iPad (2025) Review: Solid Upgrades Make It the Essential Choice Without the Apple Intelligence Hype

When it launched in 2022, Apple’s 10th-generation iPad occupied an ambiguous position, featuring a long-awaited design overhaul at a steep price. A year and a half later, Apple implemented a $100 price reduction, significantly enhancing its overall appeal. Now, the organization has silently introduced a successor. Known as the iPad (A16), this latest tablet introduces modest enhancements in performance without significantly altering its overall concept. It even forgoes the Apple Intelligence features that the company has heavily highlighted over the prior year.

This isn’t inherently negative. In contrast to the iPad Air, iPad Pro, and iPad mini, this model may be the most comprehensible Apple tablet — it’s the least expensive, available only in a single size, and clearly aimed at essential iPad users. However, this doesn’t guarantee its success.

Apple

84100Expert Score

Apple iPad (A16)

While it may not stir much enthusiasm, and notably misses Apple Intelligence, the latest entry-level tablet still caters to most iPad users smoothly.

Pros

• The A16 chip is impressively fast for most common tasks with iPads
• Storage and RAM have doubled for the same pricing as before
• Construction quality and battery performance remain high
• iPadOS continues to offer the best app ecosystem and features for tablets
• Excludes Apple Intelligence

Cons

• Display is overdue for upgrades
• Ongoing issues with Apple Pencil compatibility
• Magic Keyboard Folio remains pricey and is not ideal for use on a lap
• iPads with M-series chips may offer better durability against future advancements
• No presence of Apple Intelligence

$327 at Amazon

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What hasn’t changed

A majority of the components in the latest iPad remain identical to the earlier entry-level iPad released in 2022, which successfully brought several features of the iPad Air to a more accessible price point. The design remains the same, with no changes to dimensions, weight, bezels, display, or aluminum finish. Apple has now rounded the screen size to 11 inches instead of 10.9 inches, though this is just a minor marketing alteration that doesn’t reflect any actual change.

The device still features effective 12-megapixel cameras both front and rear, with the selfie camera conveniently located on the long edge of the device for FaceTime calls. The reliable Touch ID fingerprint sensor is integrated into the power button instead of utilizing Face ID. Dual speakers are located at either end, concealed by a misleading set of grilles, while a single USB-C port continues to offer basic USB 2.0 transfer speeds. There are no updates in accessory compatibility, and the device remains available in the same vibrant color options: blue, pink, yellow, or silver.

Battery life is still approximately 10 hours per charge, varying slightly depending on usage. For instance, I managed 11 hours and 19 minutes by continuously playing a 1080p movie at about 70 percent brightness and volume, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned off. Naturally, gaming and video editing will consume battery faster.

Overall, most features are satisfactory for a $349 tablet. The previous iPad offered a lightweight, comfortable feel with a sturdy aluminum build and flat sides that contributed to its modern appearance; this model does not deviate from that. Furthermore, iPadOS maintains an advantage over Android and Windows tablets in terms of app support, long-term updates, and features optimized for larger screens. However, while the 10th-gen iPad represented a «tick» update, the iPad (A16) feels more like a «tock».

That said, the improved chip, increased memory, and expanded storage options are valuable upgrades, complemented by minor enhancements like Smart HDR 4 processing for photos and Bluetooth 5.3 support instead of Bluetooth 5.2. It’s a clear spec upgrade, with almost all changes being beneficial, although some aspects that remain unchanged could indeed benefit from a refresh next time around.

A faster chip and more RAM

The standout upgrade of the new iPad is its A16 chip. This variant is a somewhat less powerful version of the A16 Bionic found in the 2022 iPhone 14 Pro and the 2023 standard iPhone 15. Compared to that SoC, this A16 has five CPU cores instead of six, and four GPU cores versus five.

Nevertheless, in practical use, it’s still sufficiently powerful for the majority of tasks people engage in on iPads: browsing the internet, streaming videos, reading digital books, photo viewing and editing, and playing various games. I compared this iPad with my personal 13-inch iPad Air M2 for much of this evaluation, and they booted up and launched common applications at nearly identical speeds. Any instances in which the Air M2 was faster were minimal and not particularly significant.

Geekbench 6 results support this: The iPad (A16) achieved a single-core CPU score of 2,582, while the iPad Air M2 reached only slightly better at 2,632. This shows an approximate 20 percent improvement over the 10th-gen iPad, although the latest iPad Air M3 is still approximately 16-18 percent quicker. However, in terms of media consumption and regular work activities, it will not feel sluggish anytime soon.

The performance improvements are enhanced by the inclusion of 6GB of RAM, which is 2GB more than its predecessor and double that of the 9th-gen iPad from 2021. Although this is still 2GB less than the iPad Air and lower-tier iPad Pros, receiving more memory for the same price is a definite advantage: It allows the tablet to keep apps and Safari tabs open for longer before needing to refresh them for new tasks. This will enhance the likelihood of the device remaining relevant four to five years into the future as well.

On the other hand, the iPad (A16) falls short in multi-core and graphics performance compared to its higher-tier counterparts. In Geekbench 6, the tablet’s multi-core CPU score was about 40 percent behind the iPad Air M2 (6,185 vs. 10,006), while its GPU score was nearly 55 percent lower (19,448 vs. 42,920). Other graphics benchmarks displayed similar patterns: It scored around 60 percent lower than the Air M2 in 3DMark‘s Wild Life Extreme test (averaging 15.2 fps versus 37.6 fps) and was approximately 45-55 percent lower on GFXBench‘s Aztec Ruins benchmark, dependent on resolution. Of course, the gap will be slightly larger when compared to the newer iPad Air M3.

This may sound more dramatic in theory than it does in practical applications. Many daily iPad tasks won’t heavily demand the chip’s multi-core abilities, and the previous scores are still a solid 15 to 30 percent higher than those of the previous entry-level iPad. I could still play Call of Duty Mobile on maximum settings (except for the 120 fps mode) without any issues. Diablo Immortal cautioned that pushing its highest settings could lead to «high» load on the device — compared to the Air M2 which handled it only at «medium» load — yet I managed to progress through the early levels comfortably. (That said, it does appear to impact battery life rather quickly.) Tasks such as editing RAW images in Lightroom or producing music in GarageBand can also be completed without major hitches.

Still, the Air does perform better if you aim to push boundaries. This fact is particularly recognizable in the latest demanding iPadOS games. For instance, with Infinity Nikki, playing on high or ultra settings on the new iPad resulted in noticeable stutter and brief slowdowns during complex animations. The back of the device also heated up, and the battery drained at a quicker rate. Although the game was still playable at medium settings, the iPad Air M2 provided a sharper visual experience and smoother performance at high settings. Furthermore, the Air will significantly expedite processes for exporting higher-resolution videos in software like Adobe Premiere Rush.

Ultimately, the primary advantage of the iPad Air’s M-series chip and additional RAM pertains more to the future than the present. Features such as Apple Intelligence and the Stage Manager multitasking mode are not accessible here, nor are certain particularly demanding games. These features are not critical at present — though not having Stage Manager can complicate multi-display use when using an external display — but there is a chance that future noteworthy iPadOS features or resource-intensive games might not function (or function optimally) on this entry-level model.

More storage — hallelujah

The most significant enhancement in the iPad (A16) is arguably the simplest: it kicks off at 128GB of storage, double that of its predecessor. Additionally, a new 512GB option is available for $649. There isn’t much detail to share regarding this, aside from it being a «good» change. This logic-based upgrade solidifies the tablet as a more secure long-term investment compared to its predecessor, especially given Apple’s refusal to allow manual storage upgrades.

A fine display, but it’s time to improve

In his iPad Air M3 review, my colleague Nathan Ingraham suggested that it’s time for an update in the Air’s display, either via a higher refresh rate or a mini LED display, as the OLED technology exclusive to the iPad Pros signifies a major advancement. Given that the screen of the iPad (A16) is unchanged from its predecessor, I feel compelled to advocate for improvements on the entry-level model as well, though in a more moderated manner.

Isolated, the IPS display here is satisfactory. It’s adequately sized, sufficiently sharp, less prone to fingerprints, and free from significant color accuracy issues. A tablet’s primary function is to provide a substantial display, and many users targeted by Apple will likely find enjoyment in watching and reading on it. The 60Hz refresh rate is also acceptable; while it is the baseline in 2025, it feels more pronounced for a $599 (or $799) tablet like the iPad Air compared to a $349 device.

Other limitations are more bothersome. Notably, this display still isn’t laminated, meaning an air gap is visible between the LCD panel and the covering glass. While this enhances the screen’s repairability, it conveys a more budget-friendly appearance and creates a less intimate interaction with the touchscreen. This difference becomes particularly apparent when using the Apple Pencil: Writing notes on the iPad Air feels quieter and more natural. Those unfamiliar with higher-end iPads may not mind this, but once you become aware, it’s difficult to ignore.

The display also does not feature an anti-reflective coating, making it less effective against glare. Although usable outdoors, reflections on the iPad (A16) are more pronounced compared to the iPad Air M2 in bright sunlight, requiring more effort to find a suitable viewing angle. Additionally, unlike the iPad Air and iPad Pro, the base iPad lacks tuning for the broader P3 color spectrum. While the contrast in color reproduction between the iPad Air and iPad (A16) is not as stark as that between the Air and the iPad Pro, the colors on the Air tend to appear a bit bolder and less faded when placed side by side.

I understand Apple’s desire to maintain a «good, better, best» format, but with the current iPad Pro display so far ahead of the other models, there’s an opportunity to balance things out. If the next Air makes the leap to 120Hz, as Nathan proposes, then it’s reasonable to expect the upcoming standard iPad to at least include a laminated screen with better resistance to glare. These features no longer belong exclusively to premium models.

Continued issues with accessories

Pencil Pro (Apple’s top stylus) or the previous second-gen Pencil. Consequently, the only stylus available with pressure-sensitive capabilities — crucial for digital artists to create darker strokes by pressing harder — is the original Pencil, which is nearly 10 years old (!), uncomfortable compared to updated options and does not magnetically attach to the tablet. Charging it requires a USB-C cable and a USB-C to Lightning adapter. This is inconvenient.

There is still the option of the $79 USB-C Pencil, which is easier to grip and can magnetically attach to the side of the iPad, but lacks pressure sensitivity and still necessitates a separate cable for pairing and charging. Ultimately, individuals aiming to use an iPad for artistic purposes should instead consider starting with the iPad Air. I’ve never been particularly fond of the iPad’s Magic Keyboard Folio either, as its Surface-style kickstand offers stability challenges on laps and lacks backlit keys. This is particularly frustrating given its exorbitant price of $249.

Not designed for Apple Intelligence, but that’s alright for now

As previously mentioned, the iPad (A16) does not support Apple Intelligence, which encompasses the range of generative AI functionalities Apple has been gradually introducing since late last year. It is indeed the only major device Apple has launched without these AI capabilities since their rollout.

Currently, you won’t find yourself missing much in their absence. Yes, the “