Tablets · Model guide · Maker specs
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.
Product images
iPad (A16), from its Amazon listing.
Credit: Amazon.com (Associates Program). Amazon listing
Product image from the Amazon listing.
In short
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. It has Touch ID, a landscape front camera, USB-C and a Smart Connector for a keyboard folio, and it works with Apple Pencil (USB-C) or the first-generation Pencil. Skip it if you want Pencil Pro or a faster USB 3 port: iPad Air (M4) has both, from $599.
Who it is for
- First-time iPad buyers and families. It's the least expensive iPad Apple sells, and 128GB is the starting storage, twice what the previous base iPad started with.
- Students who type and take notes. A keyboard folio attaches to the Smart Connector, either Apple Pencil (USB-C) or the first-generation Pencil handles handwriting, and education pricing started at $329.
- People who live on video calls. The front camera sits on the long edge, where it belongs when the iPad is propped in a keyboard folio, and the stereo speakers are arranged for landscape too.
- Anyone who wants data away from Wi-Fi. The 5G model added $150 at launch and puts GPS in the tablet.
Who should skip it
- Artists who want Apple Pencil Pro or hover. Neither works here; iPad Air (M4) supports both.
- Photographers and video editors who move big files over a cable. The USB-C port runs at USB 2.0 speed (480Mb/s), against USB 3 at 10Gb/s on iPad Air and iPad mini.
- Anyone after a different size. iPad mini (A17 Pro) is the 8.3-inch one, and iPad Air comes in 11- and 13-inch models with M-series chips.
- Happy iPad (10th generation) owners. The size, the Pencil support and the USB 2.0 port carry over; you'd be paying for the newer chip and the extra storage.
What sets it apart
- The lowest launch price on a current iPad: $349 for Wi-Fi and $499 with 5G on 4 March 2025, both with 128GB.
- The cheapest iPad with a Smart Connector for a keyboard folio; iPad mini (A17 Pro) doesn't have one.
- A 12MP Center Stage front camera with Retina Flash and landscape stereo speakers, in a 7mm body that weighs 477 grams (481 with cellular).
- The A16 chip, with a 5-core CPU, a 4-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine, in place of the A14 in iPad (10th generation). Apple says it's faster than the chip it replaced.
Caveats
- Apple doesn't publish how much RAM it has, so you can't compare memory with an iPad Air.
- Pencils and keyboards cost extra; neither Apple Pencil comes in the box.
- Storage is fixed when you buy: 128GB, 256GB or 512GB, with no 1TB option and no microSD slot.
Key specs
In the same order on every tablet page, so you can compare models.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Display size | 10.86 inches diagonally, measured as a rectangle (the corners are rounded) | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Display type | Liquid Retina; LED-backlit IPS Multi-Touch | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Display resolution | 2360 × 1640 at 264 ppi | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Peak brightness | 500 nits | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Refresh rate | Not stated; no ProMotion (120Hz) | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Display features | True Tone; oleophobic coating. Not listed: wide color (P3), full lamination, antireflective coating | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Sizes | One size, 10.86-inch | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Dimensions | 248.6 × 179.5 × 7 mm (Wi-Fi and cellular) | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Weight | Wi-Fi 477 g (1.05 lb); Wi-Fi + Cellular 481 g (1.06 lb) | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Finishes | Silver, Blue, Pink, Yellow | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Enclosure | Aluminum; the enclosure and metal chassis are 100% recycled aluminum, and the iPad is 40% recycled content overall | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs, Environment section |
| Chip | A16: 5-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB or 512GB; no 1TB option, no microSD slot | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Operating system | iPadOS | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Apple Pencil | Apple Pencil (USB-C), or Apple Pencil (1st generation) with the USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter. No Pencil Pro, no hover. Neither Pencil is in the box. | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Keyboard | Smart Connector; Magic Keyboard for iPad (10th generation class) and Smart Folio, both sold separately | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Biometrics | Touch ID in the top button | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Speakers | Landscape stereo speakers | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Microphones | Two microphones for calls, video and audio recording | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Cellular | Wi-Fi + Cellular model only (A3355): 5G sub-6 GHz with 4x4 MIMO, Gigabit LTE; eSIM only, no physical SIM | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), 2x2 MIMO, simultaneous dual band; Bluetooth 5.3 | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Ports | USB-C (USB 2.0, up to 480Mb/s) for charging and DisplayPort; Smart Connector | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Rear camera | 12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8; 4K video up to 60 fps | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Front camera | Landscape 12MP Center Stage, ƒ/2.4; 1080p video; Retina Flash | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Battery | 28.93Wh; up to 10 hours of web or video on Wi-Fi, up to 9 hours of web on cellular | Apple iPad (A16) tech specsApple tested preproduction units in January and February 2025 at 50% brightness. |
| Charging | USB-C Charge Cable (1m) and 20W USB-C Power Adapter in the box; also charges from a computer over USB-C | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| Location | Digital compass, Wi-Fi and iBeacon on every model; GPS and GNSS on cellular models | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| US launch price | Wi-Fi $349, Wi-Fi + Cellular $499, both with 128GB (4 March 2025); education $329 and $479; 256GB and 512GB cost more | Apple Newsroom, 2025-03-04 |
| Price band | Entry-level iPad ($349 at US launch, before a Pencil or keyboard) | Based on Apple's $349 starting price |
| Announced | 4 March 2025 | Apple Newsroom |
| Availability | Pre-orders from 4 March 2025, in stores from 12 March 2025; still the current base iPad on 19 September 2026 | Apple Newsroom, 2025-03-04; Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
iPad (A16) extras
Specs only this model has.
| Spec | Value | Source and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Pencil Pro | Not supported, and no hover; only Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil (1st generation) work | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| USB 2.0 port | Up to 480Mb/s; iPad Air and iPad mini have USB 3 (10Gb/s), and iPad Pro has Thunderbolt | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| External display | One external display, up to 4K at 60Hz | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| In the box | iPad; USB-C Charge Cable (1m); 20W USB-C Power Adapter | Apple iPad (A16) tech specs |
| 128GB starting storage | Twice the starting storage of the previous base iPad, Apple says | Apple Newsroom, 2025-03-04 |
What changed from iPad (10th generation)
iPad (A16) replaced the 2022 redesign, iPad (10th generation), on 4 March 2025. It’s the same shape, with the same Smart Connector, the same two Pencils and the same USB 2.0 port. Apple changed three things: the chip, the starting storage, which doubled to 128GB, and the launch price, which fell from $449 to $349.
| Spec | iPad (A16) | iPad (10th generation) | iPad Air (M4) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | A16 | A14 | M4 |
| Memory | Not published | Not published | 12GB |
| Apple Pencil | USB-C, 1st generation | USB-C, 1st generation | Pencil Pro, USB-C, with hover |
| USB-C speed | USB 2.0, 480Mb/s | USB 2.0, 480Mb/s | USB 3, 10Gb/s |
| US Wi-Fi launch price | $349 (March 2025) | $449 (October 2022) | $599 or $799 (March 2026) |
The full side-by-sides are iPad (10th generation) vs iPad (A16) and iPad (A16) vs iPad Air (M4).
The screen: sharp, but not an Air’s
The 10.86-inch Liquid Retina display is an LED-backlit IPS panel at 2360 × 1640 and 264 pixels per inch, rated for 500 nits, with True Tone and an oleophobic coating. Apple doesn’t list full lamination, P3 wide color or an antireflective coating for it, and there’s no ProMotion (120Hz). For reading, streaming and schoolwork that’s fine. If you’ll draw for hours, those extras are what an Air is for.
Apple Pencil and keyboards
Two Pencils work: Apple Pencil (USB-C), and the first-generation Pencil through the USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter, so a first-generation Pencil you already own still has a use. For typing, a keyboard folio attaches to the Smart Connector: Apple sells the Magic Keyboard for the 10th-generation-class iPad and a Smart Folio cover separately.
Ports and wireless
The USB-C port charges the iPad and moves files at USB 2.0 speed, up to 480Mb/s. That’s fine for a keyboard, a thumb drive or a monitor, and slow for copying a video library: USB 3’s 10Gb/s is about twenty times faster on paper.
Every model has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, and the Wi-Fi + Cellular model adds 5G and Gigabit LTE.
Cameras, speakers and calls
Center Stage keeps you in frame on the 12MP front camera, which records 1080p at ƒ/2.4, and Retina Flash lights your face from the screen. The 12MP Wide camera on the back (ƒ/1.8) records 4K at up to 60 fps, which covers scanning documents and the odd video. Landscape stereo speakers and two microphones handle calls.
Battery and charging
Apple rates the 28.93Wh battery for up to 10 hours of web or video on Wi-Fi, or 9 hours of web browsing on cellular, from tests at half brightness. The box has a 20W USB-C adapter and a 1m USB-C cable, and the iPad also charges from a computer.
Price
iPad (A16) launched on 4 March 2025 at $349 for Wi-Fi and $499 for Wi-Fi + Cellular, both with 128GB, and reached stores on 12 March 2025. Education pricing was $329 and $479. The 256GB and 512GB models cost more, and a Pencil and a keyboard folio add to the bill. Prices move, so check apple.com before you buy.
Sources
- Amazon product listing — accessed 2026-09-20
- Apple Newsroom — Apple introduces iPad Air with M3, with iPad (A16) pricing — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — iPad (A16) tech specs — accessed 2026-09-19
- Apple Support — Identify your iPad model — accessed 2026-09-19
Frequently asked questions
Does iPad (A16) work with Apple Pencil Pro?
No. It works with Apple Pencil (USB-C), and with the first-generation Pencil through Apple's USB-C adapter. For Pencil Pro and hover, look at iPad Air (M4).
Is iPad (A16) the 11th-generation iPad?
Not by Apple's name. Apple calls it iPad (A16), the base iPad introduced in 2025; “11th generation” is an informal name for the same tablet.
Can iPad (A16) drive an external monitor?
Yes. The USB-C port carries DisplayPort and drives one external display at up to 4K and 60Hz.
Does the cellular model take a SIM card?
No. The Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad (A16) is eSIM only, so it can't use a physical SIM card.
Is iPad (A16) still Apple's current base iPad?
Yes. It was still the current base iPad on 19 September 2026, a year and a half after its March 2025 launch.
Official product page: iPad (A16). Tech specs: iPad (A16) specs.