Notes & school

Which iPad is enough, from what Apple and app makers publish. Where nobody publishes a figure, our own rule of thumb is marked as such.

What Apple and app makers say

Smart Script
iPad models with A14 Bionic, or M1 and later, with iPadOS 18 or later.
Apple saysSource
Apple Intelligence
iPad Pro (M1 and later), iPad Air (M1 and later), iPad mini (A17 Pro).
Apple saysSource
Custom Siri voices and improved Dictation
iPad models with M4 and later and at least 12GB of unified memory.
Apple saysSource

Custom Siri voices and improved Dictation on iPad: Depends on configuration — see Apple's tech specs

The levels

Works

Handwritten notes and Math Notes work even on iPad (A16).

Works with Apple Pencil (USB-C)Apple says

Comfortable

Summaries and writing help need M1 or later, or iPad mini (A17 Pro).

The Works conditions, plus:

Apple IntelligenceApple says

Current models for this

Models Apple sells new today, cheapest first within each level.

Comfortable

iPad mini (A17 Pro)$499 at launchComfortable
iPad Air 11-inch (M4)$599 at launchComfortable
iPad Air 13-inch (M4)$799 at launchComfortable
iPad Pro 11-inch (M5)$999 at launchComfortable
iPad Pro 13-inch (M5)$1,299 at launchComfortable

Works

iPad (A16)$349 at launchWorks

Your older model?

Every iPad we have checked, by release year.

2024–

2020–2023

iPad (10th generation)Works
iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation)Comfortable
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation)Comfortable
iPad Air (5th generation)Comfortable
iPad (9th generation)Not enough
iPad mini (6th generation)Works
iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation)Comfortable
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation)Comfortable
iPad Air (4th generation)Works
iPad (8th generation)Not enough
iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)Works
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)Works

2015–2019

iPad (7th generation)Not enough
iPad mini (5th generation)Not enough
iPad Air (3rd generation)Not enough
iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)Works
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)Works
iPad (6th generation)Not enough
iPad Pro (10.5-inch)Not enough
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)Not enough
iPad (5th generation)Not enough
iPad Pro (9.7-inch)Not enough
iPad Pro (12.9-inch)Not enough
iPad mini 4Not enough

2010–2014

iPad mini 3Not enough
iPad Air 2Not enough
iPad mini 2Not enough
iPad AirNot enough
iPad (4th generation)Not enough
iPad miniNot enough
iPad (3rd generation)Not enough
iPad 2Not enough
iPadNot enough

How we decide

Each use has up to three levels: Works, Comfortable and Heavy use. Comfortable and Heavy use each add their own conditions to the Works conditions, and a model gets the highest level whose conditions it meets.

"Apple says" and "The app's maker says" mark requirements that Apple or the app's maker publishes. "Our rule of thumb (not Apple's)" marks our own suggestion, used where nobody publishes a figure.

Memory and storage are judged on the standard configuration. When ordering more memory or storage would reach a higher level, we add a "configurable" note.

When a spec is not published by Apple or not in our data, we say "Can't confirm" instead of guessing, and the condition does not count as met.

App and system requirements change with new versions. The date at the bottom of each page shows when we last checked them.

Heavy use:: Meets the minimum and the conditions for big projects or heavy daily use.
Comfortable:: Meets the minimum and the conditions for everyday use without waiting around.
Works:: Meets the minimum conditions: the apps and features for this run.
Can't confirm:: A spec the minimum needs is not published by Apple or not in our data, so we do not count it as met.
Not enough:: Misses at least one of the minimum conditions.

Requirements checked on 2026-10-11.