The Apple iPad lineup has been refreshed once more. Should you rush to buy one, or is it better to wait?
Spring is (almost) here, and that means Apple has updated its iPad range again. Let’s get this straight from the start: if you already own a model that’s one, two, or even three years old, there’s not much reason to upgrade. Perhaps, if you’re using a basic iPad model, it might be worth considering—these tend to age faster since Apple typically equips them with an older SoC.
That’s the case again this year with the new base iPad, which is powered by the A16 SoC, the same chip found in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. While it’s not the latest tech, it’s still perfectly capable for basic tasks. That includes streaming audio, running various apps to control your hi-fi equipment, and browsing the internet. However, it’s less suited for heavy multimedia applications or modern gaming. But if that’s not your focus, you can save a good amount of money.
This base model comes with 128GB of storage as standard, is available in a variety of colors, and is priced at just €409. A downside—perhaps surprisingly—is that this tablet does not support Apple Intelligence, as the SoC is too old.
iPad Air
The iPad Air, on the other hand, packs significantly more power. This year’s model is equipped with an M3 SoC—not the latest M4, but still highly capable of running the vast majority of modern apps and games with ease. It’s well-suited for both creating and consuming multimedia in all forms. Plus, for those interested, the iPad Air does support Apple Intelligence, making it a powerful and versatile tablet. It’s an excellent choice for high-quality audio and video streaming, as well as various other image- and sound-related tasks. Additionally, besides the 11-inch model, Apple now offers a larger 13-inch variant.
However, the iPad Air comes at a significantly higher price. The 11-inch model with 128GB of storage starts at €719, while the 13-inch version is priced at €969.