Best iPad to Buy (and Some to Avoid) in 2025

Other iPads to Consider

Apple nary longer sells these iPads, but these somewhat older models are inactive bully options, arsenic agelong arsenic you tin find them for the close discount. I urge checking third-party retailers (like Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H). I besides suggest cross-checking the terms with the latest models to marque definite you're spending a just magnitude little connected the older tablet. Older models not mentioned present are progressively hard to find and mightiness not beryllium worthy it.

iPad Pro (2022, 6th Gen): These iPad Pro tablets (7/10, WIRED Review) usage the aforesaid M2 spot that's wrong the MacBook Air (2022), Mac Mini, and iPad Air (2024). It besides has an fantabulous mini-LED surface (with a 120-Hz surface refresh rate) on with a dual camera strategy (with a lidar sensor), a front-facing camera with enactment for Center Stage, arsenic good arsenic large speakers and mics. It's compatible with the archetypal Magic Keyboard case, second-generation Apple Pencil, and Apple Pencil with USB-C. I lone urge it if you tin find the 11-inch for $749 oregon little and the 12.9-inch for $900 oregon less.

iPad Air (2022, 5th Gen): This iPad Air has an M1 processor (which tin besides beryllium recovered successful the 2020 MacBook Air), a 10.9-inch LCD screen, a USB-C port, Touch ID built into the apical powerfulness button, and 5G support. It's a great, lightweight tablet that's plentifulness almighty for astir tasks. It packs enactment for the second-generation Apple Pencil, Apple Pencil with USB-C, and the Magic Keyboard case. I lone urge it for $450 oregon less.

iPad (2022, 10th Gen): The 10th gen iPad comes with an A14 Bionic spot (the aforesaid that's successful the iPhone 12), a modern plan (in amusive colors, too), 10.9-inch Liquid Retina (IPS LCD) display, a USB-C port, Touch ID integrated into the powerfulness button, a 12-megapixel selfie camera, 12-megapixel rear camera, and enactment for 5G. It's besides compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil, Apple Pencil (USB-C), Magic Keyboard Folio, and Smart Folio. It's worthy noting, however, that the show isn't afloat laminated, truthful there's a spread betwixt the surface and the solid that mightiness marque the Apple Pencil consciousness little precise. It's a coagulated prime if you're looking for a basic, affordable iPad. But seeing arsenic however it's present 3 years old, I lone urge it for $260 oregon less.

iPad Air (2024, M2): This iPad Air (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is little than a twelvemonth old, truthful it's inactive an fantabulous option. You'll person the prime betwixt an 11-inch and a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, but some are powered by an M2 spot (the aforesaid 1 that powers the 13-inch MacBook Air and MacBook Pro from 2022). Additional features see a USB-C port, Touch ID built into the powerfulness button, and a 12-megapixel sensor successful scenery predisposition (with enactment for Center Stage). It's besides compatible with Apple Pencil (USB-C), Apple Pencil Pro, first-gen Magic Keyboard case, and the Smart Folio case. I lone urge it if you tin find the 11-inch version for nether $400 and the 13-inch for $600 oregon less.

Great iPad Accessories

iPad accessories are endless. Below, we've highlighted immoderate of our favorites to circular retired your tablet experience, and you tin find much successful our Best iPad Accessories guide.

Zugu Case for $50: This is our favourite folio lawsuit for the iPad for aggregate reasons. It's not lone durable (complete with a rigid bumper), but it besides has a magnetized screen that stays unopen and a flap that allows you to presumption the surface astatine 8 antithetic angles. The lawsuit is magnetic, allowing you to instrumentality it connected the fridge securely. It's besides reasonably priced, comes successful an array of colors, and has a spot for your Apple Pencil.

Satechi M1 Wireless Mouse for $30: We're already large fans of Satechi's accessories astatine WIRED, and this rodent didn't disappoint. It has a comfy ergonomic design, a sleek aluminum finish, and creaseless scrolling. It has large artillery beingness too—with a built-in lithium-ion battery, I've been utilizing it for the past 4 months and person yet to complaint it.

Mageasy CoverBuddy Case (iPad Pro) for $65: This lawsuit allows you to magnetically link it to Apple's Magic Keyboard case without having to instrumentality disconnected the lawsuit each time. It feels durable and doesn't adhd excessively overmuch bulk to the iPad. There's besides a slot for the Apple Pencil Pro oregon the USB-C version. The institution besides offers the CoverBuddy Lite for the iPad Air (M2).

Logitech Combo Touch (10th-Gen) for $220: The Combo Touch (8/10, WIRED Recommends) comes with a built-in keyboard, trackpad, and kickstand, making it perfect for getting enactment done connected your iPad. It's besides detachable, truthful you tin easy region the keyboard erstwhile you don't request it. It connects via Apple's Smart Connector, meaning you ne'er request to tinker with Bluetooth oregon fuss charging it. It's besides disposable for the iPad Pro (M4) (although it does adhd a spot of value to specified a bladed tablet) and the iPad Air (M2).

Casetify Impact Screen Protector for $56: If you're disquieted astir damaging your iPad screen, I urge this protector from Casetify. It's ace thin, has fantabulous interaction sensitivity, and is mostly fingerprint-resistant (I've wiped immoderate smudges present and there). It's painless to apply—the institution supplies a microfiber cloth, a de-dusting sticker, and bedewed and adust wipes.

Paperlike Charcoal Folio Case for $65: Paperlike is known for its surface protector, but the institution besides offers a large case. It's designed to consciousness similar a sketchbook, implicit with a polyester cloth screen that feels lightweight and high-quality. You tin besides prop your iPad up astatine 2 antithetic levels. It doesn't travel with an Apple Pencil slot, but determination is simply a ample flap closure that keeps it from falling out. I tested it with the iPad Air, but it's besides disposable for the iPad Pro (both sizes).

Twelve South StayGo Mini USB-C Hub for $60: Ports are constricted careless of the iPad model. This hub from Twelve South has an 85-watt USB-C larboard with passthrough charging, a USB-A port, an HDMI, and a headphone jack. If you person occupation fitting it connected an iPad with a case, the included socket-USB-C-to-plug-USB-C cablegram volition hole this.

Apple Magic Trackpad (USB-C) for $129: For a spacious trackpad, the Magic Trackpad 2 is simply a large choice. Instead of carnal buttons, it has Force Touch sensors wherever you tin consciousness antithetic levels of unit connected the pad. With enactment for assorted iPadOS gestures, you won't person to interaction the surface arsenic much. It automatically pairs with your iPad via Bluetooth and recharges with the Lightning port.

Logitech K380 Bluetooth Keyboard for $40: If you similar an outer keyboard, it's hard to spell incorrect with the Logitech K380. It's lightweight and portable and tin beryllium connected to up to 3 devices via Bluetooth (with dedicated buttons to power betwixt them). The keyboard is powered by AAA batteries, which lasted america astir 4 months, truthful you don't person to interest astir carrying a charger around.

Twelve South HoverBar Duo 2.0 for $80: The HoverBar serves 2 purposes. You tin equine it to the broadside of your bed, room counter, oregon support (to presumption contented comfortably and hands-free), oregon you tin usage the included basal astatine your desk. With the 2nd-gen version, you tin present region the limb from the clamp and connect it straight to the stand, making it easier to swap betwixt some modes.