Whether you need a tablet for work, travel, or everyday fun, there’s an iPad just right for you. By Samantha Mangino on March 25, 2026.
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Apple’s iPads are better than ever. The brand continues to debut upgraded models, and while each one tends to get more iterative than the last, we’ll never say no to more power.
iPads remain versatile tablets and can even be budget-friendly — especially when you catch them on sale. The full lineup now includes: the iPad with A16 chip, iPad mini with A17 chip, iPad Pro with M5 chip, and, as of March 2026, the iPad Air with M4 chip.
At this point, iPads can do (almost) anything your laptop can do thanks to iPadOS 26. Not to mention, the iPad Air with M4 just got a memory boost up to 12GB, putting it a tier above some laptops. Whether you want to stream, browse the internet, illustrate, or edit videos, you can do it on the iPad. Recent developments in the Pro and Air models also set them up as gaming devices.
The rapid pace of Apple’s update schedule makes shopping for a tablet all the more difficult. So, we tested every model to help you find the best iPad for you.
Topics: Apple, iPad.
Which iPad model should I buy?
The right iPad for you depends purely on your needs. Do you want something that has enough storage and speed for streaming? Do you want to use it to read? Do you want to use a tablet as your primary workstation? Your answers should factor into your decision. To get you started, we believe the best iPad for most people is the new M4 iPad Air (2026). It has exceptional performance but is also in the middle range for both price and capability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the newest iPad?
The last few years have ushered in massive changes to the iPad lineup. The latest update was to the iPad Air, which now has the M4 chip. Before that, the iPad Pro was upgraded to the M5 chip at the same time as the MacBook Pro.
In March of 2025, Apple released the iPad Air with M3 chip as well as the iPad 11th generation. The latter finally revamped the base iPad model, which hadn’t seen an update since 2022. And previously, the iPad mini also got an upgrade in 2024. Now in its 7th generation, the newest iPad mini comes with the A17 chip.
What is the best iPad for drawing?
All the iPads in this guide can be illustration tools if you have an Apple Pencil. If we were to eliminate any options from this list, it would be the iPad mini because it has the smallest surface area for designing.
For drawing, we recommend any iPad compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro, which now features a squeezable grip and a barrel roll, expanding your creative possibilities.
Can you read books on an iPad?
Yes, you can read on your iPad — no need for an additional e-reader. In fact, reading on your iPad makes traveling far more convenient. You can read and stream on one device rather than pack an e-reader that just lets you read. All iPads come pre-downloaded with Apple Books and Apple News to read books, magazines, and more. However, you can rely on something besides Apple’s apps to read. If you’re a Kindle convert or just want to use both, the Kindle app is available on iOS. And don’t forget to support your local library and use Libby to gain access to endless audio and e-books.