The best iPads for reading, working, and streaming

Read our full review of the iPad Air 2024.

Who it's for:

The iPad Air is for everyone. It will do the job if you want to use your tablet for streaming, reading, or creative projects. If you plan on using your tablet as a substitute for a laptop, it'll work for that, too. According to Mashable tech editor Kimberly Gedeon, the iPad Air loaded with the M2 chip "delivers impressive performance and noteworthy battery life that will keep creatives, students, and on-the-go busy bees away from the imprisonment of charging cables and wall outlets."

Despite being one of Apple's latest releases, it's an exceptional value, loaded with the M2 chip and starting at $599 for the 11-inch model, and $799 for the 13-inch model.

Why we picked this:

The iPad Air 2024, while no longer the lightest or thinnest, still stands as a testament to Apple's commitment to value. Equipped with the M2 chip, first introduced in the MacBook Air, it delivers the same processing power as a laptop. In our Geekbench 6 tests, it scored on par with the M2 MacBook Air, offering a high-performance experience at a fraction of the cost.

It also has an impressive battery life: It ran over 13 hours in our tests, and it has crisp displays for brilliant graphics. In fact, while testing the most recent iPads, Gedeon noted that it was hard to tell the difference between the iPad Air and iPad Pro displays.

While Apple is desperate to tout the iPad as a gaming device, we wouldn't say it's your best bet with only 8GB RAM. However, it has plenty of power to handle illustration and design work. Essentially, it gives you everything you'd want in a starter MacBook, but it costs you just $599 and has a touchscreen.

Read our full review of the Apple iPad Pro 2024.

Who it's for:

Professionals planning on using an iPad as their tablet and laptop should go for the iPad Pro. This 2024 release is loaded with Apple's fastest processing power. Graphic designers can store all of their creative work on the device, which has up to 2TB of storage. It's also a smart choice for video editors, as the 1TB and 2 TB models feature texturized nano-glass, which prevents glare while working in any environment — even full sun.

For graphic designers, the Apple iPad Pro 2024 is a dream come true. It's the only iPad on the market that is fully compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro, a tool that features a unique squeezable design and a barrel roll feature, enhancing precision and control in design work.

Why we like it:

The 2024 iPad Pro is essentially an outstanding laptop. Loaded with Apple's latest M4 processing chip, it's the most advanced option from the brand. When running the Geekbench 6 tests, Gedeon did a double take at the results. It got a score of 14,586, making it more powerful than any MacBook we've ever tested, so if you're chasing powerful performance, this is it. And that performance doesn't drain the battery life, as this beast ran for over 16 hours in our tests. And startlingly, it does all of this in a razor thin package. As Gedeon says it feels like "cradling the whispers of technology."

You can often find 1TB storage in computers, but 2TB is rare in a laptop and nearly unheard of with a tablet, so it can store large files without a problem. Plus, the 1TB and 2TB models come with nano-glass, a texturized glass front that prevents glare no matter what environment you're in.

Who it's for:

If you prefer saving money over splurging on the latest tech, the Apple iPad (10th generation) is a fantastic choice. It's the base model of all the iPads, meaning it won't have the fastest processor or the latest features, but it is the most affordable. With the 2024 release of the iPad Air and Pro, this iPad's price dropped to $349 — a real steal for Apple technology.

Even though its tech is basic compared to the advanced iPad Air and Pro, it's perfect for someone who wants a portable screen for streaming, playing games, and reading. It's also a nice choice if you're interested in using your tablet as a laptop but don't want to spend a ton of money. It's compatible with the Magic Keyboard Folio and together costs $598 — the same price as the iPad Air.

Plus, it's especially great for kids, if you want to get them a tablet but don't want to spend a fortune on it.

Why we picked this:

The iPad (10th generation) doesn't possess the flair of the Pro or Air, but it is a testament that Apple's entry-level tablet is still stellar. It's currently the lowest-priced iPad, even defeating the Mini, making it the most affordable choice. PCMag, our sibling site, reviews the iPad 10th generation, stating that it's the best tablet at its price point.

The new landscape camera layout makes video calls look better, and upgraded stereo speakers deliver better sound. It's loaded with the Apple A14 chip, which isn't as impressive as the M-series of chips but is still quick and powerful. It has a decent-sized screen at 10.9 inches, providing plenty of room for those who want to use it as a drawing pad or journal since it is compatible with the Apple USB-C and Apple Pencil 1st generation.

Read our full review of the iPad Mini.

Who it's for:

If you want to use your tablet as just that, and one of your primary uses is for reading, go with the iPad Mini. The other iPad models start at 10.9 inches, which is a lot of screen when you just want to flip through your e-book. Speaking from experience, holding a 10.9-inch iPad feels more like holding up a magazine than a book, so at 8.3 inches, the iPad Mini is a more comfortable handle for readers. Plus, it has an anti-reflective coating to protect from glare.

The iPad Mini is not just a great e-reader, it's also a versatile tablet. You can still use it to read with the Kindle App, but it also offers the added benefits of a tablet. Imagine reading mid-flight and then switching over to streaming your favorite show. This is a level of versatility that a standard e-reader simply can't match.

So when should you avoid the iPad Mini? If you're after a tablet that can double as a laptop, this won't be for you. 8.3-inches might be plenty of room for reading or watching, but it's going to feel tight when you want to flip between email and Slack. Plus, it's not compatible with Apple's Magic Keyboard, but you can connect a Bluetooth keyboard in a pinch.

Why we picked this:

The iPad Mini exists in a weird plane in the iPad line-up. Loaded with an A15 chip and 5-core GPU, it's more advanced in some ways than the iPad 10th generation. But on the flip side, it's missing key features like a landscape view camera, headphone jack, and Magic Keyboard compatibility. When we calculate all that, it's clear that the iPad Mini is a great tablet, while the rest of the iPads in Apple's line-ups are capable of being great tablets and laptops.

Where we really like the iPad Mini is for reading. When you use an e-reader, you don't want your wrists to get a workout, and the iPad Mini weighs just over half a pound while the rest of the iPads weigh twice that. Plus, the smaller screen size makes it more ergonomically comfortable to handle. At 8.3-inches it's about an inch and a half bigger than a Kindle Paperwhite Signature. Plus, unlike the iPad 10th generation, it has an anti-reflective coating to help you read in any lighting.

The iPad Mini's smaller size also makes it a better option for traveling. It will take up less space and weigh