Last Updated on January 11, 2023 by Ernests Embutnieks
Whatever you have heard – size matters. iPad currently offers a range of iPad models with different screen sizes:
iPad Mini: 8.3 inches
iPad: 10.9 inches
iPad Air: 10.9 inches
iPad Pro: 11 inches, 12.9inches
These are the latest models. You can also find 7.9 inches, an older version of iPad Mini and the classical iPad used to be 10.2 inches. iPad Mini 6 is the smallest and most portable option. 12.9 inch screen is the biggest you can get, and when you work, draw, and take notes, it’s the best screen size you can get.
Luckily you don’t have to choose between an 8-inch tablet and a 12.9-inch tablet. There are other options in between.
iPad Size Comparison Chart
| Model | Display Size: | Release Date: | Dimensions: | Weight(WiFi Models): | Weight(Wifi+Cellular): |
| iPad Pro (12.9) | 12.9-inches | October 26, 2022 | 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.25 in | 1.5lbs | 1.51lbs |
| iPad Pro (11) | 11-inches | October 26, 2022 | 9.75 x 7.03 x 0.23 in | 1.03lbs | 1.04lbs |
| iPad Air | 10.9-inches | March 18, 2022 | 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 in | 1.02lbs | 1.02lbs |
| iPad | 10.9-inches | October 26, 2022 | 9.79 x 7.07 x 0.28 in | 1.04lbs | 1.05lbs |
| iPad Mini | 8.3-inches | September 24, 2021 | 7.69 x 5.3 x 0.25 in | 0.65lbs | 0.66lbs |
iPad Pro, iPad Air, Classic iPad, iPad Mini latest generations and their sizes and dimensions and weight for convenient comparison.
From personal experience, I can only say that when you’re working, you want that big screen, but when you’re chilling on your couch, surfing the internet, you want something smaller. I prefer an 11-inch iPad for that purpose. Some choose the iPad Mini for that purpose, but I enjoy a bigger screen. 12.9 is a bit too big, and it gets heavy on the hands, but the 11-inch is the perfect size and weight. For me, that is. For you, it might be different. Surly, this table should help a bit.
iPad Pro 12.9
| Model | Screen Size: | Dimensions: | Weight(WiFi Models): | Weight(Wifi+Cellular): |
| iPad Pro (6th gen) | 12.9-inches | 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.25 in | 1.5lbs | 1.51lbs |
| iPad Pro(5th gen) | 12.9-inches | 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.25 in | 1.5lbs | 1.51lbs |
| iPad Pro(4th gen) | 12.9-inches | 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.23 in | 1.41lbs | 1.42lbs |
| iPad Pro(3rd gen) | 12.9-inches | 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.23 in | 1.39lbs | 1.4lbs |
| iPad Pro(2nd gen) | 12.9-inches | 12 x 8.68 x 0.27 in | 1.49lbs | 1.53lbs |
| iPad Pro(1st gen) | 12.9-inches | 12 x 8.68 x 0.27 in | 1.57lbs | 1.59lbs |
iPad Pro 12.9 is the biggest iPad you can get, and it hasn’t changed in years, although there are some rumors that Apple might release a bigger screen iPad. Personally, I believe it’s big enough. If you are drawing, taking notes, working, and writing, you will like the big screen, but when you want to chill, watch some YouTube shorts or TikTok’s you would be happier with a smaller screen and a more lightweight device.
iPad Pro 11
| Model | Screen Size: | Dimensions: | Weight(WiFi Models): | Weight(Wifi+Cellular): |
| iPad Pro(4th gen) | 11-inches | 9.75 x 7.03 x 0.23 in | 1.03lbs | 1.04lbs |
| iPad Pro(3rd gen) | 11-inches | 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.23 in | 1.03lbs | 1.04lbs |
| iPad Pro(2nd gen) | 11-inches | 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.23 in | 1.04lbs | 1.04lbs |
| iPad Pro(1st gen) | 11-inches | 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.23 in | 1.03lbs | 1.03lbs |
I personally like this size the most. It’s bigger than iPhone, it’s smaller than MacBook, and it’s convenient enough to hold in your hand and surf the internet. It’s big enough to take notes, draw, and do some work, but it’s still much more convenient to do the work on Mac, but that’s my personal preference, you might have a different one.
iPad Air
| Model | Screen Size: | Dimensions: | Weight(WiFi Models): | Weight(Wifi+Cellular): |
| iPad Air(5th gen) | 10.9-inches | 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 in | 1.02lbs | 1.02lbs |
| iPad Air(4th gen) | 10.9-inches | 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 in | 1lbs | 1.01lbs |
| iPad Air(3rd gen) | 10.5-inches | 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.24 in | 1.00lbs | 1.02lbs |
| iPad Air(2nd gen) | 9.7-inches | 9.4 x 6.6 x 0.24 in | 0.96lbs | 1lbs |
| iPad Air(1st gen) | 9.7-inches | 9.4 x 6.6 x 0.29 in | 0.98lbs | 1.05lbs |
iPad Air. The perfect midway between iPad and iPad Pro. If iPad Pro is too powerful and you don’t need them, but the iPad is just a bit too slow, then iPad Air is a perfect choice. 10.9-inches on the latest iPad Air. 1.02lbs. It’s medium size, and I would categorize it as a lightweight tablet. Great option for students.
Classic iPad
| Model | Screen Size: | Dimensions: | Weight(WiFi Models): | Weight(Wifi+Cellular): |
| iPad(10th gen) | 10.9-inches | 9.79 x 7.07 x 0.28 in | 1.04lbs | 1.05lbs |
| iPad(9th gen) | 10.2-inches | 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.29 in | 1.07lbs | 1.09lbs |
| iPad(8th gen) | 10.2-inches | 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.29 in | 1.08lbs | 1.09lbs |
| iPad(7th gen) | 10.2-inches | 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.29 in | 1.07lbs | 1.09lbs |
| iPad(6th gen) | 9.7-inches | 9.4 x 6.6 x 0.29 in | 1.03lbs | 1.05lbs |
| iPad(5th gen) | 9.7-inches | 9.4 x 7.02 x 0.24 in | 1.03lbs | 1.05lbs |
Last iPad with Home Button – iPad 9th Gen
iPad Mini
| Model | iPad Mini(6th gen) | iPad Mini(5th gen) | iPad Mini(4th gen) | iPad Mini(3rd gen) | iPad Mini(2nd gen) |
| Screen Size: | 8.3-inches | 7.9-inches | 7.9-inches | 7.9-inches | 7.9-inches |
| Dimensions: | 7.69 x 5.3 x 0.25 in | 8.0 x 5.3 x 0.24 in | 8.0 x 5.3 x 0.24 in | 7.87 x 5.3 x 0.29 in | 7.87 x 5.3 x 0.29 in |
| Weight(WiFi Models): | 0.65lbs | 0.66lbs | 0.65lbs | 0.73lbs | 0.73lbs |
| Weight(Wifi+Cellular): | 0.66lbs | 0.68lbs | 0.67lbs | 0.75lbs | 0.75lbs |
| Model | Screen Size: | Dimensions: | Weight(WiFi Models): | Weight(Wifi+Cellular): |
| iPad Mini(6th gen) | 8.3-inches | 7.69 x 5.3 x 0.25 in | 0.65lbs | 0.66lbs |
| iPad Mini(5th gen) | 7.9-inches | 8.0 x 5.3 x 0.24 in | 0.66lbs | 0.68lbs |
| iPad Mini(4th gen) | 7.9-inches | 8.0 x 5.3 x 0.24 in | 0.65lbs | 0.67lbs |
| iPad Mini(3rd gen) | 7.9-inches | 7.87 x 5.3 x 0.29 in | 0.73lbs | 0.75lbs |
| iPad Mini(2nd gen) | 7.9-inches | 7.87 x 5.3 x 0.29 in | 0.73lbs | 0.75lbs |
Which iPad Size Should You Choose?
Let’s make one thing clear – there is no best size for iPad. Not really. It’s about your needs. Let’s go through all of the sizes and the most common target audience for them, and hopefully, this will help to understand which iPad you should buy.
- iPad Pro 12.9-inches:
Highly popular size among artists. Only the 12.9-inch iPad Pro has a Liquid Retina XDR display. It’s a small difference, but artists notice these details. It’s also better to have a bigger screen if you want to work on your iPad, draw, take notes, etc. It’s a bit heavy on the hands, but if you get a tablet holder for bed, you can have a great Netflix & Chill session.
- iPad Pro 11-inches:
Popular size among students, not too big, not too small. Usually chosen by people that want to either draw on the iPad, play heavy games, edit photos, or take notes, but want it also to be convenient enough to chill with the iPad on the couch.
- iPad Air 10.9-inches:
Popular among everyday users and students. You can draw on it, but it won’t be as great as drawing on iPad Pro. iPad Air has a 60Hz display, and the iPad Pro has a 120Hz display. You can take notes on it, browse social media, read, type, research, etc. If I compare it to 11-inch iPad Pro – I don’t see the difference when it comes to size. They are basically identical. But there are a few drawbacks from a feature point of view.
- iPad 10.9-inches:
The entry-level iPad is the most popular iPad in the world right now. The screen is a bit smaller. In my opinion, the size is great. You can browse the internet, play some games, do some facetime calls, get some work done, and get some school work done. The price is great for these iPads you can get one and the device if you’re going to use it on a daily basis and figure out if you need any more features from your tablet and perhaps upgrade to iPad Air or iPad Pro, if necessary.
- iPad Mini 8.3-inches:
A lot of tech-savvy people tend to buy iPad Mini, which has grown a bit. From 7.9-inches to 8.3-inches, which also makes it more appealing to me. You can control your smart gadgets at home with the iPad Mini and do everything that any other iPad is capable of. You will just have a smaller screen, some people enjoy that, and that gives them a compact, comfortable feeling.
Conclusion:
The Golden pick is an 11-inch iPad. That’s the one I recommend. It’s the mid-size. It’s bigger than iPhone, it’s smaller than MacBook, your arms don’t get tired of using it, and the screen feels the perfect size when holding it in your hands. If you believe you need a bigger screen for drawing and note-taking, you might be right, and in that case, I recommend getting the 12.9-inch iPad. Perhaps you just want a portable computer to do basic tasks, and than 8.3-inch iPad might be the right fit for you. As I said, it’s all about your needs and your preference.
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I love tech and all about it. I'm interested in finding ways how they can make my life more productive, and I share my knowledge with my blog readers. I'm an iPad Pro, iPhone, MacBook, and Apple Watch user, so I know a thing or two about these devices and try to write helpful content around these topics.
