The most well-rounded affordable tablet
For its first update in three years, Apple gives its base iPad model a small spec bump while keeping almost everything else—including its $349 price—unchanged. The processor jumps two generations from the A14 to the A16, but doesn’t go far enough to bring Apple Intelligence into the mix. Even without Apple’s AI tools, the 11-generation iPad is a capable tablet that handles common tasks like browsing the web, playing games, and streaming media better than anything else in its price range. For simple entertainment, you won’t find a more well-rounded option, making the iPad our Editors’ Choice winner for affordable tablets. However, students and creators will likely find the added capabilities of the iPad Air (starting at $599) to be worth the extra money, while professionals should look at the iPad Pro (starting at $999) for its advanced processing power.Design: The Same Old
Apple has kept the design language of all its iPads virtually unchanged for the last few years and the 2025 iPad looks no different from the 2022 model. It comes in the same blue (pictured), pink, silver, or white color options and has the exact same measurements and weight of 9.79 by 7.07 by 0.28 inches (HWD) and 1.05 pounds. For comparison, the 11-inch iPad Air measures 9.74 by 7.02 by 0.24 inches and weighs 1.02 pounds, while the 11-inch iPad Pro measures 9.83 by 6.99 by 0.21 inches and weighs 0.98 pounds. Apple has more or less codified this set of dimensions for its 11-inch tablets.
It carries over the uniform wraparound-edge look. The chassis is made from aluminum, and a large glass panel fills the front. Apple hasn’t said what type of glass it uses for the screen. Flat side edges have become a design characteristic common to Apple devices, as has a flat rear panel with a reflective Apple logo. The small camera in the upper left corner is the only functional element on the back surface. Overall, the tablet is well-made and still looks current. However, it doesn’t have an IP rating, so keep it away from liquids.
A large button on the top short edge turns the screen on and off. It doubles as the Touch ID sensor for biometric authentication. The button has a distinct profile, so it’s easy to find. Enrolling your fingerprint is painless, and it works consistently to unlock the iPad. As with the iPad Air and the iPad mini ($499), I recommend training several of your fingers on the sensor for convenience. Though I’d like to see Apple’s Face ID security tool normalized across all iPads, I understand that it’s an expensive feature to add to this entry-level model. Two separate volume buttons are located on the nearby long edge. These have a lower profile and are harder to locate by feel but still work well.
The USB-C 2.0 port is centered on the bottom edge, and speaker holes are located on the two short edges. Apple has dropped the physical SIM card tray of the 2022 model for eSIM on the cellular-equipped version. Three pogo connectors on the bottom long edge support magnetic accessories.
This iPad’s closest Android competitor is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+, which starts at $219.99. It is made of plastic, measures 10.12 by 6.64 by 0.27 inches, and weighs 1.06 pounds. The most significant differences are that it has a microSD card slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Display: A Basic Screen for a Basic Tablet
The only change to the new iPad’s display is the size: Apple bumps it from 10.9 inches to an even 11 inches. Otherwise, the screen carries over all the specs from the previous generation.
It has 2,360 by 1,640 pixels, a density of 264ppi, and a refresh rate of 60Hz. It’s an LED-backlit panel that pushes up to 500 nits of brightness. This resolution and brightness match the 11-inch iPad Air. The iPad also has a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating, sRGB color, and True Tone white balance correction. Like the outgoing model, the screen itself sits below the glass layer by a millimeter, which is common to lower-cost displays. It doesn’t have the iPad Air’s antireflective coating or lamination.
The resolution and brightness are good enough for web content, streaming media, and playing games from Apple Arcade.
