Are you trying to figure out which is the best iPad to buy? Here are some pointers on the models that are worth considering and which ones to avoid
Until a few years ago, buying the iPad that best suited your needs was all in all simple. It was enough to wait for the Cupertino company to present the new model and buy the newest one on the market. Today it’s not so simple: there are five “families” of iPads on the market, and it’s not necessarily said that the technical characteristics of the various models are so different from each other.
So, choosing the best iPad to buy is not so simple anymore. And, as a result, the risk of buying the wrong model is higher than you think. So you need to figure out which iPad best suits your needs before you buy it. Otherwise we will end up with a device that does not suit our needs (maybe it’s too powerful, maybe it has a display too small), with a waste of money not indifferent. Let’s see together which iPad to buy and which, instead, should be avoided at all costs.
The best iPad for quality/price: iPad 9.7 inches (2018)
If you can find it online or, perhaps, in an Apple Store, buy it. The “original” sixth-generation iPad was recently replaced by a new model with a slightly larger screen (a few tenths of an inch diagonal) and support for the Apple Keyboard but, in fact, the two models are identical. Same Soc (the A10 Fusion), same display, same components: in short, the differences are minimal. But not in terms of price: on offer, the old iPad can be purchased even less than 300 euros, while the seventh-generation iPad starts at 389 euros for the Wi-Fi version with 32 GB of memory.
The best iPad for those who are always on the move: iPad Air 2019
As the name suggests, this is the most “compact” and lightweight model around. Less than 500 grams in weight and just 6 millimeters thick for one of the most powerful models around. In fact, the 2019 iPad Air, equipped with a 10.5-inch screen, mounts the A12 Bionic, the same one we find on board the 2018 iPhones. An extremely high-performance SoC, in short, capable of giving excellent performance and a long battery life. If we add to this the support for the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard, we get a device that fits perfectly with the needs of those who are always on the move for work and do not want to have excessive weight in the bag.
The best iPad ever: iPad Pro 2019
If you do not have budget problems and are looking for the best the house of Cupertino has to offer, you can not help but choose one of the latest iPad Pro launched on the market. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro, in particular, is widely regarded as the tablet that comes closest to being a viable alternative to laptops. With keyboard and mouse support, it can be used as a 2-in-1 notebook, while new iPad OS features make it more and more like a Macbook.
The best iPad for travelers: iPad Mini
To be honest, there’s one iPad model that’s lighter and more “portable” than the Air. It’s the latest iPad Mini to hit the market. The 7.9-inch display makes it “pocketable” enough for any need, while the A12 SoC provides enough computing power for any type of use. The price, however, is not exactly “mini”: it starts from 459 euros for the 32 GB version with Wi-Fi connectivity.
Which iPad to avoid
If these are the iPad models that are worth evaluating (in case you want to buy one), there are also models to avoid at all costs. And they are those that you find at “bargain prices” during multiple offers, both online and in physical stores. This group includes the 9.7-inch iPad from the fifth generation down, the iPad mini from the first to third generation and the first-generation iPad Air.