The best iPad in 2019: From the iPad Mini to the iPad Pro

The 2018 9.7-inch iPad and the 2019 10.2-inch iPad are absolute steals at $330 with a gorgeous sharp screen, high-end metal design, and support for the Apple Pencil.

Apple’s iPads have always been the best tablets you can buy, but the high price tags made it tough to find an iPad on a budget. All that has changed with the 2018 9.7-inch iPad. It costs a mere $330 when it’s not on sale (it’s frequently discounted), and it offers nearly all of the same high-end specs and features as the new iPad Air. The only difference is the processor, which is a bit older.

Apple also introduced a larger 10.2-inch iPad in September 2019 for those who want a bigger screen. It also costs $330 and it has most of the same specs.

If you own an aging iPad or iPad Mini, the 9.7-inch iPad or the 10.2-inch iPad are good upgrades. Obviously, if you have an iPad Air 2 or an iPad Pro, you don’t need to get the new one. The iPad is for anyone who has always wanted an iPad, but couldn’t afford the $500+ price tag. Both iPads are an absolute steal at $330, and you may be able to get the 9.7-inch one for less, as it’s frequently on sale.

The 9.7-inch screen is sharp and clear with its 2,048 x 1,536-pixel resolution, as is the 2,160 x 1,620-pixel resolution on the 10.2-inch model. The A10 processor is still capable (even though it’s not the iPhone 11’s A13 chip), the battery life should be great, and you can even buy things on both iPads with Apple Pay, thanks to the Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

Best of all, both iPads support the Apple Pencil, an incredible stylus with virtually no lag. You will have to pay $100 extra for the Pencil, but if you like to take notes or draw on your iPad, it is well worth it. Naturally, any Bluetooth keyboard also works with the iPad, so if you want to use it as a quasi-laptop, you can pick up a great keyboard.

You simply can’t beat those specs at that price point. Comparable Android tablets cost hundreds of dollars more, and the iPad still has a better app library and accessory support.

The aluminum build looks and feels premium. Both iPads are quite light, too, so you can happily binge-watch Netflix in bed or take them with you. Tech nerds will say the iPads have a boring old design, but it’s tried and true. Plus, the aluminum build is durable.

Pros: Incredible price for an iPad, slick aluminum design, Touch ID for security and Apple Pay, gorgeous screen, supports the Apple Pencil

Cons: Not the latest processor