Best iPad 2024: The top Apple tablets tested and reviewed

After using all the current and previous iPads, it’s clear to us that the iPad Air 5 (often called the iPad Air 2022) is the best pick for most people. It’s far more modern and stylish than the cheaper iPad 9 and just as powerful as the pricier iPad Pro.

It’s worth noting straight away that all these iPads, whether you choose the priciest or the cheapest, run just about the same version of iPadOS. There are some very minor differences between the software on the biggest and smallest slates and some graphically intensive games might not run on older iPads, but really you don’t need to worry about some apps or features being exclusive to a specific iPad.

What makes the iPad Air 5 the best iPad is that it ticks all the boxes we want and ditches features that are far more niche. Inside the tablet, you’ll find the M1 chip, an Apple-designed SoC (system on chip) that’s the same silicon that powers the iPad Pro. We can say with confidence this is the fastest chip you’ll find on any tablet, impressing us both in benchmark tests in a lab setting and in general use.

Apple’s tablet app ecosystem is strong too, meaning there is a smattering of apps that take advantage of the tablet’s great power. LumaFusion, for example, makes 4K video editing on a tablet a pleasure and Procreate remains an excellent choice for drawing on the go. We would like to see Apple port some of its more Pro-level software – Final Cut Pro, we’re looking at you – but for now, the app choices are great for a consumer tablet like this.

The iPad Air 5 has a 10.8-inch display. This is slightly smaller than the iPad Pro 11-inch due to marginally thicker bezels around the screen. We feel this is a good-sized screen – big enough to comfortably watch a film and small enough to slide into a smaller bag without too much rearranging. Of course, there are options if your needs differ and we’ll cover those below with the iPad Mini and the larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Screen quality is good too. The IPS LCD is sharp enough to avoid any visible pixels unless you get really close and we found the colour reproduction and brightness levels were excellent. Whip this out on a bright day and you’ll be able to make the basics out. One notable feature missing here is ProMotion, Apple’s term for a display that alters its refresh rate depending on what you’re doing. In the most basic of terms, this allows a screen to look smoother and we think it does make a visible difference. We can understand Apple leaving the feature off this tablet, as it still deems it a Pro addition.

The battery life matches other iPads on this list at around 10 hours, it charges via USB-C and will be supported via plenty of software updates over the next few years. It’s also available in a range of tasteful colours and there’s a wide accessory ecosystem, including the Apple Pencil 2 and Magic Keyboard.

Reviewer: Max Parker

Full Review: iPad Air 2022 review

The iPad 10 was a bit of a baffling proposition at its initial launch, due to a mixed bag of specifications and a significant price hike, but a recent price drop down to £329/$329 now makes this the defacto go-to for an iPad on a budget.

Similar in looks to the iPad Air, but feeling more robust in the hand, the looks got a big upgrade from the previous generation thanks to its flat back and sides, lack of a home button, and a much slimmer bezel around the edges. It’s 10g lighter too, and packs the more convenient USB-C charging port.

The 10.8-inch screen is certainly the least high-end iPad display, lacking the P3 colour gamut and without lamination to guard against glare, but that’s now in line with its entry-level pricing. And, besides, the larger, higher-res screen is still a big upgrade on the iPad 9’s aged panel.

The performance met our expectations and was certainly an improvement over its predecessor as far as gaming was concerned, but we were underwhelmed by the 64GB base storage capacity which is too small for most people.

Battery life is very strong, easily delivering 10 hours of use, and it supports handy optional extras such as the Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard Folio.

Reviewer: Max Parker

Full Review: Apple iPad (10th gen)

The iPad Mini 6 won’t be everyone. It’s expensive, lacks the Magic Keyboard support of the Air and Pro and suffers from slightly inferior battery life. However, if you’re after a small iPad for watching videos, reading or note-taking then this is still an option we’re happy to recommend,

Most of the features here are stripped from the iPad Air series. It mirrors that slate’s design, colour choices and screen tech. However the performance isn’t quite as high-end, so it scores lower in benchmark tests. In real-world use though, it’s still very snappy in all ways.

The smaller 8.3-inch display makes this a different proposition from the iPad Air. It’s less of a laptop replacement and more of a companion; a media-centric device that fits in smaller bags. 

Pair it with the Apple Pencil (2nd gen) and you’ve got a fantastic mini notebook and sketchpad. The smaller display also makes it great for gaming, especially if you pair up a Bluetooth controller.

We found that the battery life is a little shorter than the iPad Air, but at least there’s a USB-C port on the bottom for quicker charging than the iPad 9.

Reviewer: Max Parker

Full Review: iPad Mini 6 review

Most users will find that the iPad Air 5, or many of the other tablets on this list, will work perfectly for all the tasks they need to do. However, if you are a true power user and need your device to output some serious muscle then the iPad Pro M4, in either its refreshed 11- or 13-inch sizes, is the one to go for.

You might not have heard about the Apple M4 chip before, and that’s because the iPad Pro is the first Apple product to sport the new MacBook Pro-class silicon. It’s safe to say that with the M4, the iPad Pro has processing power in spades, to the extent that we even felt it was a bit wasted since there aren’t even any apps or games available that could give it any trouble whatsoever.

We’d hoped that this processor could be leveraged more in day-to-day use in the upcoming iPadOS 18, but beyond supporting Apple Intelligence like other M-powered iPads, it doesn’t seem to be the case.

Still, there’s more to this iPad than just the chip of course. In fact, the iPad Pro 13 is the thinnest Apple product ever, measuring in at 5.1mm thick, and the 11-inch model isn’t far behind at 5.3mm either. That makes the iPad Pro a much easier tablet to use in daily use, even with large screens.

Those screens have been treated to an OLED upgrade, but it’s not just any OLED, instead using Apple’s proprietary dual-stacked OLED dubbed Tandem OLED that delivers all the regular benefits of OLED (vibrant colours, deep dark blacks) while also offering impressive brightness that makes them easy to use outdoors. That’s especially true if you opt for the matte finish on the 13-inch model, though it’s an additional purchase only available on the higher-capacity variants.

Despite all these upgrades, the battery should still deliver around ten hours of use, although you won’t get a charger in the box in most regions this time around.

Reviewer: Max Parker

Full Review: iPad Pro M4 (2024)