Apple continues to dominate the tablet market, and 2025 is no exception. With new chipsets, improved displays, and smarter features, the latest lineup of Top 5 Best Apple iPads offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a student, a digital artist, or a business professional, choosing the best Apple iPad can make a huge difference in your productivity and creativity. In this comprehensive guide, we break down the top 5 best Apple iPads you can buy in 2025 based on features, pricing, and use cases.
iPad Air 11-inch (M3)
Overview: The new iPad Air 11-inch (2025) is powered by Apple’s blazing-fast M3 chip. It offers a lightweight design, smooth multitasking, and fantastic support for Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard.
Key Features:
- Chip: M3
- Display: 11-inch Liquid Retina
- Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
- Starting Price: $599 (Wi-Fi), $749 (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
- Best For: Students, content creators, everyday users
Why It Stands Out: The iPad Air (M3) strikes the perfect balance between power and price. The M3 chip brings AI capabilities and better GPU performance, perfect for video editing, gaming, and multitasking.
Internal Resource: Check out our Ultimate Guide to the Apple M-Series Chips to understand how the M3 performs against M1 and M2.
External Review: Read the full iPad Air (M3) review on The Verge
iPad Pro 13-inch (M4)
Overview: Apple’s most powerful tablet to date, the 2025 iPad Pro with the M4 chip, offers a laptop-grade experience. It’s geared toward professionals who demand the highest performance.
Key Features:
- Chip: M4 with Apple Intelligence
- Display: 13-inch Tandem OLED
- Battery Life: Up to 12 hours
- Starting Price: $1,299
- Best For: Digital artists, video editors, power users
Why It Stands Out: The ProMotion OLED display is simply stunning. Paired with the M4 chip, this iPad can handle anything from 3D rendering to 4K video editing. It supports the full range of Apple accessories including the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro.
External Review: iPad Pro (M4) hands-on via TechCrunch
iPad (11-inch, A16)
Overview: This is Apple’s best-value iPad in 2025. It features the capable A16 Bionic chip and an accessible price point, making it ideal for casual use.
Key Features:
- Chip: A16 Bionic
- Display: 11-inch Retina
- Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
- Starting Price: $349
- Best For: Students, casual users, streaming
Why It Stands Out: Despite lacking the M-series AI enhancements, the A16 chip is snappy and efficient. It’s a reliable iPad for school, note-taking, and entertainment. It supports USB-C and Apple Pencil (USB-C).
External Review: See CNET’s take on the best budget iPads
iPad Mini (A17 Pro)
Overview: The iPad Mini remains a fan-favorite for its portability and surprising performance. This year’s model brings the A17 Pro chip for enhanced gaming and creative tasks.
Key Features:
- Chip: A17 Pro
- Display: 8.3-inch Liquid Retina
- Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
- Starting Price: $499
- Best For: On-the-go professionals, readers, gamers
Why It Stands Out: With a small footprint but serious power, the iPad Mini is ideal for travel. It supports the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil, and the A17 Pro chip handles intensive games and apps with ease.
Internal Resource: Top iPad Accessories for Professionals
External Review: Apple Insider’s review of the iPad Mini A17 Pro
iPad Air 13-inch (M3)
Overview: For users who love a large display without jumping to the iPad Pro price, the iPad Air 13-inch (M3) is perfect.
Key Features:
- Chip: M3
- Display: 13-inch Liquid Retina
- Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
- Starting Price: $799
- Best For: Designers, multitaskers, professionals on a budget
Why It Stands Out: All the benefits of the M3 chip combined with a larger screen make this iPad great for productivity. It supports multitasking with ease and handles creative workflows smoothly.
External Review: Digital Trends’ breakdown of the new 13″ iPad Air
Feature Comparison Top 5 Best Apple iPads
| iPad Model | Chip | Screen Size | Starting Price | Best For |
| iPad Air 11″ (M3) | M3 | 11-inch | $599 | Students, everyday users |
| iPad Pro 13″ (M4) | M4 | 13-inch OLED | $1,299 | Creatives, professionals |
| iPad 11″ (A16) | A16 Bionic | 11-inch | $349 | Casual use, streaming |
| iPad Mini (A17 Pro) | A17 Pro | 8.3-inch | $499 | Portability, reading, gaming |
| iPad Air 13″ (M3) | M3 | 13-inch | $799 | Creative work, multitasking |
Buying Advice for Different Users
- Students: Choose the iPad Air 11-inch (M3) or the budget iPad (A16) for note-taking, studying, and light entertainment.
- Creative Professionals: Go for the iPad Pro (M4) for its power and OLED display, or the Air 13-inch (M3) for a more affordable option.
- Frequent Travelers: The iPad Mini (A17 Pro) provides performance and portability in one package.
- Budget Seekers: The 11-inch iPad with A16 chip delivers solid performance for the price.
Final Thoughts
Top 5 Best Apple iPads for you in 2025 will depend on your personal needs and budget. If you need unmatched power, the iPad Pro (M4) is your go-to. If you want great performance at a mid-range price, the iPad Air models are excellent. And if you’re looking for value or portability, the standard iPad and iPad Mini are fantastic choices.
Want to compare with older iPad models? Check our iPad 2023 vs 2025 Comparison Guide.
Stay tuned for upcoming deals, especially during Apple events and seasonal sales!
Related Reading:
- Top 5 Best Apple iPads for Students
- Top Apple Pencil Apps in 2025
- Apple Intelligence: How It Changes iPad Usage