Best iPad 2025: The top-ranked Apple tablets

After using all the current and previous iPad models, the iPad Air M3 (2025) is the best pick for most people. 

It’s not the top-performing model, doesn’t have the amazing OLED display of the two Pro models and isn’t as affordable as the base iPad. Yet, Apple strikes a good balance with this model. It’s super powerful, comes in two sizes (11- and 13-inch) and is far lighter on the wallet than the Pro.

All the iPads in this list run the same version of iPadOS, which is currently version 18. 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 M3 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 impressively powerful M3 chip, an Apple-designed SoC (system on chip) that’s the same silicon as that in various Macs. It’s the fastest chip you’ll find on any tablet at this price, and is only beaten in our tests by the M4 in the iPad Pro line – and not by much, either.

Apple’s tablet app ecosystem is strong too, meaning there is a smattering of apps that take advantage of the tablet’s great power. Final Cut, for example, makes 4K video editing on a tablet a pleasure, and Procreate remains an excellent choice for drawing on the go.

The iPad Air M3, like its predecessor, comes in either 11-inch or 13-inch sizes. These are both good-sized screens – and it’s great having a choice without having to pay Pro prices.

The screen quality is good. Both have IPS LCDs that are sharp enough to avoid any visible pixels unless you get really close, and we found the colour reproduction and brightness levels were excellent.

One notable feature missing here is ProMotion, Apple’s term for a display that adjusts its refresh rate based on the user’s activity. In the most basic terms, this allows a screen to appear smoother, and we believe it does make a noticeable difference. We can understand why Apple left the feature off this tablet, as it still considers it a Pro addition.

The battery life matches that of other iPads on this list, at around 10 hours. It charges via USB-C and will be supported by numerous 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 Pro and Magic Keyboard.

Most users will find that the iPad Air 2025, 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 put in some serious muscle, then the iPad Pro M4, in either its refreshed 11-inch 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 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.

Editor’s Note: Apple has released the iPad 11, and we’re currently reviewing the tablet. Check back soon to see if it has what it takes to appear on our list.

Apple’s baffling decision to increase the price of the iPad in its 10th generation made the tablet tricky to recommend at launch. However, a recent drop down to $329/£329 has pulled the iPad 10 back to an affordable price, making it our go-to budget iPad once again.

The iPad has taken design queues from the pricier iPad Air, including flat edges, slimmer bezels and the absence of a home button. The tablet is also 10g lighter and chargers via USB-C, meaning it can share its charger with more devices.

While the 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display lacks the P3 colour gamut and anti-glare coating found on higher-end iPads, it still has a higher resolution than that of the iPad 9, making it an easy upgrade compared to its predecessor, while producing a sharp, colourful image.

There’s a 12-megapixel rear camera for snapping photos and scanning documents, along with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide front camera that now sits on the long edge for holding video calls in landscape orientation.

The A14 Bionic chip delivers strong performance, including a noticeable improvement in gaming performance and video export times compared to previous generations. The RAM is up from 3GB to 4GB too, though the storage remains lacking with 64GB being the base configuration.

The 10-hour battery life is in line with most iPads, while Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard Folio compatibility makes the iPad 10 a very versatile device.

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.