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If you want an iPad that covers the essentials, browsing the web, streaming, and running the basic apps most people actually use, the iPad A16 (the 11th generation) is probably the one you have been looking at. The real question is whether it stays balanced or whether you hit its limits fast.
I have been living with this one for a while, and the short version is that for most people it does everything you need without the higher price of the Air or the Pro. This is for you if you mostly stream, browse, look up recipes, and watch videos. If you want to run an iPad more like a computer, I will tell you exactly when to spend more.
For streaming, browsing, and everyday apps this is the iPad most people should buy, as long as you do not need Apple Intelligence or heavy multitasking.
- Same look and feel as the iPad Air M3 for a lot less money
- Great Liquid Retina display that is plenty bright for indoor use
- Landscape center stage camera makes it a genuinely good FaceTime and video call iPad
- Touch ID, USB-C, and the 20W adapter plus cable in the box
- Starts at $350 (128GB) and I have seen it drop to $300
- No Apple Intelligence support because of the A16 chip
- 500 nits can feel limiting in a bright room or outdoors
- No anti-reflective coating and the fingerprint resistance is weak
- USB-C tops out at 480Mbps and there is no Stage Manager
- Design and display: it looks like the Air
- Sound and cameras: better than you would expect
- Connectivity: USB-C, Touch ID, and what is in the box
- Everyday use: what it is genuinely great at
- The downsides: brightness, fingerprints, and no Apple Intelligence
- Processing power and storage: who the A16 chip is for
- Accessories: Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard Folio
- Pricing: where the value really is
- iPad A16 vs iPad Air M3 vs iPad Pro M4
Design and display: it looks like the Air
When I first pulled it out and set it up, I realized it looks exactly like the iPad Air M3, and it feels almost the same in the hand too. It is lightweight, portable, and it is just a nice overall iPad experience.
The screen is one of the Liquid Retina displays and it hits 500 nits of brightness, which is more than enough for most indoor use. It supports the sRGB color space, and watching TV, YouTube, and listening to music on it all looks and sounds great.
The trade-off shows up next to an Air. It lacks the anti-reflective coating the Air and Pro have, and side by side the Air M3 display is a little more vibrant and a little brighter. On its own I honestly did not notice, but the comparison makes it clear.
Sound and cameras: better than you would expect
It has stereo speakers and they sound pretty good, but they are not going to match the speakers on a MacBook Air. Pair it with AirPods and you will be genuinely impressed, and that is the easiest way to fix the weakest part of this iPad.
The A16 keeps the landscape center stage camera, which is great for FaceTime whether you prop it on a desk or use a keyboard stand. I really like using it beside my laptop as my main video camera while I take notes on the computer. It has a single camera on the back, which is fine for me because I do not use an iPad as a camera or need the extra lenses the Pro has.
Connectivity: USB-C, Touch ID, and what is in the box
You get the Touch ID button, same as the Air, and it works fast. There is USB-C on the back, and it is great that Apple has finally moved the whole lineup to USB-C.
In the box you get the 20W USB power adapter and one of Apple’s braided cables. That cable is not as long as I would like, so I keep a longer cable and a power bank on hand. I have links to my favorite iPad accessories below.
Everyday use: what it is genuinely great at
I have used this to watch YouTube, follow the NBA playoffs, watch TV shows, and stream music, and it handles all of it well. You get good sound and good screen quality in a light, all-around tablet.
It comes in silver, pink, yellow, and blue, and the front is black on all of them. I bought the boring silver. It also supports split view if you want two windows open at once, so basic multitasking is covered.
The downsides: brightness, fingerprints, and no Apple Intelligence
This is where you need to go in with clear eyes. A few real limits:
- Brightness. The 500 nits can feel a tad limiting in a very bright room or outdoors. For most indoor use it is fine.
- Fingerprints. It is supposed to have a fingerprint resistant coating, but for me it did not do a great job. I was cleaning it constantly, so be ready for that.
- No Apple Intelligence. The A16 chip does not support Apple Intelligence features. If you want those, you have to step up to the iPad Air M3.
- Multitasking. You get split view, but not Stage Manager or the deeper multitasking the nicer iPads have.
Processing power and storage: who the A16 chip is for
The iPad A16 is aimed at the user who does not know or care about the differences in processing power and RAM. It has 6GB of RAM and the A16 chip, which is more in line with the iPhone chips than the M3 in the Air. The Air also has a media engine that does a better job exporting and rendering video, which most people buying this iPad are never going to do.
The USB-C port works, but it tops out at 480Mbps. It is not the 10Gb port on the Air or the Thunderbolt port on the Pro. That is still plenty fast to plug in an SSD or flash drive to copy photos and files.
Storage comes in 128, 256, or 512GB. I recommend most people just stick with 128GB and use the cloud for photos, notes, and documents.
Accessories: Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard Folio
If you draw or want to write, it supports the Apple Pencil with USB-C, or the original Apple Pencil with the lightning to USB-C adapter. Just get the USB-C Apple Pencil. It adds about 90 to 100 dollars, which starts to push the price up.
The other main accessory is the Apple Magic Keyboard Folio, which I have been enjoying. It attaches magnetically with the smart connector on the bottom and gives you great typing performance. You will want to use it on a solid surface because the kickstand on the back needs a bit of support. It runs about $250, so once you start stacking accessories you move away from the low base price. I still prefer the actual Magic Keyboard that the Air and Pro use, but that is not an option here.
Pricing: where the value really is
The iPad A16 starts at $350 for the 128GB size. Cellular adds $150. I have seen it drop as low as $300 recently, which I think is a great price for everything it includes.
Just remember that the accessories add up fast. Between the Pencil and the keyboard folio you can add $350 or more, which changes the math on the base model.
iPad A16 vs iPad Air M3 vs iPad Pro M4
Here is how I decide. Get the A16 if you use an iPad as an iPad: browsing, streaming, recipes, TV. Only step up to the Air or Pro if you want to push it like a computer or do heavy multitasking.
| iPad A16 (11th gen) | iPad Air M3 | iPad Pro M4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chip | A16 (iPhone-class) | M3 (computer-class) | M4 (fastest) |
| Apple Intelligence | No | Yes | Yes |
| Display | Liquid Retina, 500 nits | Brighter, anti-reflective | Best, brightest |
| USB-C speed | 480Mbps | 10Gb | Thunderbolt |
| Multitasking | Split view only | Stage Manager | Stage Manager |
| Starting price | $350 | Higher | Highest |
| Best for | Most people | Light computer work | Pro workloads |
The verdict
The honest downside first: no Apple Intelligence, a display that can feel dim in bright light, weak fingerprint resistance, and a slower USB-C port. If any of those are dealbreakers, go to the Air M3.
For everyone else, this is the iPad I would buy. It does everything most people need an iPad to do, it looks and feels like the Air, and at $350 (or $300 on a deal) the value is hard to argue with. Pair it with AirPods, stick with 128GB and the cloud, and add the Pencil only if you actually draw. Do not overbuy the Air unless you genuinely want to run your iPad like a computer.
