Short answer: for most people in 2026, the best iPad is the 11-inch iPad Air with M4 ($599). It’s fast and supports Apple Intelligence, the Apple Pencil Pro and a proper Magic Keyboard. If you only need an iPad for streaming, browsing and schoolwork, the iPad (A16) at $349 is the best value, but it doesn’t support Apple Intelligence. Pick the iPad mini if you want something one-handed, and the iPad Pro with M5 if you want the OLED display and top performance.
How we put this together: this guide is based on Apple’s official tech specs, compare page and announcements (linked below). It is not based on hands-on testing by iTech Level. Prices are Apple’s US starting prices for Wi-Fi models at the time of writing. See how we choose products.
Every current iPad compared
| iPad | Best for | Chip | Display | Apple Intelligence | Apple Pencil | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPad Air 11 (M4) | Most people | M4, 12GB memory | 11″ Liquid Retina | Yes | Pro, USB-C | $599 |
| iPad (A16) | Best value | A16 | 10.86″ Liquid Retina, 500 nits | No | USB-C, 1st gen | $349 |
| iPad mini (A17 Pro) | Smallest | A17 Pro | 8.3″ Liquid Retina, 500 nits | Yes | Pro, USB-C | $499 |
| iPad Pro 11 / 13 (M5) | Best display and speed | M5 | Tandem OLED, 1,000 nits SDR | Yes | Pro, USB-C | $999 / $1,299 |
| iPad Air 13 (M4) | Big screen for less | M4, 12GB memory | 13″ Liquid Retina | Yes | Pro, USB-C | $799 |
Sources: Apple’s iPad compare page, the M4 iPad Air announcement (March 2026), the M5 iPad Pro announcement (October 2025) and iPad (A16) tech specs.
The best iPads to buy
1. iPad Air 11-inch (M4): best iPad for most people
The iPad Air got the M4 chip in March 2026. Apple says it’s up to 30% faster than the M3 model, and memory rose to 12GB, which helps with Apple Intelligence and multitasking. It works with the Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard for iPad Air, so it can double as a small laptop. The new N1 wireless chip adds Wi-Fi 7, and it starts with 128GB of storage.
Good to know: the screen is a standard LCD (Liquid Retina) rather than the Pro’s OLED, and it unlocks with Touch ID rather than Face ID. 128GB fills up fast if you download a lot of video, so consider 256GB.
Check the iPad Air 11 (M4) on Amazon →
2. iPad (A16): best value
At $349, the standard iPad covers streaming, browsing, video calls, reading and schoolwork well. It has a 10.86-inch, 500-nit Liquid Retina display, starts with 128GB of storage, weighs 477 g and is rated for up to 10 hours of web browsing or video. It works with the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the 1st-generation Pencil via an adapter.
Good to know: it’s the only current iPad that doesn’t support Apple Intelligence, because it has 6GB of memory and Apple requires at least 8GB. It also doesn’t work with the Apple Pencil Pro. If either matters to you, the iPad Air is worth the extra $250.
See the Apple iPad 11-inch (A16) in our shop, or check the iPad (A16) on Amazon →
3. iPad mini (A17 Pro): best small iPad
The iPad mini packs an 8.3-inch display into a 293 g body you can hold in one hand, which makes it great for reading, travel, note-taking and as a second screen. The A17 Pro chip supports Apple Intelligence, and it works with the Apple Pencil Pro.
Good to know: there’s no Apple keyboard made for it (any Bluetooth keyboard works), and the small screen isn’t ideal for split-screen work. It’s also the oldest design in the lineup, released in October 2024.
Check the iPad mini (A17 Pro) on Amazon →
4. iPad Pro (M5): best display and performance
The iPad Pro has the best screen Apple puts in a tablet: an Ultra Retina XDR tandem OLED with ProMotion, 1,000 nits in SDR and up to 1,600 nits peak for HDR. The M5 chip is the fastest in any iPad, it starts with 256GB of storage, and it has Face ID and a Thunderbolt/USB 4 port for fast external drives and displays. It’s also remarkably thin and light: 444 g for the 11-inch and 579 g for the 13-inch (Wi-Fi models).
Good to know: at $999 and $1,299 before accessories, it’s only worth it if you’ll use the OLED display (drawing, photo and video work, HDR movies) or need the extra power. For notes and everyday use, the iPad Air does almost everything for much less.
Check the iPad Pro (M5) on Amazon →
5. iPad Air 13-inch (M4): big screen for less
If you want a 13-inch canvas for drawing, split-screen work or movies, the 13-inch iPad Air gives you the same M4 chip, 12GB of memory and Apple Pencil Pro support as the 11-inch for $799, $500 less than the 13-inch iPad Pro.
Good to know: at 616 g it’s actually a little heavier than the 13-inch iPad Pro, and its LCD panel can’t match the Pro’s OLED contrast.
Check the iPad Air 13 (M4) on Amazon →
Which iPad should you buy?
- Students: the iPad Air 11 for note-taking with the Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Intelligence; the iPad (A16) with an Apple Pencil (USB-C) on a tight budget.
- Kids and family use: the iPad (A16). It’s the cheapest, and Apple Intelligence doesn’t matter much here.
- Drawing and illustration: the iPad Air 13 for screen size, or the iPad Pro for the OLED display.
- Reading and travel: the iPad mini.
- Replacing a laptop: the iPad Air or iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard, though for many people a MacBook Air costs about the same and runs full desktop apps.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best iPad to buy in 2026?
The 11-inch iPad Air with M4 is the best iPad for most people in 2026. It starts at $599, has 12GB of memory, supports Apple Intelligence, the Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard. The iPad (A16) at $349 is the best value, and the iPad Pro with M5 has the best display.
Does the cheapest iPad support Apple Intelligence?
No. The iPad (A16) is the only current iPad without Apple Intelligence, because it has 6GB of memory and Apple Intelligence needs at least 8GB. The iPad mini, iPad Air and iPad Pro all support it.
Is the iPad Air or iPad Pro better?
The iPad Air is the better value for most people. The iPad Pro adds a tandem OLED display with ProMotion, the faster M5 chip, Face ID, a Thunderbolt port and 256GB of base storage, which matter mainly for creative work and HDR video. It costs $400 more for the 11-inch.
Which iPad is best for students?
The 11-inch iPad Air (M4) with the Apple Pencil Pro is the best iPad for most students. On a tight budget, the iPad (A16) with the Apple Pencil (USB-C) handles notes and schoolwork well, but it doesn’t support Apple Intelligence.
Which iPad works with the Apple Pencil Pro?
The iPad Pro (M5), iPad Air (M4) and iPad mini (A17 Pro) work with the Apple Pencil Pro. The iPad (A16) works with the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the 1st-generation Apple Pencil, but not the Pencil Pro.
