In some cases it may just be because developers are still building out apps and haven't yet gotten them to full feature-dom yet, though there's no guarantee they ever will get there. Many limitations of current mobile apps have carried through into iPadOS. For instance, even if I could do my job on an iPad Pro (and it's not even close), in order to access some corporate locations I have to run the VPN, which is only available on company-issued systems. Though you might pooh-pooh the latter - after all, Apple says you can do it all with an iPad - for most school and work requirements, you'll find at least one thing you need to do on a laptop. But it's held back from acting as a true replacement by iPadOS that means, among other things, no useful dual-monitor support (it can only mirror, not extend, to a second display) and no support for full desktop applications. Its processor is as powerful as a MacBook Air's, and it works with Bluetooth keyboards and Apple trackpads. Nano-SIM eSIM 5G support (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) Up to 10 hours use over Wi-Fi up to 9 hours over cellular And then read further for more advice.Ģ64 ppi (Liquid Retina True Tone with ProMotion)Ģ64 ppi (Liquid Retina XDR True Tone with ProMotion)ġ2-megapixel f1.8 wide, 10-megapixel f2.4 ultrawideĤK at 24, 30 or 60fps 1080p slo-mo at 120 or 240fpsĤK at 24, 30 or 60fps (wide) 1080p at 24, 30 or 60fps (ultrawide) The Apple Magic Keyboard is compatible with the iPad Pro and iPad Air, but not the 10th-gen iPad (which has a new Magic Keyboard Folio case instead).Ĭheck out the selections below to find the best iPad for your needs. Plus, all the current iPad models support mouse and trackpad use, for a more MacBook-like experience. That's good news for anyone who wants to do more than stream videos and music, browse websites and play Apple Arcade games. No matter what iPad you buy, there are ways of connecting keyboard cases, Bluetooth and otherwise, although your options will vary. Apple is supporting external monitors as an extended desktop for iPads with an M1 chip or better via a software update to iPadOS 16 that's coming later this year, but the feature, called Stage Manager, remains buggy and feels experimental. Let's just say there's a dongle involved, which is rarely a good thing. Whichever model or screen size you go with, all the current iPads support the latest version of iPadOS (a version of iOS specifically for iPads) and either the first- or second-gen Apple Pencil - though the most recently released 10th-gen model's Pencil support is less than elegant. It's a great pick if it's ever on sale, but expensive otherwise. The 10th-gen model has a better-placed front-facing camera for video chats, a larger screen, a faster processor and USB-C charging, but needs its own cases and a weird dongle for charging the first-gen Pencil. The 10th-gen iPad, released last fall, is more expensive than the ninth-gen iPad, which remains on sale. The last wave of iPads added more choice, but no clear stand-out best product. It's just that the best features are now spread out across devices, and none truly elevate the iPad into a Mac-level territory. The good news is, all of the current iPads are good. In the meantime, here's some specific shopping tips we can offer. We don't know when a new iPad will emerge this year, and there's a possibility that there won't be one for a while. This is the state of iPads in 2023: Lots of choices but no clear-cut, absolute winner. IPad shoppers, I have frustrating news for you.

Ipad air vs mini