You don't need to spend $800 on a good iPad – this budget model proves it

It’s not every day that a tech giant offers a new, improved product for an equal or lesser price than its previous model. This is even more true now, with looming tariff hikes causing uncertainty in the tech world. 

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Yet Apple did this very thing with the launch of the new iPad, which is the 11th generation of the iPad base model. This iPad replaces the three-year-old 10th-generation model but has better features for a $100 lower list price (though discounts and deals impact this). 

Let me break down the year-over-year spec upgrades first. The latest iPad has double the base storage of the previous generation, with options ranging from 128GB up to 512GB. The new generation also has 6GB of RAM, compared to 4GB on the previous model.

Another notable improvement to the iPad is the newer A16 Bionic chip, an Apple silicon processor that is said to be 30% faster than the A14 chip. On GPU performance, Apple says the new iPad is 50% better at graphics rendering than the previous version.

But much remains the same in the 11th-generation iPad compared to the 10th-gen. The Liquid Retina display has the exact resolution of 2360 x 1640 and up to 500 nits of brightness, and the iPad continues to support Wi-Fi 6 for connectivity and peripherals like the Apple Pencil (1st generation and USB-C) and the Magic Keyboard Folio case. 

Those numbers aren’t bad per se, but it’s safe to say that Apple isn’t necessarily pushing the limits in any regards with this year’s base-level iPad.

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But, as it turns out, keeping things the same may actually be the 11th-gen iPad’s biggest strength. As someone with a 10th-gen iPad at home, I was glad to see that the new model fits my Logitech Combo Touch keyboard case and the ESR keyboard case, saving me on costs for accessories and peripherals. 

I’ve been using the iPad 11th-generation for work throughout the week, and it performs exceedingly well for word processing, image editing, and even video editing for social media. I’ve had no issues with lagging, connectivity, or crashing on it thus far. You really have to push this thing to get it to break a sweat.

The iPad is also a great entertainment tablet, ideal for playing, streaming, messaging, and social media. It’s no Tandem OLED display like on the iPad Pro, but the Liquid Retina panel gets just colorful and sharp enough to an enjoyable viewing experience.

As you can see from the standard Geekbench 6 testing, the new iPad is a clear leader among previous base models and even the latest Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+, which sells for hundreds of dollars more at $650. These benchmarking tests evaluate day-to-day performance, so the higher scores mean you can expect less lag, faster multitasking, and a high-end gaming performance from the latest iPad compared to an older base model. 

This was evident in my testing, as the 11th-Gen iPad performed flawlessly during photo editing and gaming. 

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The only significant drawbacks of the new iPad are that it doesn’t support Apple Intelligence, which requires an A17 Bionic chip or newer, and, unsurprisingly, it doesn’t support the Apple Pencil Pro, which came out last year. These incompatibilities aren’t a dealbreaker per se, but they’re notable for those considering budgeting down to a standard iPad from an Air or Pro model and need to be aware of what’s missing. 

Apple may be capitalizing on the iPad base model being a tablet for casual users, students, and kids, something for which I don’t fault the company. If this is the case, it makes sense for Apple to skip over some features that would increase its price. The base model iPad is already a great tablet all around, regardless of whether more capable options are available. 

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The iPad is also the best tablet for most buyers, with strong processing power and a good-looking display. That is, unless the buyer is a power user looking for a tablet capable of replacing a laptop.

ZDNET’s buying advice

At the time of writing, you can buy an 11th-generation iPad for only $299 (typically $349). That alone makes it a better choice than the previous generation. If you’re wondering which base model iPad is most worth the money, this latest iPad is it. It has upgraded features for a lower price, and it is likely all you’ll need if you’re looking for an everyday tablet. 

The frills and features of the faster, more powerful iPad Air or iPad Pro are attractive, but the truth is that they’re likely excessive for most people. If you’re looking for a tablet to do light work on the go, edit some short videos, stream content, or play games, the iPad base model won’t disappoint. Suppose you’re more of a power user and intend to use heavier apps like Final Cut Pro for iPad, for example, to edit longer videos. In that case, I’d recommend a higher-end model, like those mentioned above.

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