The Seven Best Apple iPad You Can Have in 2021
Lately Apple unveiled a new 9.7-inch iPad with a brighter retina display starting at $US329 ($AU428). So if you want to have Apple iPad in 2017 then there are seven best to choose from. Be it a compact 7.9-inch screen, a well-rounded 9.7 inches or a massive 12.9-inch monster here following are the best for you to have a choice.
1. iPad Pro 9.7
If you are an average user the iPad Pro 9.7 is one of the best all-round options, and it starts at $US599/AU$849 and if you want more than 32GB of storage or cellular connectivity the price rises steeply. Also the iPad Pro 9.7 is the latest and greatest in Apple’s ‘main’ line of tablets and strikes a great balance between being big enough to get far more out of than a phone screen and small enough to still be fairly portable.
Although Apple has ditched the Air moniker, at 240 x 169.5 x 6.1mm and 437g the iPad Pro 9.7 is every bit as thin and light as the iPad Air 2.
It lives up to the Pro name, with plenty of power afforded by its A9X processor and 2GB of RAM, four speakers for serious media potential, a beautiful True Tone screen, which adapts the color and intensity to your environment, and of course the ability to use the Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil with it, if you want to use it for some pro work.
The iPad Pro 9.7 also comes with up to 256GB of storage if you’re prepared to pay, so you needn’t feel limited by the lack of a microSD card slot, and it’s likely to remain a powerful and versatile tablet for years to come, so while it’s expensive you might not feel the need to upgrade for a long time.
2. iPad mini 4
With 7.9-inch iPad mini 4 comes in far more portable than Apple’s larger tablets, especially as it’s light at 299g. It is not that small that you can use it one hand, but you can comfortably hold it for a lot longer than most of Apple’s tablets. It’s also big enough to enjoyably browse the net or watch videos on when you’re away from home and bigger screens, but it’s obviously not quite as strong an experience for most visual media as Apple’s larger 9.7 and 12.9-inch tabs.
The small size and lack of Smart Connector also makes it worse for productivity than the iPad Pro range, but this isn’t designed as a laptop replacement. It’s still fairly powerful thanks to 2GB of RAM and the aging but still impressive Apple A8 processor, while the screen is sharp, rich and easy to see even in bright sunlight.
The iPad mini 4 is also a fraction of the price of Apple’s Pro range, starting as it does at $399/AU$569 and with up to 128GB of storage you needn’t be terribly limited in that area – though it’s no match for the 256GB you can get in the iPad Pro.
3. iPad Pro
The iPad Pro 12.9 , or simply the iPad Pro as it’s sometimes known, is in many ways a bigger and better version of the iPad Pro 9.7. It matches that tabs four powerful speakers, accessory options and storage capacity, but at 12.9 inches the screen is significantly larger, while its 2048 x 2732 resolution ensures it retains the same 264ppi pixel density. It’s also more powerful than its smaller sibling, combining the same Apple A9X processor with a massive 4GB of RAM.
That power is undeniably good, but the screen size will be more divisive, as while all that space is great if you plan to use it as a real laptop replacement, for running apps in split screen, or for watching a lot of movies, it leaves it a little unwieldy in other ways, especially as it makes the tab a hefty 713g. If you can afford the high price and want the very biggest and most powerful tablet Apple has to offer there can be no other choice than the iPad Pro 12.9.
4. iPad Air 2
The iPad Air 2 is the predecessor to the iPad Pro 9.7 and the difference in name gives a hint of what it’s lacking namely with the Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil, along with the four powerful speakers found on the Pro range. It’s not as strong for productivity then, but in many other ways the iPad Air 2 can almost match up to the iPad Pro 9.7 and all for a much lower price.
For one thing it has the same premium metal body, along with the same weight and dimensions, leaving it a slim and light 6.1mm thick and 437g. It also has the same size and resolution 9.7-inch 1536 x 2048 screen, though behind the scenes more vivid colors and the True Tone tech, for dynamically adjusted white balance in the iPad Pro 9.7 make the display altogether more impressive.
The tablet sports plenty of power too, matching the iPad Pro 9.7 for 2GB of RAM and finding a middle ground between that and the iPad mini 4 with its A8X processor. In short, if you don’t need the productivity potential of the iPad Pro and can live with slightly dated but still solid specs, the iPad Air 2 is a strong choice.
5. iPad mini 2
Apple is still selling the iPad mini 2 , despite it dating back to 2013 and having been superseded by both the iPad mini 3, which Apple no longer sells, and the iPad mini 4. The iPad mini 2 though is powerful as the iPad Air and has a compact 7.9-inch display, with the same resolution as the iPad mini 4. The overall quality isn’t quite as high, but it’s still a strong tablet screen.
At 7.5mm thick and 331g it’s not quite as slim and light as Apple’s latest mini, but it’s still compact enough to comfortably cart around with you and it sports a similarly premium design. It has an older processor and half as much RAM, which combined with its age means you might feel the need to upgrade sooner rather than later if you do invest in the iPad mini 2.
It still offers a quality experience and is an ideal option if you want a highly portable and low cost tablet, just as long as you can live without the secure convenience of Touch ID and with a maximum of 32GB of storage, as that’s the most Apple now sells it with.
6. iPad Air
The iPad Air still offers slick performance and a premium design. Its age might make it a little difficult to buy now though considering it’s not officially on sale through Apple in most countries.
The Apple A7 processor and 1GB of RAM keep iOS 10 running smoothly, though both those things are a noticeable step down from even the iPad Air 2, let alone Apple’s newer iPad Pro range, so it’s not as future-proofed as those tablets, especially as its age means Apple will stop supporting it sooner. But the 9.7-inch Retina display still impresses and while it’s not quite as slim as the iPad Pro 9.7, at 7.5mm thick, it still offers premium quality and comes in at an almost as light 469g.
There’s no Touch ID here and most shops aren’t selling it with more than 32GB of storage any more, but if all you want from your tablets is something to browse the web on, use apps and watch video, rather than store loads of content, play high-powered games and replace your laptop, the iPad Air is almost a match for the iPad Air 2 or even the iPad Pro 9.7, and of course it’s a lot cheaper.
7. iPad mini 3
The iPad mini 3 is an oddity, as aside from the addition of a Touch ID scanner it’s basically exactly the same as the iPad mini 2. It’s a slim, light and premium build with a decent screen and the same polished iOS experience you get on other Apple tabs. Note that you can get essentially the same tablet for less with the iPad mini 2, or a far better compact tab with the iPad mini 4.
With these seven best tabs you can go for the one that you like or that suits in your budget.