iPad generations: all iPad models listed and compared

It's been 15 years since Apple's first slate, and since then a host of iPad generations have released, which can make choosing a new model confusing. Across the four main product lines (standard iPad, iPad Pro, iPad Air and iPad mini) there are various iterations and options, including a new array of iPad models for all but the standard iPad in 2024, launching M4 iPad Pros, M2 iPad Airs and, most recently, a new iPad mini.

Below, we've listed out everything you need to know about all of the iPad generations available to buy today, explaining the key differences between the models. We've reviewed every iPad released in the past few years, testing them ourselves to discover the strengths and weaknesses for each device in different use cases – to learn more, read up on how we test iPads.

In the next section, we've presented a quick list of the latest models for each product line, after which we've listed all the models of iPad available by category. We've got more specific guidance on the best iPad for drawing and best tablets with a stylus, if that better suits your needs, and if you're low on budget, check out our list of the best iPad alternatives.

Quick list

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iPad Pro generations

What you need to know: Apple announced two new iPads in May 2024 and the iPad Pro M4 is the highest-specced of the pair. It's gorgeous, and the thinnest Apple slate yet at just 5.1mm thick, but that does come with a hefty price tag.

Design and build: We loved the thinness of the iPad, which at 5.1mm, is Apple's thinnest product yet. Saying that, it's so expensive that our reviewer was reluctant to remove it from its case, so the thinness was somewhat lost on them. The two size options (11-inch and 13-inch) might be a turn-off if you want to primarily use it in handheld mode, in which case, we'd recommend the iPad mini or iPad Air, primarily. Otherwise, it offers excellent speakers, a solid camera system, and the device manages heat well despite its thin design.

Display: We were blown away by the iPad Pro (M4, 2024)'s Ultra Retina XDR screen, which in practice means incredible brightness and colours as well as glare-free glass. The OLED display is breathtaking, featuring what Apple calls Tandem OLED technology; in practice, that basically means two OLED panels sandwiched together. Our reviewer felt the display looks even crisper than its predecessor, highlighting outstanding contrast that belies Apple's claims of 1,000 nits of standard brightness and 1,600 nits of HDR brightness, just like the 2022 model.

Performance: Packing an M4 chip, this iPad is extremely powerful, easily tackling a range of creative tasks. For 2D drawing, our reviewer found the experience to be similar to older iterations of the iPad, but the M4 iPad came into its own when working in 3D, handling 40 million polygons while remaining cool to the touch. The iPad Pro M4 supports Apple Pencil Pro, which is Apple's latest Pencil and the combination of the two is pretty dreamy. The new Pencil has various new features including haptic feedback, so you can squeeze to bring up new tools, for example, a new gyroscope for more precise control and the ability to find the Pencil is the Find My app if you lose it.

Pricing: Starting at $1,299 / £1,299, is this iPad Pro massive overkill for most people? Yes. But will those who do buy it enjoy the experience? Also yes. If you're not too fussed about having the latest features then an older iPad Pro will probably serve you just as well.

Read our iPad Pro (M4, 2024) review for more details.

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What you need to know: The M2-chipped iPad Pro, released in October 2022, has just been superseded by the M4, and is available in 11-inch and 12.9-inch models. It was the first iPad to come with Apple Pencil hover features (which we love, by the way), and Wi-Fi 6E. Add to that lightning-fast upload and download speeds and you've got a potential laptop-replacing super-tablet.

Design and build: We reviewed this tablet when it released, declaring it the tablet of dreams for creatives. To this day, it's still right up there, though it's considerably thicker than the newer model and ever so slightly heavier. We didn't love that the front-facing camera is on the portrait side rather than landscape, and as with all iPad Pro devices it might be a little too large if you regularly want a handheld experience; that does make it better for artwork, however.

Display: Second only to the newer iPad Pro, we were particularly impressed by the Liquid Retina XDR display when we first reviewed the 2022 model, which makes for a stunning canvas both to display digital art and create it on (it's incredibly responsive). Indeed, its peak brightness is the same as the new model at 1600 nits, however, the newer iPad's Tandem OLED display offers greater contrast.

Performance: While the M2 chip isn't as powerful as the newer M4, it can still hold its own for creative work, including more intensive video editing and motion design tasks. The camera is amazing, and the support for ProRes video capture means it's like carrying a mini studio around with you. But beyond the M2 chip, Apple Pencil hover and Pro Res capability, many of the specs are in line with the previous iPad Pro.

Pricing: This is an eye-wateringly expensive tablet, considering how little changed compared to the previous 2021 model and how much was improved by the 2024 model. Compared with the previous iteration, there isn't much that isn't available on the previous 2021 model, and the design is exactly the same, too. If the additional features are important to you and you've got money to spend, but don't want to go for the top tablet, this could be the one for you. If you're okay with not having the latest features, though, you could save money by grabbing the 2021 iPad Pro instead - or, we'd recommend holding out for a $200 / £200 price drop during sales events.

Read our iPad Pro 2022 (M2) review for more details.

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What you need to know: Not long ago, this was the flagship iPad. It had the most computing power available in an Apple tablet, the finest display, and the fastest user experience – as confirmed by our testing. Though it's been superseded not once but twice, the 5th-generation iPad Pro is still a beast of a tablet.

Design and build: As you'd expect, it's another beautiful, classy device from Apple, with an edge-to-edge, neatly bezel-less screen. It might be a little small for artwork, but it's great for handheld use, and is lightweight enough for longer sessions.

Display: While it lacks the Liquid Retina XDR display of its 12.9-inch sibling, it still delivers a whopping 2,388 by 1,668 resolution, delivering nearly four million pixels on its lightweight frame. It's calibrated for colour, brightness, gamma and white point, with P3 wide colour and True Tone tech and there's also an anti-reflective coating. Plus, its ProMotion technology, switches the display refresh rate from 24Hz up to 120Hz, keeping navigation smooth and speedy.

Performance: Its eight-core M1 processor is laptop-grade, so it loads apps in the blink of an eye. Want to edit 4K video on a tablet? It'll handle that with ease. It supports Thunderbolt 3 and USB4, as well as eSIM, and offers global 5G coverage with speeds going up to 4GBps. It also comes in two sizes (an 11-inch model and a 12.9-inch version), giving you great options for screen real estate. In short, this is an intensely powerful tablet. With the best iPad camera you can get and clever extra features like Center Stage (which keeps you centered in the frame during video calls), it's a superb iPad for just about everything. It works with Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Pencil USB-C, though not the new Apple Pencil Pro (which provides a more adaptable drawing experience).

Pricing: Of course, all this comes at a cost (though less of a cost than the newer models). This is not a cheap tablet, and if you don't need all that power we've detailed above, then there are definitely cheaper options that will suit you better. Still, if you want a brilliant iPad for a little less than the M2 iPad Pro, this is a great choice.

See our iPad Pro 12.9in (M1, 2021) review and iPad Pro 11in (M1, 2021) review for full details.

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iPad Air generations

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What you need to know: The iPad Air M2 (2024) was announced in May 2024. Perhaps the biggest change with this model is that it's now available in two sizes, 11-inch and 13-inch (just like the iPad Pro). That will make it a much more appealing proposition for artists or those who want a big screen, but don't want to go all out and buy the Pro. It also offers an improved M2 chip, again, bringing it more in line with recent iPad Pros and supports the Apple Pencil Pro, which will be a boon for artists.

Design and build: Don't let the 'Air' in the name fool you; this slate is actually slightly thicker than the iPad Pro at 6.1mm (versus 5.1mm), but realistically you'll hardly notice the difference, especially with a case. It's well-built, featuring a new magnetic system for folio cases to allow for greater viewing angle adjustability.

Display: Its Liquid Retina display displays colours beautifully, with true-tone technology, good brightness levels and great contrast. Offering a 2732x2048-pixel resolution display at 264 PPI for excellent image quality, it might not feature the Pro's Ultra Retina XDR OLED display, but its LED screen still offers impressive colour accuracy and contrast. It's a solid choice for visual artists and photographers, despite lacking Pro-grade specs.

Performance: Our reviewer found that it coped remarkably well in 2D drawing apps (the only slight niggle being that only six layers were available in Procreate at higher screen resolutions). With 3D work, it worked fine with million of polygons but there was a lag in performance when heavy rendering, so the Pro may be preferable for 3D artists. Import and export speeds in LumaFusion were not as speedy as the M4 iPad Pro, but that is to be expected because of the M4's superior chip.

Pricing: Starting at £799, the iPad Air (M2, 2024) is giving the Pros a run for money for all but the most demanding tasks, and speaking of money, its starting price is cheaper than previous Airs. What's not to like?

Read our iPad Air (M2, 2024) review for more details.

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What you need to know: Released in April 2022, this iPad Air made the tablet more pro-like, giving it the same M1 processor as the 2021 iPad Pros. When we reviewed it, we found that the chip combined with a superb 1640 x 2360 Liquid Retina IPS LCD screen means the iPad Air is now well and truly an iPad Pro-lite at a more affordable price, although prices can be very similar.

Design and build: Cased in sleek aluminium, it weighs just 462g, it's more portable than the 13-inch iPads, making it a very versatile device for word processing, digital sketching, gaming, messaging and lots more. It also comes in five attractive colour options.

Display: With its lovely 1640 x 2360 Liquid Retina IPS LCD screen, the M1 iPad Air is great for visual creatives, offering great colour accuracy and a responsive screen thanks to its 60Hz refresh rate. However, these specs don't quite hold up against the newer Pro's Ultra Retina XDR OLED display, 120Hz refresh rate.

Performance: The M1 processor grants it very past performance, and our reviewer called it a "pretty astounding creative computer", especially for visual artists - though more demanding tasks like video editing. Note that the 64GB storage offered in the base device is rather small, so you'll probably want to go for the 256GB version if you're handling a lot of media.

Pricing: If you're after the best thin and light iPad, the 5th generation iPad Air is excellent value these days - especially if you catch it during a major sales event.

See our complete iPad Air (5th Gen, 2022) review for more details.

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What you need to know: Despite the release of the newer iPad Airs, the 4th-generation model from 2020 is still a fine tablet. When we reviewed this tablet, we were impressed by the level of power and performance on offer, and appreciated how the Magic Keyboard compatibility made using it feel so different compared to what had come before.

Design and build: It works with the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil, which magnetically charges by snapping to the edge of the iPad, or the cheaper USB-C Pencil (which you have to charge via a cable). It also supports the Magic Keyboard case with trackpad. The Home button was eliminated in this model, with Touch ID located in the power button, allowing the bezels to be slimmed down.

Display: Its 10.9in edge-to-edge Liquid Retina IPS LCD display offers a resolution of 2360 x 1640 pixels at 264 pixels per inch. Its maximum 600 nits of brightness feels lacking, as does its 60Hz refresh rate; even at release, this was a little disappointing, but now with the leaps and bounds in display technology from recent years, it's lagging quite far behind newer models.

Performance: It's fitted with the A14 Bionic, which doesn't have the power of the 'M' chips but still works very speedily. It's plenty solid enough for general use purposes like streaming, browsing and even some light image editing, but broadly speaking it won't live up to many creative tasks.

Pricing: At release, its increased price compared to the previous Apple iPad Air was a bit of a sting, but these days it's a lot more affordable; especially in sales events.

For more details, see our iPad Air (2020) review.

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iPad generations

What you need to know: Apple released a new iPad in October 2022. The 2022 iPad confuses things somewhat, as it feels a lot like the 2020 iPad Air. It has the same A14 Bionic chip, the same screen resolution and the same 12MP rear camera, making it feel remarkably familiar.

Design and build: When going hands-on, our reviewer loved the tablet's bigger, brighter 10.9-inch screen and the amount of power available for complex tasks. It's slightly larger than the 9th-gen iPad with a more premium build quality.

Display: While it's a little dimmer than the iPad Pros on this list, it's still enjoyably bright, even in outdoor light, and the inclusion of Apple's True Tone technology ensures colour balance is always optimised.

Performance: Armed only with the A14 chip, rather than the powerful Apple Silicon of more recent iPad Pros and Air models, the performance is still pretty impressive from the most recent flagship iPad. However, The lack of 2nd-generation Apple Pencil support is annoying.

Pricing: With these new updates, the 10th Gen iPad is $449 in the US, which is a little steep for the 'base-level' iPad. Our initial thoughts were that if you want to pay that much, why not look at 2020's iPad Air and be able to use the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil? Or seek out an amazing deal on 2021's iPad (below) and you've still got a cracking tablet.

Find out more in our iPad 2022 review.

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What you need to know: The 9th Gen edition of the entry-level iPad went on sale in 2021, and was never marketed as a 'budget' device; however, these days, it's the closest thing to one you'll see from Apple.

Design and build: While it lacks the glossy, near bezel-less svelte finish of newer iPads, this model is the last remnant of the traditional iPad design, Home button and all. It's robust, and as such slightly bulkier than newer devices, but it's perfectly comfortable in the hand - plus, it has an actual 3.5mm headphone jack.

Display: While it looks almost identical to 2020's iteration, the 2021 model boasts Apple's TrueTone tech, allowing the screen to adjust to ambient lighting wherever you are. Other than that, the 2021 model has the same 10.2in 1620x2160 LCD screen as the 8th-generation version, with a maximum 500 nits of brightness, which will be just fine for most users. At this price, it's a great tablet for general use.

Performance: The first thing we noticed that set it apart from the previous version is its storage capacity, as you get more space for all your media, games, photos and more compared to previous versions. There are more differences between this and the preceding 8th-generation model inside. The camera is also upgraded, growing to 12MP with Apple's Center Stage features, first seen on the 2020 iPad Pro. We would have loved it to have had Apple Pencil 2 compatibility, but otherwise, rated this tablet highly as a budget drawing tablet.

Pricing: This iPad has always been a great value proposition, as highlighted in our initial review, but nowadays you can find them starting at £319 for the 64GB model (double the storage of previous generations. Of course, if you want to draw or keep the screen clean, you'll also need to fork out £89 for the first-generation Apple Pencil.

For more information, read our more detailed iPad 10.2 (2021) review.

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What you need to know: This is the previous iPad generation for those who want a quality tablet at a very good price. It's since been superseded by the 2021 and 2022 models, but this could be a good buy if you find it on sale since it still offers everything you need for the core iPad experience. That includes Apple Pencil support (see here for Apple Pencil alternatives), a powerful processor and a great Retina display.

Design and build: The 10.2in screen size puts this model in the Goldilocks zone between the bite-sized iPad mini and the large-scale 12.9in iPad Pro, making it ideal for media consumption without it becoming unwieldy. To our eyes, it has started to look a little outdated with its chunky bezels and Home button, but there's no doubting its capabilities.

Display: Its Retina IPS LCD screen offers a resolution of 1620 x 2160, with brightness up to 500 nits and decent sharpness. Of course, it's no iPad Pro, and certainly now with its 5-year-old hardware you wouldn't expect it to be, but it's still a solid screen for streaming and light creative work.

Performance: This older model is powered by the Apple A12 Bionic processor, which, much like many of its components, is showing signs of age. We've always queried the decision to make the starting capacity of this model a measely 32GB storage, and to this day it's a bone of contention. With its lower refresh rate screen of 60Hz, It exclusively supports the first-gen Apple Pencil.

Pricing: If you spot a discount that makes it cheaper than the 2021 version, it's still a tempting buy; otherwise, it's probably better to opt for a higher-specced model, at this point.

Find out more in our iPad 10.2 (2020) review.

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iPad mini generations

What you need to know: The iPad mini hadn't had any love for a while in terms of new releases, but this 2024 model rejuvinated the product line, boasting a new A17 chipset and Apple Pencil Pro support. Is it worth upgrading if you have the 6th-generation already? No, this model is an evolutionary step versus a revolutionary sea-change, but if you've using the older, 5th-generation mini - or even an older iPad - you'll feel the difference.

Design and build: It's still very portable, featuring the same 8.3 inches across form factor from the sixth generation model (up from 7.9 inches of the older mini models). Broadly speaking, it looks the same, but it's actually the lightest iPad out there at 293 grams.

Display: Its LED backlit touchscreen has a 2732x2048p resolution and 600 nits brightness, making for a crisp and vivid screen to work from; however our reviewer was very much disappointed to see that, once again, the refresh rate for this model is a paltry 60 Hz. At least it's fully laminated and has an anti-reflective coating.

Performance: Packing an A17 Bionic chip and promoting Apple Pencil Pro support, there's a definite shift in the 7th generation iPad mini towards more powerful potential, snubbed only by the very thing that makes it so unique; its small form factor. Still, the A17 chip offers 30% faster CPU and 2x faster Neural Engine, which our reviewer noted had a real impact across both creative and entertainment applications.

Pricing: The base 128GB model starts from a very reasonable $/£499, and if you should upgrade to the maximum 512GB, you're looking at $/£799. Adding cellular on top only increases the price further by $/£150, meaning a fully decked and specced iPad mini enters low-end iPad Pro territory.

Read more in our full iPad mini (7th gen) review.

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What you need to know: The 6th generation iPad mini may have been superseded by the newer model, but it still has plenty going for it. Apple's smallest slate offers much the same power as some of its larger siblings, a bigger and bolder display and even Apple Pencil 2 support.

Design and build: It's still very portable, but it was bumped up to 8.3 inches across (up from 7.9 inches) versus older models. Otherwise, it's pretty much identical in looks to the previous iPad mini.

Display: Boasting a Liquid Retina display with a 2266x1488 resolution at 326 pixels per inch, the new iPad mini scores impressively for its crisp and vibrant display. The refresh rate remains a slightly lame 60 Hz, however.

Performance: It comes with an A15 Bionic chip, a USB-C port (at last), and with 5G connectivity, we feel that it's now more on par with the iPad Air. Added to that, it now supports the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil, making it a good choice for creatives on the move. As with the 2021 iPad, the rear camera got upgraded to a 12MP snapper (which is able to record in 4K). The front camera also maxes out at 12MP, but comes with an ultra-wide lens and the Centre Stage feature the higher-end iPads now sport.

Pricing: Starting at a reasonable price point of £499 / $499, the iPad mini does start to add up in the optional extras department. There are added costs like the Apple Pencil Pro, and with it being a more portable option you might want cellular connectivity or larger 512GB storage; however, it still remains pretty good value, especially now the newer model has pushed down the price somewhat.

Read more in our full iPad mini (6th gen) review.

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What you need to know: Like the 6th and 7th-generation iPad mini, it's an ideal tablet if you find most iPads are too big for your needs; but it's definitely showing its age, at this point. Having said that, we loved this device when we reviewed it on its release, and it remains a good option if you want to look out for a bargain rather than pay the full price of the newer model (if you can find it that is, because few retailers have new models in stock nowadays).

Design and build: It's lightweight and its 7.9-inch display makes it easy to pop into a bag to take on your travels. It does, however, sport those rather old-school bezels.

Display: This was the first fully laminated iPad mini, but that's about all there is to write home about here. It offers a 2,048x1,536 and 326 PPI resolution, supports Apple’s True Tone technology (which automatically adjust the screen colour temperature based on your ambient surroundings) and the P3 wide colour gamut.

Performance: Think of this tablet as a more capable Kindle or Kobo for reading or watching content on the go, although it has Apple's A12 Bionic chip so its performance is by no means weak. It doesn't work with any of Apple's keyboard cases, and unlike the newer 6th-generation iPad mini, it's only compatible with the 1st-generation Apple Pencil.

Pricing: Nowadays, this is one of the cheapest iPad models available; however stock is very low, with many retailers discontinuing sales in recent years.

Find out more with our iPad mini (5th generation).

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Older models

Older iPad Pros

• iPad Pro (4th generation, 2020)
• iPad Pro (3rd generation, 2018)
• iPad Pro (2nd generation, 2017)
• iPad Pro (9.7-inches, 1st generation, 2016)
• iPad Pro (12.9-inches, 1st generation, 2015)

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Older iPads 

• iPad (2018, 6th generation)
• iPad (2017, 5th generation)
• iPad (2012, 4th generation)
• iPad (2012, 3rd generation)
• iPad (2011, 2nd generation)
• iPad (2010, 1st generation)

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Older iPad Airs

• iPad Air (2019, 3rd generation)
• iPad Air (2014, 2nd generation)
• iPad Air (2013, 1st generation)

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Older iPad minis

• iPad mini (2019, 5th generation)
• iPad mini (2015, 4th generation)
• iPad mini (2014, 3rd generation)
• iPad mini (2013, 2nd generation)
• iPad mini (2012, 1st generation)

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FAQs

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How to choose iPad generations

To choose the right iPad generation for you, you need to consider what you want to use the tablet for. In terms of raw specs, the latest iPad generation (currently the 2024 range), is always going to be the most up-to-date, although how powerful the device is will depend on which particular model you look at since the Pro devices from the previous generation will still be more powerful than the standard device in the newest generation.

If you're only looking for a tablet to use for general internet browsing, checking emails and docs, and watching entertainment, you really don't need an iPad from the latest generation, and you might want to save money by going for an earlier model. However, if you're looking for a more powerful device for work, you'll probably want to consider the latest or at least the second-to-latest generation.

If you want an iPad for drawing, then you'll want Apple Pencil support, and ideally the Apple Pencil Pro, with its fancy new haptic feedback features or the older but still brilliant Apple Pencil 2, which attached magnetically to your iPad and charges there. The Apple Pencil Pro is only compatible with the latest iPad Pros (M3), iPad Airs (M2) and iPad mini (A17 Pro).

If you want the Pencil 2 that means going for at least the 4th generation iPad Air (2020), first-generation 11-inch iPad Pro (2018), third-generation iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2018) or later. There's also the Apple Pencil USB-C, which is cheaper but doesn't charge magnetically. That's compatible with most newer iPads, and then there's the Apple Pencil 1, which is compatible with the basic iPad.

We also have a dedicated guide to how to choose an iPad.

How we test iPad generations

We test and review all the latest Apple products here at Creative Bloq, as well as tablets from other companies, so you can trust our guide is objective and unbiassed. Our testers are experts in their field and have years of experience reviewing iPad and other tablets. (For more on this, see How we test and review on Creative Bloq.)

We spend several weeks testing each iPad on a range of different tasks, ranging from general productivity and entertainment to creative work such as photo and video editing. We'll test each iPad's capabilities as a drawing tablet, using the Apple Pencil that fits with the tablet's compatibility. And we'll compare each tablet in terms of screen size and resolution, RAM size and storage size, how long the battery lasts, and whether it offers value for money overall. You'll find links to our full in-depth reviews in the entries above.

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