The best iPad for 2025: How to pick the best Apple tablet for you

We’ve long considered Apple’s iPads to be the best tablets on the market, but determining exactly which model you should buy isn’t always straightforward. Do you just want a big screen for streaming and web browsing? Do you want to use it like a pseudo-laptop? Do you care about Apple Intelligence at all? If you’re not sure, allow us to help. We’ve tested every Apple tablet available today and broken down the best iPads for different needs below.

Editor’s note (7/7/25): Apple previewed iPadOS 26, its next major iPad software update, during its WWDC keynote. It looks to be a major overhaul, one that brings iPadOS closer to macOS than it’s ever been. New features include the ability to open more windows simultaneously and resize or tile them more freely, a Mac-style Menu bar, a dedicated Preview app, an upgraded ...