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Need-To-Knows
- iPad Pro is top-tier, but unnecessary for most
- iPad Air offers the best overall experience for the price
- iPad mini remains a brilliant device, but only for special cases
I recently decided to break with tradition and comment on some of the 2026 iPad rumours that are circulating. I won’t make a habit of that, but it was fun to ruminate on what might happen next year to one of Apple’s trickiest product segments.
However, my buying guidance always remains the same for this kind of thing, which is: don’t wait on Apple. Please. I’ve done it before, and it only ever results in wasted time and ultimate disappointment.
Only Apple knows what’s coming next, and they won’t tell us until it’s ready. So, if you need to buy a new iPad today, just buy it. The good news is, you won’t be disappointed, and it’ll last you an awfully long time.
If you’re still struggling with which one to go for, however, welcome to my 2026 iPad buying guide!
Let’s figure it out.
Best Overall
M3 iPad Air
– Best value for money
– Mix of features makes it great for work, play or art
– M3 chip remains a top performer at this level
Best Budget
iPad 11th Generation
– Perfect for most people who just want an iPad
– Cheapest option
– Good display and build quality
Best Premium
M5 iPad Pro
– 120Hz display
– M5 chip can handle Logic and Final Cut Pro
– Pricey at over $1100/£1100
Best For Travel
iPad mini 7
– Super portable and easy to use
– A17 chip gives enough power for basic needs
– All-day battery
Best Overall iPad
M3 iPad Air (2025)
$599/£579
✅ Pros:
– Perfect blend of extra features and affordability
– Sensible step up from the entry-level iPad
– More than enough power for most
❌ Cons:
– No 120Hz refresh rate display
I’ve often referred to the iPad Air as Apple’s ‘greatest triumph’, which sounds a bit lofty, and there are, admittedly, lots of other contenders for that crown. The iPhone, for instance.
However, the iPad Air does sit perfectly in between two iPads you may not fancy – the base model and the iPad Pro. If the latter is too expensive and stupidly over-engineered for you, and if the former is just a bit too… base, the iPad Air is absolutely not a compromise.
It comes in two sizes, is powered by the M3 chip, and has compatibility with two of Apple’s best accessories – the Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard. It also starts at a price that sits perfectly within the “well, it’s not cheap, but it makes a lot of sense” bracket. And that’s important for any piece of Apple gear.
It even has sensible storage options. Starting at 128GB might seem a little mean, given that Apple has switched to 256GB for much of its lineup, but it’s enough for most people and keeps the price down. And if you want more, you can go up to 1TB.
There’s just one fly in the ointment. At the time of writing, the iPad Air, because it isn’t the iPad Pro, doesn’t have a ProMotion display. As we enter 2026, and with the entire iPhone 17 lineup now benefitting from high refresh rate displays, this is jarring.
But if you can look past that, the iPad Air remains the sweet spot for a lot of people, and for very good reason.
Who should buy it: anyone who wants a better iPad than the iPad 10th Generation but has no interest in (or budget for) the iPad Pro.
Read my full iPad Air review for more!
Best Budget iPad
iPad 11th Generation
$349/£329
✅ Pros:
– Excellent build quality for this price
– Brilliant when paired with Magic Keyboard
– Great for watching videos
❌ Cons:
– A16 chip is starting to get a little dated
– No Apple Pencil Pro support
It’s so easy to look past the standard, entry-level iPad 11th generation. Which is odd, because it only costs £329/$349. And that makes it one of Apple’s most affordable products and, therefore, rather rare.
The current entry-level iPad is the 11th generation and is powered by the A16 chip. That’s enough for most people. It also maxes out at 512GB, although the 128GB starting storage is, again, enough for most people these days.
It’s not compatible with Apple Intelligence (it’s the only iPad on this list that isn’t), and doesn’t have a ProMotion display (obviously), but none of that matters. It still works with the standard Apple Pencil (the USB-C version being the best choice), and has a brilliant Magic Keyboard Folio option.
Discover our favourite Bluetooth mechanical keyboards
Rumours suggest that the base iPad might get a mild injection of power and Apple Intelligence compatibility in 2026, but that’s not worth waiting for if you just want an iPad and you want it now.
Who should buy it: anyone who just wants a no-frills, cheap iPad
Read my full iPad 10th Generation review for more!
Best Premium iPad
13-inch M5 iPad Pro
$999/£999
✅ Pros:
– Stunning OLED 120Hz display
– Perfect for artists, video editors or musicians
– M4 chip will last for years
❌ Cons:
– Only worth it if you need it
How do you solve a problem like the iPad Pro? Well, firstly, it’s a nice problem to have. This is by far the most capable tablet on the market and one which, if you can harness all of that power, will serve you well for many years.
It might even replace your laptop.
The latest iPad Pro features the M5 chip, which provides some genuine real-world benefits over the previous generation and an absolute boatload over the M1 edition (if you’re still hanging onto that). It also goes up to 2TB of storage (if you don’t mind remortgaging your home for the privilege), has the fastest iPad connectivity, and has the best iPad display.
At the time of writing (December 2025), the iPad Pro is the only iPad with a ProMotion display, which means it has a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. Every other model tops out at 60Hz, making them feel almost sluggish by comparison.
Is that worth the price alone? For some, yes, but if what I’ve just written above hasn’t tempted you, keep reading.
Who should buy it: anyone who needs (or wants) the absolute best – or anyone who can’t deal with 60Hz displays.
Read my M5 iPad Pro review for more info!
Best iPad For Note Taking
iPad mini 7
$499/£499
✅ Pros:
– Compact design feels great to hold
– Perfect for notetaking or reading
– Great iPad for kids
❌ Cons:
– Not best suited to work
The iPad mini is my favourite iPad ever, and I happen to believe – still – that it’s the best iPad money can buy. This is because it has an unrivalled form factor, which is perfect for so many different applications. It even fits in some trouser pockets.
It’s not cheap, but it is powered by the A17 Pro and supports up to 512GB of storage. Apple Intelligence compatibility is included, as is support for the Apple Pencil Pro. There’s no mini Magic Keyboard yet, but I still hold out hope.
Having made around 56,203 YouTube videos about the iPad mini, I’m aware that it has a very loyal, passionate fanbase. I’m also aware that it remains frustratingly crippled thanks to the non-ProMotion display.
I can’t defend that anymore, I’m afraid. Next to every other Apple device I have, the iPad mini 7 feels slower than it actually is ,and that really annoys me. The good news – if true – is that we might be getting a ProMotion-equipped iPad mini in 2026. Possibly.
But if you’re not one for hanging onto Apple rumours (I don’t blame you, if that’s the case), the iPad mini is still a superb buy, providing the display thing doesn’t bother you.
Who should buy it: anyone who has been lusting after an iPad mini for ages
Read my full iPad Mini 7 review
Simple iPad Buying Tips
There are a few things to bear in mind when buying any iPad.
You can’t upgrade the storage, ever. Unlike certain other tablets on the market, there’s no option to add more space with the insertion of a micro-SD card. It’s a shame, but it is what it is, and means that you need to think ahead a bit.
Equally, and at the time of writing (December 2025), Apple still only offers its high refresh rate display technology (known as ‘ProMotion’) on the iPad Pro lineup. That means, if you own a ProMotion-equipped iPhone and opt for a non-Pro iPad, you’ll notice the difference. For some, this grates, big time. Others can look beyond it. But it is worth bearing in mind when budgeting. We’ll update this buying guide as and when ProMotion spreads to the rest of the iPad lineup.
Check out our iPad Mini 7 vs iPad Air 6 guide for more help!
The last thing to consider is that accessories are not included with iPads, and Apple rarely, if ever, offers any bundled incentives. You therefore need to account for official accessories in your iPad budget, or seek out third-party alternatives. I’d also pay close attention to what is and isn’t compatible, accessory-wise, for the iPad you’re tempted by.
Wrap up
Writing iPad buying guides seems to get easier every year. This is partly because it’s one of the least tinkered-with Apple product line-ups, but also because the more I use these iPads, the more I figure out exactly who they’re for.
As always, let me know in the comments which iPad gets your vote, and why!
