Picking the best tablet for your family or child is a big decision and purchase. Whether it’s going to be used for education or entertainment – you want something reliable, intuitive, and especially, safe to use. It’s no surprise that when it comes to tablet shopping for the little ones in their life, many parents and grandparents land on iPads. From gorgeous HD Liquid Retina displays, 4K cameras, Screen Time settings, compatibility, and smart accessories like the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard, these are just some of many core offerings found in iPad models.
Although Apple tablets don’t come cheap, the pay off is well worth it. Maybe you plan to share the iPad with multiple family members over the coming years. Or, maybe you want to invest in a full-featured device now for your kid as they get older, and a tablet is the better fit over a laptop. Whatever the case, if you’re a fan of Apple products and are looking for the best of the best models, this list is for you. And, if you’re looking for a wider range of budgets and brands before you buy, be sure to visit our best tablets for kids list, featuring our top kids’ iPad budget pick below, and top Apple alternatives such as the Amazon Fire 8 Kids tablet.
TL;DR – The Best iPads for Kids in 2024:
All of these features are sure to help get your little ones locked into educational apps, and unlock your older kids and teens’ creative side – but the similarities between each iPad can make the decision tricky. From the compact iPad Mini, to the powerful iPad Pro – which of these is the right for your kid’s needs or to share as a family for years to come?
1. iPad Air (5th Gen)
The best iPad for kids
Lightweight, colorful, and loaded with an Apple M1 chip. This iPad is powerful and well rounded, fit for tots and teens alike.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Apple M1 Processor
Cons
- More expensive than the similar 10th Generation iPad
While the latest iPad Air is similar to the main-line 10th Generation iPad, its super-fast processor, light weight, and more compatible iPad accessories gives the Air the edge. This iPad paves the middle ground in Apple’s tablet lineup in price and features, making it perfect for families looking for a device everyone can use while not being overly powerful, bulky, or expensive for casual users.
A beautiful 10.9” Liquid Retina display and lightweight body (coming in at only 1.02lb) is the perfect size and weight, while compatibility with more peripheral devices provides all the versatility your kids will need. The iPad Air is the perfect companion for streaming media, to reading books, to drawing and eLearning, everything your kids need out of a tablet. Also, unlike the iPad Pro, this model comes in a variety of colors for the added flair your kid or teenager’s needs.
2. iPad (10th Gen)
Best iPad for eLearning
With a freshly repositioned 12-megapixel front-facing camera, the new mainline iPad was designed with video chatting, and keyboard attachments in mind.
Pros
- Redesigned landscape front-facing camera
- Sharp upgrade from 9th Generation iPad
Cons
- More expensive than 9th Generation iPad
With just as many bells and whistles as the other models, what makes the redesigned 10th-Generation iPad stick out from the crowd is its repositioned front camera, which is now centered when the tablet is in landscape mode, rather than portrait mode. Now, when combined with the compatible Magic Keyboard Folio, we have an iPad that bridges the gap between tablet and laptop like never before; Making the 10th Generation iPad our top choice when it comes to eLearning and online tutoring.
This isn’t the only upgrade from last year’s 9th Generation iPad – Throw in the A14 Bionic chip, a sharper than ever 12-megapixel rear camera with 4K video, USB-C charging port , and a wholly redesigned case: You have an exceptional tablet for fun and school.
While the iPad Air comes highly recommended for its M1 chip, this iPad will save $150 over the iPad Air, while sacrificing little processing power.
3. iPad Mini (6th Generation)
Best iPad for small kids & bookworms
The smallest iPad available with a compact screen size of 8.3”, iPad Mini is the most comfortable fit for little hands and the most portable.
Pros
- Compact size
- All the power of a mainline iPad in a smaller package
Cons
- More expensive than larger iPad 10th Generation
While we love the large eye-catching displays of every other iPad, they can be a bit unwieldy for children, especially young kids who might struggle to keep a grip on them. The iPad Mini is here to offer the natural solution with the most compact tablet Apple makes.
Closer in size to an eReader while still sporting all the familiar features you’d expect, the iPad Mini is the perfect handheld tablet for kids on the go and young readers alike. With 64gb and 256gb storage options, your kids will have the freedom to load this tablet with all the reading apps they love and have plenty of room left over for games or shooting photos and videos with one of its two 12MP cameras. With that said, the impressive A15 Bionic chip and compatibility with Apple Pencil assures this iPad is still powerful and versatile, despite its size.
4. iPad Pro 12.9” (6th Gen)
Best iPad for teens
Apple’s top of the line iPad Pro is a powerhouse tablet with an M2 processor chip and a variety of large storage options teens can carry through high school and into college.
Pros
- Fastest, most powerful iPad
- A versatile device for students, creatives and professionals
Cons
- Hefty price-tag
On the surface level the iPad Pro may seem to simply be the “bigger is better” option, but there’s much more to it. Not only does the iPad Pro sport the largest display available on an Apple tablet, but the 12.9” model’s display also features XDR (Extended Dynamic Range) so your aspiring art major can get creative with the Apple Pencil and crispest display available. We also have the M2 processor (the very same processor in 2023’s MacBook Pro) capable of three-times the processing speed of other iPads, which enables a Stage Manager feature which makes multitasking while studying or doing homework fluid and easy.
Plus, the iPad Pro features an enhanced sound system with four on-board speakers, which will make any content come to life – whether or not your kid made it themselves. Lastly we have storage options up to 2TB, allowing a young director or artist to work freely knowing they aren’t likely to run out of room for their projects.
The 6th Generation of iPad Pro is the most premium iPad yet, but with a steep entry price at $799, it may be hard to justify purchasing the iPad Pro for a younger kid. This device was made with creatives and professionals in mind, which is why we are recommending this iPad for older kids and teenagers who may make better use of its features and massive storage potential.
5. iPad (9th Generation)
Best budget iPad for kids
Not the newest or the top of the line, but at only a few years old, this tablet still has a lot to offer for families on a budget.
Pros
- $120 cheaper than 10th Generation iPad
- Still currently supported by Apple with updated OS
Cons
- Camera somewhat lacking compared to newer models
The previous generation of iPad is still a popular choice if you want the reliability and power of a modern tablet device without breaking the bank. For a lot of folks the price alone makes this an easy option, at only $329 brand new.
Sure, the 9th-Generation iPad doesn’t have all the same features and updated designs of the newer model – but it’s still an iPad. The A13 Bionic chip is a high performer with fast processing speeds; backed up by long battery life, Apple Pencil compatibility, Smart Keyboard, and the same familiar storage options.
The 9th Generation iPad is still supported by Apple and runs on the current iPadOS 17 operating system, making it far from out-of-date and a viable tablet to hang on to for a few years with little need to upgrade. So whether it’s for your little ones streaming and entertainment needs, or your school-age kids reading and studying, this budget friendly iPad will provide all the same essentials you expect from an iPad without emptying your wallet.
Upcoming iPads
While no new iPads dropped in 2023 and news from Apple has been limited, there have been rumors that a new iPad Pro and iPad Air will come later in 2024. The leak claims new models of iPad will both feature the same repositioned front-facing camera as 2022’s 10th Generation iPad with the camera placed along the side of the tablet, rather than the top edge.
While this is a rather exciting rumor, nothing official has been announced and it is not known if there will be a new iPad announced this year, let alone released. Considering it has now been a full year without a release, however, it’s safe to say we should be getting something fresh from Apple soon.
How to Pick the Best iPad for Kids
iPads are widely considered to be premium in the tablet market. When it comes to choosing a premium product for a youngster, finding the balance between budget and features is what matters most. Then, you’ll need to consider your kid as an individual and what they will be using their iPad for. After all, what would a five year old do with over 500-gigabytes of storage? That’s more educational apps and books than an adult could manage without getting a headache!
This is why we recommend the more premium models, such as iPad Pro, to parents of teenagers with specialized interests that will make use of premium specs and features. We also recommend smaller display sizes for smaller hands to grip them, while cases are always a necessity when it comes to giving a kid a tablet you may want to simply minimize the risk for drops and screen cracking.
An iPad can be seen as more of an investment for the price, a device that is meant to last years and stay current with your child’s evolving needs and interests. The iPad Air, for instance, may seem a little too techy for a ten year old, but in a few short years your ten year old could be making even greater use of their iPad Air as their tech skills and education advance.
FAQs
At what age should I get my kid their own iPad?
Considering that the iPad is a premium tablet, we recommend waiting it out until your kid is at least three or four years old before making the investment in a tablet typically marketed to adults and teenagers. Note that the American Academy of Pediatrics also suggests no screen time or devices for children younger than two years old in general. No matter when the time is right for you as a parent, you’ll want to customize the iPad for your kid(s) and set boundaries with Screen Time, get Guided Access, and set up more helpful settings right away.
What is the best iPad case for kids?
In order to keep your iPad safe from inevitable accidents, you’ll want a heavy-duty case to protect it. Here’s our recommended iPad case for kids right now, from Zagg:
What are the advantages of an iPad for kids?
With access to countless books and educational apps, the advantages to giving your child an iPad can be obvious. Many schools around the world have even introduced them into classrooms as supplemental learning tools, with apps like ABC Mouse and iReady. iPads are also compatible with Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard, which can enable creativity in young artists and writers.
What are the disadvantages of an iPad for kids?
The main risk is overexposure to screens and access to the internet. Parents and grandparents should be fluent in internet safety and make sure to dig into iPadOS’s ScreenTime and Parental Control settings, to assure their little ones are using their devices for the appropriate amount of time and not granted unfettered access to the internet.
Also be sure to browse the current iPad deals and find out what sales to expect on Black Friday for even more discounts on tablets and more tech this year.
Elayna Willoughby is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering tech and gadgets. She has a lifelong love of gear from gaming consoles to smart phones and keyboards.
