Updated Nov 6, 2026
Which iPad to buy: iPad, Air, mini or Pro
The four iPad lines, with today’s price.
Four iPads with similar names and very different prices. Which one suits you?
See the four linesStep 1 of 7
The four lines, side by side
The iPad’s name tells you who it is for.
Apple sells four lines at the same time. Each one has a chip and a screen size, and the price rises in the order they appear below. Each line’s chip changes generation over time: check in the specs which generation the store is selling.
- iPad (chip A16): for studying, watching shows, reading and taking notes. In today’s catalog: 5 tablets, from $119.00.
- iPad mini (chip A17 Pro): for reading, taking notes standing up and carrying it in a coat pocket. In today’s catalog: 1 tablet, from $497.00.
- iPad Air (chip M3 or M4, depending on the generation): for working with a keyboard, drawing and editing. In today’s catalog: 4 tablets, from $650.00.
- iPad Pro (chip M4 or M5, depending on the generation): for heavy editing, professional illustration and an OLED screen. In today’s catalog: 3 tablets, from $569.00.
Step 2 of 7
iPad (chip A16)
For studying, watching shows, reading and taking notes.
It’s the entry-level line and the one most people buy. It works for studying, watching shows, reading, browsing and gaming without demanding much. It supports the Apple pen and its own keyboard, sold separately. For people who don’t do heavy editing, it’s where the money goes furthest.
In today’s catalog: 5 tablets, from $119.00; median price of $464.00.
Step 3 of 7
iPad mini (chip A17 Pro)
For reading, taking notes standing up and carrying it in a coat pocket.
It’s the small iPad. It fits in one hand and in a bag, and suits people who read and take notes all day standing up, on the bus or in the ward. The small screen tires people who work with a keyboard or draw.
In today’s catalog: 1 tablet, from $497.00; median price of $497.00.
Step 4 of 7
iPad Air (chip M3 or M4, depending on the generation)
For working with a keyboard, drawing and editing.
It sits in the middle: an M-family chip, a bigger and sharper screen than the entry-level iPad, and work accessories. It makes sense for people who write a lot with a keyboard, draw or edit photos, and want a tablet that lasts years without choking.
In today’s catalog: 4 tablets, from $650.00; median price of $824.00.
Step 5 of 7
iPad Pro (chip M4 or M5, depending on the generation)
For heavy editing, professional illustration and an OLED screen.
It’s the top line, with an M-family chip and an OLED screen. Only worth paying for if you edit video, illustrate or do heavy work every day. For studying and shows, the price difference compared with the iPad or the Air rarely shows up in use.
In today’s catalog: 3 tablets, from $569.00; median price of $1,100.00.
Step 6 of 7
Storage and Wi-Fi or Cellular
The two choices that change the price the most.
The iPad doesn’t accept a memory card, so the storage you choose is what you will have to the end. The Radar’s rule for studying and working is 128 GB or more; the guide on how much storage a tablet needs does the math. The Cellular version (with a carrier SIM) costs more and is only worth it if you use the tablet away from home without Wi-Fi or without sharing your phone’s internet.
Step 7 of 7
Watch out for the generation
The same name can be last year’s model.
The store may sell the previous generation of a line with the same name, almost always for less. That isn’t a problem: it can be a good deal. Just don’t pay the price of a new generation. Check the chip and the year in the specs, and compare today’s price with the 30-day median for the same model on its Radar page. The pen also changes: the Apple Pencil that works with one generation may not work with another.
The iPad lines and the starting price of each
- 78tablets in the catalog
- 06/11price date
The iPad has four lines: iPad (A16 chip), iPad mini (A17 Pro), iPad Air (M3 or M4) and iPad Pro (M4 or M5). In the 06/11/2026 catalog there are 13 iPads, from $119.00. What decides it is the use, not the name.
| Line | Chip | From |
|---|---|---|
| iPad | A16 | $119.00 |
| iPad mini | A17 Pro | $497.00 |
| iPad Air | M3 or M4, depending on the generation | $650.00 |
| iPad Pro | M4 or M5, depending on the generation | $569.00 |
The best by price range
Next step
See the tablets that fit your criteria
Each point is a new tablet, by price and spec score.
Frequently asked questions
Which iPad should I buy for studying?
For taking notes and reading, the entry-level iPad with a pen is usually enough; in the 06/11/2026 catalog it starts at $119.00. The Air makes sense if you write a lot with a keyboard or draw. Check the compatible pen and choose 128 GB or more, because the iPad doesn’t accept a memory card.
What is the difference between the iPad, iPad Air and iPad Pro?
Chip, screen and accessories. The entry-level iPad uses an A-family chip, the Air and the Pro use an M-family chip, and the Pro has an OLED screen. The price rises in that order. For watching shows, reading and studying, the difference rarely shows up in use; for editing video and illustrating, it does.
Is the iPad mini worth it?
It is for people who read and take notes standing up, carry the tablet all day and want something that fits in a small bag. It isn’t for people who work with a keyboard or watch shows for hours, because the small screen tires you. See today’s price in the iPad mini step.
Do I need the iPad with Cellular?
Only if you use the tablet away from home without Wi-Fi and don’t want to share your phone’s internet. The Cellular version costs more and requires a carrier plan. At home, at school or at work with Wi-Fi, the Wi-Fi-only version does the job.
Is the cheapest iPad in the catalog worth it?
Today the cheapest iPad in the catalog costs $119.00. Compare the generation, chip and storage before deciding, because the cheapest is usually the previous generation or the lowest-storage version. Compare today’s price with the 30-day median on the model’s page.
Read next
Where the numbers come from
Each iPad’s line is read from the model name in the catalog (iPad, mini, Air, Pro); the starting price and median come from the check on 06/11/2026, from trusted sellers only. Each line’s chip is the one in the generation Apple sells today, according to the manufacturers’ announcements, and may change when a new generation comes out: check the specs. The spec sheet score doesn’t measure real performance.
The guide helps you decide and doesn’t recommend a tablet for you: the final price is the one at the store, and the spec score doesn’t measure real-world performance or durability.
Data from Nov 6, 2026.