iPads are one of the best tablets for any use case. Doesn’t matter if you want a big screen, compact screen, something to watch movies, do power-intensive work, there is an iPad available for you.
Apple also just recently concluded its September launch event in which it introduced new upgrades for the iPad and a upgrades and design refresh for the iPad Mini.
With that, you now have a lof interesting options from Apple’s current iPad lineup. If you are confused, I am going to help you with this iPad buying guide.
iPad Buying Guide
As mentioned earlier, we now have a pretty good lineup for iPads. They are all upgraded with new features and powerful processors and have some pretty good upgrades design-wise as well.
The Current iPad Lineup
If you go to Apple’s official site then you have 5 iPad models. You might get the older ones from offline shops, carriers, and eCommerce sites but these are the current iPads that Apple is manufacturing and selling:
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch(5th Generation)- Starts at INR 99,900(WiFi) and INR 1,13,900(WiFi+Cellular)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd Generation)- Starts at INR 71,900(WiFi) and INR 85,900(WiFi+Cellular)
- iPad Air (4th Generation)- Starts at INR 54,900(WiFi) and INR 66,900(WiFi+Cellular)
- iPad Mini (6th Generation)- Starts at INR 46,900(WiFi) and INR 60,900(WiFi+Cellular)
- iPad (9th Generation)- Starts at INR 30,900(WiFi) and INR 42,900(WiFi+Cellular)
iPad Buying Lineup: Basic Specifications for All Available iPads
| iPad Pro 12.9-inch | iPad Pro 11-inch | iPad Air | iPad Mini | iPad | |
| Screen Size | 12.9-inch | 11-inch | 10.9-inch | 8.3-inch | 10.2-inch |
| Display | Liquid Retina XDR Display 2732×2048 resolution ProMotion(120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate) | Liquid Retina Display 2388×1668 resolution ProMotion(120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate) | Liquid Retina Display 2360×1640 resolution | Liquid Retina Display 2266×1488 resolution | Retina Display 2160×1620 resolution |
| Processor | Apple M1 Chip | Apple M1 Chip | A14 Bionic Chip | A15 Bionic Chip | A13 Bionic Chip |
| RAM | 8/16GB | 8/16GB | – | – | – |
| Battery Life | Around 9-10 hours | Around 9-10 hours | Around 9-10 hours | Around 7-10 hours | Around 9-10 hours |
| Front Camera | 12-megapixel TrueDepth Ultrawide Camera(f/2.4) Portrait Mode Centre Stage | 12-megapixel TrueDepth Ultrawide Camera(f/2.4) Portrait Mode Centre Stage | 7-megapixel FaceTime HD camera (f/2/2) | 12-megapixel Ultrawide camera(f/2.4) 2x Zoom Out Centre Stage | 12-megapixel Ultrawide camera(f/2.4) 2x Zoom Out Centre Stage |
| Back Camera | 12-megapixel Wide(f/1.8) 10-megapixel Ultrawide(f/2.4) 2X Optical Zoom 5X Digital Zoom LIDAR Sensor at the Back | 12-megapixel Wide(f/1.8) 10-megapixel Ultrawide(f/2.4) 2X Optical Zoom 5X Digital Zoom LIDAR Sensor at the back | 12-megapixel Wide camera(f/1.8) 5X Digital Zoom | 12-megapixel Wide camera(f/1.8) 5X Digital Zoom | 8-megapixel Wide camera(f/2.4) 5X Digital Zoom |
| Charging Port | USB-C Thunderbolt | USB-C Thunderbolt | USB-C | USB-C | Lightning |
| Unlock Type | FaceID | FaceID | TouchID(On Unlock Button) | TouchID(On Unlock Button) | TouchID(on Home Button) |
| 5G Compatibility | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Accessories Compatibility | Apple Pencil(2nd Gen) Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio | Apple Pencil(2nd Gen) Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio | Apple Pencil(2nd Gen) Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio | Apple Pencil(2nd Gen) Third-party Wireless Keyboards | Apple Pencil(1st Gen) Smart Keyboard |
| Storage Options | 128/256/512GB 1/2TB | 128/256/512GB 1/2TB | 64/256GB | 64/256GB | 64/256GB |
How to Select the Right One?
Selecting the right iPad device is important as you can then save a lot of money. The right iPad totally depends on just one thing, your use case. Once you are clear about how you are going to use your iPad or how you use it daily, then there is no space for confusion. Let’s understand a little bit more about each one of the currently available iPads and their use cases.
iPad Pro
iPad Pro is the top-of-the-line iPad offered by Apple, it’s available in 2 variants, the 12.9-inch which has the Super XDR Display just the like Apple Pro Display XDR monitor. Then there is the 11-inch variant.
Recently they got the Apple M1 chip upgrade. The iPad Pros were the best performing tablets already and with the M1 chip, they are just performance overkill. They are so powerful that they are literally a computer in tablet form.
There are two special things about iPad Pros, their display, and their superb performance.
The only use case for these powerhouses is for people who are into graphics design, video editing, and other stuff that requires a crisp display and a powerful processor.
Both iPad Pros have that ProMotion Display which allows the screen to refresh at 120Hz making them really fast and snappy.
It has a dual-camera system at the back, quite great but not as good as the iPhones. Then you also have those LIDAR sensors at the back that can help with depth sensing and AR.
Great thing is that it comes with a USB-C Thunderbolt connector so you can connect other gadgets like your cameras, etc.
For a normal user who just watches movies, and uses the internet, there is no way that you can ever use the features that iPad Pro has to offer.
I would only recommend these to the professionals who need a portable powerful machine. So if you are not one of those users, why waste such an enormous amount of money on a tablet. You can actually get a Macbook Air M1 for around the same price.
iPad Air
iPad Air is one of those tablets that I can recommend to anyone who needs a good tablet. It’s fast, it’s powerful and most importantly, it is quite affordable too.
The iPad Air supports the same Apple accessories as the iPad Pros. It is 10.9-inch in size with TouchID on the lock/unlock button.
Overall, it is a very good device for anyone who works at an office or for a student who just wants to take notes and do some gaming.
The gaming on iPad Air is quite impressive as it has a fairly new A14 Bionic chip. The only disadvantage I feel is that Apple just offers 2 storage variants for this and it’s 64GB and 256GB.
If you want an iPad that is powerful enough and also has a big screen, this one is perfect for you.
iPad Mini
iPad Mini recently got some major design and specs upgrade. It now looks stunning with those squared-off sides just like the new iPhones and iPads.
But that’s not all, it now has a better display, the latest A15 Bionic chip, improved cameras with more features and a USB-C port.
I see this as more of like a really big iPhone. Apple showed that it’s used by many pilots during flight to map their flight paths, etc. Given the compact form factor, it is really great to use in congested spaces.
It now supports Apple Pencil(2nd Gen) so I think it is really great for on-the-go note-taking. The iPad Mini is now a device that you can carry all the time and use on the go.
However, the use case for the iPad Mini is also quite specific. I have seen many people use the older iPad Minis as a smart hub at offices and homes.
So if you are looking for a compact tablet that is powerful then iPad Mini is going to be the best deal for you. Again, it’s just available in 2 variants that is the 64GB ad 256GB.
iPad
Apple also gave some new upgrades to their most popular iPad. The new 9th Gen iPad now comes with the A13 Bionic chip. This makes it more powerful and efficient. The design on the outside is the same as the previous generation with the home button serving as TouchID.
However, with the new upgrades, the iPad is back in the game again.
It is one of the most affordable tablets in the market. I asked around my friends about what they do with their iPad and most of them use them for watching movies and playing games.
If you fall under the same category then this iPad is ideal for you. It is bigger in size and more affordable. With the new A13 Bionic chip, it can also handle heavy games like BGMI, COD, etc. This iPad supports the 1st gen Apple Pencil which is not really a deal-breaker.
So for anyone who just wants a bigger screen with decent performance, this one is good. Although, the display on this iPad isn’t one of the best.
What About Accessories?
So all the iPads here support Apple Pencils and Keyboards. But are they really useful? Well, the Apple Pencil is a great accessory for any iPad. It is useful in many ways, designers, video editors and many other people use it all the time with their iPad.
However, the use case for the keyboards is very limited as of now. That is many because they are not as good as the keyboards on laptops and computers. They are small and have less travel so using them for a long time isn’t a great experience.
If you type a lot then it’s probably a good idea to get the Macbook instead. Because iPads are not really great for that purpose.
Bottom Line: iPad Buying Guide
So that was all about the iPad buying guide. To sum up, everything we discussed, the iPad Pros have great displays and are very powerful machines. They are best suited for professionals who can really use the performance resources offered by the iPad Pros.
On the other hand, the iPad Mini has very specific users that want a compact tablet with powerful specifications.
Then there’s the iPad(9th Generation) which is really great if you are looking for an affordable tablet that can work as a screen and has some good performance capabilities.
Finally, the iPad Air is the tablet that I would recommend to anyone who needs the fine balance between power, display, and affordability.
It is just a perfect machine for anyone who needs to do basic performance tasks, note-taking, etc. So decide your budget and your use case and then buy the most suitable iPad for yourself.
Also, Read: Apple Event 2021: Apple Watch and iPads are Here!
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