The 4 best iPads of 2025 put other tablets to shame

We looked at the specs of each product and how that measured up. Sure, the iPad Pro has the M5 chip, but does it outperform the iPad Air with the M3 chip? (Yes, and incredibly so.) We assessed its speed and processing through hands-on testing and Geekbench 6 tests.

iPad displays are essential — they are a portable touchscreen. We watched videos to test displays and run creativity apps like ProCreate for accuracy and detail.

Through daily use, we inspected the usability of these iPads. We assessed things like screen size, placement of front-facing cameras, and how useful special features were.

With the release of the iPad Pro, we're assessing the special features available on these models, like the nano-texture glass and XDR display, to see if it's just added flair or actually valuable.

Read our full review of the Apple iPad Air 2025 (M3).

The iPad Air is the best iPad for most people. It will be your new go-to device for streaming, reading, or creative projects. And if you plan on using your tablet as a substitute for a laptop, it'll work for that, too, especially when paired with the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air or Apple Pencil. It's fast, moves smoothly between apps, and has a stunning high-definition display.

While we prefer the iPad Pro for creatives, the iPad Air is a more budget-friendly option that will still handle tough design jobs, and it's compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro.

For all the power this tablet provides, it's an exceptional value. Even with the 2025 upgrade to the M3 chip, the iPad Air starts at $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model.

The iPad Air didn't really need a 2025 upgrade, but Apple delivered one anyway. Now with the M3 chip, it has the same processing power as a MacBook, scoring 11,464 on our Geekbench 6 test. AKA, it packs a lot of power into a more affordable package.

While the iPad Pro is technically slightly thinner and lighter, the iPad Air still lives up to its name. It's a great tablet to bring on the go due to its light weight, which helps avoid wrist strain when holding the device.

It also has an impressive battery life: It ran over 14 hours in our tests, and it has crisp displays for brilliant graphics. While Apple is desperate to tout the iPad as a gaming device, we wouldn't say it's your best bet with only 8GB of RAM. However, it has plenty of power to handle illustration and design work when paired with an Apple Pencil. Essentially, it gives you everything you'd want in a starter MacBook, but it costs you just $599 and has a touchscreen.

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Read our full review of the Apple iPad Pro (M5).

Professionals planning on using an iPad as their tablet should go for the new iPad Pro. This 2025 release is loaded with Apple's fastest processing power thanks to the M5 processor, giving it way more power than the average user really needs. Graphic designers can store all of their creative work on the device, which has up to 2TB of storage. It's also a smart choice for video editors, though the premium nano-texture glass, which prevents glare while working in any environment, even full sun, will cost extra. Plus, the XDR Retina display lets you play back HDR video and use this tablet as a reference monitor.

For creative professionals, the Apple iPad Pro is a dream come true. It's also compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro, a tool that features a unique squeezable design and a barrel roll feature, enhancing precision and control in design work.

While the iPad Air is going to be the best for most people, the iPad Pro levels things up for professionals.

The 2025 iPad Pro isn't just a great tablet but an outstanding laptop. Loaded with Apple's latest M5 processing chip, it's one of the most advanced options from Apple. When running the Geekbench 6 tests, it scored between 16,200 and 16,400. That puts it in the top 8 percent of all laptops we've tested. That's miraculous levels of power for such a sleek, razor-thin package.

You can often find 1TB of storage in computers, but 2TB is rare in a laptop and nearly unheard of with a tablet, so it can store large files without a problem.

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While our top pick, the iPad Air, is still on the affordable side, there is an even cheaper iPad model. If you prefer saving money over splurging on the latest tech, the Apple iPad (11th generation) gets the job done. It's the base model, meaning it won't have the fastest processor like the iPad Air's M3 chip or the latest features like Apple Intelligence. However, it is the most affordable Apple tablet. With the 2024 release of the iPad Air and iPad Pro models, this iPad's price dropped to $349 — a real steal for Apple.

Even though its tech is basic compared to the advanced iPad Air and Pro, it's great for someone who wants a portable screen for streaming, playing games, and reading. It's also a nice choice if you're interested in using your tablet as a laptop, but don't want to spend a ton of money. It's compatible with the Magic Keyboard Folio and together costs $598 — the same price as the iPad Air.

Plus, it's especially great for kids if you want to get them a tablet but don't want to spend a fortune on it.

The iPad (11th generation) doesn't possess the flair of the Pro or Air, but it is a testament that Apple can still produce good entry-level tech. It's currently the lowest-priced iPad, even defeating the Mini.

The 2025 iPad model got a slight chip upgrade finally going from the A14 up to the A16. While that's not quite as impressive as the M-series of chips, it is quick and powerful. On the Geekbench 6 test, it scored 6,233, falling quite a bit lower than the iPad Air and Pro. However, it still scored higher than most premium Chromebooks so you can feel confident it can double as a workbook.

It has a solid screen size of 10.9 inches, providing plenty of room for those who want to use it as a drawing pad or journal, since it is compatible with the Apple USB-C and Apple Pencil 1st generation.

Overall, the iPad (11th generation) is a great entry-level tablet. It's best when working on a budget because if you're willing to spend a little more, the iPad Air is a better value.

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Read our full review of the iPad Mini.

Tablets are an incredibly versatile device, but we all have our go-to use. If you, like me, use your iPad to read, you gotta go for the iPad Mini. The other models like the iPad Air start at around 11 inches, which is a lot of screen when you just want to flip through your book.

But the iPad Mini isn't just a glorified e-reader, it's still a versatile tablet. Like any iPad, you can read on it, but you can also stream your favorite shows — a level of flexibility that a Kindle simply can't match.

So when should you avoid the iPad Mini? If you're after a tablet that can double as a laptop, this won't be for you. Eight inches might be plenty of room for reading or watching, but it's going to feel small when you want to flip between email and Slack. As Mashable's Stan Schroeder noted in his review, when up against his M1 MacBook Pro, the iPad Mini 7th generation didn't stand a chance. Plus, it's not compatible with Apple's Magic Keyboard, but you can connect a Bluetooth keyboard in a pinch.

The iPad Mini got a 2024 upgrade, and is now equipped with the A17 chip but with the same 5-core GPU and 6-core CPU. Along with the chip upgrade comes Apple Intelligence, an especially helpful feature if you plan to use it for reading as it can summarize articles.

It's more advanced in some ways than the iPad 11th generation. But on the flip side, it's missing key features like a landscape view camera and Magic Keyboard compatibility. When we calculate all that, it's clear that the iPad Mini is a great tablet, while the rest of the iPads in Apple's line-ups are capable of being great tablets and laptops.

Above all, I love the iPad Mini for reading. Previously, I read with my iPad 9th Generation, which works fine but is just too big. When I'm in bed reading, my wrist feels strained with a standard-sized iPad. So when I switched to using the iPad Mini, I was delighted by its light weight; it weighs just over half a pound. At 8.3 inches it's about an inch and a half bigger than a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, but having used both, the hand feel is negligible.

Plus, unlike the iPad 11th generation, it has an anti-reflective coating to help you read in any lighting. The iPad Mini, while great for reading, doesn't have the matte screen of other e-readers, which at night leads to some eye strain. If you want to give your iPad Mini the Kindle treatment, these Paperlike screen protectors add some nice friction to the screen so you feel like you're reading and writing on paper.

The iPad Mini's smaller size also makes it a better option for traveling. It will take up less space and weight in your bag than any other iPad on this list. Despite being smaller than the iPad 11th generation, it costs more. So what are you paying for? Slightly more advanced tech, the convenience of portability, and a better reading experience.

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