Which iPad You should Buy: Comparison between models [iPad, Air, mini, Pro]

So are you thinking of buying an iPad? Before you go to the nearest store and open your wallet, it’s important to know what the models on your Apple tablet are, so you can get the one that fits the budget best and meets your needs.

Get to know the models before buying an iPad

Apple today has four different iPad models, each one focused on a distinct user profile. Therefore, it is good to check the particularities of each one of them.

iPad

Launched in 2010, the iPad is the original line of the Apple tablet, and today is the most accessible version of the device. It has the same visual identity since the first generation, with a Home button (today with Touch ID ) and a 4:3 aspect ratio screen, now Retina (2,048 x 1,536 pixels) and supporting the 1st generation Apple Pencil.

It has a simple body, with wide upper and lower edges, and is aimed at those who want to watch videos (Netflix, for example), read magazines, surf, play, and mainly, do not want to spend as much to have an iPad.

The iPad (2018) is available from $329 (Wi-Fi) and $459 (Wi-Fi + Mobile). These are your specifications:

• Display: 9.7-inch IPS LCD with resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels (264 ppi);
• Processor: Apple A10 Fusion (same in iPhones 7 and 7 Plus );
• Memory RAM: 2 GB;
• Internal storage: 32 or 128 GB;
• Dimensions: 240 x 169.5 x 7.5 mm;
• Weight: 469 g (Wi-Fi) and 478 g (Wi-Fi + Mobile).

iPad Air

Originally the successor to the original iPad, the iPad Air is today an option with a larger and better Retina display, with smaller edges and a slightly larger body than the iPad.

The “Air” of the name is due to the fact that it has always had a body thinner than the original iPad (6.1 mm, against 7.5 mm of the iPad), and also lighter (456 g Wi-Fi model and 464 g of Wi-Fi + Mobile, versus respectively 469 g and 478 g of iPad), but which today also reflects its screen design. It is a product primarily aimed at students and professionals, thanks to Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard support.

It has prices: from $499 (Wi-Fi) and $629 (Wi-Fi + Mobile). Its specifications are:

• Display: 10.5-inch IPS LCD, with a resolution of 2664 x 1,668 pixels (264 ppi), P3 and TrueTone;
• Processor: Apple A12 Bionic (present on iPhones XS , XS Max and XR );
• Memory RAM: 3 GB;
• Internal storage: 64 or 256 GB;
• Dimensions: 250 x 174.1 x 6.1 mm;
• Weight: 456 g (Wi-Fi) and 464 g (Wi-Fi + Mobile).

iPad mini

The iPad mini is Apple’s solution for those who prefer smaller tablets. Small and easy to carry, it has a 7.9-inch Retina display with True Tone, and in the latest version, Apple Pencil 1st generation support.

In the beginning, Apple sold it as a cheaper option to the iPad, but today, it is paired in terms of performance with the iPad Air (both are equipped with the Apple A12 Bionic processor ). It is indicated for the user who would buy the first one by its characteristics, but who prefers a more portable tablet.

It has prices: from $399 (Wi-Fi) and $529 (Wi-Fi + Mobile). These are your specifications:

• Display: 7.9-inch IPS LCD with resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels (326 ppi), P3 and True Tone;
• Processor: Apple A12 Bionic (present on iPhones XS , XS Max and XR );
• Memory RAM: 3 GB;
• Internal storage: 64 or 256 GB;
• Dimensions: 203.2 x 134.8 x 6.1 mm;
• Weight: 456 g (Wi-Fi) and 464 g (Wi-Fi + Mobile).

iPad Pro

The iPad Pro line comprises Apple’s state-of-the-art tablets. These include 11 and 12.9-inch screens, True Tone technology and a refresh rate of 120 Hz (which Apple calls ProMotion ), the powerful Apple A12X Bionic processor, plus RAM (4 or 6 GB) body with thin edges and without Home button.

Although the 11-inch model has dimensions and weight close to the iPad Air, this is far more powerful; already the 12.9″ model is the largest and heaviest of all iPads. Of course, because they are high-end products, both versions of the iPad Pro are much more expensive than the others.

Apple’s intention with the iPad Pro line is to offer a cutting-edge tablet to replace a desktop, and already has more robust applications such as LumaFusion (video editing) and Pixelmator (image editing), among others; Adobe will release the full version of Photoshop for the tablet as early as 2019.

Finally, the Apple Pencil 2, exclusive for use with the iPad Pro line, has become more ergonomic, can be charged by a magnetic connection (enough of that scene to pop it in the Lightning port), and is much more precise.

The iPad Pro prices starts at $799 (Wi-Fi, 11 inches) and $949 (Wi-Fi + Cellular, 11 inches). Its specifications are:

• Screen: 11 or 12.9-inch IPS LCD with a resolution of 2388 x 1668 or 2,732 x 2,048 pixels (264 ppi), True Tone and refresh rate of 120 Hz;
• Processor: Apple A12X Bionic (exclusive);
• Memory RAM: 4 GB (models with 64, 256 or 512 GB of internal space) or 6 GB (1 TB model);
• Internal Storage: 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB;
• Dimensions: 247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9 mm (11 inches) and 280.6 x 214.9 x 5.9 mm (12.9 inches);
• Weight: 468 g (11 inches, both versions), 631 g (12.9 inches, Wi-Fi) and 633 g (12.9 inches, Wi-Fi + Mobile).