ULTIMATE iPad buyer’s guide - 2023 edition!

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If you’re considering buying an iPad in 2022 or 2023, you might be wondering where on earth to start. I understand, which is why I’ve put together my ultimate iPad buyer’s guide for 2023. From the 9th generation iPad to the iPad mini, 10th generation iPad, iPad Air, and iPar Pro, we’ll work out which one is for you!
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CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro
00:59 - Benks
02:22 - 9th generation iPad
03:18 - 10th generation iPad
04:27 - iPad mini
05:32 - iPad Air
06:36 - iPad Pro
08:44 - Accessories

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Which iPad are you buying next and why?

[@JeffPom]

Bought iPad Air fifth. Great sale. M1 chip - bringing me Stage Manager with external display, center stage, possible future features? Upgraded from fourth gen. Can’t afford or justify pro. Air is great in between!

[@stevebachochin2038]

Upgraded from mini to m2 11 inch pro . Needed better external monitor support , better sound, Magic Keyboard

[@B1INK]

Just got the mini 6 due to size

[@stevebachochin2038]

@@B1INK i love the mini’s size, just wanted Dex on an iPad

[@javtimestwo]

would prefer to have the iPad Air but not enough steaks in the freezer at the moment to purchase

[@woodpile20]

Some of the reviews for this don't make sense. This kzbin.infoUgkxUGaHtKW8MwCql2fPyIm9-ftTqSMzKFFA works as well as any power strip I've used. Plug in what you need, be sensible about it & keep it movin' The construction is plastic but it's a sturdy piece. It has a single toggle switch & the swivel jacks are useful as well. Plugged in next to Tripp Lite Isobar takes some of these reviews with a pinch of sumthin' - does what it says & functions properly.Had for about a month. Perfect no complaints will update if anything changes.

[@jeffnicoloo]

Thanks Mark! Substantial content per usual. The best tech youtuber i think. No frills; just things i needed to know.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Wow, thank you!

[@Josef8080]

I've bought the mini a few days ago and I'm enjoying it. A cute piece of electronic! well engineered

[@zjb1711]

I am about to become a professional pilot and I could really use the M2 chip so I bought the 11 inch iPad Pro so I can be sure I have a processor that won’t fail me mid flight.

[@shavockiphea]

I’ve been rocking the 2018 12.9 pro and recently picked up a mini 6. I find I reach for the mini 6 more often, but the 2018 pro still gets the job done when I need a larger canvas.

[@KITFLETCH1]

Really excellent. Thank you, Mark.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Thank you

[@SuperCarsFromTheHood]

Right on time because I was about to search this and it was right on the homepage. Thanks KZbin. Thanks Mark Ellis.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Awesome!

[@raymondtan892]

Just the video I needed!

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Awesome!

[@Michaelcollins24]

I recently purchased the iPad Air and I love it especially with the magic keyboard its fits all of my needs. Thanks for another great video.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Nice - enjoy!

[@terriersforever23]

Good afternoon mate,thanks for another very informative video,I still love my iPad mini and my iPad Pro 12.9 I like the fact I can use the same Apple Pencil on both .

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Thanks for such a lovely comment!

[@murtazachaudhary3339]

Very nice video. I can only recommend iPad Air. Although very old I have the iPad Air 2 which has lasted me even until this day. Just a shame I can’t download iOS 16 due to Apple not supporting it. The battery life has been superb. Just a real shame due to the processor it’s no longer runs fast. With the newer iPad Generation I think will be exactly the same as iPad Air 2 in terms of it lasting for years to come. I do like the look of iPad mini but will wait until 2023 to see what Apple brings to the table regarding that smaller size factor.

[@jaymac2151]

I love the Prince book making a cameo. The greatest.

[@asan1050]

Thanks Much !

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Happy to be of assistance!

I dont know Mark, my Apple Pencil 1st gen doesnt roll of from any table. It is weighted so that Apple logo always faces upwards. Its really not as bad as you always make it up to be

[@z_skafi]

I’m going between two iPads, the iPad Air 4 or the iPad mini 6, the two have a reasonably powerful SOC with the mini sporting the A15 Bionic while the air 4 has the A14. They are both really powerful when it comes to daily tasks. However, the mini has that additional headroom in case I would like to download more demanding applications, I’m fine with 64gb, people say it’s very little, but I actually think it’s fine, heck, I’m using a iPad 5th generation currently with only 32gb! But pros and cons of the iPad mini and air 4 are obviously the A15 and also the camera on the mini, the front facing camera is ultra wide and has center stage whilst the air doesn’t. But the mini does have a smaller screen which can be good for when I’m holding it in my hands and consuming content or playing games, it might be a bit small when I am doing school work or something, while air 4 has larger screen which is better for multitasking, and doing schoolwork. I really like both these iPads, and I have tried the iPad Air 4 because one of my friends owns it, although I have never tried an iPad mini. But who knows? Maybe I’ll try one in the Apple Store at the mall outside my window.

[@JeffPom]

iPad Air - would be nice to have camera in landscape. Or options?

[@wataworks6478]

So it is either the mini 6 or the air 5? I’m currently using the 10.5 pro and the mini 5. I’m not using the pro features but I like the quad speakers. Which one should I get?

[@Josef8080]

Superior quality video as always

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Love that - thank you!

[@andrewwarner7580]

I can get an iPad 9 with 256g storage for the same price for the iPad 10 with 64g storage through my carrier.

[@dirkslifeadvice5339]

iPad Air was the best value. I use for work in sales. They liked the old iPad so this will be much better.

[@kingkal81]

Can you please do an update video on the Fiido D4S eBike.

[@markingle8487]

Interesting that amazon doesn't stock the Benks pencil and ordering it from the link you put seems to take one to a US store (presumably with slow shipping); there don't seem to be any UK resellers?

[@slomealamri3883]

I bought the iPad 10th gen I think it’s perfect for me because I don’t really care about the Apple Pencil and it’s 150$ dollar cheaper than the iPad Air in my country and it’s going well for me so far👍

[@schultztimothy18]

The Air 5 would be great but the 64 gb seems limiting considering the investment. My MacBook Pro is my work horse. It’s attached to a monitor so it’s more of a desktop computer for me. I’m looking for an iPad for portability and to tackle some routine productivity tasks as well as some light photo (Lightroom and pixelmator) and video editing (reels- nothing substantial). I save most media on the cloud. The 256 gb Air 5 seems like overkill and at that point I might as well pay $50 more for the M2 pro with 128 gb. The Face ID would be nice too along with the pro res. I don’t need all the power but would it be the better investment? I am going to pair it with the combo touch most likely. Do you think I should stick with the 64 gb or upgrade? Thanks for the video!

[@howlbeast]

I'm looking to purchase my 1st iPad but Im confused on the pick. I was set on iPad Air 2022 but the 64gb is a concern and nearly all review say for £50 more get ipad PRO. Im not ready for that yet as I wanna see my productivity/use and my budget is 800

[@imlistening1137]

Ive bought 2 off-brand Apple Pencil 2s, and one never synced with my iPad, the other petered out in just a few months.

[@pokhoshamulailatpam5552]

If I do not store anything on the ipad air 5, can 64 gb be enought to run lag free for atleast 5 years?

[@TechXSoftware]

Do you use the iPhone 14 Pro Max?

[@yasser2152]

I think iPad Air the best for most people but the 64G storage not enough in 2022, that's why i bought iPad pro 11..

[@ethanwasme4307]

I wish a new mini would come out... It's perfect size for gaming... Sadly I'll be going to a second hand M1 pro since the cheapest M1 air has crappy storage

[@TechXSoftware]

I got the M1 iPad Pro last year. It was worth it just for Pro Motion

[@stephencapillas1861]

I prefer the 11 inch IPad Pro over the 12.9 Pro which looks and feels like a computer TV monitor.

[@CervusWright]

No mention of the speakers…I’m buying on the basis of which one’s louder…unable to use headphone/earbuds.

[@bmwmrt]

Hi. In your recent blog you’ve claimed that base model m2 mba isn’t that capable of 4k video editing (final cut). If I get the 512ssd/16gb/10core version, do you think it can smoothly edit 4k videos on final cut?

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Yep, you’ll be absolutely fine

[@Stoicismformillenials]

How about the iPad Pro with M1 chips on them? I think everyone’s forgotten about them, right when the M2s came out.

[@techinrl9869]

He’s talking about the current lineup. The M1 iPad Pro is discontinued. Sure, you can still find it in places while supplies last, but since it’s no longer officially for sale at Apple, it isn’t included. You can still occasionally find an iPad Air 4 or an iPad Pro 2018 or 2020 in various places, but they’re not included in the discussion either. If you’re looking for an M1 iPad Pro because you don’t think the M2 is worth the price premium, I actually suggest waiting for the next iPad Pro, which will likely be a full redesign with a different Apple Pencil, new keyboard with more features, a landscape camera, and probably an OLED screen. I predict it will come out March 2024.

[@graphicallydeb9897]

I am very disappointed with my new Apple IPad, It is a 11.5 in borderless model. It does not hold a charge sufficiently. My phone does a much better job (Samsung). They told me my Apple Pencil would work with the new iPad- it doesn't. The age of my old iPad gave me all of $45 for a trade in.. I spent 2 hours getting it erased with their help.. they denied the trade in. Said the battery was swollen (it wasn't when it left here). Said my info was on the old tablet. I worked for 2 hours with their help to get it wiped, they assured me it was. The cable is very tight and I have concerns it will break the port where it plugs in. I called their help- you rarely get good help from Apple.. She was rude, wouldn't budge. I am going to send back the new tablet and get something else. Starting to shop. Any recommendations? Don't be sucked in- this is not the Apple that it used to be. They could care less about you. So- looking at something besides an APPLE- Who has an Android Tablet that they love-- Thank You.

[@americanpaisareturns9051]

Interesting. Personally I’ve never owned an iPad. I have no need for one. I have a 14 Pro and a 2015 Apple TV 4th Gen. I surf the web, watch movies, tv show, and listen to music. I just switch from the small scream to the bigger TV screen and I’m good to go. 😂

[@ethanwasme4307]

I plan on reselling my brand new M1 pro next year... The magic keyboard not having protection around the sides is why I won't be buying it

[@AlexChown]

Is it crazy I’d like a mini and a pro 😂

[@MarkEllisReviews]

Nope!

[@VictorGarcia16]

I been on the market for a new iPad this past year and I finally decided to get the iPad Pro 12.9 with 256GB. I have purchased the iPad mini 3 TIMES, but my eye sight is not for that iPad. I purchased the 9th gen, but felt like I purchased an iPad from 10 years ago and then I returned it. Amazon gave me a hard time and gave me store credit. I purchased the iPad Pro 11 M1 with Magic Keyboard and I ended up selling on ebay for a big loss. I purchased the iPad Air I just did not like it either. Finally, I realized I have always wanted the 12.9 and was trying to fit my needs with these other iPads. My goal is to replace my MacBook Pro M1 of 2 years. I will not buy Magic Keyboard and I already have a Pencil 2. I will purchase from Apple, so for some reason I don't like it. I will not have any issues on returning it. 😬 I am a mess...

[@techinrl9869]

I’m not sure what you mean when you say the iPad doesn’t make full use of the M1/M2. No OS does, just like macOS barely makes a dent in the M1/M2. It’s the apps that make use of it. There are thousands of apps that make full use of the M1/M2 on the iPad, allowing games with frame rates up to 120fps at high resolution, plus a lot of pro apps that can take advantage of the media engines. If you’re referring only to Final Cut Pro, that’s a niche app bought by very few people on the Mac. If the usefulness of the iPad Pro is predicated on the existence of a single app, that person should buy a Mac instead. Lots of KZbinrs have fallen into the trap of Final Cut Pro. I’ll use the example of MaxTech, which has published two videos in the last week calling the iPad Pro finally pro. Why? Because they’re running a beta version of DaVinci Resolve. Those reviewers run the risk of becoming too niche in their reviews where only their needs and workflows are all that matters, ignoring thousands of other apps that make full use of the M1/M2. I do commend you for mentioning not everyone uses FCP and barring that, the iPad Pros are awesome devices. There is never too much power. Thanks for not falling into the same trap.

[@markwornom1050]

I think your first paragraph is spot on but your second one misses the point slightly. Many reviewers focus on FCP because it is, after all, an Apple product that I can imagine they would also like to continue to use on other Apple products for continuity of work. I think MaxTech nailed it with the comment about it finally becoming pro with the upcoming edition of DR. I mean, if you can't actually use software similar to what you use on other desktop devices, how is the "Pro" name justified for its price? I also note that many of MaxTech's benchmarks typically include a range of applications such as games, 3D modeling, photo and video editing so they do demonstrate capabilities across the range. They also, along with others I believe, have clearly demonstrated that all USB-C connectors aren't the same with the data transfer speeds varying from USB 2 speed in the new iPad 10 to Thunderbolt 4 in the Pros. Probably an irrelevant point for many that will rely on Wi-Fi for file transfer, but it does show how the price differences can be justified especially in the long term. And for anyone who is a hybrid user of both Windows and Apple, like me since there are no good desktop choices from Apple for the moment, it's a big advantage to be able to transfer files quickly over a cable versus having to first upload to the cloud just so you can DL the files from there to Windows. I believe it was also MaxTech where I saw that a 256gb equipped iPad was significantly faster than a 64gb one when testing in some benchmark. Something that some may want to keep in mind when purchasing if they have the need. Not everyone needs to view MaxTech to find what they need to know but I find their benchmarks informative in many cases.

[@techinrl9869]

@@markwornom1050 Sorry, I don’t agree at all. Maybe 0.00001% of people with iPads have any interest whatsoever with FCP since very few people need anything more than iMovie to make their movies. KZbinrs have an obsession with FCP, which I think is very unhealthy because it blinds them to the needs of the rest of the people who have zero interest. MaxTech couldn’t be more wrong and are in danger of catering to a niche of a niche of a niche of people interested in only one app, considering only a tiny portion of video editors even use FCP. There are over 1 million apps on the iPad App Store and to consider a single app to be the be-all and end-all of being pro is pure nonsense. Do you think every pro uses FCP? Heck no. There are a ton of professions that don’t do video editing. You also spend a lot of time talking about file transfers. The only iPads with M1/M2’s have transfer speeds from 10Gbps (Air 5) to 40Gbps (Pros), neither speed considered to be slow.

[@markwornom1050]

@@techinrl9869 Feel free to disagree, these are my thoughts and opinions but there are many others. I don't know where you're getting your assumptions about FCP and video editing usage, but it appears to me that there is vastly more interest in something other than iMovie if Blackmagic Design is about to release a desktop version of their Davinci Resolve program for the M2 Pro. Further, I never said that every professional uses FCP or that every pro only edits video, don't know where you're getting that from. The point that you're missing is that if a pro uses a particular app on their desktop, they don't want to have to switch to using a different one just because they're mobile. You also missed my point about USB-C transfer speeds because my point was if you pay more, you get more. So, it only makes sense and is appropriate from Apple's point of view that the Pros are faster. But, your comment about the speeds and chips piqued my interest in case I decide to buy used. What I found was that 10gbps USB-C was first introduced on the iPad Pros in 2020 but the M1 chips not until 2021. No doubt that 10 and 40gbps are probably fast enough but, more importantly, they are significantly faster than the base models and that's something I consider in making a purchase decision. And now, MaxTech, in danger of becoming too niche? I seriously doubt it with 1+ million subscribers. Love them or hate them they mostly provide useful content to many. But, if you're saying that they only use FCP for testing, that's completely wrong. You could be forgiven if you were never interested in a device in which they chose to compare the performance of FCP, PP and DR while testing. But, they also routinely test other professional usages such as photo editing, 3D modeling, audio editing and production and games, as I mentioned before, so that users from various disciplines can access whether a device fits their needs.

[@matjazsparas7286]

Nobody edits videos on iPads. When will these tech youtubers understand this…

[@MarkEllisReviews]

And why do you think that is?

[@oldskool4572]

The only reason the iPad 10 exists is to push people to spend more on the air. Cynical.

[@shivasoham]

Oh god, enough with the paperlike ads please.

[@MarkEllisReviews]

You might need to stop watching this channel tbh.

[@markwornom1050]

So, you like the products being advertised by other reviewers and just have a problem with Paperlike? 🙂

[@shivasoham]

But it’s such a great channel!

[@shivasoham]

Not quite. As far as iPad videos go, “Paperlike” is pretty much the standard sponsor everywhere - hence the saturation. What I find somewhat disingenuous about Paperlike is just how expensive it is for what it is. “Then just don’t buy it.” Sure - I won’t. My trouble is more general, however. The fact that it’s now peddled as THE screen protector wherever you look makes it appear like the standard choice with the standard cost - thereby eliding the fact that there are several well-performing alternatives out there, just without the inflated cost being sustained by the KZbinr’s hype.

[@markwornom1050]

@@shivasoham I see your point. I think this is the first time I've actually seen the ad anywhere. It probably irritates the sponsors but it's sweet when the YT creator actually creates chapter markers and you can choose to just skip over them.