Back in March – at probably the most low-key Apple product launch we have ever been to – Apple introduced to the world the cheapest ever 9.7in iPad. While there’s hardly any difference between it and its predecessor, the new iPad’s cheaper price point does mean that the iPad market has shifted somewhat.
There are four different iPads currently available, and it can be pretty daunting – not to mention difficult – to sort out which iPad is best for you. Throw into the mix a bunch of different display sizes, features and specs, and the decision becomes pretty stressful.
To make life simple, we’ve put together this handy guide to help you figure out which iPad is the ideal iPad for you, so you don’t make one expensive mistake.
How to choose the best iPad for you
2018 9.7in iPad
Price:
- 32GB Wi-Fi only – £319 from John Lewis
- 32GB 4G – £449 from John Lewis
- 128GB Wi-Fi only – £409 from John Lewis
- 128GB 4G – £539 from John Lewis
Another year, another new standard model iPad. It’s nothing really all that groundbreaking, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not an excellent tablet for those looking for a good, all-purpose iPad.
With an Apple A10 Fusion processor, the 2018 iPad is, internally, a significant upgrade on the 2017 9.7in iPad. It’s visually and in most respects physically identical to the 2017 model, right down to the amount it weighs.
It’s got a beautiful 9.7in 2,048 x 1,536 display, and added support for the Apple Pencil means that if you don’t need the beefier iPad Pro, but still want to use the Pencil, you’re now able to.
If you’re just in the market for a new iPad, and don’t need something extremely powerful or excessively big, then the 2018 9.7in iPad is your best bet. It will handle all your streaming, browsing and work-related matters perfectly.
The best thing? It’s the cheapest 9.7in iPad that Apple has ever released, costing only £319 for the basic version or £409 for the 128GB Wi-Fi model (we’d recommend splashing out for the extra storage).
Who is it for?
People who want a solid, all-purpose iPad that’s also pretty cheap. If you don’t need the bells and whistles of the more expensive Pro models and like the added benefit of Apple Pencil-support, go for the new 2018 9.7in iPad.
2017 10.5in iPad Pro
Price:
- 64GB Wi-Fi only – £619 from Currys PC World
- 64GB 4G – £749 from Amazon
- 256GB Wi-Fi only – £769 from Currys PC World
- 256GB 4G – £899 from Amazon
- 512GB Wi-Fi only – £969 from Currys PC World
- 512GB (with cellular) – £1,099 from Currys PC World
The all-singing, all-dancing 2017 10.5in iPad Pro is the entry-level model of the Pro range, yet it’s better than the standard model in every way except price. With a marginally bigger screen than the 2018 9.7in iPad, but with smaller bezels, it certainly looks sleek and modern compared to the basic model.
It’s also much more powerful than the basic iPad, despite being older. With a six-core A10X Fusion chip and 4GB RAM, it’s far nippier than the old iPad Pro 9.7 and the 2018 iPad. It’s an advantage when you’re running more demanding apps, while it also means that the Apple Pencil works more smoothly. Where there’s some lag, just barely noticeable, with the 2018 9.7in iPad, there’s none to be found on the Pro.
For designers and artists, the 10.5in iPad Pro is probably the best option. Taking advantage of Apple’s TrueTone technology, the 10.5in iPad Pro adjusts the colour gamut depending on the environment you’re in. This makes it easy to work on the iPad in any location, without constantly being distracted by the fact that you’re working on a tablet and not a laptop.
If you’re going to be using your iPad for work, for design or for editing, then the 10.5in iPad Pro model is a solid choice – if you can afford it.
Price is probably the main drawback of both iPad Pro models’. The 10.5in iPad Pro is ridiculously expensive, costing as much as £1,000.
Who is it for?
If you can afford it, then this is the iPad to go for – and that goes double for artists or designers. It’s beautiful, it’s the perfect size and it’s incredibly powerful. But if it’s way out of your budget, the 2018 9.7in iPad is probably better, seeing as it now supports the Apple Pencil too.
2017 12.9in iPad Pro
Price:
- 64GB Wi-Fi only – £769 from Argos
- 64GB 4G – £899 from Argos
- 256GB Wi-Fi only – £919 from Argos
- 256GB 4G – £1,049 from Argos
- 512GB Wi-Fi only – £1,119 from Argos
- 512GB 4G – £1,249 from Argos
As the biggest iPad available, the 12.9in iPad Pro basically passes as a full-blown laptop, giving you the same kind of screen real estate not to mention the same sheer power. With its all-display design, four massive speakers and impressive refresh rate, this is the prettiest, smoothest iPad around.
Editing video in 4K? You’ll have zero lag with the 12.5in iPad Pro. And the battery? It will last you a whole working day of constant use.
But with all that, it’s good to note that this probably isn’t your average consumer iPad. Everything about it, from its 12.9in display and its nippy A10X processor right up to its weighty body and its price, just screams executive.
This iPad isn’t cheap, and on top of that price, you’ll have to buy a smart keyboard to make it a true laptop replacement.
Really, the only time you should be considering this iPad is if you have the money, you’re using it for work, or you want to ditch your laptop for an iPad Pro.
Who is it for?
People who need the powerhouse performance and a big 12.9in screen for work. If you prefer the larger screen and have the expendable money, then there’s no other iPad that can beat the 12.9in iPad Pro.
iPad Mini 4
Price:
- 128GB Wi-Fi only – £399 from John Lewis
- 128GB 4G – £529 from John Lewis
It’s now well over two years since the iPad Mini 4 brought 8in tablet joy into our lives. The mini iPad has been superseded in a lot of ways by the newer 9.7in iPads, but it still might be a suitable option for you if you find the new 9.7in iPad a little too big.
While not the best iPad in terms of specs, the iPad Mini still packs a lot of punch for older hardware. With 2GB of RAM and Apple’s A8 chip, the iPad Mini is best for those who don’t want to lunk around an iPad with a massive screen.
With a manageable 7.9in display, the iPad Mini is the most portable of the entire range. It’s also a lot lighter than the other models, weighing just 299g. That said, it doesn’t have the best camera, it doesn’t have the best battery, and it’s not really all that cheap anymore, either. The 128GB iPad Mini is only £10 cheaper than the newer, faster, Pencil-popping 2018 9.7in iPad.
Who is it for?
For those who want a small, portable iPad, the iPad Mini 4 finds the happy medium between the iPhone 8 Plus and the 2018 9.7in iPad. But that’s all it’s really good for.