Apple iPad 11 (2025)
The cheapest door into Apple's long software runway, and Tech Advisor still names it the best iPad for most people. Longevity per unit of spend is outstanding.
Consolidated from 62 cited sources across 45 outlets
Where the cited sources landed, as we read them
- 51 positive sources
- 8 mixed sources
- 2 unconvinced sources
Pros & cons
- ✓ The cheapest entry into Apple's long software runway
- ✓ Same aluminum build and update record as its more expensive siblings
- ✓ Ranked first among budget tablets from any brand in TechRadar's cheap-tablets guide
- ✓ Named the best iPad in Tech Advisor's 2026 test
- ✓ Full iPad experience, app ecosystem and long update runway at the entry point of Apple's range
- ✗ Gives up the iPad Air's speed and screen
- ✗ Slower chip
- ✗ Older display
- ✗ Its list price sits above the budget-tablet consensus unless you catch a sale
The sources behind this ranking
We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.
Evidence 14 articles, 42 video reviews and 6 community sources
51 positive sources
The new 11th-generation iPad might not look new, but it didn’t need much to convince me that the regular model is still the best one to buy. The A16 chip gives it a healthy speed boost, doubling the base storage finally makes sense, and the price feels actually affordable for something from Apple. It still has its limits. The screen glare can be annoying in bright rooms, the speakers aren’t amazing, and Apple’s insistence on keeping it tied to the first-generation Pencil feels outdated. But none of that gets in the way of what most people actually do on an iPad.Read M
Apple's A16 iPad 11th-gen is HERE and it seems like the BEST Value iPad Ever.Watch W
Despite the minor upgrades, the iPad is still the best tablet for most people. Even at its new $449 price, it's a well-rounded slate that can easily tackle most tablet-appropriate tasks, like gaming, streaming movies and TV, and reading. If you connect a keyboard or the Magic Keyboard Folio, you may be able to use it for work, too (depending on what you do for work). It's also perfect for folks who want an entertainment device bigger than a phone, but not as small as an iPad Mini.Read M
Apple's iPad 11 was already pretty great, but Apple SHOCKED everyone by giving it FULL iPadOS 26 support, which officially makes it an AMAZING laptop replacement!Watch C
The iPad A16 is a good choice for general use. It starts up quickly, lasts nearly 11 hours per charge, and stays cool during video playback or browsing. The A16 Bionic delivers strong performance for daily multitasking and apps. The display is bright and accurate, but limited to the sRGB color space. Movies and games look clear but not as vivid as on the iPad Air M3’s DCI-P3 panel. The 12MP camera with Center Stage is good for video calls, but not a big upgrade from older models.Read G
So performance A16 11 gen 2025 cases like this one which is going to be handy tripod or stand if you want. It adds protection tablet and of course you can also buy Apple pen if you like. Overall, the experience is definitely goodWatch Z
It’s the new default choice and the one we’d put into most baskets at Zextons Tech Store in the UK. Wait or step up to iPad Air if you want Apple Intelligence, a laminated/anti‑reflective display, or you work with more demanding media. Jump to iPad Pro if every minute of render time counts and you need the best display Apple makes. Either way, the 11th‑gen iPad has put the entry tier back where it belongs: great value for money in Britain.Read D
The 11th-generation iPad (2025) hits the sweet spot for anyone seeking a new tablet. For $349 USD, it has a brilliant screen to watch content AND has good enough performance to play games or for multitasking. It really makes you ponder whether you need anything more out of an iPad!Watch J
On the iPad A16, my sixth iPad to own, I find the specs to be plenty capable for basic computing. All the tablet consumption stuff works flawlessly. Light office productivity works well. I rely on a 2TB iCloud plan to store all my files, which are easy to work with in the Files app. And the iPad closely matches the features of my iPhone — nice.Read M
If you're looking for the best bang for the buck iPad, it's the iPad A16. Now that the iPadOS 26 Public Beta is available. I tested it on Apple's cheapest iPad and it works great! It changed everything about the iPad and makes it feel like a proper computer for just $300! Pair the iPad A16 with their Magic Keyboard and it'll basically turn into an 11-inch MacBook with a touch screen.Watch I r/ipad u/Superb-Oil5409 · owner
Yes, its the perfect choice, its generally very hard to notice differences between the base iPad and the other ones (Air and Pro), unless you know that your workflow demands something specific (e.g. a better colorspace or performance of M processor), but for your usecase the base is plenty.Read thread N
The iPad (A16) or iPad 11th gen running iPadOS 26 is an impossibly good deal for students, giving you Mac-like productivity at a fraction of the price of a MacBook.Watch M
The entry-level iPad (A16) and iPad mini (A17 Pro) are a different story. Both are widely expected to receive updates before the end of 2026, making them harder to recommend unless you find them at a significant discount.Read F
I feel like the iPad 11 still remains a highly capable and practical choice for most people, especially if you prioritize value and reliability over having the latest and greatest features like Apple Intelligence.Watch F Facebook Anonymous participant · owner
Go for A16 ka na mii! Sobrang sulit. Sa Apple flagship store ako bumibili lagi ng Apple products. Sakto super mura ngayon ng iPad kasi may salee. Di ka magsisisi promisee.View post F
This is the 11th generation iPad with the A16 chip. And I've been using it for about a few months. And to be very honest, I really like this iPad, especially now that it's running iPad OS 26 beta because it's completely taken the experience of how I use this product next level.Watch P
The irony, though, is that it’s the best choice for shoppers who don’t need an insane amount of firepower and are on a budget. Even better, you can often find it.Read F
The iPad that has actually impressed me the most this year is the new 11th generation iPad with the A16 chip. And I honestly believe that it might actually be the most ideal iPad for studentsWatch F Facebook okeybrothers.id
It is a practical, powerful, and now more spacious tool that remains the best tablet for the vast majority of people.View post I Ivan Kam Ivan Kam · 86.5K subscribers · Jul 2025
Now, we're not going to go through the very structured, you know, way I typically do my videos, but I wanted to make a very quick video just to say that if you are currently in the market and you were considering this guy along with, you know, other tablets, just pull the trigger on the iPad 11. Every now and then, Apple would stumble and do something like this and actually offer pretty good valueWatch E
For $349, that makes it a compelling bargain for those who want a modern iPad for as little cash as possible.Read I
The iPad 11 here is not trying to compete against your MacBook. It's not trying to compete against your Pro iPad or your iPad Pro or even the Air for that matter. It's just here to give you 80% of the Pro iPad experience for 30% of the price. And thanks to iPad OS 26, it seems to be doing that successfullyWatch B
However, its biggest advantage is the price. This is the most affordable late-model everyday iPad available.Read I
Because after 8 months with the iPad 11th generation here, this thing has gone from just a budget filler to a wait, why is it so good on a tablet? And this is coming from a tablet guy. Plus, with Black Friday deals right around the corner, this might be the best value Apple product you can buy this year. Yeah, I'm not even jokingWatch T
Is the iPad 11 the best tablet for you? For affordability, yes, and you can find out why in my review.Read F
Life with A16 iPad One Year Later: The Best Budget Computer!Watch E
In general, I think the A16 base model iPad is a fantastic device and value for the money.Read F
iPad 11 Review: Amazing iPad on a budget ✨Watch I r/ipad u/kya_keh_rahe_ho · owner
You’ll be fine with the A16 base iPad. No need to spend more on the air for your use case.Read thread F
Spoiler alert, this is the best iPad that I easily recommend as of right now, but in the next few months that answer will or it could completely change.Watch I Instagram Instagram post
The iPad 11 runs everything smoothly and is the best value iPad you can buy right now.View post S sinem sinem · 69.4K subscribers · Sept 2025
It's really lightweight. Let's check what's inside the box. We have some evidence. 📖 And a charging cable. No adapter this time. (depending on the region) At least the cable is braided :D Time to unbox the iPad. It's a very beautiful color - Let's turn it on. A classic "Hello" screen. 👋 Let's get this done quickly. We've begun! 🎉 I'm sending you the wallpapers I made. ✨ Let's get it ready now.Watch P
In real life, the iPad (A16) is a joy to use and has ample reserves of performance.Read K
Today I'm sharing why the iPad A16 is the best iPad for students and casual users in 2025!Watch T
I've been using this 11th gen A16 iPad for about six months now, and I have to say it's the smartest Apple purchase I've made all year.Watch T
The A16 iPad released a couple of months ago, and I have to say, for $350, it's probably the best deal in the iPad lineup.Watch T
And it's an awesome iPad, and I've used this iPad in my job.Watch T
This A16 iPad is practically perfect.Watch T
There are all kinds of strengths to this iPad, and for a price under 350 bucks, it's really hard to beat. Honestly, it makes me wonder why I spent so much money on the Pro when the base model is so good. And it's always on sale. You can get it on Amazon right now for under $300. That is a heck of a deal for a brand-new iPad. And the iPad Pro is great.Watch A
And the worst part about everything is that this tablet is really, really good. So, I have never bought an Apple product for myself.Watch A
But otherwise, for the price with all the features this has, the iPad A16 is a fantastic option that's going to do everything you need itWatch J
So, do I recommend the A16 iPad in 2026? 100% after 1 year, it is a fantastic, fantastic device. Highly recommendedWatch R
One year later, and I feel like the iPad 11th Gen is still an amazing value of a tablet for anyone who just needs a reliable iPad for work, productivity, video consumption, and even gaming.Watch E
So, is the iPad A16 even worth it? If you want strong performance, great battery life, a good screen, and long-term value without paying pro prices, then this iPad makes a lot of sense.Watch T
And honestly, I think that instead of spending thousand of dollars on the newest iPad Pro, well, this iPad is actually the iPad that most people needs, especially after the iPad OS 26 update.Watch D Dave on Tech Dave on Tech · 6.2K subscribers · Sept 2026
This is the base 11th generation iPad, I've been using it for the past year, and I have to say, friends, while it has a lot of amazing things, well, there are a few things that aren't so greatWatch T
On the A16, navigating the home screen is still butter.Watch T
The fact that you're getting double the storage at 128 GB versus 64 GB, you're going from the A14 chip to the A16 chip at a cheaper price. You can get this bad boy for $2.99 when it's on sale. It makes it very hard to argue with this statementWatch J janayuhh janayuhh · 1.7K subscribers · Oct 2025
The iPad 11th Gen is absolutely worth it. It's not just fun to have, it's a powerful tool that supports your academic life. I rarely use paper now since I take notes with a free notes app, and it's incredibly convenient for studying, browsing, and multitasking. Overall, 10 out of 10Watch B BeTechie BeTechie · 1.4K subscribers · Oct 2026
So, overall a great device and this is my review about the Apple iPad A16Watch J
For its pros, it has a powerful A16 Bionic chip, super fast and efficient. It has smooth multitasking and app performance, beautiful display with good brightness.Watch
8 mixed sources
✅ You want something a bit faster: If you’re happy with the last-gen iPad's performance, there’s little here to entice you to switch, but if your old iPad is feeling a little sluggish, the A16 will certainly feel snappier.Read S
The iPad 11th Gen looks nearly identical to the previous version—and even the new iPad Air M3—but packs the A16 chip and double the base storage for a lower price. Riley compares it directly with the 10th Gen and iPad Air to see what’s changed, and whether this mid-cycle refresh is worth your money.Watch A r/apple u/AlwaysBlaze_ · owner
Seems like a decent tablet if you aren’t too fussy and want to spend a bit less. Only real con imo is it isn’t the most future proof due to the soc.Read thread F
Obviously, they've upgraded from the A14 Bionic chip to the A16, although it went from six cores to only five now for the CPU. They've also finally got rid of the 64 GB of storage for the base model. It now starts with 128 GB. You can also go up to 256. And they've also added 512. As you can see, pretty much identical to the iPad 10th gen.Watch T
The 2025 A16 iPad is here and it is amazing at some things and it's absolutely terrible at other things.Watch J
So to answer the question, is it worth it? I would say it depends. If you are a student on a budget, this is hands down the best value for money. But if you are doing some heavy 3D rendering, hardcore gaming, or professional video work, you'll probably miss the M series power or the pro versions. But for me, for my daily content and scripts, it is exactly what I needed. return. Answer my call. Face me. is one onwards.Watch V
But so far, I'm loving it. This color is absolutely so cute. I'm really going to miss my Touch ID. This was one of the reasons I didn't care to upgrade. I love the little Touch. Like, it's absolutely my favorite thing. So, I'm going to set up my Touch ID, which is going to be up here. I know how the iPad 10 goes and I can use it to compare to this iPad 11. They're asking for my review. So, I'm going to like literally compare it to the my ninth and their 10th.Watch T
If you're upgrading from an older iPad or you're looking for a fast, reliable tablet under £300, this is one of the best options available in 2025. But if you already own a recent iPad Air or Pro, the upgrade might not feel very dramatic. S All to Action 240.Watch
2 unconvinced sources
Maybe that curve will flatten out at some point but I am looking at 76% health by the time it's two years old 😕Read T
If you're thinking of buying an iPad right now, and you're eyeing this A16 11th gen iPad, you might want to hold off.Watch
Frequently asked questions
It ranks #1 of 20 on our tablets tier list, in S tier. That placement draws on 62 cited sources across 45 outlets.
2 of the 61 sources with a clear view are critical of it: MacRumors Forums and Tech Dad. Gives up the iPad Air's speed and screen. Slower chip. Older display. Its list price sits above the budget-tablet consensus unless you catch a sale.
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