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Remember when the first iPad made its debut in 2010 and everyone made fun of the name? No one’s making fun of it now. Apple engineers the best tablets on the market, period, and while the new iPad (A16) and iPad Air (M3) bring only modest improvements to the table, the bar was already skyscraper-level.
(Lest you think I’m a raving Apple fanboy, I also believe there are plenty of perfectly good iPad alternatives. Read my roundup of the best tablets you can buy in 2025 to learn about them.)
The question for many shoppers, from those buying their first tablet to those looking to replace an older model, is: Which one? The base-model iPad starts at $349; the iPad Air, at $599. They’re fairly similar overall, with a few key differences I’ll discuss below. While I haven’t touched either of these new models yet, I’m confident that my extensive experience with their nearly identical predecessors makes this an open-and-shut case: For the majority of tablet shoppers, there’s one clear winner.
There’s a little prestidigitation at work in the new-for-2025 iPad, starting with nomenclature: Although it’s the 11th generation of this model, Apple is no longer referring to it as such. Instead, it’s the “iPad (A16),” the parenthetical referring to the A16 processor that’s the brains behind the operation.
Similarly, no more calling this the “iPad 10.9” in reference to its screen size. It still has a 10.9-inch screen, mind you — the same Liquid Retina beauty as before — but Apple is now rounding up and referring to it as an 11-inch.
Indeed, to look at this year’s iPad is to see last year’s; they’re physically identical, including the four color choices — blue, pink, silver and yellow — and they’re able to use the impressive Apple Pencil stylus (sold separately, of course).
The two notable changes are internal: The A16 chip (which Apple says delivers “a big jump in performance”) and the 128GB of storage in the base model. That’s double the amount in the 10th-gen iPad, yet Apple kept the starting price at $349. That’s an unexpected and pleasant surprise given the 40% price jump in the recent new entry-level iPhone, the 16e.
So. The new iPad is faster and has twice the storage for the same price. This is a good time to mention that I’m on record calling the previous iPad the top pick for most tablet buyers. It’s a ridiculously capable device, more or less on par with an iPhone but with a much larger screen.
Needless to say, that opinion is unchanged. I never found the last model to be slow in any way — quite the opposite — so the processor bump doesn’t excite me much. The extra gigabytes, however, represent a big win. That’s a lot more space for games, movies, recorded videos and the like.
Of course, you still have the option of adding cellular to the mix, though it adds a hefty $149 to the price of whatever model you choose. (The Wi-Fi-only iPad is $449 with 256GB, $649 with 512GB.) There’s also the monthly cost of cellular service, but that’s to be expected. Very few competing tablets offer this capability at all.
There’s one fairly surprising thing missing from the iPad (A16), and that’s Apple Intelligence. This integrated suite of AI tools can summarize e-mails, improve your writing, generate custom images and more; it also includes an upgraded Siri.
That makes this the only current Apple device with a screen to lack the company’s next-gen smarts. That said, some would argue Apple Intelligence — in its current, not-fully-realized form, anyway — is nice to have, but hardly essential.
I’m in that camp. If you agree, then I can easily, wholeheartedly recommend this iPad. It’s beautiful to look at, affordably priced and arguably more versatile than any competing tablet.
(Pro tip: That’s true of the previous-generation iPad as well, so keep an eye out for clearance pricing on that model — while remembering that its 64GB of storage may leave you strapped for space sooner than you expect.)
The iPad Air is now also known by its processor-based suffix. The M3 is, unsurprisingly, faster than its M2 predecessor, though it’s harder to quantify any real-world advantages; the older model was already plenty fast.
Indeed, this is arguably the most iterative iPad update in Apple history; other than the chip, there’s nothing new here. You don’t get any extra storage like on the iPad (A16). There’s no shift to Face ID; you still have to use Touch ID on the power button to unlock the tablet. Front and rear cameras: same as before.
That’s not to say the iPad Air M3 is bad; far from it. It’s just as versatile as its base-level sibling, but with an anti-reflective coating on the screen (your choice of 11- or 13-inch), the faster chip, slightly better Wi-Fi (6E instead of 6) and support for Apple Intelligence.
Are those extras worth another $250-plus? It really depends on how you plan to use the device. I tested the various Apple Intelligence tools — the writing assistants, the image generators, etc. — and found them easy to use and helpful in certain situations. (See the above review for more details about these tools.) Ultimately, what you’re getting here is an iPad that’s a bit better equipped to handle the Apple Intelligence improvements expected to roll out in the coming years.
The Air M3 also works with the Apple Pencil Pro, rather than just the Pencil (USB-C) — something to consider if you’re eyeballing this for writing, drawing and similar stylus-based endeavors. The Pro offers squeeze gestures, haptic feedback and rotation detection (all of which are also in the “nice to have, not essential” category).
Apple also released an updated Magic Keyboard, which features a larger trackpad and a new row of function keys. Surprisingly, it’s slightly less expensive than its predecessor: $269 (for the 11-inch version), a $30 reduction.
While the iPad Air (M3) might appeal more to creatives (especially those seeking a 13-inch screen), on the whole I’m left wondering what niche this model really fills. If the base-model iPad (A16) is already a delicious cake with icing on the top, the iPad Air is just… sprinkles?
As noted in the previous review, keep an eye out for iPad Air (M2) deals. You’ll sacrifice almost nothing but save some real cash. And if you want a deeper dive into this model, check out Engadget’s iPad Air (M3) review.
What about the iPad Pro and iPad Mini?
Those models didn’t get upgraded this year (so far, anyway), and I would argue that they remain “niche” iPads: useful for certain users with certain needs. For example, if you’re trying to travel light, the 8.3-inch iPad Mini is an attractive choice — but its $499 starting price seems at odds with its smaller screen
If you’re serious about content creation and need every ounce of power a tablet can bring, the iPad Pro has the juice — but it’s very expensive and moves well into premium-laptop territory as you start accessorizing. My take: It’s overkill for most users.
To recap, then, I consider the iPad (A16) an excellent tablet overall and the smart buy for just about everyone. If you want Apple’s AI tools, both now and in the future, the iPad Air (M3) is worth considering — and you get the option of a 13-inch screen as well.
