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The iPad remains the gold standard for tablets because of its wide array of quality apps and content and its integration with other products within the Apple ecosystem. Apple added three new iPad models to its lineup this year: the sixth-generation iPad Air, the seventh-generation iPad Pro, and the seventh-generation iPad Mini.
At ZDNET, we've tested every iPad model currently on the market and have used them for many different purposes. Our current pick for the best iPad for most people is the base-model iPad because it includes nearly all of the best features the iPad has to offer at a more approachable price. Below is our full breakdown of the current iPad lineup -- based on our team's hands-on experience and product testing -- and our buying recommendations for each model to help you pick the best one for various needs and budgets.
The design in Apple's new 2024 iPad Pro lineup is much slimmer than previous Pro models, and you'll find Apple's powerful M4 processor. This chip consists of a new 10-core GPU, next-generation machine learning accelerators to handle a diverse range of tasks, and ProMotion technology, enabling variable screen refresh rates ranging from 10 to 120Hz.
ZDNET reviews editor June Wan tested the 13-inch Apple iPad Pro, and said he was especially impressed by the new Tandem OLED screen. "In practice, Tandem OLED makes the iPad Pro a phenomenal tablet for visual experiences. I've been able to complete text-heavy and photo-editing work -- which often require adequate viewing angles -- under a New York City sun that thinks it's already summer," Wan wrote in his review. "Watching Netflix and Disney+ on the iPad is straight eye candy; colors pop, and the darker, moodier scenes have a level of shadow detail unseen on older Pro models."
Review: Apple iPad Pro (7th generation)
The Pro also supports the new Apple Pencil Pro, which has a range of features, including a squeeze gesture for quick tool, color, and other changes, a gyroscope for precise control of pens and brush tools with a simple rotation, and custom haptic feedback that you can feel via a pulse. It also pairs with the newly revamped Magic Keyboard, which is thinner and lighter, has a larger trackpad, and a new row of function keys this year, making the keyboard case more essential than ever for the full iPad experience.
For most of us, getting the M4 iPad Pro would be like buying a Ferrari to commute five miles to work and never going over 30mph. Make no mistake, this machine is screaming fast, has a stunning display, and the Apple Pencil Pro is an incredible digital tool. But, this is a machine for the highest of high-end professionals. Unless you are an artist or a designer using the Apple Pencil Pro with it every day, or you are a filmmaker using it to view footage or even start your first edits in the field -- or putting it to use in other creative fields -- then we'd recommend sticking to the standard iPad.
iPad Pro (7th generation) specs: Display: 11- or 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion | Processor: Apple Silicon M4 | Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB | Biometrics: Face ID | Colors: Silver, space black | Cameras: 12MP wide (4K, ProRes), Landscape 12MP ultra-wide | Weight: 11-inch: .98 pounds, 13-inch: 1.28 pounds | Dimensions: 9.83 x 6.99 x .21 inches or 11.09 x 8.48 x 0.20 inches | Connections: USB-C connector with support for Thunderbolt / USB 4 | Battery life: Up to 10 hours of surfing the web
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