Which iPad should you get?

Apple's 2014 iPad lineup is jam-packed. At the top end there's the brand new iPad Air 2. Then there's the updated iPad mini 3, last year's iPad Air and last year's iPad mini 2, and at the lower-than-ever bottom end, the original iPad mini. There are different features, different screen sizes, different capacities, and different price points to consider. In other words, there's a lot to choose from. So do you go with big or small, old or new, cost or value? Which iPad should you get?

iPad models and price points

Apple's spring 2014 iPad lineup consists of 4 different models, the iPad Air, Retina iPad mini, iPad 4, and iPad mini. The iPad Air and Retina iPad mini have 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB storage options, in either Wi-Fi only, or Wi-Fi and cellular models. The iPad 4 and iPad mini come only with 16GB, but still have Wi-Fi only, or Wi-Fi + cellular models. That makes for a dizzying array of possibilities.

Yes, both the new Retina iPad mini and the old iPad 4 start at $399.

iPad Specs

	iPad mini	iPad Air	iPad mini 2	iPad mini 3	iPad Air 2
Screen Size	7.9 inches	9.7 inches	7.9 inches	7.9 inches	9.7 inches
Screen Resolution	1024x768 (163ppi)	2048x1536 (264ppi)	2048x1536 (264ppi)	2048x1536 (326ppi)	2048x1536 (326ppi) | | 2048x1536 (264ppi)
Screen Type	IPS LED	IPS LED	IPS LED	IPS LED	Laminated IPS LED
System-on-a-chip	Apple A5	Apple A7	Apple A7	Apple A7	Apple A8X
CPU	1GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9	64-bit dual core Apple A7 Cyclone (ARM v8)	64-bit dual core Apple A7 Cyclone (ARM v8)	64-bit dual core Apple A7 Cyclone (ARM v8)	64-bit triple core Apple A7 Cyclone 2 (ARM v8)
GPU	PowerVR dual-core SGX543MP4	PowerVR quad-core SGX554MP4	PowerVR G6430	PowerVR G6430	PowerVR G6430 | PowerVR GX6650?
Co-processor	none	M7 Motion	M7 Motion	M7 Motion	M8 Motion
RAM	512MB	1GB	1GB	1GB	2GB
Storage	16GB	16GB/32GB	16GB/32GB	16GB/64GB/128GB	16GB/64GB/128GB
Cellular Data	LTE	LTE	LTE	LTE	LTE Advanced
SIM	Nano	Nano	Nano	Nano	Apple
Rear Camera	5MP/1080p	5MP/1080p	5MP/1080p	5MP/1080P	8MP/1080P
Front Camera	1.2MP/720p	1.2MP/720p	1.2MP/720p	1.2MP/720p	1.2MP/720p
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0	Bluetooth 4.0	Bluetooth 4.0	Bluetooth 4.0	Bluetooth 4.0
Wi-Fi	802.11a/b/g/n	802.11a/b/g/n MIMO	802.11a/b/g/n MIMO	802.11a/b/g/n MIMO	802.11a/b/g/n/ac MIMO
GPS	aGPS, GLONASS	aGPS, GLONASS	aGPS, GLONASS	aGPS, GLONASS	aGPS, GLONASS
Sensors	Ambient light, accelerometer, compass, gyroscope	Ambient light, accelerometer, compass, gyroscope	Ambient light, accelerometer, compass, gyroscope	Ambient light, accelerometer, compass, gyroscope	Ambient light, accelerometer, compass, gyroscope, barometer
Speakers	Stereo	Stereo	Stereo	Stereo	Stereo
Connector	Lightning	Lightning	Lightning	Lightning	Lightning
Height	7.87 inches (199.9 mm)	9.4 inches (238.8 mm)	7.87 inches (199.9 mm)	7.87 inches (199.9 mm)	9.4 inches (238.8 mm)
Width	5.3 inches (134.6 mm)	6.6 inches (167.6 mm)	5.3 inches (134.6 mm)	5.3 inches (134.6 mm)	6.6 inches (167.6 mm)
Depth	0.28 inches (7.1 mm)	0.29 inches (7.4 mm)	0.29 inches (7.4 mm)	0.29 inches (7.4 mm)	0.24 inches (6.1 mm)
Weight	0.68 lbs (308 g)	1.0 lbs (454 g)	0.73 lbs (331 g)	0.73 lbs (331 g)	0.96 lbs (437 g)
Battery	4440mAh	8820mAh	6471mAh	6471mAh	6471mAh | N/A
Colors	Black/White	Space gray/Silver	Space gray/Silver	Space gray/Silver/Gold	Space gray/Silver/Gold

Up-front vs. total cost of ownership

The original iPad mini now starts at $249, making it the cheapest iPad ever. The iPad mini 2 starts at $299. Both cost less up-front than the new iPad mini 3 or the original iPad Air, which start at $399, and the new iPad Air 2 which starts at $499. That can be a considerable difference up front, $100 to $250 depending on the exact model and options you choose. That's real money, in your pocket, for rent, for food, for car payments, for school, or for other important things in your life.

However, if you keep an iPad over the course of a year or two, $100 or even $250 isn't that much spread out over time. In some cases, it's less than $10 a month, for a much better screen, a much better processor, and more. The longer you keep it, the greater the cost gets spread over time.

If you have absolutely no money to work with, the iPad mini is an okay tablet and the iPad mini 2 and iPad Air are very good ones. If money isn't your biggest consideration, the iPad mini 3 and especially the iPad Air 2 will serve you much better for much longer.

Finite vs. future-proof

Apple is pretty good about supporting older devices. They supported the spring 2011 iPad 2 until spring 2014. They're still supporting the 2012 iPad mini. That's an eternity in gadget years. However, compatibility comes with compromise. Older generation iPads have older generation hardware. the original iPad mini has a lower screen density — standard instead of Retina — and older processors — 32-bit Apple A5 instead of 64-bit Apple A8. It also doesn't come with any storage options over 16GB — not even 32GB. If you plan on doing almost anything of substance with your iPad, you'll want more.

Also, while the iPad mini was updated to iOS 8 this year, there's no guarantee it will get iOS 9 next year, or iOS 10 the year after.

Conversely, the iPad mini 2 and original iPad Air have Retina displays, beefy Apple A7 processors, and storage options up to 32GB.

The iPad mini 3 has the same display and processor, but storage options up to 128GB.

At the very top, the iPad Air 2 has a laminated display, Apple A8X, and storage options up to 128GB which should last you for years to come.

Screen size vs. display density

Both the iPad Air and iPad Air 2 have 9.7-inch displays. The original iPad mini, iPad mini 2, and iPad mini 3 all have 7.9-inch displays. The original iPad mini has a resolution of 1024x768, but all the other iPads have a resolution of 2048x1536.

So, the iPad mini and iPad mini 2 have the densest displays at 326ppi (same as the iPhone 6). That's because it's the same resolution as the iPad Airs, but shrunk down to a slightly smaller size. Since you might have to hold it closer, it probably won't make much real-world difference. On paper, however, it's on par with the highest density screens Apple makes.

The iPad Air and iPad Air 2 have the next densest display at 264ppi (same as the iPad 4 and iPad 3). That's because, while they're the same resolution as the Retina iPad minis, they're slightly larger. Since you might be able to hold it further away, again, it won't make that much real-world difference. They also have much higher color gamut than the iPad minis, so reds and purples look deeper and better.

The original iPad mini has a 163ppi screen (the same as the old iPhone 3GS).

What's more, the iPad Air 2 has a laminated display with a new anti-glare coating. That means pixels don't look like they're painted on the back of the glass, but embedded into the glass. That means it works better in the sun than any iPad before it.

If you don't really care about display size or quality, you'll be fine with the original iPad mini. If you want a smaller display, but a good one, either the iPad mini 2 or iPad mini 3 will do you well. If you want a bigger display with better color, the iPad Air is for you. If you want a great display, you want the iPad Air 2.

Who should get an original iPad mini?

The iPad mini launched in October of 2012, and comes with a Lightning adapter. Aside from that, it's all old tech. Standard display instead of Retina, and Apple A5 processor instead of Apple A7. The current version does come with Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + cellular options, but with only 16GB of storage, which will almost certainly prove painful.

If there's any way for you to save up an additional $50 for the iPad mini 2, or better still, $150 for the 32GB iPad mini 2, you'll have a much, much better experience. Otherwise, if you really want an iPad, and you've got $249 earmarked for it and not a penny more — or you're equipping a school or business by the score — get the iPad mini.

It's just not recommended, especially because of the limited storage.

Who should get an iPad mini 2?

The iPad mini 2 comes packed with 7.9-inches of 2048x1536 Retina display and a fast Apple A7 processor. It's identical in most ways to the original iPad Air. It's just $100 cheaper.

If price is a consideration, the iPad mini 2 is a really good tablet, and starts at just $299. If size is a consideration, the iPad mini 2 is better if you want to travel with it, use it as a mobile hotspot, and otherwise value portability the most. (It'll fit in a baggy back jeans pocket if it has to.) Likewise, if you already travel with a laptop, the iPad mini 2 is a great companion device.

However, it doesn't have Touch ID or Apple pay, and it doesn't have the option for 64GB or 128GB of storage.

Who should get an original iPad Air?

The original iPad Air has a 9.7-inch, 2048x1536 Retina display and fast Apple A7 processor. Aside from size, weight, display quality, and price, however, it's pretty much identical to the iPad mini 2. So, if you're looking for a mid-range iPad, your choice boils down to an extra $100 for an extra 2-inches. That means it starts at just $399.

If size is something you're debating, the iPad Air is primed for people who use it around the house, office, or school, and otherwise put productively ahead of portability. (Those extra inches can come in handy.) Likewise, if you don't travel with a laptop, the the larger real-estate and keyboard size can make the iPad Air a much better replacement device.

However, it doesn't have Touch ID or Apple pay, or the new Apple A8X processor, and it doesn't have the option for 64GB or 128GB of storage.

Who should get an iPad mini 3?

The iPad mini 3 comes packed with the same 7.9-inches of 2048x1536 Retina display and a fast Apple A7 processor as the iPad mini 2. The big differences are Touch ID, Apple Pay, and the option for 64GB or 128GB of storage. All starting at $399.

Touch ID and Apple Pay might seem like conveniences, but they can also be transformative. If you enter a lot of passwords on your iPad, or do a lot shopping, an extra $100 over the course of a year or two (or more) may not be that much money. Likewise, if you want to store a ton of media, apps, or other content on your iPad, the higher capacity models may be more of a must-have than nice-to-have.

If size is a consideration, the iPad mini 2 is better if you want to travel with it, use it as a mobile hotspot, and otherwise value portability the most. (It'll fit in a baggy back jeans pocket if it has to.) Likewise, if you already travel with a laptop, the iPad mini 3 is a great companion device.

The iPad mini 3 — and Touch ID + Apple Pay — only look expensive because Apple cut the iPad mini 2 by $100 instead of $50. If you have the extra money, though, the value can still exceed the cost.

Who should get an iPad Air 2?

The iPad Air 2 has the same 9.7-inch, 2048x1536 Retina display as the original iPad Air, but laminated now, and with an anti-glare coating to make it look better and work better in a wider range of conditions. It also has the tri-core Apple A8X processor which, combined with Apple's frameworks, can enable performance on-par with recent ultrabooks. All in a thin sliver of glass you can hold in your hands. Starting at $499.

You've also go Touch ID and Apple Pay, and 64GB and 128GB storage options. Touch ID and Apple Pay might seem like conveniences, but they can also be transformative. If you enter a lot of passwords on your iPad, or do a lot shopping, an extra $100 over the course of a year or two (or more) may not be that much money. Likewise, if you want to store a ton of media, apps, or other content on your iPad, the higher capacity models may be more of a must-have than nice-to-have.

If size is something you're debating, the iPad Air 2 is primed for people who use it around the house, office, or school, and otherwise put productively ahead of portability. (Those extra inches can come in handy.) Likewise, if you don't travel with a laptop, the the larger real-estate and keyboard size can make the iPad Air 2 a much better replacement device.

However, it doesn't have Touch ID or Apple pay, or the new Apple A8X processor, and it doesn't have the option for 64GB or 128GB of storage.

Still undecided?

If you're still having trouble choosing between the iPad mini, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, iPad Air, or iPad Air 2, jump into our iPad discussion forums and the best community in mobile will happily help you out.

Bottom line, don't spend money you don't have, but don't skimp if you don't have to. Your iPad will be one of the most often-used, most important possessions in your life for months and maybe years to come. Get as much iPad as you can reasonably afford, and then enjoy!