The Best iPad to Buy (and Some to Avoid) in 2026

We break down the current iPad lineup to help you figure out which of Apple’s tablets is best for you. Julian Chokkattu Luke LarsenGearFeb 23, 2026 7:00 AMThe Best iPad to Buy (and a Few to Avoid)We break down the current iPad lineup to help you figure out which of Apple’s tablets is best for you.CommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyFeatured in this articleThe Best iPad for Most PeopleApple iPad (2025, A16)Read more$349 $329 (6% off) AmazonThe Upgrade PickApple iPad Air (2025, M3)Read more$599 $489 (18% off) Amazon (11-inch)The Best Small iPadApple iPad Mini (2024, 7th Gen)Read more$489 AmazonThe Overkill TabletApple iPad Pro (M5)Read more$999 $800 (20% off) Amazon (11 Inch)FINDING THE BEST iPad should be simple. You get whatever’s new, right? If only. Apple sells four main iPad models in varying sizes and each with its own strengths. In addition, a growing number of older iPads are floating around the eBays of the world. Since all these devices largely look the same, it’s important to know what you’re buying and what you should pay for it. This guide covers the iPad models currently available, what’s coming up, the key differences between them, and the older versions that are still in use (including those you should avoid at any price). I also break down which Apple Pencil is right for you.Be sure to check out all our buying guides, including the Best iPad Accessories, Best iPhones, Best iPhone 17 Cases, Best Tablets, Best Android Tablets, and Best MacBooks.Updated February 2026: We've added a section on comparing the iPad Pro with the MacBook Air, as well context on what iPads are launching soon.Is Now a Good Time to Buy?AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronYes. The base iPad and the iPad Air launched in 2025. Most people should buy one of those, and they're perfectly great options. The iPad Mini arrived late in 2024, so it's fairly up to date. There are reports of a refreshed base iPad and iPad Air arriving sometimes in early 2026, with a rumored released date to be “coming soon” as of February 8. These are expected to be fairly minor spec updates, however, bringing both models up to the latest chips—and not much else. The base iPad moving up to the A18 would give it Apple Intelligence features for the first time, though I'm not sure that's a purchasing decision for anyone at this point.The iPad mini is also rumored to get updated sometime in 2026, though it may come later in the year. If the reports end up being true, this will be the biggest iPad update of the year, as it would see an upgrade to OLED for the first time.Apple's new iPad Pro, powered by the M5 chip, launched in October 2025; they're the most recent models. You can either opt for the latest or find the M4 iPad Pro on sale.iPadOS 26 Has a New Multitasking ExperienceAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevroniPadOS 26 arrived in September 2025 and brought a whole new multitasking experience: windowed apps. Like a Mac, you can now resize the apps on your iPad and have multiple floating windows, bringing it closer to a desktop than ever before. First, here are the iPads compatible with iPadOS 26:iPad: 8th gen and later, including A16iPad Mini: 5th gen and later, including A17 ProiPad Air: 3rd gen and later, including M2 and M3iPad Pro 11-inch: 1st gen and lateriPad Pro 12.9-inch: 3rd gen and lateriPad Pro: M4 and M5I encourage you to play around with windowed apps; there are even native window tiling options. Flick an app to the left or right to snap them to the sides for easy split-screen. The traffic-light buttons from macOS are available here, so you can minimize or make apps full-screen quickly (or close them). You can group apps together, and a swipe up and hold will reveal all of them in Exposé mode. Apple even brought over the menu bar from macOS, and you can pull it down from the top of any app.Importantly, background tasks like rendering in a video app work in the background so you can start an export, leave the app, and it'll still do the job while you scroll through Instagram (the app has to support this feature first). iPadOS 26 is a significant update that will make your compatible iPad feel like new, especially if you have wanted to use it for work but found it a little lacking.Which iPad Do You Own?AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronThere are tons of iPads out in the world, and it can be tough to figure out exactly what model you own if you're thinking of selling it or you're looking for accessories and want to make sure they'll work with your iPad. Apple also doesn't name its slates sequentially as it does with the iPhone, only adding to the confusion. No matter. Finding your model is simple.Look at the back of your iPad. Etched on the back cover, near where it says "Designed by Apple in California," should be a model number starting with the letter A.Head to this website from Apple. Look for your corresponding model number, and that's it! You found your iPad model. (Pro tip: Use your browser's "Find in Page" functi