Apple offers four main iPad lineups with varied specifications targeted at different users. This includes the standard iPad, iPad Mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro. The standard iPad is the most affordable iPad, while the iPad Pro is the most expensive tablet from Apple. Each tablet comes with its own set of advantages (and disadvantages) and is suited for different use cases. Buying an iPad should be simple and straight forward but as you can see, with several models available, it can get a little confusing to choose the right iPad for your needs. That’s why we are here to help. We will help you break down what each iPad brings to the table and which one you should purchase.
Table of Contents
List of Apple iPads 2022
| iPad Model | Price |
| iPad (9th generation, 2021) | Starts Rs 30,900 |
| iPad mini (6th Gen, 2021) | Starts at Rs 46,900 |
| iPad Air (5th Gen, 2022) | Starts at Rs 54,900 |
| iPad Pro (11-inch, 3rd Gen, 2021) | Starts at Rs 71,900 |
| iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 5th Gen, 2021) | Starts at Rs 99,000 |
Which iPad should you buy?
iPad (9th Gen, 2021): Affordable iPad for most people
The ninth-generation iPad is the most affordable iPad you can buy, and it’s also the best for most users. It retains the same classic design as its predecessors, with thick bezels around the corners and a home button, which acts as Touch ID, at the bottom of the display. It also retains support for accessories like Apple Pencil (1st gen) and the Smart Keyboard. If your work revolves around drawing things, taking notes, or writing, for instance, the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard make it a breeze. Apple is using the A13 Bionic chipset, which is the same chipset that was previously used on the iPhone 11, making it one of the most powerful tablets in this price range. Be it gaming, general day-to-day tasks, or working with multiple apps at the same time, the A13 Bionic can handle it all. And the 10.2-inch Retina IPS display (1620×2160) now has a True Tone feature, which automatically adjusts the colour temperature of the display according to the ambient light in your room for an overall better viewing experience.
One of the main highlights of the 9th gen iPad is that Apple has upgraded the front camera from 1.2MP to a better 12MP ultra-wide (122 degrees field of view) camera that also supports Centre Stage, a feature which makes the camera automatically adjusts the frame according to your movements so you always remain in focus, which is useful during video conference or livestream. The storage also gets an upgrade — with base models starting from 64GB, instead of the paltry 32GB storage on the 8th gen iPad. And as usual of Apple, you’re still getting extensive software support too, so your iPad is always improving with new and improved iterations of iPadOS.
Price
iPad (9th gen, 2021) is available from the starting price of Rs 30,900.
Buy iPad (9th Gen, 2021): Apple, Amazon, Flipkart
Pros
- Powerful A13 Bionic chipset that handles most tasks with ease
- Upgraded front camera with Centre Stage
- Support for accessories like Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil
- Base model storage starts at 64GB
- 3.5mm Headphone jack support
Cons
- Dated design with thick bezels
- Uses first-gen Apple Pencil
- No USB-C port
iPad mini (6th Gen, 2021): Powerful performance in a compact form factor
Now if you want something even more powerful than the standard iPad, but still prefer a more compact design, then the iPad Mini is the right choice for you. Powering this sleek tablet is the latest Apple A15 Bionic chipset, which is the same processor found on the latest generation of the iPhone 13 series. The latest chip from Apple boasts a 6-core CPU along with a 5-core GPU — bringing up to 40 per cent faster performance in CPU and up to 80 per cent more performance in graphics, compared to its predecessor.
The 8.3-inch is perfect for portability and features slimmer bezels all around. The screen is also optimised to reflect as little light as possible making the content on the screen look much more detailed and sharp. Add to that, the panel has P3 wide colour support for vivid yet accurate colours, and can also peak up to 500nits of brightness for great sunlight legibility. The Touch ID is now integrated into the top button making it easier to unlock your iPad. You also get improved optics — the 12MP ultra-wide front camera supports Centre Stage, and the rear camera gets a 12MP wide camera, which has True Tone flash for improved low-light imagery. The iPad mini is now compatible with the second-generation Apple Pencil, which also attaches magnetically to the side, keeping you from losing it.
One of the main highlights of the iPad mini is that it uses a USB-C port for charging, enabling and giving you the flexibility to use your USB-C MacBook charger for faster charging or the computer USB-C port for quick top-ups.
Price
The pricing for the Apple iPad mini starts at Rs 46,900.
Buy Apple iPad mini: Apple, Amazon, Flipkart
Pros
- Fast A15 Bionic chipset
- 2nd-gen Apple Pencil support
- USB-C
- Improved cameras
Cons
- Littel on the expensive side
iPad Air (5th Gen, 2022): Performance to get the work done
The 2022 iPad Air strikes an impressive balance between price and performance. Not only does it cost less than the most expensive iPad Pro models, but it also manages to retain all key specs of its expensive siblings — such as the Apple M1 chip. Apple M1 is the same processor previously used on the MacBook Air; touted as being one of the best chipsets around for its impressive performance and great thermal management. If you want to buy one of the most powerful iPads, while still managing to not burn a big hole in your wallet, opting for the 2022 iPad Air is a no-brainer. Be it video editing, photo editing, or just drawing with Apple Pencil– it can do it all — and with style, as it measures nearly as compact as the standard iPad.
The iPad Air also retains useful features such as the Centre Stage for the front cameras, and support for 2nd-gen Apple Pencil as well as Magic Keyboard compatibility. You also get a larger 10.9-inch screen with True Tone, P3 wide colour, and an anti-reflective coating. The Touch ID is also built into the top button just like the iPad mini for more convenience.
Price
The iPad Air pricing starts at Rs 54,900.
Buy iPad Air: Apple, Amazon, Flipkart
Pros
- Most bang for the buck
- Laptop-level performance with Apple M1 chip
- Improved front camera
Cons
- Base storage starts at 64GB and caps out at 256GB for the most expensive model
iPad Pro (11-inch, 3rd Gen, 2021): The iPad for pro users
The 11-inch iPad Pro sports a fluid 120Hz ProMotion Liquid Retina display. And as usual, Apple is also bundling features such as True Tone and P3 wide colour as well for vivid and vibrant images. However, it is worth noting that Apple is still using LCD, which lacks the mini-LEDs that the company is using on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which in our opinion, is one of the most attractive USP of the iPad Pro. But nevertheless, the 120Hz refresh rate covers up for it, which will make browsing the iPad a buttery smooth experience. iPad Pro is also portable and lightweight and still packs the punch with its Apple M1 chip, which offers PC-level performance.
Optics also get an upgrade here, with a 12MP ultra-wide True Depth camera, which also acts as a Face ID for a fast and secure unlocking experience. And the back features a dual-camera setup that includes a 12MP wide camera and a 10MP ultra-wide lens combo. The cameras also support Smart HDR 3 and LiDAR tech, which measures the amount of time it takes for the light to reflect back from the object, giving the images a next-level of detail. Audio also gets an upgrade here, Apple is now making use of four Dolby Atmos speakers for a theatre-like sound immersion.
Price
The price for the iPad Pro (11-inch, 3rd Gen, 2021) starts at Rs 71,900.
Buy iPad Pro (11-inch, 3rd Gen, 2021): Apple, Amazon, Flipkart
Pros
- Fast Apple M1 processor offers PC-level performance
- Good display True Tone and P3 wide colour
- Immersive sound with four Dolby Atmos speakers
- Lighter than the iPad Pro 12.9-inch
Cons
- Can get pricey for higher models
- Lacks XDR display
- iPadOS could keep you from utilizing the full potential of the Apple M1
iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 5th Gen, 2021): The most expensive and feature-packed iPad
Apple has another iPad Pro model with a bigger screen and an improved display. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro display sports the same 120Hz ProMotion Liquid Retina display but also features XDR certification for high dynamic range imagery, and up to 1600nits of peak brightness, making it one of the best displays on an iPad yet. The display also gets features such as True Tone and P3 wide colour for more natural and popping images. However, the display is still LCD, but Apple is making use of mini-LEDs this time to improve the contrast ratio, enabling the iPad Pro’s display to give an impressive 10,00,000:1 contrast ratio. In simple terms, dark areas will get represented with darker tones and the whites will become even brighter; giving an all-around better dynamic range for images.
Apart from the improved display with mini-LEDs, most other features remain similar to the 11-inch iPad Pro, such as the support for the Thunderbolt and Apple M1 chipset at the core for a powerful performance, as well as support for Face ID, 2nd gen Apple Pencil and Magic keyboard. It also gets similar camera hardware that supports Smart HDR 3 and LiDAR tech.
Price
iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 5th Gen, 2021) pricing starts at Rs 99,000.
Buy iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 5th Gen, 2021): Apple, Amazon, Flipkart
Pros
- Remarkable PC-level performance with Apple M1 processor
- Impressive HDR display with mini-LEDs
- Immersive sound with four Dolby Atmos speakers
Cons
- Expensive
- Base model’s 128GB storage is very low for the asking price
- iPadOS could keep you from utilizing the full potential of the Apple M1
