Get iPad Pro (M5) for Apple's tandem OLED screen and the Thunderbolt port; it starts at $999 for the 11-inch and $1,299 for the 13-inch.1 / 6
Tablets
iPad, Galaxy Tab, Surface Pro and Pixel Tablet. Each guide covers the screen and chip, which pen and keyboard work with it (and whether they’re in the box), battery life and the starting price.
Get iPad Pro (M5) for Apple's tandem OLED screen and the Thunderbolt port; it starts at $999 for the 11-inch and $1,299 for the 13-inch.
Get iPad Air (M4) if you want Apple Pencil Pro on an 11- or 13-inch screen for less than an iPad Pro: it starts at $599 and now has 12GB of memory.2 / 6
Get iPad mini (A17 Pro) if you want the smallest current iPad: an 8.3-inch screen in a 293-gram tablet that works with Apple Pencil Pro, from $499 with 128GB.3 / 6
Get iPad (A16) if you want the cheapest current iPad: it launched at $349 with 128GB of storage, the A16 chip and a 10.86-inch screen.4 / 6
Get the Galaxy Tab S11 for Samsung's current flagship in the 11-inch size: a Dimensity 9400+ chip, a 1600-nit AMOLED screen and an S Pen in the box.5 / 6
Get Surface Pro (11th Edition) for Windows 11 on a kickstand tablet with Snapdragon X chips and an optional OLED screen, from $999.99 at the Microsoft Store.6 / 6
Photos from Amazon listings and Wikimedia Commons.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See Affiliate disclosure. This guide summarizes the makers’ published specs below — we haven’t tested them ourselves. See Methodology.
Start here
2025
iPad (A16)
Get iPad (A16) if you want the cheapest current iPad: it launched at $349 with 128GB of storage, the A16 chip and a 10.86-inch screen.
iPad Air (M3)
Buy iPad Air (M3) only at a real discount: the M4 Air replaced it at the same $599 and $799 with 12GB of memory instead of 8GB.
iPad Pro (M5)
Get iPad Pro (M5) for Apple's tandem OLED screen and the Thunderbolt port; it starts at $999 for the 11-inch and $1,299 for the 13-inch.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE
For $499.99, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE gets you an S Pen in the box and IP68 water resistance, so buy it if you can live with an LCD screen.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S11
Get the Galaxy Tab S11 for Samsung's current flagship in the 11-inch size: a Dimensity 9400+ chip, a 1600-nit AMOLED screen and an S Pen in the box.
2024
iPad Air (M2)
Get iPad Air (M2) used or refurbished for a cheaper 11- or 13-inch Air with Apple Pencil Pro; new, it's two generations behind the current M4 Air.
iPad mini (A17 Pro)
Get iPad mini (A17 Pro) if you want the smallest current iPad: an 8.3-inch screen in a 293-gram tablet that works with Apple Pencil Pro, from $499 with 128GB.
iPad Pro (M4)
Buy iPad Pro (M4) only if it's well under the M5's price: iPad Pro (M5) launched at the same $999 with 12GB of memory, not 8GB, on its 256GB and 512GB models.
Microsoft Surface Pro 10 for Business
Get Surface Pro 10 for Business if your company wants an Intel Core Ultra tablet running Windows 11 Pro, with two Thunderbolt 4 ports and optional 5G.
Microsoft Surface Pro (11th Edition)
Get Surface Pro (11th Edition) for Windows 11 on a kickstand tablet with Snapdragon X chips and an optional OLED screen, from $999.99 at the Microsoft Store.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+
Get the Galaxy Tab S10+ if you want a 12.4-inch AMOLED tablet with an S Pen that still has Bluetooth, and you can buy it for less than a newer Tab S11.
2023
Google Pixel Tablet
Get Google Pixel Tablet for an Android tablet that lives on its speaker dock, which charges it and plays its sound through a 43.5 mm speaker.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9
Get a Galaxy Tab S9 only at a clear discount: the 2023 11-inch flagship still has an AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and an S Pen with Bluetooth.
2022
iPad (10th generation)
Get iPad (10th generation) only at a clear discount: iPad (A16) kept the same 10.86-inch screen, USB-C port and Pencil support, and added a newer chip.
iPad Air (5th generation)
Get iPad Air (5th generation) used for its M1 chip, 8GB of memory and laminated screen; new, the M4 Air launched at the same $599 with 12GB and two sizes.
2021
iPad (9th generation)
iPad (9th generation) is worth it only at a very low price or for its Home button and headphone jack; the $349 iPad (A16) adds USB-C and a bigger screen.
iPad mini (6th generation)
Buy iPad mini (6th generation) only used and well below $499: Apple replaced it in 2024 with the A17 Pro mini at that same launch price.
Comparisons
Pixel Tablet vs iPad (A16)
Google Pixel Tablet is a Wi-Fi-only 2023 Android tablet built around a Charging Speaker Dock, from $399 on the Google Store; iPad (A16) is Apple's 2025 base iPad, from $349, with a cellular option and Apple Pencil support.
Pixel Tablet vs Galaxy Tab S9
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 launched at $799.99 with an S Pen in the box, IP68 and microSD, and Tab S11 has since replaced it; Google Pixel Tablet is a Wi-Fi-only Android tablet built around a speaker dock, from $399.
iPad (9th generation) vs iPad (10th generation)
iPad (9th generation) is the last base iPad with a Home button, Lightning and a headphone jack; iPad (10th generation) moved to USB-C, a 10.86-inch all-screen design, a 4K rear camera and 5G, for $449 against $329 at launch.
iPad (10th generation) vs iPad (A16)
iPad (A16) replaced iPad (10th generation) in the same 10.86-inch body, with the A16 chip, a 128GB start instead of 64GB, eSIM-only cellular and a $349 launch price against $449.
iPad (A16) vs iPad Air (M4)
iPad Air (M4) costs $250 more than iPad (A16) and adds Apple Pencil Pro, the M4 with 12GB of memory, a USB 3 port, Wi-Fi 7 and a 13-inch size; the 11-inch screens match in size and resolution.
iPad Air (5th generation) vs iPad Air (M2)
iPad Air (M2) keeps the 5th generation's 11-inch footprint and 8GB of memory, then adds a 13-inch model, Apple Pencil Pro with hover, Wi-Fi 6E and up to 1TB of storage.
iPad Air (M2) vs iPad Air (M3)
iPad Air (M3) is iPad Air (M2) with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and a gram or two less weight; the screens, 8GB of memory, batteries and $599 and $799 launch prices all match.
iPad Air (M3) vs iPad Air (M4)
iPad Air (M4) keeps the M3's case, screens and $599 and $799 launch prices, and adds 12GB of memory, Wi-Fi 7 with Bluetooth 6 and Thread, and a C1X modem on cellular models.
iPad Air (M4) vs iPad Pro (M5)
iPad Air (M4) and iPad Pro (M5) share Apple Pencil Pro, 12GB of memory to start and Wi-Fi 7; the $999 Pro adds a tandem OLED ProMotion screen, Face ID, four speakers and Thunderbolt over the $599 Air.
iPad mini (6th generation) vs iPad mini (A17 Pro)
iPad mini (A17 Pro) keeps the 2021 mini's 8.3-inch body, screen and $499 launch price, but starts at 128GB and adds Apple Pencil Pro, a faster USB-C port and Wi-Fi 6E.
iPad Pro (M4) vs iPad Pro (M5)
iPad Pro (M5) keeps the M4's tandem OLED screen, case and $999 and $1,299 launch prices, and raises the 256GB and 512GB models to 12GB, with Wi-Fi 7, the C1X modem and fast charging.
iPad Pro (M5) vs Galaxy Tab S11
iPad Pro (M5) brings tandem OLED, Thunderbolt, Wi-Fi 7 and a 13-inch option from $999; Galaxy Tab S11 is an 11-inch Android tablet with the S Pen in the box, IP68 and microSD from $799.99.