Which iPad is right for you? July 2023 guide
24/7/2023
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
Looking to get a new iPad and wondering if the Mini, Air or Pro is right for you? Find out which use case each device is best suited for.
As an artist, I’m a huge fan of tablets. I’ve tested quite a few of them, too. But I always go back to the iPad. In this guide, I’ll tell you which iPad I’d recommend for which use case. All the devices mentioned are those from Apple’s current line-up.
For creative work – the iPad Pro 2022
I’ll start with my personal favourite. The iPad Pro allows you to get creative with no restrictions. You can paint and edit awesome images in perfectly optimised programs like Procreate or Photoshop. You can also create 3D models and edit videos. The iPad Pro’s M2 chip gives you more power than any other iPad. The Liquid Retina screen displays colour nicely.
If you use Photoshop intensively or edit large movie files, I recommend a model with 16 gigabytes of RAM. Unfortunately, this much RAM is only available in the models with 1 TB or 2 TB of storage. With less RAM, you’ll also have certain limitations in Procreate – you’ll only be able to create smaller canvases and fewer layers.
The iPad Pro is available in 11 and 12.9 inches. Both are available in all memory options as well as with or without 5G. You can opt for a combo that suits you. For me, the 11-inch iPad Pro with 256 GB is good enough, especially because I’m on the move a lot. If you prefer to paint on a larger screen with a good overview, I recommend the 12.9-inch version.
For university and all-round use – the iPad Air 2022
The iPad Air is sufficient for very many applications. It’s not quite as powerful as the Pro, but it’s also cheaper. With its Liquid Retina Display and powerful M1 chip, the hardware is in the happy medium.
At 10.9 inches, the Liquid Retina display offers a good size and colour reproduction. The M1 chip is already very fast for a tablet. You can use it to play graphics-intense games like Grid Autosport, edit smaller videos and have several apps open without any problems – the latter being useful for office work, for example. The iPad Air runs smoothly even then.
If you like typing on a keyboard when you're on the go or at university, you can attach one. For quick notes, you can also use the 2nd generation Apple Pencil. Thanks to the USB-C port, you can also use the iPad Air as a secondary display with your computer. The battery easily lasts the whole day.
For globetrotters and commuters – the iPad Mini 2021
If you’re on the go a lot and want to keep your gear as light as possible, this one’s for you. At 8.3 inches, the iPad Mini triples as a notebook, sketchbook and e-reader in one. It’s also convenient for playing your favourite smartphone games on a bigger screen.
The A15 Bionic chip is also installed in the iPhone 14 and offers enough power for all these things. The iPad Mini works with the 2nd generation Apple Pencil, so you can also use art programs like Procreate on it. Although it’s «mini», this iPad is actually more expensive than the base model. The higher price tag buys you a stronger chip and the Liquid Retina display.
The iPad Mini also has a battery life of about ten hours – enough to easily get you through a day on the road. With the cellular version, you can also use the iPad Mini with a SIM card and mobile network.
For entertainment – the iPad (10th gen)
The regular iPad is primarily suitable for media consumption. While Apple’s cheapest tablet, it’s still quite expensive. I only recommend it if you’re absolutely intent on getting an iPad as a tablet.
The base model has a lower-quality display than the other iPads. Inside, it has the A14 Bionic chip, which is the generation before the A15 from the iPad Mini, coupled with a working memory of 4 GB.
Plus the selection of accessories isn’t exactly extensive, featuring the 1st generation Apple Pencil (from 2015) and a keyboard that’s only compatible with this iPad model. If you can warm up to an Android tablet for entertainment purposes, there are much cheaper alternatives.
For example, the Oppo Pad Air for 280 francs (not available in Germany) is a good rig. You can also get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2022) including the pen for 320 francs or 290 euros. If you want more storage, the Xiaomi Pad 5 is available for 330 francs or euros.
Header image: Michelle Brändle
In my world, Super Mario chases Stormtroopers with a unicorn and Harley Quinn mixes cocktails for Eddie and Peter at the beach bar. Wherever I can live out my creativity, my fingers tingle. Or maybe it's because nothing flows through my veins but chocolate, glitter and coffee.
