Which iPad to buy? Many of you have made the decision to buy the Apple tablet, but this decision raises the question of which model to buy. An iPad is very flexible and adapts to many uses, but even with them you have to choose the right model.
Now that there don’t seem to be any short-term surprises, it’s a good time to make a comparison and put all the models and uses side by side, in addition to contrasting its specifications. We will try to help you choose the best iPad for your needs.
An iPad for every person and every need
Let’s start with the technical specifications of crude oil, although a caveat: You should not choose an iPad based on its chip or the RAM memory it has. How you use it is the determining factor, so don’t be guided by specs alone. Then we will delve deeper into the purpose of each model.
ipad mini |
ipad |
ipad air |
ipad pro 11 “ |
ipad pro 12.9 “ |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dimensions |
20.32 x 13.48 x 0.61 cm |
25.06 x 17.41 x 0.75 cm |
24.76 x 17.85 x 0.61 cm |
24.76 x 17.85 x 0.59 cm |
28.06 x 21.49 x 0.64 cm |
WEIGHT |
300.5g (Wi-Fi) or 308.2g (Wi-Fi + 4G) |
490g (Wi-Fi) or 495g (Wi-Fi + 4G) |
458g (Wi-Fi) or 460g (Wi-Fi + 4G) |
466g (Wi-Fi) or 468g (Wi-Fi + 4G) |
682g (Wi-Fi) or 684g (Wi-Fi + 4G) |
screen |
7.9 “LCD screen, 2.048 x 1.536px, 326ppp |
10.2 “LCD, 2.160 x 1.620px, 264ppp |
10.9 “, LCD, 2.360 x 1.640px, 264ppp |
11 “LCD, 2.388 x 1.668 pixels, 264 ppi |
Mini-LED 12.9 “, 2.732 x 2.048 px, 264 ppi |
chip |
A12 bionic |
A12 bionic |
A14 bionic |
M1 |
M1 |
rear camera |
8 Mpx, video at 1080p and 120fps |
7 Mpx, video at 1080p y 30fps |
12 Mpx, video in 4K at 60fps or 1080p at 240fps |
12 + 10 Mpx, video in 4K and 60fps |
12 + 10 Mpx, video in 4K and 60fps |
Front camera |
7 Mpx, video at 1080p y 30fs |
1.2 Mpx, video at 720p and 30fps |
7 Mpx, video at 1080p and 60fps |
12 Mpx, video at 1080p at 60 fps |
12 Mpx, video at 1080p at 60 fps |
AUTHENTICATION |
Touch the ID on the home button |
Touch the ID on the home button |
Touch ID on the lock button |
Facial identity |
Facial identity |
autonomy |
9 to 10 hours depending on use |
9 to 10 hours depending on use |
9 to 10 hours depending on use |
9 to 10 hours depending on use |
9 to 10 hours depending on use |
colors |
Silver, space gray and gold |
Silver, space gray and gold |
Silver, space gray, rose gold, green and sky blue |
Silver and space gray |
Silver and space gray |
storage |
64 or 256 GB |
32 or 128 GB |
64 or 256 GB |
128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB or 2 TB |
128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB or 2 TB |
Port |
Lightning |
Lightning |
Usb-c |
Thunder clap |
Thunder clap |
starting price |
449 dollars in Apple |
379 dollars in Apple |
649 dollars in Apple |
879 dollars in Apple |
1.199 dollars in Apple |
Naturally, your budget will be crucial when buying an iPad. But let’s say you have enough savings that you can choose. Which one do we have left? Here are our recommendations.
And your needs are rather generalDon’t hesitate: go for the standard 10.2-inch model. This iPad and its chip are more than enough to be able to surf the Internet, consult networks, view multimedia content, play casually and read electronic books. It is light, its screen is of quality and it is the ideal device to have in the living room. And most likely, it will last you at least five years. We recommend the 128GB model to avoid issues if you plan to store a lot of photos, videos, and / or games on it.
Don’t hesitate: a standard iPad will cover all your general needs for occasional use
If you plan take this general-purpose iPad with you to many places as a book reader or just a reference deviceConsider the iPad mini. It is much more comfortable, light and portable as a travel device, in which you can load books, series and movies. Not to be underestimated by the nickname “mini”: its screen has the highest pixel density of the entire range. Yes, even more than on the iPad Pro.
If you have needs a little more demanding like illustration, you want a good performance in the game or you are thinking of certain uses of studies and office automation, a good candidate is the iPad Air. It is faster, its screen is a little bigger and accompanied by the Apple Pencil 2, it can be your companion to draw wherever you want. A keyboard cover can also be a nice addition – this iPad Air is a good choice if you’re looking to take the functionality of iPadOS beyond consumer use.
And you’re a professional video editor or illustrator who wants the best quality, big storage, and power that no other tablet has (or you want the iPad to act like a laptop)Think about the iPad Pro, I gave up on having a portable Mac myself and relied entirely on the tablet, and I couldn’t be happier with the change.
The iPad Pro is suitable for people looking to push the device to its limits: video / audio recording and editing, podcast recording, office automation, graphics, illustration, highest quality games, design of objects with reality increased, 5G connectivity, ProMotion 120Hz, Thunderbolt port … it’s the best of the best for those who need it. It has its price, but it is absolutely justified. It is a device to work professionally with and get good use from, by no means a tablet for the general user since it will not be used.
Finally, we can talk about any offers you can find from previous generation models in stores like Amazon or at authorized distributors who want to make room in their warehouses. My recommendation in this case is that these deals be considered if you want an iPad for general and occasional use. It is a good way to save money and at the same time get a model that will also last you for many years.
If you have more professional needs, nothing like a last generation to cover them. This is how you will get the maximum cushioning from this iPad and take advantage of each of its features for your work.
Image | Taras Shypka