Figuring out the best iPad for you can feel more complicated than it needs to be. Between the iPad Air, the 10th-generation iPad and the iPad Pro, Apple sells three different tablets with nearly 11-inch displays and mostly similar designs, but important differences in terms of specs and accessory support. The older 10.2-inch iPad and iPad mini are still hanging around as well. If you’re looking to buy a new iPad today, we’ve tested each model and rounded up the best values below in our buying guide.

Editor’s note (4/15/24): Rumors of new iPads have swirled for months, but they may finally become a reality soon. According to reliable Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple is likely to introduce a slew of new tablets during the week of May 6. Expected are two overhauled iPad Pros with OLED displays, a refreshed iPad Air and an all-new iPad Air with a 12.9-inch display. A new Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil are reportedly on tap, too. Gurman says that the new iPad mini and entry-level iPad are also in the works, but those aren’t expected until the end of 2024 “at the earliest.” Still, most people should hold off on buying an iPad until next month. We’ve left our advice for the existing lineup intact below, and all of our picks are still fine tablets in a vacuum. But if you can wait, do so.

FAQs

Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget

How long do iPads typically last?

If history is any indication, expect Apple to update your iPad to the latest version of iPadOS for at least five years, if not longer. The new iPadOS 17 update, for example, is available on iPad Pros dating back to 2017 and other iPads dating back to 2018. How long your iPad’s hardware will last depends on which model you buy and how well you maintain it (if you’re particularly clumsy, consider an iPad case). A more powerful iPad Pro will feel fast for a longer time than an entry-level iPad, but each model should remain at least serviceable until Apple stops updating it, at minimum.

What’s the difference between the iPad and the iPad Air?

Compared to the 10th-gen iPad, the 5th-gen iPad Air runs on a stronger M1 chip (instead of the A14 Bionic) and has twice as much RAM (8GB instead of 4GB). Having an M-series SoC gives the Air access to certain iPadOS features such as Stage Manager. Its display supports a wider P3 color gamut, has an anti-reflective coating and is fully laminated. Being laminated means there’s no “air gap” between the display and the glass covering it, so it feels more like you’re directly touching what’s on screen instead of interacting with an image below the glass. 

The Air also works with Apple’s latest Pencil stylus, Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio. Its USB-C port supports data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps (the iPad’s goes up to 480 Mbps). Although the two tablets look very similar, the Air is marginally lighter (1.02 pounds instead of 1.05 pounds) and thinner (0.24 inches instead of 0.28 inches).

The 10th-gen iPad is less expensive than the iPad Air, with an MSRP starting at $449 instead of $599. It’s the only iPad with a front-facing camera along the long edge of the tablet, which can be a more natural position for video calls. It also supports Bluetooth 5.2, whereas the Air uses Bluetooth 5.0. It works with the first-gen and USB-C Apple Pencils – which are more convoluted to charge – and a unique keyboard accessory called the Magic Keyboard Folio.

Apple also sells the 9th-gen iPad, as we detail above. That one uses a more dated design language with larger bezels, a Home button and a Lightning port, but it starts at $329.

How do I take a screenshot on an iPad?

As we note in our screenshot how-to guide, you can take a screenshot on your iPad by pressing the top button and either volume button at the same time. If you have an older iPad with a Home button, simultaneously press the top button and the Home button instead.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-ipads-how-to-pick-the-best-apple-tablet-for-you-150054066.html?src=rss