What will you use your iPad for?
Work & multitasking
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
The levels
Works
A keyboard made for it turns it into a writing machine.
- A keyboard made for itApple says
Comfortable
Use an external monitor as a second screen, not just a mirror.
The Works conditions, plus:
- M1 chip or newerApple says
Heavy use
Fast docks and high-resolution monitors on iPad Pro.
The Works conditions, plus:
- Thunderbolt portApple says
Current models for this
Models Apple sells new today, cheapest first within each level.
Heavy use
- iPad Pro 11-inch (M5)$999 at launchHeavy use
- iPad Pro 13-inch (M5)$1,299 at launchHeavy use
Comfortable
- iPad Air 11-inch (M4)$599 at launchComfortable
- iPad Air 13-inch (M4)$799 at launchComfortable
Works
- iPad (A16)$349 at launchWorks
Not enough
- iPad mini (A17 Pro)$499 at launchNot enough
Your older model?
Every iPad we have checked, by release year.
2024–
- iPad Air 11-inch (M4)Comfortable
- iPad Air 13-inch (M4)Comfortable
- iPad Pro 11-inch (M5)Heavy use
- iPad Pro 13-inch (M5)Heavy use
- iPad (A16)Works
- iPad Air 11-inch (M3)Comfortable
- iPad Air 13-inch (M3)Comfortable
- iPad mini (A17 Pro)Not enough
- iPad Air 11-inch (M2)Comfortable
- iPad Air 13-inch (M2)Comfortable
- iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)Heavy use
- iPad Pro 13-inch (M4)Heavy use
2020–2023
- iPad (10th generation)Works
- iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation)Heavy use
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation)Heavy use
- iPad Air (5th generation)Comfortable
- iPad (9th generation)Works
- iPad mini (6th generation)Not enough
- iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation)Heavy use
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation)Heavy use
- iPad Air (4th generation)Heavy use: can't confirm Thunderbolt portWorks
- iPad (8th generation)Works
- iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)Heavy use: can't confirm Thunderbolt portWorks
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)Heavy use: can't confirm Thunderbolt portWorks
2015–2019
- iPad (7th generation)Works
- iPad mini (5th generation)Not enough
- iPad Air (3rd generation)Works
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)Heavy use: can't confirm Thunderbolt portWorks
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)Heavy use: can't confirm Thunderbolt portWorks
- iPad (6th generation)Not enough
- iPad Pro (10.5-inch)Works
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)Works
- iPad (5th generation)Not enough
- iPad Pro (9.7-inch)Works
- iPad Pro (12.9-inch)Works
- 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.