Let's just say there's a dongle involved, which is rarely a good thing. Whichever model or screen size you go with, all the current iPads support the latest version of iPadOS (a version of iOS specifically for iPads) and either the first- or second-gen Apple Pencil - though the most recently released 10th-gen model's Pencil support is less than elegant. If you need all those upgrades and can afford it but don't need an M1 CPU, the step-up model makes sense. That gives the older model a bit of an edge over the new one, despite the latter's slightly larger display, side camera, better processor and USB-C connection - especially if you only really need one of those upgrades, like the camera relocation. There's a $120 starting price gap between the $329 entry-model ninth-gen, which remains in the line, and the new $449 10th-gen version. Read more: Best iPad Deals Right Now Our top choice: Again, no clear winner And if there's an iPad model that seems like it could get an update sooner than any other, it's this one. It doesn't fix that front camera either, though, so if looking good on Zoom and FaceTime matters most to you, consider that 10th-gen iPad instead. Meanwhile, the iPad Air, released a year ago, still remains the best "Pro on a budget" iPad with its fast M1 chip and Pencil 2 support. The best iPads for now may arguably still be older models: The ninth-gen iPad is the best choice for kids and budget shoppers over a year after its debut. Also, iPadOS is no closer to replacing your Mac, although Stage Manager's external monitor support offers a little more multiscreen multitasking. But its design remains the same and the front camera placement hasn't been fixed, which remains frustrating for anyone who was hoping to use the iPad Pro for work-based video chats when in landscape mode. Meanwhile, the iPad Pros got better M2 processors, faster Wi-Fi 6E and 5G connectivity in late 2022, and a new "Pencil hover" tool for proximity-based previews of art tools. It's a great pick if it's ever on sale, but expensive otherwise. The 10th-gen model has a better-placed front-facing camera for video chats, a larger screen, a faster processor and USB-C charging, but needs its own cases and a weird dongle for charging the first-gen Pencil. The 10th-gen iPad, released last fall, is more expensive than the ninth-gen iPad, which remains on sale. The last wave of iPads added more choice, but no clear stand-out best product. It's just that the best features are now spread out across devices, and none truly elevate the iPad into a Mac-level territory. The good news is, all of the current iPads are good. In the meantime, here's some specific shopping tips we can offer. We don't know when a new iPad will emerge this year, and there's a possibility that there won't be one for a while. This is the state of iPads in 2023: Lots of choices but no clear-cut, absolute winner. IPad shoppers, I have frustrating news for you.
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