Which Apple iPad To Choose In 2022? The Full Comparison

Need help deciding between the standard iPad, iPad Mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro? Discover in this comparison which Apple iPad to choose in 2022! NextPit presents each tablet in detail to help you choose the iPad that’s right for you. In October 2022, Apple introduced the sixth generation of the iPad Pro. As an innovation, the manufacturer now offers the same SoC M2 found in MacBooks. 

Apple’s premium tablet has also received connectivity improvements, with support for wifi 6E. On the same day, Apple also introduced the new iPad 10 (2022), which finally jumped to the USB-C port across the rest of the iPad lineup. The base iPad has removed the home button on the front, adopting a similar design to the iPad Air, with thin bezels and slightly higher resolution, all powered by the Apple A14 SoC.

Summary

The current iPad lineup in Q1 2022

1. Apple iPad 10 (2022): from 589 euros
2. Apple iPad Mini 2021: from 549 euros
3. Apple iPad Air 5 (2022): from 679 euros
4. Apple iPad Pro 2022: from 1069 euros
5. BONE
6. Accessories
7. All released iPads at a glance

Below, NextPit takes you through each iPad model in more detail with offers to buy at the best price. You will know which model to choose according to your needs and budget.

Apple iPad 10 (2022)

The standard iPad introduced in 2022 broke many traditions by ditching the front Home button and the Lightning port, replacing them with USB-C. Although still using Touch ID, the fingerprint sensor is now housed on the side, like the other iPad lineup. Removing the home button from the front allowed the 10th generation iPad to get a larger screen, increasing to 10.9 inches instead of 10.2 inches.

Along with the slightly larger screen came an increase in the resolution, which is now 2360 x 1640 pixels, up from 2160 x 1620.The 10th generation iPad has been upgraded with the A14 Bionic SoC, the same used in the iPhone 12. It not only promises performance improvements, but it also brings 5G compatibility for the cellular model. You will always have the choice between 64 and 256 GB of storage.

The dual cameras of the 2022 iPad have also been updated, with the primary camera up from 8 MP to 12 MP. The front camera, meanwhile, has finally been repositioned in landscape mode.

Autonomy is the same as the previous model, with up to 10 hours of web browsing on wifi and up to 9 hours using the mobile network. Speaking of the previous model, the iPad 9 was not abandoned after the release of its successor. Apple kept the 2021 model in the lineup.

iPad 10 (2022): The Price Of The Different Models

Apple iPad Mini 2021

While Apple kept the old design for the base iPad, the iPad Mini received an all-new design in 2021. The new iPad Mini adopted the borderless design, without a Home button and with the Touch ID sensor placed in the ignition button. The case, therefore, houses an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina IPS screen. Thanks to the resolution of 2,226 x 1,488 pixels, the pixel density of the Mini model is very high.

 Fortunately, the iPad Mini also features True Tone technology, supports the P3 color space, and is compatible with the second-generation Apple Pencil. The iPad Mini is available in pink, purple, starlight, and space gray colors. He, too, made it of 100% recycled aluminum. The smallest iPad has dimensions of 195.4 x 134.8 x 6.3 mm. It weighs 293 g for the wifi version and 297 g for the Cellular version. Other specials: The iPad Mini has a USB-C and magnetic port for the Apple Pencil 2 on the right side. 

Compared to the iPad 2021, the iPad Mini also offers stereo speakers placed on the upper and lower edges. In terms of performance, the iPad Mini 2021 is significantly more capable than the base model. This is due to the integration of Apple’s A15 Bionic, also used in the iPhone 13 line. Six CPUs and five graphics cores allow you to edit 4K videos or play the latest mobile games without long loading times. To learn more about the impressive performance of the iPad Mini, I invite you to read our full review.

Regarding the photo part, the selfie camera has an ultra-wide angle sensor, which allows you to use Center Stage. It has a resolution of 12 MP and supports Smart HDR 3 and video recording in 1080p at 60 fps. The 12 MP primary camera with f/1.8 aperture on the back can shoot 4K at 60 fps.  Although the battery of the iPad Mini is smaller due to its format, Apple announces an autonomy of 10 hours of web browsing via wifi. When browsing with the mobile network, the freedom will be 9 hours. 

As I said above, the iPad Mini is equipped with a USB-C port, and thanks to USB 3.1 Gen 1, you can connect it to screens or external hard drives. Data rates will be high, with a maximum of 5 Gbit/s. If you opt for the iPad Mini, you will have to pay at least 549 euros for the recommended retail price. Besides the version with 64 GB of internal storage, there is also a model with 256 GB. As with the basic iPad, Apple offers wifi and Cellular versions.

iPad Mini 2021: The Prices Of The Models

Apple iPad Air 5 (2022)

On March 8, 2022, Apple introduced the new iPad Air. The latest version offers the same screen in the same case and offers relatively few new features overall. The update is significant, however, as Apple has integrated the powerful M1 SoC into the 5th-generation iPad Air . From a performance point of view, the Air model is thus roughly on the same level as the iPad Pro and Mini of 2021.

Also new: the front camera of the iPad Air now has an ultra-wide-angle lens and a resolution of 12 MP. The iPad Air is the last remaining model to support the Center Stage function, which automatically follows you during video conferences and is better suited for group calls for several people.

Regarding connectivity, Apple still uses the USB-C port on the underside, which is still Thunderbolt compatible and got a bit more capable with the latest upgrade. With USB 3.1 Gen 2, iPad Air can now achieve data rates of up to 10 Gbps. You can connect screens up to 6K at 60 Hz.

iPad Air is compatible with wifi six and Bluetooth 5.0. Thanks to the new SoC, the cellular model becomes compatible with 5G, allowing faster data rates on the go. Compared to the previous model, however, the prices have increased somewhat. As shown in the table below, prices for the iPad Air 2022 have increased by 30 euros for all variants. The iPad Air 5G with 256 GB of internal storage also crosses the 1000 euro mark.

iPad Air 2022: The Price Of The Different Versions

Apple iPad Pro 2022

The iPad Pro is sold for 1069 euros for the 11-inch model and 1469 euros for the sizable 12.9-inch model. In both cases, you can only choose between gray and silver colors. As you will see later, there are significantly more storage options. Since there are two iPad Pro models, the screens also differ. In the 11-inch variant, Apple uses an IPS panel with LED backlighting and a 2,388 x 1,668 pixels resolution. 

The iPad Pro was the first Apple tablet to have a refresh rate of 120 Hertz. The screen is compatible with the True-Tone display and covers the P3 color space.  On the 12.9-inch version, you’ll find a Liquid Retina XDR display. This uses mini-LED technology and offers a resolution of 2,732 x 2,048 pixels. It also has Pro Motion mode. However, the screen of the 12.9-inch model is superior in terms of brightness.

 Peak brightness is 1600 nits if you’re watching HDR content. The contrast of 1,000,000:1 is also close to that of OLED. Both screens are compatible with the Apple Pencil 2. Different screen sizes naturally result in various case sizes. The 11-inch iPad Pro measures 247.6 x 178.5 x 5.9mm, while the 12.9-inch model is much larger and thicker at 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.4mm. 

Naturally, it’s heavier than the 11-inch model weighing in at 466g in the wifi version and 468g in the Cellular version. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro weighs 682 or 684 g depending on the performance. The Pro models offer a distinct performance advantage compared to all iPad models. This is due to the integration of Apple’s M2 chip. The ARM SoC offers eight CPU and eight GPU cores and is optionally paired with 8 or 16 GB of RAM. The iPad Pro of 2022 is thus the most powerful tablet on the market.

They also offer advantages when it comes to multimedia functions. iPad Pros have four speakers on the top and bottom and four microphones in total. In addition, iPad Pros are equipped with Face ID, which allows them to be unlocked just by looking at the screen. A Smart Connector for connecting accessories is also present, and the Pro models even support USB 4 and Thunderbolt 3 via their USB-C port.

Apple also offers more capable cameras on its more expensive iPads. The selfie camera, located next to the sensors for Face ID, has a resolution of 12 MP. Being a TrueDepth camera, it supports digital portrait mode and Center Stage. It relies on its ultra-wide-angle sensor with a 122-degree field of view to achieve this. Along with the ability to shoot 1080p at up to 60 fps, it’s worth mentioning Smart HDR 3 support. The iPad Pro has a double photo module and a LiDAR sensor on the back. 

Thus, there is a 12 MP primary camera with an f/1.8 aperture, an ultra-wide-angle camera with a 125-degree field of view, and an f/2.4 aperture. The wide-angle camera can shoot in 4K at 60 fps, and the ultra-wide angle goes up to Full HD. Also exciting is the LiDAR sensor, which provides accurate depth information. The Pro models are, therefore, particularly suitable for AR applications, and you can even save 3D scans of objects. The size of the batteries is also different for the two models. 

The 11-inch model has a 28.65 W battery compared to 40.88 Wh for the 12.9-inch 40.88 version. Like all other iPads, you’ll get up to 10 hours of battery life when browsing wifi or watching videos and up to 9 hours browsing on the mobile network. Understanding iPad Pro prices can be pretty complicated. Indeed, there are ten different prices for all Cellular and wifi variants, depending on the many storage options. For clarity, we have summarized them in the table above:

iPad Pro 2022: The Prices Of The Different Models

Bone

iPadOS 16

All iPads have one thing in common. This is, of course, the Apple OS. At the same time, it’s a heavily customized iOS 16, which sets Apple apart from the competition. Android still needs to be better optimized for tablets.

In this comparison, we wanted to take a closer look at the accessories that Apple offers for its iPads. Indeed, the cases with a keyboard or the already-mentioned Apple Pencil will allow you to extend the functionality of your iPad even further.

The accessories

Protective Cases And Keyboards

Apple offers a few accessories for all iPad models for added flexibility and everyday protection. Covers and shells with keyboards are trendy, as they improve safety and add essential functions. Thus, with a Smart Folio cover, you can protect your iPad’s screen and change the tablet’s viewing angle. Covers with keyboards also help you type more efficiently, and the more expensive models even have a trackpad.

Buy iPad Cases From Apple

In addition to Apple, other manufacturers offer covers and keyboards for Apple iPads. When purchasing, ensure the case is compatible with your model and screen size. It is also convenient that the accessory uses Apple’s Smart Connector.

Apple Pencil

The styluses from Apple are the Apple Pencil and the Apple Pencil 2. In summary, all iPads are compatible with the second generation except for the basic iPad. Indeed, only the latter still has the Lightning port necessary to charge the first Apple Pencil. 

However, the latter does not fit magnetically on all other iPads. The price starts at 99 euros, and the 2nd generation Apple Pencil costs 135 euros. Apple is one of many suppliers of iPad-compatible styluses. We will soon offer you a selection of the best styluses for iPad.

AirPods, MacBooks, And Other Peripherals

All iPad models support wifi and Bluetooth. They are thus compatible with many other accessories. Above all, Apple integrates its devices seamlessly into its ecosystem. Here are two examples: If you open the Apple AirPods headphones, your iPad will automatically recognize them. 

Also, the headphones automatically recognize the Apple device that is playing music.

If you use your Apple device with a standard Apple ID, you can automatically associate the devices. If you click Take Photo on your Mac’s desktop, you’ll be able to select your iPad. Combining different devices is one of the advantages of choosing an iPad and other Apple devices.

Also Read : Motion Sensor