Accessories and storage
Lisa Eadicicco/Business Insider
Best cheap ipad: 10.2-inch ipad (2021)
Pros: Inexpensive, same software as more expensive models
Cons: Dated design, only first-gen Apple Pencil support
Not everyone wants to spend more than $500 on a tablet — and thankfully, you don’t have to. The entry-level iPad may not offer the same design and performance as the more expensive models, but it still has Apple’s great iPadOS software and works with all your favorite apps.
Best ipads in 2021 at a glance:
- iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)
- iPad 10.2 (2020)
- iPad Air 4 (2020)
- iPad Mini 5 (2021)
- iPad Air 3 (2021)
- iPad Pro 11 (2021)
- iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)
- iPad 10.2 (2021)
- iPad 9.7 (2021)
- iPad 9.7 (2021)
Buying a refurbished ipad
We’ll mention this only briefly because it’s covered elsewhere, but one option you should absolutely consider is Apple’s Refurbished store. It’s a sort of halfway house between new and second-hand: the devices are pre-owned, but Apple has checked them thoroughly, replaced any worn-out components, and rated them as good as new (and you get a warranty to prove it).
If this sounds appealing, have a look at our in-depth article: Should you buy a refurbished iPad?
Cameras and battery life
Lisa Eadicicco/Business Insider
Most people probably aren’t taking photos on their iPads regularly, so the difference between the iPad’s 8-megapixel camera and iPad Air’s 12-megapixel camera might not matter that much. But it is worth considering that the iPad has a much lower resolution selfie camera than the iPad Air, which could be significant if you frequently make FaceTime or
Zoom calls on your iPad.
The standard iPad has a 1.2-megapixel front camera, while the iPad Air has a 7-megapixel selfie camera. As a result, photos taken with the front camera on the standard iPad look much noisier and washed out compared to those shot on the iPad Air, which did a much better job at lighting my face evenly and generally produced an image that was cleaner with more color.
If shooting video on your iPad is a priority, the pricier iPad Air is your best bet. The iPad Air can shoot in
4K at 24, 30, or 60 frames per second. The iPad, meanwhile, can only shoot up to 1080p video at 30 frames per second.
Cellular
For most people 3G/4G/5G connectivity is a luxury, even if it’s a nice one to have. For an extra £100/$100 or so (more in the case of the Pros), you’ll be able to access the web and email, and use connected apps, away from a Wi-Fi network. You also need to factor in the cost of a data plan.
Consider carefully how often you’re going to do that — with an iPad mini there’s likely to be more on-the-go use than with a full-size iPad, but it’s still a lot to pay for something you may only use from time to time. Have you got a regular (overground) commute where you’d enjoy catching up on news headlines or email? Then it could be worth the extra.
Just bear in mind that the cellular option also brings with it a GPS radio — meaning you’ll be able to pull in accurate location data when using your device on the go.
We think the best option if you want to be able to get data on your iPad when you are out and about is to create a hotspot and share it from your iPhone. Here’s how to create an iPhone hotspot to share your mobile web connection.
Extras
Now you’ve picked an iPad model, there are just a few extras to consider: storage, colour, cellular and how to buy.
Ipad pro 11in (2021)
- 128GB: £749/$799
- 256GB: £849/$899
- 512GB: £1,049/$1,099
- 1TB: £1,399/$1,499
- 2TB: £1,749/$1,899
- 128GB (cellular): £899/$999
- 256GB (cellular): £999/$1,099
- 512GB (cellular): £1,199/$1,299
- 1TB (cellular): £1,549/$1,699
- 2TB (cellular): £1,899/$2,099
The newest iPad Pro models came out in April 2021. These brought no external changes, but a number of important upgrades within.
Ipad pro 12.9in (2021)
- 128GB: £999/$1,099
- 256GB: £1,099/$1,199
- 512GB: £1,299/$1,399
- 1TB: £1,649/$1,799
- 2TB: £1,999/$2,199
- 128GB (cellular): £1,149/$1,299
- 256GB (cellular): £1,249/$1,399
- 512GB (cellular): £1,449/$1,599
- 1TB (cellular): £1,799/$1,999
- 2TB (cellular): £2,149/$2,399
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