A Guide to the Sizes of iPads: How to choose the best one for you

There are different sizes of iPads based on the screen. You can have between 7.9 and 13-inch screen sizes to choose from. If you get the right iPad size, you will have a powerful device with a great display and overall user experience.

When choosing the best, however, you will still need to consider the screen size, resolution, portability, screen type, power, and performance plus storage options. Most iPad tablets feature a powerful system so you will just need to be sure of your needs and budget.

Bigger iPads are more expensive than smaller ones. If you are on a tight budget but still need a large-sized iPad, we recommend you check out cheaper refurbished iPad options.

What are the Different Sizes of iPads

As mentioned earlier, iPads are classified into 4 main categories that are further subdivided according to the year and generation they fall under. Below are the different iPad versions from the oldest to the newest. 

1. Apple iPad Mini – 1,2,3,4,5 and 6th generation
2. Apple iPad Air – 1,2,3,4 and 5th generation
3. Apple iPad – 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10th generation
4. Apple iPad Pro – 1,2,3 and 4th generation, Apple iPad Pro 12.9 – 1,2,3,4,5 and 6th generation, Apple iPad Pro 10.5 inches, Apple iPad Pro 9.7 inches
5. Apple iPad Pro 13 M4 – Most powerful iPad

Apple iPad Mini – 7 and 8-inch sizes of iPad

The Apple iPad Mini first came out in 2012 as a small compact 7.9-inch tablet. The screen size has since remained constant at 7.9 inches in the 2013, 14,15, and 19 versions that is 1,2,3,4, and 5th versions.

In the 2021 version, iPad Mini 6th generation, the screen size has slightly been increased to 8.3 inches. Despite the changes, it remains the most compact iPad available in the market today.

iPad Generation	Release Year	Screen Size
iPad mini 6th Generation	2021	8.3″
iPad mini 5th Generation	2019	7.9″
iPad mini 4th Generation	2015	7.9″
iPad mini 3rd Generation	2014	7.9″
iPad mini 2nd Generation	2013	7.9″
iPad mini 1st Generation	2012	7.9″

Apple iPad Air – 1,2,3,4 and 5th generation

Apple iPad Air comes in 5 options: the first generation produced in 2013 to the 5th generation released in 2022.

The latest 4th and 5th generations come with a 10.9-inch screen size while the first and second generations had a slightly smaller 9.7-inch screen size.

The first and second generation were released in 2013 and 2014 respectively while the 4th and 5th generation came out in 2020 and 2022.

In 2019, Apple released the 3rd generation with a 10.5-inch screen slightly larger than the first and second generations but smaller than the 4th and 5th generations.

iPad Generation	Year	Screen Size
iPad Air 5th Generation	2022	10.9″
iPad Air 4th Generation	2020	10.9″
iPad Air 3rd Generation	2019	10.5″
iPad Air 2nd Generation	2014	9.7″
iPad Air 1st Generation	2013	9.7″

Apple iPad – 9 to 11 sizes of iPad tablets

The Apple iPad comes with the largest variety of options to choose from. It was the first iPad released with the oldest version coming out in 2010. Below are the different versions, sizes, and generations available.

iPad Generation	Year	Screen Size
iPad 10.9 – 10th generation	2022	10.9″
iPad 10.2 – 9th generation	2021	10.2″
iPad 10.2 – 8th generation	2020	10.2″
iPad 10.2 – 7th generation	2019	10.2″
iPad 2018 – 6th generation	2018	9.7″
iPad 2017 – 5th generation	2017	9.7″
iPad 4 – 4th generation	2012	9.7″
iPad 3 – 3rd generation	2012	9.7″
iPad 2 – 2nd generation	2011	9.7″
iPad 1 – 1st generation	2010	9.7″

Apple iPad Pro 13 M4 – Most powerful iPad

1. Screen Size: 13-Inch
2. Processor: M4
3. Ultra Retina XDR Display
4. Storage Space: 256 GB
5. Landscape 12 MP Front Camera 12MP Back Camera
6. Face ID
7. All-Day Battery Life

The Apple iPad Pro 13 M4 is the largest and most powerful iPad Pro currently. It was released in 2024 to compete with OLED screens produced on Samsung Tablets. It is the only iPad with an OLED screen and Ultra Retina XDR Display.

Most of the features are similar to an iPad Pro. For example, they both have a 256 to 2 TB storage space that is not expandable, 1000 to 1600 nits brightness, and a 120 Hz refresh rate. They both also have Face ID recognition as a security feature.

The main difference is the screen size at 13 inches with an OLED display instead of the traditional Liquid Retina display. It comes with a more powerful M4 chip which is better than the older M2 chip on the iPad Pro 12.9 inch.

Apple iPad Pro 12.9 used to be the best professional-level tablet produced by the Apple brand. Compared to other industry brands, the latest Apple iPad Pro 6th generation produced in 2022 is the most powerful tablet ever produced.

You will be able to use it for many complex and professional tasks without issues. Below are the different versions and years released.

What to Consider When Buying an iPad

• Performance and storage options
• Connectivity options
• Screen size and resolution
• Weight and thickness
• Battery life

How much iPad memory do I need

iPads come in different RAM and storage sizes. The sizes you will choose will depend on how you intend to use your iPad. For the storage size, iPads will range from 64 GB to 2 TB size with a large number of different sizes in between. These include 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB.

Once you buy a particular size, you will not be able to upgrade to the next size unless you buy a new iPad version. Larger-sized iPads will be relatively more expensive than smaller ones.

The RAM will go hand in hand with the processing power. For complex tasks like video editing, you need a powerful processor and at least 8 GB RAM and above. 2 and 4 GB options are good for basic Photo editing and digital art.

RAM options will vary from 2 GB to 32 GB for different iPad types. Like the storage space, the RAM is not upgradable. You have to buy another iPad to upgrade.

Frequently Asked Questions