The Apple iPad 2025 (A16) (Image credit: Future/Apple)

Choosing an iPad used to be a piece of cake. Now there are four families, different processors, and prices that jumped up in June 2026. So it’s important to pick the right one, and not pay through the nose for power you don't actually need.

The good news is, for browsing, streaming, gaming and a bit of sketching, the classic 11-inch iPad (2025) does everything you probably need. If you have specific tasks beyond that, it might be worth shelling out for a more expensive iPad Air , iPad Pro and iPad mini.…