Besides the extremely powerful iPad Pro M4, the launch of two new members of the iPad family, iPad A16 and iPad Air M3, has given users easier options for each specific usage need. So, which will be the most satisfactory iPad tablet choice for you in 2025?
Spring 2025 has brought Apple fanatics a highly anticipated update to the product line. iPad. The pcs tablet New with many notable improvements about to be sold on the market. But the question is which iPad tablet should you choose? Should I spend money on premium versions or is just a basic model enough?
Making a decision is not simple. On one hand, tablets are still just tablets. But on the other hand, Apple is very skillful in dividing product lines, creating separate use cases for each type. In this article, we will thoroughly explore the technical specifications of the new products, compare features and find the most suitable iPad for the majority of users in 2025.
1. Outstanding iPad tablet models in 2025
This year, the iPad family has added two new members, iPad A16 (or iPad Gen 11) and iPad Air M3 (available in two sizes 11 and 13 inches). Each product model has outstanding features and is designed specifically for different user groups, at least according to Apple. Although the outside of the tablets hasn’t changed much, inside they have had significant hardware upgrades.
1.1. iPad A16 (iPad Gen 11): The most powerful ‘base’ version!
iPad A16 is Apple’s most powerful basic tablet (Photo: Apple).
The traditional iPad version is now equipped with an A16 processor, previously only seen on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 series. This is really a big step forward because it jumps two generations at the same time (jumping over the A15). And maybe you won’t feel it right away, but in the future, owning a more powerful chip will definitely bring obvious benefits.
1.2. iPad Air M3: The ‘best’ mid-range tablet!
As for the iPad Air M3, it has become a breakthrough in the mid-range price segment. This processor, previously only available on high-end Mac models, can now make iPad Air achieve performance equivalent to laptop. Its performance in processing 3D models has increased by more than 40% compared to the iPad Air M1 version, and energy efficiency has also improved by 15%.
iPad Air M3 has performance not inferior to an office laptop, performing many tasks from simple to complex (Photo: Apple).
In testing, the iPad Air 2025 only took 3.5 minutes to output a 10-minute 4K video, faster than the 6-minute speed of its predecessor. For designers and architects, this is an extremely valuable time saver. In fact, owning this iPad also means you own the most versatile tool, you can use it to work in the morning, draw logos in Procreate in the afternoon and play Genshin Impact max settings in the evening. In addition, the device’s battery life remains at 10 hours.
1.3. iPad Pro M4: ‘The monster’ dominates the throne
Although there haven’t been any upgrades recently, with iPad Pro M4 is not too important, because it actually only appears in the fall of 2024. And until now, it is still one of the most powerful tablets to reach the ‘laptop’ field. This is the first iPad model capable of rendering 8K video in Final Cut Pro even faster MacBook Pro M2.
iPad Pro M4 is the most powerful tablet on the market, specialized for professional work requiring high performance (Photo: Apple).
The highlight of the iPad Pro is the OLED Ultra Retina XDR screen. The maximum brightness of this screen reaches 2000 nits when in HDR mode, along with a contrast ratio of up to 1:1,000,000, delivering deep blacks. This is extremely important for color correction experts: the color error is just under 1, equivalent to professional monitors. Such a screen will certainly be appreciated by those who work in the field of graphics or shoot video in Dolby Vision format.
The third generation LiDAR scanner provides spatial scanning with the highest precision. With apps like Polycam, you can create a 3D model of a room in just 30 seconds to take a virtual tour. Furthermore, with Thunderbolt 5 support up to 120Gbps, you can connect and stream 8K content without worrying about lag.
2. Compare specifications of iPad A16, iPad Air M3 and iPad Pro M4
Basic AI features (Auto-retouching, Live Captions)
Advanced AI features
Camera
Rear: 12 MP
Front: 12 MP + Center Stage
Rear: 12 MP
Front: 12 MP + Center Stage
Rear: 12MP + LiDAR
Front: 12 MP + Center Stage
Sound
2 speakers
4 speakers, with spatial sound
4 speakers, with enhanced spatial audio
Connect
Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, LTE 5G (optional)
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G
Gate
USB-C 2.0 (480 Mbps)
USB-C 4 (40 Gbps)
Lightning/USB 4
Operating system
iPadOS 18
iPadOS 18
iPadOS 18
Weight
477 grams
460 grams (11 inches)
510 grams (13 inches)
466 grams (11 inches)
579 grams (13 inches)
Color
Silver, Blue, Pink, Gold
Blue, Purple, Star White, Space Gray
Silver, Space Black
Price
From 9.9 million VND
From 16.9 million VND (11 inches)
From 22.5 million VND (13 inches)
From 28.9 million VND (11 inches)
From 37.9 million VND (13 inches)
3. NWhich iPad tablet should I buy in 2025?
When choosing an iPad in 2025, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you need to determine what work will be done on it. Second, consider the budget you plan to spend on this device.
iPad 2025 with A16 chip is a great choice for most users. It works smoothly when surfing the web, allowing you to watch videos with clear sound, work with documents and even play games. Furthermore, its price is also very reasonable, and it is truly a bargain to own such a device at a price of 9.9 million VND (not including other accessory costs). If you don’t use your tablet to work or make money, this is the ideal choice.
iPad Gen 11 is a tablet that is enough for most people (Photo: Apple).
iPad Air M3 offers a completely different experience. Its power is enough to handle professional applications, edit photos and videos, as well as play games that require high configuration. If you plan to use your tablet for work or digital content creation, the iPad Air is the right choice.
iPad Air M3 can meet the needs of work and entertainment (Photo: Apple).
As for iPad Pro, the situation is somewhat more complicated. This is Apple’s most powerful tablet with impressive configuration. However, its cost is much higher than other models and many of the features may be overkill for the vast majority of users. So why do we have to spend a larger amount of money when iPad Air can meet the same needs?
iPad Pro M4 is only for those who really need its ‘huge’ performance (Photo: Apple).
Honestly, it’s hard to think of tasks that the iPad Air M3 can’t do that would warrant upgrading to the iPad Pro. However, there is still a small group of users who will really need the top performance of this tablet, which could be professional creators, artists, or professional video editors, for example.
Ultimately, choosing to buy an iPad is always a consideration between the features you want and the budget you can afford. The good news is that by 2025, even the base iPad model will offer great performance and functionality for most tasks. This means that no matter which model you choose, you will get an excellent device that will serve you for well over a year.
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