Here are my all-time favorite devices.

Having been an iPad user for over a decade, I’ve seen Apple’s tablets evolve from a simple tablet to a powerful tool that serves a variety of needs. Since I’m so immersed in the iPad world, I thought it would be helpful to write about my favorite devices ever produced. Out of all the versions I’ve used, there are a few that have made a special impression thanks to their outstanding performance and practical design. Check out my experience swapping a MacBook for an iPad Pro: the main drawbacks I encountered.

1. iPad Pro M4 11-inch (2024)

The main reason I put the 11-inch version on this list is because its dual OLED displays are a huge upgrade over previous 11-inch models. The Ultra Retina XDR display on the iPad Pro allows it to deliver up to 1,000 nits of SDR/XDR brightness and up to 1,600 nits when consuming HDR content.

The 2024 iPad Pro has a number of other features, including the M4 chip. At the time of writing, this chip is not yet available in MacBooks. Apple silicon is one of the many reasons the iPad is so far ahead of Android tablets.

2. iPad Pro M1 13-inch (2021)

Apple has been upping its iPad game significantly since moving to Apple Silicon chips, and the 13-inch iPad Pro — released in 2021 — was a big statement. It was the first iPad to feature Apple Silicon, and it came after Apple refreshed its Macs with the M1 series of chips.

This device also features a Liquid Retina XDR display, which has over 10,000 LEDs and was the first iPad to feature this type of display. This model also introduced support for 5G cellular, allowing for better connectivity while traveling.

3. iPad Air 2 (2014)

I’ve always loved the iPad Air as a viable alternative to the Pro model, and the second-generation iPad Air — released in 2014 — is my favorite in that regard. Touch ID may seem like a relic of the past on iPads these days, but it’s easy to forget that it was once revolutionary. The iPad Air 2 was the first Apple tablet to feature the technology, paving the way for future devices and, eventually, its replacement, Face ID.

Unlike its predecessor, the iPad Air 2 didn’t feature a side switch. The front-facing camera also had a slightly wider aperture than the iPad Air 1, at f/2.2 instead of f/2.4. Users could also use Auto HDR on their photos, building on the manual option that appeared on the first-generation iPad Air. Check out the best 13-inch iPad Air cases.

4. iPad 3rd generation (2012)

The third generation iPad came out in my first year of using an iPad, and it was a great tablet at the time. It was the first iPad to feature a Retina display of any kind, paving the way for the major innovations we’ve seen with the newer iPads. Another major feature was 4G LTE support, which was a big deal at the time.

Compared to its predecessor, which could only shoot video at 720p, the iPad 3 could record video at up to 1080p. Compared to the 0.7-megapixel camera on the iPad 2, you can use a 5-megapixel camera with the iPad 3. This iPad also supports Bluetooth 4.0 and has 1GB of RAM, compared to 512MB of RAM on the second-generation iPad.

5. iPad mini 6th generation (2021)

While Apple didn’t launch the iPad mini in 2020, it’s back with a bang in 2021. The sixth-generation iPad mini is a big upgrade over the previous model, with a USB-C charging port instead of Lightning and no Home button. However, it still has Touch ID; the main difference is that you have to press the top button instead.

The iPad mini 6 is capable of shooting 4K video at up to 60 frames per second. Its display has also received a slight bump in size from 7.9 inches to 8.3 inches despite using the same Liquid Retina display. Compared to the previous model, the iPad mini 6 offers horizontal stereo speakers and is compatible with the Apple Pencil 2. Check out why the iPad mini is the best iPad Apple currently sells.

iPads have come a long way since their early days, and the latest models are some of the most powerful devices you’ll ever use. While they’re just tablets, iPads can now sometimes double as laptops with the right accessories. Even if you don’t get the latest model, you can update to iPadOS 18 to take advantage of a host of great features. Here’s a look at the things your Mac can do that your iPad can’t.