What is the best iPad to buy in 2026?

✨ TL; DR: Which iPad should I buy?

The Apple iPad Air 8 M4 is our pick for the best iPad overall. It offers a good balance of power and affordability, with slick performance that handles everything from daily tasks to productivity tasks, gaming, and streaming. The Apple iPad Pro M5, on the other hand, is a high-end powerhouse, ideal for video editing and other demanding creative work. Students can choose the Apple iPad Air 7 M3 for its ability to run almost any educational app as well as its many entertainment features. The Apple iPad 11 A16 is for budget-conscious tablet users with everything you need for casual everyday use. Commuters and travelers will appreciate the compact yet powerful Apple iPad mini 7 A17.

Why can you trust this list?

At Back Market, our experts have many years of experience in evaluating all types of tablets, including iPads. We get further valuable information and insights from our professional third-party refurbishers, who undertake extremely detailed inspections when they're restoring iPads. We treat every device we review on its actual merits, regardless of the brand, and we value transparency and objectivity. That means we also listen to our customers' feedback and take it into account when creating guides like these. Our sole aim is to give you the a balanced iPad lineup comparison so that you can make an informed choice and get the right iPad for your needs at the lowest possible price.

iPad types at a glance 

Practical advice on buying your next iPad

No matter what you want an iPad for, there are always some basic considerations to bear in mind when you're buying one. Here are some of the most important upfront factors to evaluate.

Storage needs

With tablets being used for so many things, from saving work documents or study material to preserving precious memories in photos or videos, internal storage capacity is a primary feature. The tablets we've highlighted offer different storage options. Basic models start with a somewhat limited 128 GB, with 256 GB and 512 GB versions. Larger models can hold up to 2 TB.

When should you upgrade your iPad?

Upgrading makes sense when you notice any kind of performance degradation or when you need a different tablet for new tasks that your old one can't handle. Signs to look out for include:

• Slow running apps or frequent app crashes

• Your battery runs out faster than normal

• You're constantly deleting items to free up storage

• Your iPad is no longer supported with updates

• You need a later model to use accessories like Apple Pencil or Magic Keyboard

• You want faster performance for new tasks like graphic design or video editing

• Physical wear and tear that affect operation, such as unresponsive buttons

Trade-in value

Remember that you can trade in your old iPad for a later model to save money. Obviously the more recent your model is, the more you'll get for it. Outdated models can still earn you some extra cash too: people often buy them as basic entry tablets for their children. It's always worthwhile to compare quotes; don't just accept the first one you're offered.    Pro tip: Check out the Back Market trade-in program to see how much you can save when you replace your iPad.

Should you wait for new iPad releases?

The general consensus among industry watchers is that 2026 isn't likely to bring out any groundbreaking new models. The most important release this year has already debuted, in the form of the iPad Air 8 M4 that we examine below. 12th generation entry level iPad is rumored for release in fall later this year, but the only expected upgrades are moving to the A18 or A19 chip and more integrated Apple Intelligence features. On the iPad mini side, many are anticipating a more substantial upgrade in late 2026 that could include an A18 Pro chip, improved connectivity via Wi-Fi 7 and a better OLED display.

These are all performance refreshments, not new designs or functions. Those in the know see 2026 as a year of consolidation and refinement. The next big round of upgrades is instead predicted for 2027, most likely based on a more powerful new M6 chip.

The bottom line? You'll have to wait until 2027 to see some new-generation iPads, so if your current tablet is still performing well hold onto it till then. But if your table shows signs of wearing down, getting a replacement this year makes sense, as you can buy an equivalent model for less than the original recommended retail price.

Storage guidance to help you choose

Choosing the right storage comes down to how you actually use your iPad. 128 GB is enough for everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, and light app use, and it's ideal if you rely on cloud services like iCloud. 256 GB suits most people, giving you room for larger apps, photos, and some offline media without constantly managing space. If you work with large files, using video editing, design apps, or storing lots of high-resolution content, 512 GB to 2 TB models offer the flexibility to keep everything on your device without needing extra cloud storage.

What are the pros and cons of the Apple iPad Air 8 M4?

What are the features and benefits of the Apple iPad Air 8 M4?

The iPad Air 8 is, thus far, the only iPad to receive a proper upgrade this year. The more powerful M4 processor makes it one of the best iPads of 2026. This gives it the ability to handle demanding tasks, from serious work productivity apps to multimedia and gaming. You can use it to make music, create graphics, and edit photos. While it doesn't yet come with AI assistance, it’s still configured for onboard AI installations like Apple Intelligence. Apple also has plans to blend Google Gemini into its AI suite. This makes the iPad Air 8 even more future proof. It also received a wireless upgrade for faster connectivity.

What are the Apple iPad Air 8 M4 specifications?

• Operating system: iPadOS 26

• Colors: Blue / Purple / Starlight / Space Grey

• Casing: Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame

• Screen size: 11-inch / 13-inch

• Dimensions: 11-inch: 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 in / 13-inch: 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.24 in

• Weight: 11-inch: 16.4 oz (465 g) / 13-inch: 21.8 oz (617 g)

• Display: Liquid Retina

• Screen resolution: 11-inch: 2360 x 1640-pixel resolution at 264 ppi / 13-inch: 2732 x 2048-pixel resolution at 264 ppi

• Chip: Apple M4

• RAM: 12GB

• Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB

• Sound: Landscape stereo speakers

• Main camera: 12MP

• Video capture: 4K

• Battery life: Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‐Fi or watching video

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi models - Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 / Wi-Fi & cellular models – Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, 5G

• Apple Pencil support: Yes

• Apple Intelligence: Compatible

🏆 Which iPad model is best for creatives and power users?

✨ The Apple iPad Pro M5 is a big leap forward in processing power for creativity and graphics performance.

What are the pros and cons of the Apple iPad Pro M5?

What are the features and benefits of the Apple iPad Pro M5?

The iPad Pro M5 is Apple's current flagship tablet. It has a wonderfully clear, dynamic display with a thin, lightweight construction. Under the hood, there's the horsepower to run the most demanding apps. This iPad has a windowed multitasking system to run multiple apps simultaneously. It can support the most demanding workflow apps, graphic design programs, and music production tools. Its huge memory easily handles intensive video and audio editing platforms, and Apple Intelligence is fully integrated. It also supports the Apple Pencil Pro, which offers more advanced functionality, making it the best iPad for drawing, too. It’s also one of the best iPads for business. All of this power and functionality begs the question: can an iPad replace a laptop? The lines are becoming increasingly blurred as iPads evolve, but we haven't quite reached that point quite yet. That said, if you want the next best thing to a MacBook, this is hands-down the best iPad to choose. 

What are the Apple iPad Pro M5 specifications?

• Operating system: iPadOS 26

• Colors: Silver / Space Black

• Casing: Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame

• Screen size: 11-inch / 13-inch

• Dimensions: 11-inch: 9.83 x 6.99 x 0.21 in / 13-inch: 11.09 x 8.48 x 0.20 in

• Weight: 11-inch: 15.7 oz (446 g) / 13-inch: 20.5 oz (582 g)

• Display: Ultra Retina XDR display

• Screen resolution: 11-inch: 2420 x 1668-pixel resolution at 264 ppi / 13-inch: 2752 x 2064-pixel resolution at 264 ppi

• Chip: Apple M5

• RAM: 12GB / 16GB

• Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB

• Sound: Four-speaker audio

• Main camera: 12MP

• Video capture: 4K

• Battery life: Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‐Fi or watching video

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi models - Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 / Wi-Fi & cellular models – Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, 5G

• Apple Pencil support: Yes

• Apple Intelligence: Yes

🏆 Which is the best iPad for college students?

✨ The Apple iPad Air 7 M3 is everything you'll need for most college courses.

What are the pros and cons of the Apple iPad Air 7 M3?

What are the features and benefits of the Apple iPad Air 7 M3?

The Apple iPad Air 7 M3 benefits substantially from its upgraded chip. It provides more speed, smoother media playback, and improved camera performance. It also offers better battery life than the previousmodel. This Apple tablet reliably handles educational apps necessary from high school through college. It's also a solid platform for casual photography, creating videos, and podcasting. Entertainment features include 4K streaming, and this iPad can also run pretty advanced games. There's lots of storage capacity and Apple Intelligence is fully integrated. These features make the iPad Air 7 M3 a great value proposition for students, balancing the right kind of power and performance at an affordable price.

What are the Apple iPad Air 7 M3 specifications?

• Operating system: iPadOS 18.3.2 (upgradable to iPadOS 26.4)

• Colors: Space Gray / Blue / Purple / Starlight

• Casing: Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame

• Screen size: 11-inch / 13-inch

• Dimensions: 11-inch: 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 in / 13-inch: 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.24 in

• Weight: 11-inch: 16.2 oz (460 g) / 13-inch: 21.8 oz (617 g)

• Display: Liquid Retina display

• Screen resolution: 11-inch: 2360 x 1640-pixel resolution at 264 ppi / 13-inch: 2732 x 2048-pixel resolution at 264 ppi

• Chip: Apple M3

• RAM: 8GB

• Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB

• Sound: Landscape Stereo speakers

• Main camera: 12MP

• Video capture: 4K

• Battery life: Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‐Fi or watching video

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, 5G, Bluetooth 5.3

• Apple Pencil support: Yes

• Apple Intelligence: Yes

🏆 What's the best budget iPad?

✨ The Apple iPad 11 A16 is a powerful combination of simplicity, seamless daily use, and performance in a more budget-friendly package.

What are the pros and cons of the Apple iPad 11 A16?

What are the features and benefits of the Apple iPad 11 A16?

The Apple iPad 11 A16 offers a smooth and satisfying experience for the casual user looking for a more affordable entry-level iPad. It's not the model with the best tech specs in a direct tablet comparison, but it does support some of Apple's latest technology, such as the Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard. Adding these accessories, however, bumps the price up quite a bit. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with Apple Intelligence. Still, it's ideal for everyday use cases like email, browsing the web, streaming, and taking photos. You can also use it to play many modern games. It lacks a laminated screen and doesn'thandle contrast as well as more premium iPads, but you're not likely to notice this during normal use. If you want the nearest thing to a budget iPad, this is it. It comes with a choice of connectivity options. The slightly higher priced Wi-Fi & cellular models come with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 5G connectivity. The less expensive base model doesn't have 5G, so you can forego that to save more money if you're really price conscious.

What are the Apple iPad 11 A16 specifications?

• Operating system: iPadOS 18.3.2 (upgradable to iPadOS 26.4)

• Colors: Silver / Pink / Yellow / Blue

• Casing: Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame

• Screen size: 11-inch

• Dimensions: 9.79 x 7.07 x 0.28 in

• Weight: 17 oz (481 g)

• Display: Liquid Retina

• Screen resolution: 1640 x 2360-pixel resolution at 264 ppi

• Chip: Apple A16

• RAM: 6GB

• Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB

• Sound: Landscape stereo speakers

• Main camera: 12MP

• Video capture: 4K

• Battery life: Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‐Fi or watching video

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi models - Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3 / Wi-Fi & cellular models – Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3, 5G

• Apple Pencil support: Yes

• Apple Intelligence: No

🏆 What is the best iPad to buy for travel?

✨ The Apple iPad mini 7 A17 is compact and lightweight with surprising power and performance for its size.

What are the pros and cons of the Apple iPad mini 7 A17?

What are the features and benefits of the Apple iPad mini 7 A17?

The Apple iPad mini 7 A17 is the best iPad for commuters and business or leisure travelers who want less bulk. This is Apple's most compact tablet, and it still packs powerful performance credentials with its A17 Pro chip. Portability is its prime feature, making it the runaway winner of any iPad size comparison. It supports Apple Intelligence and can handle virtually anything from work apps to games with demanding graphics. This iPad is also great for reading e-books or business documents while you're traveling. It may not have the fastest chip compared to the more powerful M series, but for browsing or watching YouTube on public transport or a plane journey, it's ideal. The 60Hz screen refresh rate could be higher, but the size convenience is a more-than-acceptable trade-off. 

What are the specifications of the Apple iPad mini 7 A17?

• Operating system: iPadOS 18 (upgradable to iPadOS 26.4)

• Colors: Space Gray / Purple / Starlight / Blue

• Casing: Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame

• Screen size: 8.3-inch

• Dimensions: 7.69 x 5.31 x 0.25 in

• Weight: 10.3 oz (293 g)

• Display: Liquid Retina

• Screen resolution: 1488 x 2266-pixel resolution at ~327 ppi

• Chip: Apple A17 Pro

• RAM: 8GB

• Storage: 128GB / 256GB / 512GB

• Sound: Stereo speakers

• Main camera: 12MP

• Video capture: 4K

• Battery life: Up to 10 hours of active screen time

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi models - Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3 / Wi-Fi & cellular models – Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3, 5G

• Apple Pencil support: Yes

• Apple Intelligence: Yes

What is the best iPad to buy? Comparing specs and deals

*Back Market prices taken at the date of publication — these are subject to change.

iPads to avoid

Avoid buying iPads that are outdated, with operational limitations and a lack of software support from Apple. These models won't only lag in performance; they also won't be able to run the latest apps in the Apple ecosystem, and their operating systems won't receive iPadOS updates and security patches. Look out for these key indicators:

• Outdated, less powerful chips (e.g. A10 – A12 range)

• Small storage capacity: 128 GB is the bare acceptable minimum, but look for a good price on a 256 GB or 512 GB model

• Older operating systems that don't support upgrades and the latest apps

• A lack of new features

• Can't support accessories like Apple Pencil

• Doesn't have AI assistance

You may not care about accessories and AI tools, but the other factors will compromise your daily use. You'll constantly worry about your storage running out and struggle with multitasking or gaming. There are plenty of outdated models we could mention, such as the iPad 8th generation that only has 32 GB of storage or the iPad Air 3 that's limited by its A12 chip. As a general rule of thumb, avoid models that are more than four to five years old.     A final piece of advice: when a new model comes out, read the reviews to find out how much it differs from its predecessor. Some will introduce brand new features, while others are little more than slightly upgraded versions. It's not worth buying a new iPad that only has incremental improvements.

Shopping tips: How can I find the best iPads at lower prices?

✨ For lower prices on iPads without compromising on quality, choose the refurbished options from Back Market.

Buying a refurbished iPad from Back Market is one of the best ways to save money. You won't be sacrificing anything in the way of quality, performance, or condition. In fact, you can save as much as 50% off the original recommended retail price and walk away with an iPad with premium functionality. We make sure of this by working with expert third-party refurbishers who are completely trustworthy. They put all the iPads we sell through an exhaustive 100-point quality inspection after completely restoring them to full working condition. You also get a 1-year warranty and a 30-day free return period for further peace of mind. You can also add a BackUp protection plan to this for longer-term support. There are also plenty more iPads beyond those we've discussed here.

Trade in your old tech for cash

If you're replacing your current iPad, you can pay even less by trading it in. Just give us the specs in a short online form and you'll get an offer within seconds. If you're happy with it, you can ship your tablet to us for free and you'll have your money in your account within 5 business days. That goes for any electronic device you're no longer using, too — not just tablets.

Final thoughts: Which iPad is the best to buy this year?

Our top pick for an everyday tablet that balances affordability with overall performance is the Apple iPad Air 8 M4. Most people will find this model more than sufficient for their daily needs. If you want an extremely powerful iPad that can handle anything you throw at it as a professional, the Apple iPad Pro M5 is the best iPad we recommend. For students, the Apple iPad Air 7 M3 offers all the power requiredfor demanding study apps, streaming, and gaming. The Apple iPad 11 A16 is the best choice for those looking for a budget device with all the necessary basics. For a lightweight, compact tablet, there's little to beat the Apple iPad mini 7 A17. Remember to check out the prices of these models on Back Market to save money on your next iPad.