Having been an iPad user for over a decade, I’ve seen Apple’s tablets evolve numerous times. Since I’m so entrenched in the world of iPads, I thought it would be worth writing about my all-time favorites. Here are the models that made the top of my list.
1 The 11-Inch M4 iPad Pro (2024)
The main reason why I’ve put the 11-inch version on this list is that its tandem OLED screen is a significant upgrade over previous 11-inch models. The Ultra Retina XDR display allows the iPad Pro to deliver up to 1,000 nits of SDR/XDR brightness and up to 1,600 nits when consuming HDR content.
This 2024 iPad Pro model has several other advantages, such as its M4 chip. As of this writing, this chip isn’t even available on MacBooks yet. Apple silicon chips are one of many reasons why iPads are so far ahead of Android tablets.
2 The 13-Inch M1 iPad Pro (2021)
Apple significantly stepped up its iPad game since its transition to Apple silicon, and the 13-inch iPad Pro—released in 2021—was a big statement. It was the first iPad with Apple silicon, and it came after Apple revamped its Macs with the M1 series of chips.
This device also featured a Liquid Retina XDR display, which packed 10,000+ LEDs, and it was the first iPad with this kind of screen. This model also introduced 5G cellular support, allowing for better connectivity while traveling.
3 iPad Air 2 (2014)
I’ve always liked the iPad Air as a viable alternative to the Pro, and the 2nd-generation iPad Air—released in 2014—is my favorite in this respect. Touch ID might seem like a relic of the past on iPads these days, but it’s easy to forget that it was once revolutionary. The iPad Air 2 was the first Apple tablet to feature this technology, paving the way for future devices and, eventually, Face ID to replace it.
Unlike its predecessor, the iPad Air 2 didn’t feature a side switch. Its front camera also had a slightly wider aperture than the iPad Air 1, at f/2.2 instead of f/2.4. Users could also use Auto HDR in their images, building on the manual option that appeared on the 1st-generation iPad Air.
4 iPad 3rd Generation (2012)
The third-generation iPad came out in my first year of using iPads, and it was a great tablet at the time. It was the first iPad to receive a Retina display of any kind, paving the way for the significant innovations we’ve seen with more recent iPads. Another key feature was 4G LTE support, which was a big deal back then.
Compared to its predecessor, which could only shoot 720p video, the iPad 3 could record videos up to 1080p. Compared to the 0.7-megapixel camera on the iPad 2, you could use a 5MP camera with the iPad 3. This iPad also supported Bluetooth 4.0 and had 1GB of RAM, compared to the second-generation iPad’s 512MB.
5 iPad mini 6th Generation (2021)
While Apple didn’t release an iPad mini in 2020, it certainly came back with a bang in 2021. The 6th-generation iPad mini is a significant upgrade compared to the previous version, with a USB-C charging port instead of Lightning and no Home button. However, it still has Touch ID; the main difference is that you have to press the top button instead.
The iPad mini 6 is capable of shooting 4K video up to 60FPS. Its screen got a slight size upgrade from 7.9 inches to 8.3 despite using the same Liquid Retina display. Compared to the previous model, the iPad mini 6 introduced landscape stereo speakers and is compatible with Apple Pencil 2.
iPads have evolved significantly since their early days, and the latest models are some of the most powerful devices you’ll ever use. Although they’re just tablets, iPads can sometimes now function as portable computers with the right accessories. Even if you don’t get the latest model, you can update to iPadOS 18 to enjoy many cool features.
