Best iPads for everyday use

Top pick: the 11th-gen iPad (A16). For everyday browsing, streaming, email, notes and video calls it's the sensible default — the current base model, so it gets the newest iPadOS for years, and it's the cheapest way into a full-size iPad. It also comes with a stylus, which the older base models don't.

Who the others suit:

• iPad Air (M4) — if you want a bigger, brighter screen and a faster chip for multitasking, drawing or editing, without Pro money.
• iPad mini (7th-gen) — the one to carry: one-handed reading, notes and travel.
• iPad (10th-gen) — a fine everyday tablet if you find it cheaper than the 11th-gen; it's a step behind on chip and accessories.
• iPad Pro (M5) — only if you'll actually use the power: pro apps, big files, a keyboard-heavy workflow.

Skip the older iPad mini and the 9th-gen here — they're several generations behind.