and Smart Folio cases for all of its iPads, priced depending on the size of the device. You'll pay $39.00 for an ‌iPad mini‌ Smart Cover, $49.00 for an ‌iPad Air‌ or 10.2-inch ‌iPad‌ Smart Cover, $79.00 for an 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ Smart Folio, and $99.00 for a 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ Smart Folio.

These cases magnetically attach to your ‌iPad‌, offering a degree of protection while also allowing you to place the tablet in numerous angled positions. The difference between the two is that the ‌iPad Pro‌'s Smart Folio cases protect the rear of the tablet as well as the front, while the Smart Cover cases only protect the front.

Keyboards: If you're looking to do a lot of work on an ‌iPad Air‌ or ‌iPad Pro‌, Apple has introduced a Magic Keyboard that includes a trackpad, USB-C port with passthrough charging, and backlit keys. It's certainly not cheap, priced at $299 for the 11-inch version and $349 for the 12.9-inch version, but for pro-level users, it's a serious upgrade to the ‌iPad‌ experience.

For those who still want a keyboard for their ‌iPad Pro‌ but don't want to spend quite as much money, Apple also sells the Smart Keyboard Folio at $179.00 for the 11-inch model and $199.00 for the 12.9-inch model. This case is just like the Smart Folio, with an added Bluetooth keyboard for enhanced productivity. A similar accessory is available for the 10.5-inch ‌iPad Air‌ and 10.2-inch ‌iPad‌.

These Apple-made cases are compatible with iPads that have a ‌Smart Keyboard‌ connector, which is a special port that magnetically attaches the keyboard to the side of the ‌iPad‌.

Otherwise, you can also look into popular ‌iPad‌ keyboard manufacturers like Brydge, Logitech, and Belkin, all of which sell Bluetooth keyboards that connect to iPads wirelessly. Keyboard cases are more expensive than your average case due to the added input use, but if you really plan on doing a lot of work and writing on your ‌iPad‌, the two-in-one keyboard/protection combo is the way to go. The hardware keyboards give a much better typing experience and free up screen space on your ‌iPad‌ by getting rid of the software keyboard.

Cables: Apple's ‌iPad‌ lineup now has differing cable standards, making matters a bit confusing. The easy way to remember at this point is that only the entry-level 10.2-inch ‌iPad‌ still uses a regular Lightning cable.

If you're going with an ‌iPad mini‌, ‌iPad Pro‌ or ‌iPad Air‌, then you'll be using USB-C cables. All iPads come with their required cables in the box, but if you don't have many around the house it's always a good idea to stock up on more. Apple sells individual cables, but you can always shop around on Amazon for cheap and reliable brands like Anker.

So... Which iPad Should You Buy?

Overall, Apple's 10.9-inch iPad Air is a perfect all-encompassing tablet that should hit the checkmarks for many buyers. It has most of the features of the ‌iPad Pro‌ but starts at $200 less.

If you're someone who has preferred the small form factor of the iPad mini over the years, Apple's latest small-sized tablet is well worth the update with an even bigger screen packed into roughly the same size body and has nearly all of the features of the new ‌iPad Air‌. The ‌iPad mini‌ doesn't have a ‌Smart Keyboard‌ connector like the ‌iPad Air‌ or a ‌Smart Keyboard‌ case of its own, but since the ‌iPad mini‌ isn't exactly a workstation device, that's not a bad trade-off (plus, you can still connect it to a Bluetooth keyboard if you want).

For $100 less than the ‌iPad Air‌ at $399 (64GB Wi-Fi), the ‌iPad mini‌ still gives you a nice laminated display with True Tone and antireflective coating, ‌Touch ID‌ in the power button, an even faster A15 Bionic chip, the same second-generation ‌Apple Pencil‌ support, and better cameras.

If you're shopping around for a cheap tablet for a kid, definitely consider Apple's 10.2-inch iPad, which sees discounts below its $329 price tag pretty often. Sale prices in the $250 range should not be unheard of once it's been out for a bit, and pairing the ‌iPad‌ with a super-rugged child-proof case is a perfect birthday or holiday present. Frugal shoppers should also check out Apple's refurbished store to shop around for older-model iPads offered at discount.

And, of course, on the other end are the power users. If you're willing to spend the money to spec out a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, you'll get a super reliable mobile workstation with 10-hour battery life in a 1.4 lb package. If you travel frequently for work, or just like setting up at a coffee shop during the day, the ‌iPad Pro‌ has a chance to become your MacBook replacement with a paired keyboard.

The most recent additions to Apple's ‌iPad‌ lineup provide a wide variety of options and offer clear distinctions between tablets that should help make your decision a little easier.