Over the years, purchasing a iPad It has become an increasingly confusing task. With multiple models and overlapping features and accessories, there is no longer a clear way to recommend an iPad for a specific type of user. Still, Apple has a general idea of how it sees the iPad lineup and who each model is intended for.
Apple’s messages when it comes to its four different iPad The products are basically divided into: base iPad for “everyday things” ipad mini for “small but mighty on the move”, iPad air for “Mac-class power without Mac-class weight” and iPad Pro for “professionals who money is not a problem.”
Below is a quick tour of how Apple promotes each device, plus a bit of my perspective on what Apple really means (or doesn’t say) when promoting its line.
iPad
“Friendly. Drawable. Magical.”
Right off the bat, Apple promotes what’s current iPad 11th generation as a no-brainer for the casual user who wants a colorful, fun device “for the things you do every day,” which… isn’t saying much.
Translation? Streaming on the couch, FaceTime with Grandma, assignments in Pages, and maybe the odd time. apple pencil scribble. Oh, and there’s no Apple Intelligence support, which some might say is a plus these days.
On its website, Apple highlights its full-screen design without a home button, as well as its Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard Folio compatibility. While this may make it a little more difficult to tell the models apart, these are certainly welcome features for those who choose this one.
My two cents: Despite the lack of Apple Intelligence support, this is still the cost-effective option. However, the real catch is storage. At $449, 128GB is ultimately the standard, but depending on how you use it, this could work. fast. Opt for 256GB if you can, or keep your cloud budget handy.
Technical specifications: 11” Liquid Retina display with sRGB color and True Tone, A16 chip, 12MP 4K wide rear camera, 12MP horizontal ultra-wide front camera, Apple Pencil 1st generation and USB-C support, Magic Keyboard Folio support.
iPad air
“Zoo.”
Starting at $749, Apple sells the iPad air like a little more serious and an iPad for a little more serious users. As we move up the iPad ladder, this is the first option to offer two screen sizes and Apple Intelligence support (which the ipad mini it does too. We’ll get to it.)
Apple leans heavily on words like “power” in its messaging, which is supposed to convey that, despite not being the iPadProYou can expect to do heavy lifting that you couldn’t do on the 11th generation iPad. Their color combinations also help drive home the fact that while they’re still casual, colorful iPads, they’re certainly not the fun, eccentric, suffix-less iPad.
However, if portability is your goal, here’s something to consider: At 1.36 pounds, the iPad air 13 inch It is actually heavier than the same size at 1.28 pounds iPad Pro. Performance-wise, the iPad Air’s M4 chip is a little different than the iPad Pro’s M4 chip, as it features an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU, while the iPad Pro’s M4 chip has up to a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU.
Still, given that the iPad Air M3 could already handle many Final Cut and Lightroom-type tasks, that will surely be the case with the iPad Air M4, meaning you can save $450 compared to the entry-level Pro.
My two cents: If you need Mac-level grunt but can’t justify the “Thinpossible” money (we’ll get there), this is the sweet spot. Just remember: magic keyboard and professional pencil They are still additional.
Technical specifications: 11” or 13” Liquid Retina display with P3 panoramic color, True Tone and anti-reflective coating, M4 chip compatible with Apple Intelligence, 12MP 4K panoramic rear camera, 12MP Ultra Wide Center Stage horizontal front camera, apple pencil pro and USB-C support, magic keyboard for iPad Air support.
iPad Pro
“It is very possible.”
From $1199, the serious, gloomy and expensive model iPad Pro It’s the closest thing to a Mac alternative tablet that Apple has ever released. In its statement, Apple really highlights how remarkably thin this iPad is, and it should be. At 5.1mm thick, it’s amazing how slim the iPad Pro is for what it’s supposed to hold.
Apple also relies on words like “fast” and “advanced” on the product page, in addition to offering connectivity such as the fact that it can handle external displays of up to 6K and reach data transfer speeds of up to 40Gb/s.
But here’s the thing. If you’re not salivating over things like knowing that the iPad Pro’s M5 chip offers plenty of headroom for multi-layer 8K ProRes, I bet the iPad Air may already be overkill for what you may (currently) need.
My two cents: If at this point you are still wondering: “Do I need a iPad Pro?” You probably won’t.
Technical specifications: 11″ or 13″ Ultra Retina apple pencil pro and USB-C support, magic keyboard for compatibility with iPad Pro.
ipad mini
“Impressive on its own.”
Apple’s own copy is basically a long humble brag about how this thing fits inside a coat pocket but still runs the same apps as its beefier siblings.
Doctors love it for rounds, pilots screw it to yokes, and travelers enjoy reading with one hand. Although most reviews confirm the versatility of this device, some warn that it should not remain a niche purchase.
My two cents: although sometimes the ipad mini seems to be touted and talked about as Apple’s answer to Samsung’s productivity-focused phones like the Galaxy Note, the truth is that this could be more of a consumer device than a productivity device per se. You can doodle on PDFs and take beautiful handwritten notes during class, but there’s a reason you’ve never seen Apple promote the iPad mini with an open spreadsheet.
Technical specifications: 8.3″ Liquid Retina display with P3 widescreen color, True Tone and anti-reflective coating, A17 Pro chip with Apple Intelligence support, 12MP 4K wide rear camera, 12MP Center Stage front camera, apple pencil pro and USB-C support, support Bluetooth keyboards.
Big, big, big final disclaimer
There are miracle workers who can run entire companies from their iPad minis, and there are people who bought an iPad Pro and returned it, saying they couldn’t do anything with it. More than any other Apple product, your mileage may vary depending on a lot.
This guide is supposed to explore how Apple markets each of its iPads and offer some commentary on what the expectations versus the reality of it all look like. If your experience has been different, let’s talk about it in the comments. For readers who still have questions, any information can help.
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