The best iPads for reading, working, and streaming this holiday season

Read our full review of the Apple iPad Pro 2024.

Who it's for:

Professionals planning on using an iPad as their tablet and laptop should go for the iPad Pro. This 2024 release is loaded with Apple's fastest processing power. Graphic designers can store all of their creative work on the device, which has up to 2TB of storage. It's also a smart choice for video editors, as the 1TB and 2 TB models feature texturized nano-glass, which prevents glare while working in any environment — even full sun.

For graphic designers, the Apple iPad Pro 2024 is a dream come true. It's also compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro, a tool that features a unique squeezable design and a barrel roll feature, enhancing precision and control in design work.

Why we picked this:

The 2024 iPad Pro is essentially an outstanding laptop. Loaded with Apple's latest M4 processing chip, it's the most advanced option from the brand. When running the Geekbench 6 tests, Gedeon did a double take at the results. It got a score of 14,586, making it more powerful than any MacBook we've ever tested, so if you're chasing powerful performance, this is it. And that performance doesn't drain the battery life, as this beast ran for over 16 hours in our tests. And startlingly, it does all of this in a razor-thin package. As Gedeon says it feels like "cradling the whispers of technology."

You can often find 1TB storage in computers, but 2TB is rare in a laptop and nearly unheard of with a tablet, so it can store large files without a problem. Plus, the 1TB and 2TB models come with nano-glass, a texturized glass front that prevents glare no matter what environment you're in.

Who it's for:

If you prefer saving money over splurging on the latest tech, the Apple iPad (10th generation) is a fantastic choice. It's the base model of all the iPads, meaning it won't have the fastest processor or the latest features, but it is the most affordable. With the 2024 release of the iPad Air and Pro, this iPad's price dropped to $349 — a real steal for Apple technology.

Even though its tech is basic compared to the advanced iPad Air and Pro, it's perfect for someone who wants a portable screen for streaming, playing games, and reading. It's also a nice choice if you're interested in using your tablet as a laptop but don't want to spend a ton of money. It's compatible with the Magic Keyboard Folio and together costs $598 — the same price as the iPad Air.

Plus, it's especially great for kids, if you want to get them a tablet but don't want to spend a fortune on it.

Why we picked this:

The iPad (10th generation) doesn't possess the flair of the Pro or Air, but it is a testament that Apple's entry-level tablet is still stellar. It's currently the lowest-priced iPad, even defeating the Mini, making it the most affordable choice. PCMag, our sibling site, reviews the iPad 10th generation, stating that it's the best tablet at its price point.

The new landscape camera layout makes video calls look better, and upgraded stereo speakers deliver better sound. It's loaded with the Apple A14 chip, which isn't as impressive as the M-series of chips but is still quick and powerful. It has a decent-sized screen at 10.9 inches, providing plenty of room for those who want to use it as a drawing pad or journal since it is compatible with the Apple USB-C and Apple Pencil 1st generation.

Read our full review of the iPad Mini.

Who it's for:

Tablets are an incredibly versatile device, but we all have our go-to use. If you, like me, use your iPad to read, you gotta go for the iPad Mini. The other iPad models start at 10.9 inches, which is a lot of screen when you just want to flip through your e-book. Speaking from experience, holding a 10.9-inch iPad feels more like holding up a magazine than a book, so at 8.3 inches, the iPad Mini is a more comfortable handle for readers. Plus, it has an anti-reflective coating to protect from glare.

But the iPad Mini isn't just a glorified e-reader, it's still a versatile tablet. Like any iPad, you can read on the Kindle Apple, but you can also stream your favorite shows — a level of flexibility that a standard e-reader simply can't match.

So when should you avoid the iPad Mini? If you're after a tablet that can double as a laptop, this won't be for you. Eight inches might be plenty of room for reading or watching, but it's going to feel tight when you want to flip between email and Slack. As Mashable's Stan Schroeder noted in his review, when up against his M1 MacBook Pro, the iPad Mini 7th generation didn't stand a chance. Plus, it's not compatible with Apple's Magic Keyboard, but you can connect a Bluetooth keyboard in a pinch.

Why we picked this:

The iPad Mini just got a 2024 upgrade. The iPad Mini is now equipped with the A17 chip but with the same 5-core GPU and 6-core CPU. Along with the chip upgrade comes Apple Intelligence, which is especially helpful if you plan to use it for reading as it can summarize articles. It's more advanced in some ways than the iPad 10th generation. But on the flip side, it's missing key features like a landscape view camera and Magic Keyboard compatibility. When we calculate all that, it's clear that the iPad Mini is a great tablet, while the rest of the iPads in Apple's line-ups are capable of being great tablets and laptops.

Above all, I love the iPad Mini for reading. Previously, I read with my iPad 9th Generation, which works great but is just too big. When I'm in bed reading, my wrist feels strained with a standard-sized iPad. So when I switched to using the iPad Mini, I was delighted by its light weight; it weighs just over half a pound. At 8.3 inches it's about an inch and a half bigger than a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, but having used both, the hand feel is negligible. Plus, unlike the iPad 10th generation, it has an anti-reflective coating to help you read in any lighting. The iPad Mini, while great for reading, doesn't have the matte screen of other e-readers, which at night leads to some eye strain. If you want to give your iPad Mini the Kindle treatment, these Paperlike screen protectors add some nice friction to the screen so you feel like you're reading and writing on paper.

The iPad Mini's smaller size also makes it a better option for traveling. It will take up less space and weight in your bag than any other iPad on this list. Despite being smaller than the iPad 10th generation, it costs more. So what are you paying for? Slightly more advanced tech, the convenience of portability, and a better reading experience.