Review: Apple iPad (A16, 2025)

My best friend recently called my 13-inch iPad Air the “giant-ass iPad.” All my friends know how much I rely on Apple's slate, and that's because my only hobby outside of reading is binge-watching everything and anything. (Someone get me on Summer House.) But I also review iPads for my job, and have the entire lineup to choose from. As tempting as the large screen is, if I were to go out and buy my own right now, I'd get Apple's basic iPad.

Apple refreshed its entry-level tablet in March, and it's nearly identical to the 2022 model that preceded it. It's largely a processor upgrade with the A16 Bionic, the same chip inside the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15, and you finally get 128 GB of storage instead of 64. It's such a basic update that it doesn't even have Apple Intelligence—you know, the thing Apple won't stop talking about with every new product launch and software update. Some might even relish that, free from having AI shoved into every product.

The point is that, as basic as it is, Apple's regular-ass iPad is all you need. (If you do actually need a new tablet.) Whether it's going to be used to stream all the reality TV, to take notes in class, or to compose emails, this machine can do almost everything and remains the best iPad.

Same Old, Same Old

Apple is moving away from using generations to distinguish its tablets. Technically, this iPad is the 11th-gen model, but Apple officially calls it the iPad (A16), named after the processor inside. It looks like the old one, though I would've appreciated even more fun color options. Apple sent me the yellow, which cheers me up whenever I look at it, but a few extra shades couldn't hurt.

The LCD screen is now 11 inches, a measly 0.1-inch size increase from the prior model. Barring that, you still get the USB-C port, a 12-megapixel centered landscape selfie camera, and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor baked into the power button on the edge. The bezels are chunky, a signature of all "cheap" tablets and screens. The smaller size is noticeable coming from the 13-inch iPad Air, but it's comfortable for getting work done (even with multiple apps and windows open), and I had no trouble binge-watching TV. (It is easier to carry, though not as portable as the iPad Mini.)

My desk is near a window, so I always have to keep this iPad at max brightness to avoid the glare (maybe invest in an anti-glare screen protector). No fancy nano-textured glass for you. Speaking of the glass, this is the only iPad that isn't fully laminated. There's a gap between the screen and the glass, so you might feel a slight delay when sketching with the Apple Pencil.

Frankly, if you want an iPad for drawing, you should skip this one. It only supports the first-gen Apple Pencil (the one that rolls off every table) and the Apple Pencil USB-C (the one that can't sense pressure). You cannot use the Apple Pencil Pro, and Apple has officially discontinued the second-gen Apple Pencil—even if you had one lying around, it won't work here.

And if you want to do some typing, Apple has the two-piece Magic Keyboard Folio. But the $249 price is absurd after spending $350 on the iPad. Just get a third-party keyboard case, like the Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard.

Basic Is Best

The A16 Bionic driving the performance has been snappy and smooth during my time with the iPad. I've mainly used the slate for streaming content, taking notes, and reading books on the Kindle app. I also used it to write some of this review—even with multiple tabs and apps open, I didn't experience any hiccups.

Unfortunately, since this isn't an iPad with an M-series chip, it doesn't support Stage Manager. It's the feature that enables a desktop-like environment, which makes it easy to switch between apps. I could only use Split View and Slide Over for so long before I returned to my MacBook Air. The basic iPad is fine for singular tasks like crushing through an email inbox, taking Zoom calls, basic photo or video editing, and mobile gaming.

Why is Apple Intelligence unavailable? The technical reason is that the A16 Bionic has 6 GB of RAM, and Apple Intelligence requires at least 8 GB, as seen on the iPhone 15 Pro. Apple also probably wants to gate-keep some of these features to its more premium devices. It doesn't matter for me, though. I already turned off Apple Intelligence on my iPhone and MacBook.

The basic iPad is still undefeated in value over competitors. Sure, the price jumps dramatically if you opt for more storage or go with Apple's first-party accessories. But the base model itself does everything most people need, and the iPad ecosystem has hundreds of accessories you can choose from to match your budget. It's an iPad that will easily last the next five years, if not more, and I for one am thankful there's no price hike despite the tariffs (knock on wood).

I will be sticking with this iPad as my daily tablet. I never feel like I'm not using it to its fullest, something I often think about while using the iPad Air. Basic is best, and the iPad is all I need.