The A16 iPad's most useful upgrade over the previous entry model might be the starting storage. Apple doubled it to 128 GB. That's room you can use immediately for class downloads and games, even if you never do anything particularly demanding with the faster chip.
In depth
Apple iPad (A16) review
Published
Best forpeople buying their first iPad for school, family video calls, and everyday apps.
At a glance
- Screen size
- 11 inches
- Panel technology
- LED-backlit IPS LCD, 500 nits
- Processor
- Apple A16, 5-core CPU and 4-core GPU
- Storage
- 128GB256GB512GB
- Operating system
- iPadOS
Pros
- 128 GB at the starting capacity
- Landscape camera works well with a tablet stand
Cons
- Limited Apple Pencil compatibility
- No Apple Intelligence support
Display
- 11 inches
- 2360 × 1640
- 60 Hz
The 11-inch Liquid Retina screen is a comfortable size for a textbook or a streaming show. The display is unlaminated, so there is a little physical separation between the glass you touch and the picture underneath. Someone taking occasional lecture notes may care much less about that gap than an illustrator who closely follows the tip of a pen.
Pen & Accessories
- Apple Pencil (USB-C) or first generation with adapter
- Optional Magic Keyboard Folio
The USB-C Apple Pencil is convenient for diagrams and highlighting. The compatible first-generation Pencil adds pressure sensitivity, but its pairing and charging arrangement requires an adapter. Apple Pencil Pro belongs to other iPads. If you already own a Pencil, identify its model before counting it as part of your setup.
Performance & Connectivity
- Apple A16, 5-core CPU and 4-core GPU
The A16 handles the iPad app ecosystem and Apple puts the front camera on the long edge, where it faces you naturally during a landscape call. More storage won't add Apple Intelligence to this model. That is worth knowing if an intelligence feature, rather than the ordinary apps and camera, prompted the purchase.
Battery life
- Up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi web browsing or video (Apple rating)
Notebookcheck’s A16 iPad ran for 10 hours 33 minutes while browsing over Wi-Fi in Chrome at 150 nits. That provides a reference for a day of reading websites. A bright outdoor screen or a game puts a different load on the battery. 1
Alternatives
The M4 iPad Air adds a laminated display and Pencil Pro support. Those benefits are easier to justify for regular drawing than for a family tablet used mainly for video, homework, and browsing. An existing tenth-generation iPad with enough space can continue serving those tasks.
Verdict
Start here for an everyday iPad. Move up the range when you can name the pen feature, app workload, or display improvement you will use.
About this review
This is a research-based review. The Fasit has not physically tested this product.
Sources & Research
1 reference
Independent sources cited in this article.
- NotebookcheckApple iPad 11 (2025) review (opens in a new tab)https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-iPad-11-2025-review-The-affordable-tablet-lags-behind-in-the-most-important-area.1006011.0.html
Wi-Fi browsing in Chrome 135 at 150 nits on the A16 iPad.