Apple has just updated its two high-end tablets: the iPad Air and the iPad Pro. While the base iPad didn’t receive an update, the company did cut its price as well. And of course, yes, the iPad mini still exists.
So we thought it would be a good opportunity to look at the range of iPads and understand what makes them different. It might help you choose your next iPad if your current iPad is so old that you can no longer get the latest updates for your favorite apps.
Entry-level iPad
The tenth-generation iPad simply called “iPad” was not updated during Tuesday’s Let Loose event. However, it’s still a solid entry-level tablet with a 10.9-inch screen, the A14 Bionic-on-a-chip system originally released for the iPhone 12 series, and a USB-C port. Available in blue, pink, yellow and silver.
Until now, the iPad cost $449. Apple is now dropping the price to $349 for 64GB of storage. Upgrading to 256GB is a bit pricey as the price jumps to $499. This also means that the 9th generation iPad is now gone from the lineup.
The iPad Air
What is iPad Air? The line between iPad Air and iPad Pro isn’t as clear as it used to be. But Apple’s SVP, Hardware Engineering tried to define what the iPad Air is. “iPad Air is designed to deliver advanced features pioneered in iPad Pro and make them available and even more affordable,” he said.
So it should come as no surprise that the iPad Air is now available in two screen sizes, 11-inch and 13-inch. Apple now uses the M2 chip to power the iPad Air and has moved the front-facing camera so that it now sits along the horizontal edge of the tablet.
The 11-inch iPad Air starts at $599 and the 13-inch model starts at $799. If you choose a model that supports cellular connectivity, or if you want to add more storage, it will add up pretty quickly.
The iPad Pro
As the name suggests, the iPad Pro packs the best components available right now. And the new iPad Pro is no exception, as it now features an OLED display and a brand new M4 chip.
Essentially, everything is better on the iPad Pro. There are four speakers, a lidar scanner, a new true-tone adaptive flash, and a USB-C port that supports Thunderbolt 4. But whether these features are necessary depends on your use cases and your iPad’s role in your computing world.
It’s also an expensive machine: The iPad Pro starts at $999 for the 11-inch model. The 13-inch version costs $1,299. And the iPad Pro doesn’t come with a keyboard or stylus in the box, so you often end up paying more than the price of a MacBook Air.
The iPad mini
Apple didn’t mention the iPad mini at all, but it’s still here. With an 8.3-inch screen, this device is bigger than a smartphone but smaller than what people usually call an iPad.
It would have been nice to update the chip on Tuesday, but at least the iPad mini remains in the lineup.
Pencils and keyboards
Now, here’s where it gets a little complicated: Some accessories work with some iPad models but not others.
Let’s start with pencils. All iPads support pencils now. Apple sells a $79 basic USB-C Apple Pencil that works with all models and is the cheapest option. It can be attached magnetically to the tablet, but you have to use a USB-C cable to charge it every now and then.
The basic iPad also supports the first-generation Pencil with a dongle (the one that doesn’t attach magnetically to the tablet). But if you don’t have one, you should opt for the basic USB-C Apple Pencil.
If you have an iPad mini, you can also buy a $129 second-generation Apple Pencil. What’s nice about it is that it supports wireless pairing and charging, as well as a double-tap shortcut to switch gears.
And if you’re going to buy a brand new iPad Air or iPad Pro, Apple has essentially updated the second-generation Apple Pencil and renamed it the Apple Pencil Pro. It still costs $129, but it adds a few quality-of-life features, like the ability to open a tool palette using the stylus.
As for the keyboard, it’s a bit simpler as each model has its own Magic Keyboard. The design of the Magic Keyboard Folio for the base iPad isn’t as nice as the keyboard you can get with the iPad Air or iPad Pro — it’s essentially a $249 keyboard cover.
For iPad Air and iPad Pro, keyboard pricing depends on iPad size. The Magic Keyboard for 11-inch models costs $299, while the Magic Keyboard for 13-inch models costs $349.
Of course, if you don’t plan on typing long documents on your iPad, you can just get a Smart Folio to protect the screen and use it as a stand. The flexibility of the iPad ecosystem makes it more flexible than a laptop.
