Five-fold price gap, same brand name
Apple's current iPad range runs from £428.99 for the base model up to £2,168.14 for a maxed-out 13-inch Pro — a genuinely enormous spread for devices that all carry the same "iPad" branding. That range exists because these aren't really one product with different storage options; they're four distinct devices built for different jobs, and the biggest mistake buyers make is paying Pro prices for a Pro's worth of power they'll never actually use.
Here's what each tier is actually for, using real current UK prices.
Base iPad (A16) — from £428.99
The standard iPad, running Apple's A16 chip, is the right starting point for most buyers. Browsing, email, video calls, streaming, note-taking, casual gaming — the base iPad handles all of it comfortably, and for the vast majority of people considering an iPad at all, this is where the search should end, not begin.
Price: £428.99 (128GB) / rising with storage and cellular
Best for: Everyday use — browsing, streaming, note-taking, family use. The right default choice unless you have a specific reason to spend more.
iPad Air (M3) — from £1,037.60
The iPad Air, available in both 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, steps up to Apple's M3 chip — the same silicon family used in recent MacBooks. This is genuinely more power than most iPad tasks require, but it matters if you do real multitasking, use apps like Procreate or LumaFusion seriously, or want a device that will stay comfortably capable for years rather than just today.
Price: From £1,037.60 (13-inch) / 11-inch Air available separately
Best for: Serious multitasking, creative apps, or buyers who want headroom for the next several years rather than just current needs.
iPad Pro (M5) — from £1,401.49
The iPad Pro, in both 11-inch and 13-inch M5 configurations, is built for people who genuinely push a tablet to its limits — video editing, professional design work, or anyone who wants the best display and performance Apple makes in this form factor, cost genuinely secondary to capability.
For nearly everyone reading a "which iPad should I buy" guide, this is more device than you need. If you already know you need it — because your current iPad genuinely struggles with your workload — you know who you are. If you're not sure, you almost certainly don't need it.
Price: From £1,401.49 (11-inch, 256GB) up to £2,168.14 (13-inch, 2TB)
Best for: Professional creative work, or anyone replacing a laptop entirely with an iPad and needing genuine laptop-class performance.
iPad Mini (A17 Pro) — from £890.14
The iPad Mini trades screen size for portability — an 8.3-inch display that's genuinely pocketable in a way no other iPad is, while still running the capable A17 Pro chip. This is the pick for reading, note-taking on the go, or anyone who wants an iPad experience without carrying a full-size tablet.
Price: From £890.14
Best for: Portability over screen real estate — reading, travel, one-handed use.
Which iPad should you actually buy?
- Just want a good, capable everyday tablet: the base iPad (A16) at £428.99 — this is genuinely the right answer for most people
- Want real multitasking and creative headroom: iPad Air (M3), from £1,037.60
- Need professional-grade performance and know it: iPad Pro (M5), from £1,401.49
- Want maximum portability over screen size: iPad Mini (A17 Pro), from £890.14
The honest advice most buying guides won't give you plainly: unless you have a specific, concrete reason to need more, the base iPad is the right choice. Apple's marketing pushes the Air and Pro tiers hard, but the jump in real-world usefulness for most people's actual tasks is much smaller than the jump in price.
Compare live prices across every retailer GadgetRank tracks on our iPad page before you buy.
Related reading: Buy New MacBooks · Buy New phones SIM-free · Best Refurbished iPad UK 2026 · Refurbished vs new — is it worth it? · Compare iPhones · Compare Samsung Galaxy phones · Sell your old iPad · All buying guides
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