For everyday use at the lowest listed price, choose the iPad (A16); choose iPad Air (M4) for an 11- or 13-inch workspace and Apple Pencil Pro support, iPad Pro (M5) for its ProMotion OLED display, or iPad mini (A20 Pro) for a compact 8.5-inch tablet. Apple’s U.S. store lists starting prices of $449, $749, $1,199 and $699, respectively, with entry configurations specified for the Air, Pro and mini. Apple’s U.S. store
| Model | Apple U.S. starting price | Display | Best fit |
| iPad (A16) | $449 | 11-inch-class Liquid Retina LCD | Everyday browsing, video, notes and casual use |
| iPad Air (M4) | $749 for 11-inch, 128GB, Wi-Fi | 11- or 13-inch Liquid Retina LCD | A larger workspace and Apple Pencil Pro support |
| iPad Pro (M5) | $1,199 for 11-inch, 256GB, Wi-Fi | 11- or 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR tandem OLED with ProMotion | Work where the premium display is a priority |
| iPad mini (A20 Pro) | $699 for 128GB, Wi-Fi | 8.5-inch OLED, 60Hz | Travel and situations where a compact tablet matters most |
Apple’s iPad comparison lists the family display and accessory differences; its mini specifications give the compact model’s exact size, weight and display details.
Choose by the screen and accessories you’ll actually use. The Pro’s display, Air’s larger workspace and mini’s compact size solve different problems; the highest price is not a universal advantage.
The price gaps point to different choices
The iPad Air’s $749 starting price is $300 above the $449 iPad and $50 above the $699 mini. The 11-inch Pro starts $450 above the 11-inch Air. Those gaps buy different things: more screen space and Pencil Pro compatibility with the Air, or ProMotion and a tandem OLED display with the Pro. The mini’s lower starting price than the Air comes with a much smaller screen.
Apple lists the Air entry configuration as 11-inch, 128GB, Wi-Fi; the Pro as 11-inch, 256GB, Wi-Fi; and the mini as 128GB, Wi-Fi. The $449 starting price is listed for the iPad family; the store information cited here does not specify its entry configuration.
A16 iPad or Air for everyday work and notes?
The iPad (A16) is the straightforward lower-cost choice for browsing, streaming, email and notes. Its 11-inch-class Liquid Retina display offers more room than the mini, and Apple lists support for Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the first-generation Apple Pencil. The first-generation Pencil requires a USB-C-to-Pencil adapter. The A16 iPad does not support Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Intelligence.
The Air (M4) makes sense when its extra screen options or Pencil support matter to your work. It comes in 11- and 13-inch sizes, supports Apple Pencil Pro, and uses a Liquid Retina LCD with P3 color and an anti-reflective coating. That 13-inch option gives you more drawing or note-taking space; it does not require stepping up to the Pro just to get a larger screen.
For handwritten notes, the mini is a more constrained canvas: its display is 8.5 inches, compared with the 11-inch-class iPad and the Air’s 11- or 13-inch options. If you want the Pencil Pro, both the Air and mini support it; the A16 iPad does not.
When the Pro display is worth paying for
The Pro (M5) is the choice when display technology is a deciding factor. Its tandem OLED panel supports ProMotion, Apple’s name for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. The Air uses an LCD and does not have ProMotion; the mini is OLED but has a 60Hz refresh rate. That makes “OLED” and “ProMotion” separate considerations: the mini has the former, while the Pro combines OLED with ProMotion.
The Pro is available in 11- and 13-inch sizes and supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C). At $1,199 for the 11-inch, 256GB, Wi-Fi configuration, it costs $450 more to start than the 11-inch Air. If the display is not important to your work, the Air’s larger-screen option and Pencil Pro support are available at a lower starting price.
Mini portability, with a software condition for an external display
At 255g for the Wi-Fi model, the iPad mini (A20 Pro) is the most portable option in this lineup. Its 8.5-inch OLED display keeps the device compact, while its smaller work area is a real trade-off for long note-taking or drawing sessions. Apple also lists a 60Hz refresh rate and an IP67 rating for the mini.
Apple says mini extended-display mode requires iPadOS 27.2. The software-version requirement is worth checking if using the mini with an external monitor is part of your plan. Apple’s announcement states that requirement.
Check Pencil and keyboard compatibility before buying
Apple Pencil Pro works with the Air, Pro and mini, but not the A16 iPad. All four families support Apple Pencil (USB-C). The A16 iPad also supports the first-generation Apple Pencil, which needs a USB-C adapter.
Apple lists Magic Keyboard Folio support for the A16 iPad, Magic Keyboard support for Air and Pro, and Bluetooth keyboard support for mini. Match the keyboard to the family rather than assuming one Apple keyboard works across every iPad.
