Youngsters love iPads. The simplicity of tapping on the display screen when they need issues to occur means they will be taught to make use of them in seconds, however there’s lots that Apple’s tablets can do. Whether or not it’s academic video games, leisure apps, utilizing them to create artwork with an Apple Pencil or simply one thing to cease them losing interest on automobile journeys, iPads generally is a godsend.
Selecting the best one can really feel a bit daunting. In any case, don’t all of them do the identical issues? What’s the distinction between the traditional iPad and the iPad Air? Properly, we’re right here to simplify issues so that you might be positive you’re shopping for the best one.
You can even learn our finest iPhone and iPad apps for teenagers information to get them off to a very good begin. Plus, we’ve a roundup of the finest iPhones for teenagers if you wish to immerse them totally within the Apple world as they develop up.
Ought to I get an iPad for my little one?
There’s been a number of analysis printed about how a lot display screen time our children needs to be allowed. Some dad and mom may argue that children shouldn’t be uncovered to screens at such a younger age, however frankly, in a world the place all the things is dominated by expertise we predict that we owe it to our children to verify they’re comfy in that atmosphere, therefore the introduction of an iPad is sweet for his or her schooling.
That mentioned, simply sticking them in entrance of an iPad somewhat than interacting with them in all probability isn’t nice: Disney+ shouldn’t actually be babysitting your youngsters for hours on finish, but when it permits you a couple of minutes of peace to make dinner then truthful sufficient.
With that out of the way in which, there are a lot of explanation why you need to be assured about getting an iPad in your youngsters to make use of. There are, in any case, many different tablets available on the market, most of that are cheaper than the iPad. So, in case you are on the lookout for some reassurance on is whether or not the iPad is the most suitable choice in your little one, listed below are just a few compelling causes:
- The App Retailer is filled with nice apps designed particularly for teenagers.
- Lots of these apps will probably be excellent for college kids of assorted ages, and even toddlers.
- There may be an ecosystem of nice equipment designed to work with the iPad.
- iPadOS is straightforward to make use of, particularly in case your little one has used your iPhone. The bonus is your iPhone apps will probably be out there in your iPad too and vice versa.
When you have older kids, then check out our information to the finest iPads for college kids.
What iPads are there to select from?
On the time of writing, Apple affords 4 classes of iPad, that are as follows.
In all honesty, we wouldn’t suggest the iPad Execs for youngsters, as you’d simply be paying fairly sizeable quantities for efficiency and compatibility options that they simply gained’t want. The usual iPad and iPad mini vary provide loads of scope and energy for youthful customers, and the iPad Air will fulfill the extra demanding teen. Our recommendation is to stay with these and ignore the Execs. In terms of older college students although, it’s a doubtlessly totally different argument, however the excellent news is you’ll be able to put that off for just a few years and save up for the dearer iPad within the meantime.
Talking of financial savings, take a look at our round-up of the very best iPad offers you will get on the entire vary of iPads right here: The perfect iPad offers.
Is 64GB sufficient?
This is determined by the way you need to use the iPad. For lengthy journeys, you may need to obtain a number of films, TV exhibits, or video games to entertain the youngsters within the automobile or on the airplane. In that case, extra storage is healthier. In any other case, any apps you buy can at all times be deleted after which downloaded once more, plus public Wi-Fi can usually be out there as a simple resolution for the little ones streaming just a few episodes of their favourite exhibits.
Our recommendation could be to get greater than 64GB storage for those who can. The iPad mini (A17 Professional) that launched in October 2024 begins at 128GB storage now, somewhat than 64GB because it did earlier than, and as the usual iPad nonetheless does. In case you examine the usual iPad with 64GB for $349/£329 to the 128GB iPad mini which prices $499/£499, it’s properly value spending $150/£150 extra to get the additional storage and all the things else the mini affords. And if you need much more storage, the iPad mini with 256GB prices $599/£599 in comparison with $499/£479 for the 256GB iPad.
If you’re shopping for a refurbished or used iPad, then we’d strongly advise in opposition to a 32GB or decrease, it merely isn’t sufficient storage and you’ll remorse it.
For extra recommendation concerning shopping for a used or refurbished iPad learn: Why a refurbished iPad could possibly be the very best pill for you.
Do I would like mobile?
In all probability not. It provides $150/£150 to the value of the iPad and we’d recommend that cash was higher spent on upgrading the storage, or getting a greater mannequin. If you wish to add mobile capabilities to your youngsters’ iPad, we suggest that if you end up outdoors the home you hotspot from your personal iPhone somewhat than spend cash on a contract in your little one. That mentioned, most apps will work offline and you may obtain films to the machine when heading on an extended journey.
Finest iPad for teenagers and toddlers
Right here’s our recommendation on which iPad to decide on when shopping for for a kid.
iPad mini (A17 Professional) – Finest for small arms
Execs
- Light-weight
- Highly effective
- Apple Pencil Professional assist
Cons
- Smaller doesn’t imply cheaper
Whereas the iPad mini is perhaps the smallest member of the household, don’t let that idiot you, there’s loads of energy and options packed into the diminutive body. The one unfavourable is the value, which is just a little increased than the larger iPad, so it’s not fairly as a lot of a cut price for teenagers.
The 8.3-inch Liquid Retina show is beautiful. Like all the fashionable iPads, there isn’t any House button – Apple ditched {that a} era in the past and as a substitute put a Contact ID sensor within the Energy button on the aspect.
Underneath the hood, there’s an A17 Professional driving factors, this processor is the bottom spec required to run Apple Intelligence options. If you’re selecting between the iPad mini and cheaper iPad and are interested in Apple Intelligence, solely the iPad mini, iPad Air and Professional will assist it).
Even when Apple Intelligence doesn’t peek your curiosity, the A17 Professional chip means there’s no lack of energy on this smaller iPad, making certain the newest video games and apps will completely fly on this machine. It additionally has assist for the Apple Pencil (USB C) or the Apple Pencil Professional, which means your little one can use if for doodling, creating artwork or note-taking in school after they get a bit older.
The compact dimensions of 195.4mm x 134.8mm x 6.3mm at 297g make it small and light-weight, which might be simpler for little ones to carry. There are additionally 4 totally different colours to select from, together with delicate shades of Purple and Blue. Oh, and there are 5G variations if you wish to add a quick information connection for streaming and messaging on the go.
The iPad mini is on the market in these configurations:
- iPad mini (A17 Professional) 128GB – $499/£499
- iPad mini (A17 Professional) 256GB – $599/£599
- iPad mini (A17 Professional) 512GB – $799/£799
- iPad mini (A17 Professional, mobile) prices $150/£150 greater than the non-cellular variations.
Verify our information to the finest iPad mini offers to see if you will get one for a lower cost.
Learn our full
Apple iPad mini (A17 Professional) overview
iPad Air (M2) – For larger youngsters
Execs
- Cheap
- Apple Pencil Assist (1st Gen)
- A13 Bionic Processor, Headphone Jack
Cons
- Decrease high quality display screen than different fashions
- Older design.
- Not in manufacturing
We mentioned within the introduction that the iPad Air might be overkill for teenagers, however that does rely a bit on the age of the kid. For some there will probably be plenty of seem within the 11-inch iPad Air (M2), with its 11-inch show, fashionable design, low weight (462g), nice cameras, and massively highly effective processor, and as we suggest in our spherical up of the Finest iPads for College students – it’s a nice selection for college kids.
Sadly, it’s a bit on the expensive aspect, beginning at $599/£599 (increased schooling college students get a reduction however not faculty aged kids). That’s nonetheless solely $100/£100 greater than the iPad mini although, and it has much more to supply. Not least the M2 chip than makes it the proper mixture of energy, storage and options.
The M2 processor is identical chip that powered the earlier era of iPad Professional fashions, to not point out a number of Macs. In case your child enjoys gaming on their iPad then the iPad Air will doubtless meet their wants (for anybody else then there’s at all times the iPad Professional, which has an M4 and the addition of ProMotion for sooner display screen refreshes, however that basically is overkill for teenagers!)
The digital camera is a 12MP Vast lens (additionally like on the iPad Professional) and the front-facing digital camera is a 12MP Extremely-Vast that’s positioned on the longer aspect of the chassis to permit panorama views throughout FaceTime calls.
There are some good colours to select from together with pale Purple and Blue shades (which can be just like these on the iPad mini). There’s additionally the usual Starlight and House Gray.
You need to use the Apple Pencil Professional ($129/£129) and Apple Pencil USB-C ($79/£79) with the iPad Air. See: Apple Pencils in contrast: Which Apple Pencil works together with your iPad?
The iPad Air (M2) is on the market in these configurations:
- 11-inch iPad Air (M2) 128GB – $599/£599
- 11-inch iPad Air (M2) 256GB – $699/£699
- 11-inch iPad Air (M2) 512GB – $899/£899
- 11-inch iPad Air (M2) 1TB – $1,099/£1,099
- 11-inch iPad Air (M2), mobile) prices $150/£150 greater than the non-cellular variations.
If they need a bigger show, there’s additionally the 13-inch iPad Air (M2) that comes with all the identical specs and options. It begins at $799/£799.
Learn iPad Air (M2) vs iPad Professional (M4) to learn how the iPad Air compares to the iPad Professional.
Learn our roundup of the finest iPad Air offers.
Learn our full
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2, 2024) overview
Tenth-gen iPad (2022) – Finances choice
Execs
- Trendy design
- 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Show
- USB-C for charging
- Vibrant colours
Cons
- 64GB SSD
- A14 Bionic processor doesn’t work with Apple Intelligence
In 2022, Apple gave its commonplace iPad a makeover when it launched this Tenth-generation mannequin, changing the traditional House button design with the mini/Air method of gesture-based controls. There may be nonetheless Contact ID out there, however now you’ll discover the sensor embedded within the energy button on the highest edge. This implies there’s extra space for the show, which will increase from the ten.2-inch panel within the ninth era iPad to 10.9-inch on this Tenth era mannequin.
As with the earlier commonplace iPad fashions, the show isn’t laminated, which means there’s a slight air hole between the glass and the show beneath. It is a minor factor and doubtless gained’t even be one thing you discover, until you employ an Apple Pencil usually, during which case you’ll in all probability expertise a slight lag as you write. It’s all good although, and after no time in any respect, you’ll have the ability to incorporate that into your method and scribble away with the very best of them. This mannequin helps the first era Apple Pencil or the Apple Pencil (USB C).
Apple suits the Tenth-gen iPad with an A14 Bionic processor, which is identical tech that powered the iPhone 12 vary (together with the Execs). That processor is just a little on the previous aspect now, and doesn’t assist Apple Intelligence, of which Apple is making a giant deal proper now. Apple Intelligence has some options which may enchantment to college students, so it could possibly be a profit, then once more it’d lead your little one to cheat on their homework…
That mentioned, the A14 chip will nonetheless present ample efficiency for taking part in primary video games, streaming content material, and working academic apps. One other notable characteristic is the inclusion of a USB-C port somewhat than Lightning. This opens up a world of peripherals that you should utilize with the iPad, and you may even join it to a appropriate monitor in case your little one wants a desktop-style expertise.
After all, you’ll be able to at all times pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to create the proper, compact laptop computer for homework and any artistic endeavors your little one needs to strive. The iPad is available in 4 vivid, daring colours (Blue, Pink, Yellow, and Silver), so your little one can decide one which displays their persona or simply the one with the hues they like probably the most.
The most effective options of the Tenth era iPad is its low worth. You possibly can decide them up for the next costs:
- iPad (Tenth gen) 64GB – $349/£329
- iPad (Tenth gen) 256GB – $499/£479
- iPad (Tenth gen, mobile) prices $150/£150 greater than the non-cellular variations.
We suggest choosing the 256GB storage variant, as 64GB can refill fairly rapidly for those who’re downloading video games, massive apps, or TV/film content material. At this level you is perhaps higher served by the iPad mini (A17 Professional) 128GB at $499/£499 although, which is why this iPad isn’t our best choice proper now, however which will change when Apple will get round to updating it in 2025. Learn: New iPad eleventh era rumours.
Verify our information to the finest iPad Tenth-gen offers to see if you will get one for a lower cost.
Learn our full
Apple iPad (Tenth gen, A14, 2022) overview
