Treated yourself to a new iPad? With so many available models, it can get a little overwhelming. You may even be confused as to which model is the latest. To the untrained eye, they often appear virtually the same. There have been some big changes to Apple’s iPad lineup recently, though. We run through all of the brand new devices, specify just what generation the new iPad is, and detail what makes every model unique from the rest. To determine which is right for you, check out our picks of the best iPad to buy in 2022.
Last updated: October 2023
Before we get started, here’s a quick breakdown of what generation the latest iPads are for each category.
iPad Mini: Sixth generation
iPad: Ninth generation
iPad Air: Fifth generation
iPad Pro: Fifth generation
iPad 10.2-inch (2021)
The 2022 iPad looks largely the same as the last two generations, just sporting a 10.2-inch screen and some chunky bezels. Storage bumps up to either 64GB or 256GB, and it still supports the first-gen Apple Pencil although you’ll have to pay extra $99 to get your hands on one — in addition to a $299 investment Apple’s Magic Keyboard. This iPad comes running iPadOS 15, which brings Quick Notes, Floaty windows in Mail, Notes, and Messenger, an app shelf, and a new design for Safari.
The new iPad gets an A13 Bionic processor — the same chip as the iPhone 11 series — though it’s not so much faster than its predecessor. The selfie cam has also gained a major upgrade to a 12MP front-facing ultrawide with a 122-degree field of view and auto framing. The battery life is excellent, too: Apple claims up to 10 hours of battery life and you can easily use it a few hours a day for a week without having to even think about charging. Our only gripes over the headline-grabbing new iPad are that despite being heavier and a little more unwieldy than the Pro and iPad Air, it still uses Lightning connectivity, but at $329 for the 64GB modelit’s still one of the best buys around.
iPad Mini (2021)
If you subscribe to the notion that good things come in small packages, the sixth-generation iPad Mini is the tablet for you. Design-wise the iPad Mini 6 features thinner bezels than the previous generation and finally a welcome USB-C port. It has a larger 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display, but that being an LCD display means deep blacks like you get with OLED panels are out of the question.
The new iPad Mini packs Apple’s A15 Bionic processor found in the iPhone 13 series, plus 64GB or 256GB of onboard storage. Working in concert with iPadOS 15, it all performs like clockwork and there’s no shortage of processing power here to run the latest apps, games, and chores.
And battery life is decent as well at around a day and a half with average usage. It’s also the tiniest iPad that supports second-generation Apple Pencil, and starting with iPadOS 15, you can use the handwriting to text Scribble feature.
If you want a super compact, portable, but also powerful tablet then the new iPad Mini ticks all the boxes, albeit with a price bloat this generation as well, with the 64GB version priced at $499.
iPad Air 5 (2022)
The iPad Air 5 looks pretty much like the 4th-gen iPad: slim bezels, light aluminum body. It sports a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display that splits the difference nicely between the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and the 8.3-inch iPad Mini. It’s also worth mentioning that 120Hz isn’t on the table, and the brightness is a notch below the iPad Pro.
At its core, Apple’s M1 processor with 8GB RAM and octa-core graphics delivers blazingly fast performance. There’s more than enough power on hand for anything you care to throw at the new iPad Air, and using it as a laptop alternative isn’t beyond the question either, though you’ll want to cough up extra for the 256GB model (64GB won’t get you very far), a Magic Keyboard or similar compatible Bluetooth keyboard, and a second-generation Apple Pencil.
It’s got USB-C charging rather than lightning, but the battery life is a little disappointing, so if you’re using the phone heavily then chances are you’ll be reaching for the charger by the end of the day. Charging speeds are pretty slow as well, with the included 20-watt charger taking a little over two hours and 20 minutes for a full charge.
If the iPad Pro feels like too much tablet for you but the standard iPad feels like too little, the iPad Air 5 is a smart choice, and you can grab it for $599 (the 64GB model) from Apple.
iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch (2021)
At long last, we’ve arrived at Apple’s most powerful iPads yet, and they are rather different than the rest. At first glance you’ll see the fifth-generation iPad Pro mimics the design of Apple’s flagship phones, so it’s definitely pretty. In addition to being larger than any other iPad to date, the new iPad Pro carries on the tradition of being an all-in-one powerhouse tablet that’s dangerously close to functioning like a laptop. Apple has planted that comparison firmly in your mind, too, by selling a Magic Keyboard with an integrated full-size trackpad.
You get an upgrade to the latest iPad Pro in the form of Apple’s brand new in-house M1 processor chip, which our tests showed to deliver a performance boost. The model also has an upgraded, smarter camera, featuring Center Stage technology that can pan and zoom to keep a subject centered, making it best for voice chats and video conference calls. If the larger version interests you, it includes a much improved Liquid Retina XDR display for better visuals, as well
We should mention; this version is still easily the most expensive iPad, with a starting price of $749 for the 128GB Wi-Fi 11-inch model and an astounding $2,299 for a cellular 12.9-inch model with 2TB (yes, it really can have that much storage) of storage. That’s what customers must pay for a high-octane product.
This new iPad Pro is, by no means, the only option for consumers — but it is, easily, the best choice if you want the biggest, most powerful tablet out there. It’s so powerful and so capable, you might finally be able to leave the laptop at home. If you’re in the market for a new one, though, you might want to wait until the fall, when we’re due to get the new iPad Pro with the M2 chip …
Conclusion
The latest iPads are now showing on the seasonal list on the Apple website. That said, there’s no need to buy the newest, shiniest product if you don’t want it. Many physical stores and online third-party merchants still offer the older iPads. iPads only been relevant since their introduction a decade ago. It’s up to you to determine which features matter most to you, to decide which table may be best. We hope our list helps you in a helpful, detailed, and practical way when it comes to choosing the best tablet you can get.
