Part 1: The Ecosystem Entry Point (Topics 1-12)
The Paradox of Choice
Why Apple Wants You Confused
Walk into an Apple Store today, and you are faced with six different iPads ranging from $349 to over $2,500. This isn’t an accident; it’s a “pricing ladder.” Apple designs the lineup so that you look at the cheapest one, notice it’s missing a cool feature, look at the next one up, and suddenly you’ve spent $200 more than you planned. This paradox of choice causes “analysis paralysis.” You fear buying the “wrong” one, so you often default to buying the expensive one “just to be safe.” The truth is, these categories (Base, Mini, Air, Pro) are designed to upsell you, not necessarily to serve you better. Understanding this marketing psychology is the first step to saving your wallet.
The “10-Hour Lie”
The Battery Claim That Never Changes
Since the very first iPad in 2010, Apple has claimed “10 hours of battery life” for every single model. Whether it is the budget A16 iPad or the super-powered M5 Pro, the claim is identical. But in the real world, this is a half-truth. “10 hours” usually means watching downloaded video at 50% brightness. If you are gaming on the M5 Pro using high graphics, that battery might die in 4 hours. If you are just reading Kindle books on the Base iPad, it might last 14 hours. Don’t buy a more expensive iPad expecting it to last longer; they all have roughly the same stamina because as the batteries get bigger, the screens and chips get hungrier.
The Base Model Hero
The $349 Tablet That Beats 90% of Laptops
The 11th Gen iPad (A16) is the unsung hero of the lineup. Tech reviewers often ignore it because it’s not “shiny and new,” but for the average human, it is perfect. It runs Netflix, YouTube, email, web browsing, and basic games flawlessly. It uses the same software (iPadOS) as the $2,000 Pro model. Think of it like a Honda Civic. It might not have heated leather seats or a turbo engine, but it gets you to the grocery store just as reliably as a Ferrari. Unless you are a professional artist or video editor, this is likely all the tablet you actually need.
The Lamination Gap
Touching the Glass vs. Touching the Pixels
There is one major physical difference between the cheapest iPad and all the others: Lamination. On the Base iPad (A16), there is a tiny air gap between the glass you touch and the digital screen underneath. It makes the screen feel a bit “hollow” when you tap it, and it looks slightly sunken in. On the Air, Mini, and Pro, the screen is “laminated”—the glass and pixels are fused together. This makes it look like the image is painted directly on the surface. If you are an artist, you need a laminated screen for precision. If you are just watching movies, you will barely notice the air gap after two days.
The Refurbished Hack
How to Get an “Air” for the Price of a “Base”
Here is a financial secret: Apple’s “Certified Refurbished” store. These aren’t used devices from a shady guy on eBay. They are devices returned to Apple, fitted with a brand-new battery and a brand-new outer shell, and sold with a full 1-year warranty. Often, you can buy a refurbished iPad Air M2 (previous generation) for the same price as a new Base iPad. The M2 Air is superior in almost every way—laminated screen, faster chip, better pencil support. Before you buy new, check the refurbished section. It is the smartest way to beat the system and get premium hardware on a budget.
iPadOS Equalizer
A Ferrari Engine in a School Zone
The new iPad Pro has the M5 chip—a processor so powerful it beats most laptops. But here is the dirty secret: It runs iPadOS. This operating system is designed to be simple and touch-friendly, which means it limits what that powerful chip can actually do. Opening a web browser on the cheapest iPad feels almost exactly the same as opening it on the most expensive one. The software acts as a “speed limit.” You can buy the Ferrari (iPad Pro), but iPadOS forces you to drive at 30 mph just like the Toyota (Base iPad). Don’t pay for horsepower that the software won’t let you use.
The “Garden Walled” Garden
It Looks Like a Computer, But Acts Like a Phone
All modern iPads now use USB-C ports, the same shape found on MacBooks and Windows laptops. This looks promising—you can plug in hard drives, cameras, and monitors. However, the iPad is still a “Walled Garden.” File management is clunky compared to a computer. You can’t just format a drive or install drivers for a printer easily. While the hardware looks like a Mac, the brain is still very much an iPhone. If you expect to plug in accessories and have them work exactly like they do on your laptop, you will be frustrated. It’s better than the old Lightning port, but it’s not fully “open” yet.
Touch ID vs. Face ID
The Convenience You Pay For
The iPad Pro is the only model with Face ID. You just look at it, and it unlocks. It is seamless and magical. The iPad Air and Base models use Touch ID built into the power button on the edge. This sounds fine, but in practice, it can be annoying. If the iPad is on a keyboard stand, you have to reach up and find the button every time you want to unlock it or fill in a password. Face ID is a “quality of life” feature that saves you two seconds, fifty times a day. Is that worth an extra $500? Probably not, but once you get used to Face ID, going back to the button feels archaic.
The “Ecosystem” Tax
Apple Intelligence Basics
The Feature Splitting the Crowd
“Apple Intelligence” is the new suite of AI features (writing tools, smarter Siri, image generation). Here is the cutoff: The Base iPad (A16) does not get these features. The Mini (A17 Pro), Air (M3), and Pro (M5) do get them. Does this matter? Right now, not really. The features are cool party tricks but not essential for daily life. However, in 2 or 3 years, apps might rely more on these AI chips. If you plan to keep your iPad for 5+ years, buying a model with AI support (Air, Mini, or Pro) is a safer bet for “future-proofing” than the Base model.
The Resale Reality
Why Personalization Costs You Money
When you buy an iPad online, Apple offers free engraving. You can put “Happy Birthday Sarah” or “Property of Mike” on the back. Do not do this. It destroys the resale value. When you want to upgrade in 3 years, nobody wants to buy a second-hand iPad with your name on it. An engraved iPad is considered “damaged goods” by many trade-in sites and will sell for 15-20% less on eBay. Keep the back clean and put a sticker on the case instead. Your future self (and your wallet) will thank you when it’s time to sell.
The “Kids” Factor
The Indestructible Babysitter
For parents, the decision is simple: Get the Base iPad (A16). Why? Because kids break things. The Base iPad has a thicker bezel and feels slightly more rugged than the ultra-thin Air or Pro. More importantly, it is cheap to replace if it meets a concrete floor. The screen repair cost on a laminated iPad Air or Pro is eye-watering (often $300+). The Base model is the perfect vessel for Disney+, Minecraft, and educational apps. Don’t give a 7-year-old a $1,000 sheet of glass; give them the $349 tank that you won’t cry over if it gets scratched.
Part 2: Under the Hood & The Spec Wars (Topics 13-25)
The M5 Chip Deep Dive
Fast Enough to Launch a Rocket, Used for Email
The M5 chip in the new iPad Pro is a technological marvel. It has 30% faster graphics and massive AI capabilities compared to the previous generation. In benchmarks, it destroys most Windows laptops. But here is the reality check: What are you actually doing with it? If you are editing 8K video streams or doing 3D rendering, you will feel the speed. For everyone else, it is overkill. Browsing the web on an M5 chip feels exactly the same as on an M2 chip. You are paying for a race car engine to drive in a school zone. It’s impressive engineering, but diminishing returns for the user.
The 60Hz Controversy
Why the iPad Air Screen Feels “Slow”
The iPad Air costs $600+, yet it still uses a 60Hz screen. “Hertz” refers to how many times the screen refreshes per second. 60Hz is standard, but the Pro models use 120Hz (ProMotion). This makes a huge difference. On a 60Hz screen (Air/Base/Mini), scrolling through text looks slightly blurry or stuttery. On a 120Hz screen (Pro), text stays perfectly sharp even while moving fast. In 2025, even budget Android phones have 120Hz screens. It is frankly insulting that Apple keeps the expensive iPad Air locked to 60Hz. It’s a deliberate tactic to force you to buy the Pro.
ProMotion Explained
The Visual Dopamine You Can’t Unsee
ProMotion (120Hz) is the single biggest reason to buy the Pro over the Air. It’s not just about scrolling smoothness; it changes how the Apple Pencil feels. At 120Hz, the line appears on the screen instantly as you draw. At 60Hz, there is a tiny, microscopic lag. Once your eyes get used to 120Hz, going back to a 60Hz screen feels like the device is broken or lagging. It creates a “premium feel” that is hard to describe but easy to feel. If you care about how responsive the device feels, ProMotion is the feature to chase.
OLED vs. IPS LCD
The End of the Grey Box
The new iPad Pros use “OLED” technology. Traditional iPad screens (LCD) use a backlight, meaning when they show the color black, they are actually showing a dark grey light. OLED screens turn off the individual pixels completely. Black is truly black. This is massive for watching movies. On an LCD iPad Air, movies with black bars at the top and bottom glow grey in a dark room. On the OLED Pro, those bars disappear into the bezel. The colors pop, the contrast is infinite, and it makes High Dynamic Range (HDR) content look mind-blowing. It is a portable cinema.
The Nano-Texture Debate
Matte Screen: Professional Tool or Sharpness Killer?
On the Pro models, you can pay extra for “Nano-Texture” glass. This etches the glass to make it matte, reducing glare from studio lights or sunlight. It sounds great, but there is a catch. Matte glass diffuses light, which slightly reduces the contrast and sharpness of the screen. Blacks look a bit more charcoal grey. If you are an artist who wants a “paper feel” or you work outdoors, it’s amazing. For everyone else who just wants crisp movies and photos, the standard glossy glass actually looks better. Don’t pay extra for this unless you have a specific problem with glare.
The Storage Trap
The Most Expensive Gigabytes in the World
Apple’s base storage is 128GB. This fills up faster than you think, especially with modern games (which can be 20GB each) and offline movies. The problem is that upgrading storage is a trap. Apple charges roughly $100 to jump to the next storage tier. In the real world, 128GB of flash memory costs about $10. Apple’s markup on storage is massive profit. You cannot add an SD card later. My advice: 128GB is the minimum usable size. 256GB is the sweet spot for peace of mind. Anything over 1TB is only for video editors storing footage on the device.
RAM Wars
Why Apps Restart When You Switch
“RAM” (Random Access Memory) is the iPad’s short-term memory. The more it has, the more apps it can keep open in the background. The Air has 8GB. The Pro has 8GB (or 16GB on expensive models). When an iPad runs out of RAM, it closes background apps. This is why sometimes when you switch from YouTube to Safari and back, YouTube reloads the page. For 99% of users, 8GB is plenty. However, if you are a 3D artist using intense apps like ZBrush or editing 4K video, the 16GB RAM option on the high-tier Pro prevents crashes. It’s a niche need, but vital for heavy workflows.
Ray Tracing on a Tablet
Console Graphics in Your Backpack
The M3 (Air) and M5 (Pro) chips support “Hardware Accelerated Ray Tracing.” In simple English, this is a lighting technology used in PS5 and Xbox games to make shadows and reflections look realistic. Seeing this on a tablet is wild. Games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage or Resident Evil look frighteningly good—almost console quality. However, there are only a handful of games that actually use this. It’s a cool feature that shows off the power of the chip, but don’t buy an iPad just for this unless you are a dedicated mobile gamer.
The “Mini” Miracle
A Flagship Phone in a Tablet Body
The iPad Mini doesn’t use an “M” chip; it uses the A17 Pro (the same chip from the iPhone 15 Pro). Don’t let that fool you. This chip is a beast. It handles gaming, video editing, and AI tasks effortlessly. The “miracle” is thermal management. Putting that much power in a chassis the size of a paperback book usually leads to overheating, but the Mini handles it well. It is the ultimate device for “handheld” computing. It proves you don’t need a giant M-series chip to have a smooth, powerful experience. Size does not equal power in the Apple lineup.
Wi-Fi 7 vs. 5G
The $130 Feature You Probably Don’t Need
Should you buy the “Wi-Fi + Cellular” model? It costs $130 extra upfront, plus a monthly data plan. For most people, the answer is No. You almost always have your phone with you. It takes 5 seconds to turn on “Personal Hotspot” on your iPhone and connect your iPad. It’s free (usually) and easy. 5G on iPad is only for corporate road warriors who are constantly opening their iPad instantly in places without Wi-Fi. For the student or creative, save the $130 and just use the phone you already pay for.
Thunderbolt 4
A Speed Limit You Will Never Hit
The iPad Pro USB-C port supports “Thunderbolt 4.” This allows for insane data transfer speeds—up to 40 Gigabits per second. To put that in perspective, you could transfer a full-length 4K movie in seconds. But who actually does this? This feature is strictly for video editors who need to dump massive camera files onto their iPad quickly. For the average user plugging in a USB stick to move a few documents, the standard USB-C on the Air or Base model is more than fast enough. Thunderbolt is a “professional” feature that most people pay for but never use.
The Heat Throttling Test
Does Power Come with a Price?
The M5 chip is incredibly powerful, but power creates heat. Because the iPad is so thin and has no fans, it has to be careful. If you play a high-end game for an hour, the iPad Pro will get warm. To prevent damage, it will “throttle”—meaning it intentionally slows down the chip to cool off. This means after 30 minutes of gaming, your frame rate might drop. The new Pro chassis uses copper to help spread heat, but physics is physics. If you want sustained performance for hours, a MacBook with a fan is still superior to a fanless iPad.
The Audio Experience
A Blind Listening Test
The iPad Pro has four speakers (two on each side). The iPad Air and Base have two speakers (stereo). The difference is shocking. The Pro speakers adjust the sound based on how you hold it. They are loud, rich, and have actual bass. You can watch a movie in a hotel room without headphones and it sounds great. The Air speakers are “fine,” but they sound thinner and tinny. If you consume a lot of media without headphones, the Pro is a massive upgrade for your ears. It is one of the most underrated features of the high-end model.
Part 3: The Workflow & Lifestyle Fit (Topics 26-38)
The Note-Taker’s Dilemma
Portability vs. Canvas Size
If you take notes for class or meetings, you have a tough choice. The iPad Mini is like a pocket notebook; it is easy to hold in one hand while standing up. The iPad Air 13-inch is like a full A4 legal pad; it is heavy and needs a desk, but you rarely have to zoom in to write. Here is the rule of thumb: If you take notes while walking (doctors, site managers), get the Mini. If you take notes while sitting at a desk (students, office workers), get the larger 13-inch Air. The extra screen space lets you split the screen: textbook on the left, notes on the right.
The Digital Artist’s Kit
Why the Pencil Pro’s “Barrel Roll” is a Game Changer
For artists, the new Apple Pencil Pro (supported by Air M3 and Pro M5) adds a feature called “Barrel Roll.” It sounds like a pilot move, but it is actually about brush control. By twisting the pencil in your fingers, you can rotate the shape of the brush on the screen instantly, just like a real calligraphy pen or highlighter. Old pencils couldn’t do this. If you are serious about digital art, this single feature makes the newer iPads (Air or Pro) mandatory. It brings the digital experience one step closer to the feeling of a real analog brush.
The “Paper” Experience
Does a Matte Screen Protector Ruin the Retina Display?
Drawing on glass feels weird. It is slippery, like writing on a window. “Paperlike” screen protectors add friction to make it feel like paper. This is amazing for control—your lines are straighter and your handwriting is neater. However, there is a visual cost. The microscopic texture creates a “grainy” or “rainbow” effect on white backgrounds. It makes that expensive Retina display look slightly fuzzy. It is a trade-off: Do you value the feel of drawing more, or the clarity of watching movies? You usually cannot have both perfection at the same time.
The Laptop Replacement Myth
The 90% Rule of iPad Computing
Can an iPad replace your laptop? The answer is: “Yes, for 90% of things.” Emails, writing, web browsing, and photo editing are fantastic on iPad. But that last 10% is a killer. Things like formatting a complex Excel sheet, coding, or managing files on an external hard drive are still painful on iPadOS. If your job relies on specific desktop software or complex file management, do not sell your laptop. The iPad is best used as a companion to a laptop, not a complete replacement. It is a bridge, not the destination.
Stage Manager Mastery
Is Multitasking Finally Usable?
“Stage Manager” is Apple’s attempt to make the iPad handle windows like a PC. It allows you to overlap apps and resize windows. On the new M-series iPads (Air and Pro), it works surprisingly well, especially when connected to an external monitor. You can have a full desktop-like setup. However, it still feels a bit clumsy compared to a Mac. Windows snap to weird sizes, and sometimes apps freeze. It is functional, but it requires you to learn a whole new way of moving windows around. It is powerful, but not intuitive.
The 13-Inch Factor
The Productivity Sweet Spot for Students
For years, the 11-inch iPad was the standard. Now, the 13-inch iPad Air exists. This size is transformative for students. On an 11-inch screen, a PDF document feels cramped; you are constantly pinching and zooming. On the 13-inch, you see the whole page at 100% scale. It feels like reading a real piece of paper. The downside is weight—it is heavier and harder to hold in bed. But for getting work done, the 13-inch screen is a productivity cheat code. Once you try the big canvas, the 11-inch feels like a toy.
Pocket Productivity
The Cult of the iPad Mini
The iPad Mini has a cult following for a reason: It is the only iPad that doesn’t try to be a laptop. It embraces being a tablet. Pilots use them in cockpits because they fit on kneeboards. Doctors put them in lab coat pockets. It is the ultimate consumption device. You can type on it with two thumbs like a giant phone. If you already have a big laptop and a big phone, the Mini fits perfectly in the middle. It is the device you reach for when you want to relax, not work.
The Keyboard Showdown
Magic Keyboard vs. Bluetooth Alternatives
The official Apple Magic Keyboard is incredible. It floats, it has a backlight, and the trackpad is smooth. It also costs
350. That is the price of a cheap laptop! Is it worth it? Only if you type every day. For occasional emails, a $50 Logitech Bluetooth keyboard does the job fine. The Magic Keyboard turns the iPad into a clamshell laptop, but it also adds significant weight. With the keyboard attached, a 13-inch iPad Pro is actually heavier than a MacBook Air. Keep that in mind if portability is your priority.
Video Editing on Glass
Touching Your Timeline
Editing video on an iPad with Final Cut Pro is a magical experience. You use your fingers to trim clips and drag effects onto the timeline. It feels tactile and fast. The M5 Pro renders video incredibly quickly, often faster than a desktop PC. However, file management is the bottleneck. Getting 500GB of footage onto the iPad takes time. If you shoot video on an iPhone, it’s seamless (AirDrop). If you use professional cameras with SD cards, be prepared for a dongle lifestyle. It is powerful enough for YouTubers, but maybe not for Hollywood editors.
The Reader’s Choice
The World’s Most Expensive Kindle
If your main goal is reading books, magazines, and comics, the iPad Mini is the king. It is light enough to hold with one hand for hours without your wrist hurting. The 13-inch iPad is terrible for reading in bed; it falls on your face. The Mini’s screen is sharp, and the “True Tone” feature adjusts the color to match the room lighting, making it easier on the eyes than a standard screen. It is an expensive way to read books compared to a $100 Kindle, but for color comics and magazines, nothing beats it.
Sidecar & Universal Control
Extending Your Mac’s Life
One of the best features of owning an iPad is “Sidecar.” You can wirelessly turn your iPad into a second monitor for your Mac. You just click a button, and boom—dual screens at a coffee shop. “Universal Control” is even cooler; you can use your Mac’s mouse and keyboard to control the iPad just by moving the cursor over to it. This integration makes the iPad a valuable tool even when you aren’t using it as a tablet. It becomes a productivity accessory for your main computer.
The “Couch Companion”
The King of Media Consumption
Let’s be honest: 80% of iPad usage is watching Netflix or YouTube on the couch. For this specific job, the Base iPad (A16) is undefeated. It has a nice screen and good speakers. You don’t need an M5 chip to watch Stranger Things. You don’t need a laminated screen to watch TikTok. If you are buying a “house tablet” for the coffee table that anyone can grab to check the news or watch a show, spending more than the base price is a waste of money. The “Couch Companion” needs to be cheap, durable, and charged.
Third-Party Accessories
The Gear Apple Doesn’t Make
Apple wants you to buy their white dongles, but third-party gear is often better. Anker makes USB-C hubs that give you HDMI, USB-A, and SD card slots all in one tiny bar. Companies like Moft make origami-style stands that are thinner and lighter than Apple’s heavy cases. Logitech makes the “Combo Touch” keyboard which has a row of function keys (volume, brightness) that Apple’s own keyboards often lack. Don’t feel trapped by the Apple Store; the best accessories for your iPad usually come from other brands.
Part 4: The Frontier & The Value Verdict (Topics 39-50)
The $3,000 Tablet
Is Configuring the “Ultimate” iPad Madness?
If you select the 13-inch iPad Pro, add 2TB of storage, choose the Nano-Texture glass, add cellular data, a Pencil Pro, and a Magic Keyboard, the price crosses $3,000. For that money, you could buy a 16-inch MacBook Pro and a base iPad. The top-tier iPad Pro is a “halo product.” It exists to show what is possible, not what is practical. Unless your employer is paying for it, or you have a very specific workflow that requires 2TB of on-device storage, this configuration is financial madness. Most “Pros” are better served by the 256GB model and an external SSD.
iPad vs. MacBook Air
The Price Collision
Here is the awkward truth: An iPad Air with a keyboard costs more than a MacBook Air. The MacBook Air has a bigger battery, a better keyboard, runs full desktop apps, and has better file management. The iPad has a touch screen and supports the Pencil. That is the only real advantage. If you do not draw and you do not need to hold the device while standing up, buy the MacBook. The laptop is still the superior tool for writing, research, and general work. The iPad wins on creativity; the MacBook wins on productivity.
The “One More Year” Rule
Should You Wait for the Next Big Thing?
Tech moves fast. Rumors always suggest that “next year’s model” will be amazing. Currently, rumors point to the iPad Air getting an OLED screen next year. Should you wait? The rule is simple: If you need a device today to do work, buy it today. There will always be something better. However, if you are buying the Air specifically for movies, waiting for OLED might be worth it. But for performance? The current M3 and M5 chips are already faster than most software can use. Waiting for an M6 is pointless; you are already driving a Ferrari in a school zone.
Apple Intelligence Future
Will the Base Model Be Obsolete?
The A16 Base iPad does not support the new AI features. Right now, this doesn’t matter much. But in two years, when Apple updates Siri to be actually smart and integrates AI deeper into the operating system, the Base iPad might start to feel “dumb” or slow. It creates a tier of “Have” and “Have Nots.” If you keep your devices for 5+ years, the lack of AI silicon in the base model is a risk. It is the first feature likely to make the device feel old before its time.
The Sustainability Score
Repairability is the iPad’s Weakness
iPads are glued-together sandwiches of glass and battery. Unlike a laptop where you can sometimes unscrew the bottom, iPads are a nightmare to repair. If the battery dies in 4 years, replacing it is difficult and expensive. Apple essentially swaps the whole unit. This makes iPads essentially “disposable” consumer electronics compared to MacBooks, which last longer. From a sustainability standpoint, buying a refurbished model extends the life of an existing device and is the greener choice. Treat the battery with care (don’t leave it at 0% or 100% forever) to make it last.
The Android Alternatives
When to Leave the Garden
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is the elephant in the room. It is massive, waterproof, and comes with a stylus included in the box for free. The screen is incredible. If you are not locked into iMessage and the Apple ecosystem, the Samsung tablets offer better hardware value for the money. Multitasking on Samsung (“DeX Mode”) is also much closer to a real desktop experience than iPad’s Stage Manager. However, Android tablet apps still lag behind iPad apps in quality. The hardware is ready, but the software ecosystem is still the iPad’s moat.
The “Pro” Nameplate
Deconstructing Marketing Fluff
Apple puts the word “Pro” on the iPad, the iPhone, the Mac, and the AirPods. It has lost its meaning. “Pro” used to mean “Professional.” Now, it just means “Expensive and Fancy.” You do not need to be a professional to buy an iPad Pro, and buying one will not make you a professional. Don’t let the nameplate pressure your ego. There are plenty of real professionals—illustrators, writers, pilots—who run their entire careers on an iPad Air or Mini. Buy the features, not the adjective.
Hidden Features
5 Things the M5 Pro Can Do That Apple Didn’t Tell You
The M5 iPad Pro has hidden talents. 1) It can drive a 6K monitor fully, acting as a desktop station. 2) The Face ID camera works in landscape and portrait (finally). 3) It can charge your iPhone or Apple Watch if you plug them into the iPad’s USB-C port—it acts as a power bank. 4) The LiDAR scanner on the back can create 3D models of your room for architecture apps. 5) With the right app, it can serve as a portable monitor for your PS5 or Xbox when traveling. It’s a Swiss Army Knife if you know where to look.
The Photographer’s Field Monitor
A Niche Workflow That Justifies the Cost
For photographers, the iPad Pro is a killer accessory. Using a USB-C cable, you can tether your camera directly to the iPad. As you take photos, they appear instantly on the gorgeous OLED screen. Clients can see the shots in real-time, check focus, and rate them. The screen quality of the iPad Pro is better than the LCD screen on a $5,000 camera. This workflow alone justifies the price for a working photographer. It replaces the need for a bulky laptop and a separate field monitor on location.
Gaming Console Replacement
Pairing a Controller for Travel
Modern iPads support PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo controllers natively via Bluetooth. Connect one, and the iPad becomes a high-end portable console. Games like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile, and Death Stranding run at high frame rates. If you travel for work, leaving the console at home and just bringing a controller + iPad is a great setup. With Cloud Gaming (like Xbox Game Pass), you can even stream full console games to the iPad. It is arguably the best handheld gaming device on the market, purely based on screen quality and power.
The Final Decision Tree
Pick Your Perfect iPad in 30 Seconds
Let’s simplify it.
- Do you just want to watch movies and browse the web? Buy the Base iPad (A16). Stop looking at specs.
- Do you need to hold it in one hand (reading/walking)? Buy the iPad Mini.
- Are you a student or writer who needs a keyboard? Buy the iPad Air 13-inch (Refurbished M2 or New M3).
- Are you a professional artist or video editor who bills clients? Buy the iPad Pro M5.
- Do you have money to burn and just want the coolest screen? Treat yourself to the iPad Pro 11-inch.
My Daily Driver
Why I Chose the 11-inch Pro Over the 13-inch Air
After testing all of them, I settled on the 11-inch iPad Pro. Why? Because the 13-inch is too big to be a tablet; it feels like a laptop screen ripped off its hinges. The 11-inch is the perfect “tablet size.” I chose the Pro over the Air solely for the 120Hz ProMotion screen. Once your eyes adjust to 120Hz on your phone, the 60Hz Air feels broken. I bought the Pro not for the M5 power (which I don’t use), but for the screen fluidity and Face ID convenience. It’s a luxury, but one I enjoy every time I unlock it.