Apple has two great, affordable iPads that most people are considering. base iPad and iPad Air. Over time, these iPads have always been relatively similar, making for a pretty interesting discussion. With the current contract, there’s only $150 between these two iPads. This actually begs the question. Should you pay more for the iPad Air or save money on the basic iPad?
Case for iPad Air
For an additional $150, the iPad Air packs even more technology for less than $500. To be exact, the iPad Air is currently on sale for $449. The base iPad, on the other hand, costs $299.
First off, if you value a more premium Apple Pencil experience, the iPad Air is better in that regard. It offers support for Apple Pencil Pro, and you get additional features like pressure sensitivity, double-tap functionality, haptics, and squeezing.
iPad Air also features a laminated P3 color display, which puts the glass right next to the pixels for a more premium display experience. Cheaper iPads have air gaps and don’t have anti-reflective coatings like the iPad Air.
If you want a more laptop-like experience, the iPad Air is much better. The iPad Air supports the laptop-style Magic Keyboard, while the base iPad only supports the Magic Keyboard Folio, similar to the Microsoft Surface.
Finally, iPad Air supports Apple Intelligence and is powered by the M3 chip. The base iPad has only the A16 chip and does not support Apple Intelligence.
base ipad
If all of the iPad Air’s key features don’t convince you, the basic iPad is the way to go. Like the iPad Air, it has 128GB of storage and comes in prettier, punchier colors. It also has the same 12MP Center Stage camera, making it perfect for FaceTime calls and meetings.
After all, it’s just a much cheaper iPad, and it still ticks all of the important boxes for an iPad incredibly well. The iPad Air may be a better laptop, but the base iPad is a great iPad. Both iPads still (unfortunately) have the same Touch ID sensor, so unless you’re aiming for a better Magic Keyboard, a better Apple Pencil experience, or a laminated display, the iPad Air lacks any compelling upgrades.
One thing to note about the iPad (A16) is that it’s locked into a USB 2.0 spec port, which limits wired data transfer speeds (if that’s a concern).
summary
The final benefit of the iPad Air is the fact that it comes with a 13-inch display option. So if you want a larger iPad at a more affordable price, the iPad Air is definitely your only choice.
That being said, I use a team-based iPad. While I prefer the iPad as a must-have device, I’m still not a huge fan of how iPadOS 26 has improved multitasking on the iPad. But if so, you should probably choose the iPad Air.
Now, thanks to early Black Friday sales, both the iPad and iPad Air are at their lowest prices ever, so now’s the perfect time to buy if you’re interested.
Which iPad are you more interested in? Share your thoughts in the comments.
My favorite Apple accessory recommendations:
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