Benjamin MacLeod • Benjamin's Notebook

Since 2020, I have daily driven an iPad as my primary note-taking device. Since I switched from paper notes to iPad, Apple has made immense efforts to push the iPad into a dynamic and powerful academic machine. Yesterday, Apple refreshed two iPad models in its lineup – iPad and iPad Air. Unlike the introduction of iPhone 16e last month, the iPad refresh is 100% a positive for consumers with minor updates that do not break the bank account.

iPad Air M3 – Still The Perfect iPad

I have been a strong believer that the iPad Air is the best iPad to buy, ever since the introduction of the iPad Air 5th generation in 2022. The 5th generation iPad Air was the first Air model to receive an “M” series chip, a chip seen for the first time on iPad in the Pro lineup only a year earlier. Since its debut, there has been no reason to want to purchase an iPad Pro unless you are a professional artist or video editor. The iPad Air offers the same chips you would find in Apple’s laptop lineup, meaning it is capable of being a powerhouse.

The Air may be missing features such as Face ID, a second back camera, and Thunderbolt, but I would argue that most of these things are rather unnecessary for the average user. As a university student, my day-to-day file transfers consist of PDFs, a task that AirDrop and Microsoft OneDrive are more than capable of fulfilling. A second camera is irrelevant for me as my iPhone has a better camera that is in an easier to use form factor. I use my iPad as a “note-taking” device and YouTube browser, not as a digital camera. As for Face ID, it would be nice to have but is nowhere near a requirement for what I would consider a “secondary” device.

The all-new iPad Air gets even better this generation with an upgraded SoC. The new iPad Air transitions from the M2 chip to the M3. Although the performance bump is minimal, it does exist, which is always a bonus. However, what really sweetens the deal is that the iPad Air will continue to be the same starting price of $799 CAD for the base 128GB model - $729 with education pricing. A consistent price means the iPad Air will continue to be affordable for students, a market that needs all the deals they can get!

iPad (11th Generation) – Wow, so cheap!

Although iPad Air is the highlight of this product launch, credit should be given to Apple for refreshing the base iPad. Like the iPad Air, the base iPad also gets an SoC upgrade, although not yet to an “M” series chip. iPad jumps from the A14 Bionic to the A16, though it has one less CPU core than the previous model. I am sure that this means the device is just more efficient, but time will tell when reviewers get their hands on it if it actually is a meaningful upgrade.

What was a meaningful upgrade though, is a refreshed set of storage tiers. Previously, iPad offered a 64GB variant as the base, which in my opinion was not enough storage in 2025. Now, Apple offers 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, with upgraded prices to reflect these tiers. The new iPad continues to start at $499 CAD despite the storage being doubled, and the 256GB option drops in price from $699 CAD to $649 CAD.  This is excellent news for people on a budget, as storage is often the number one bottleneck for iPad users. 

What iPad should I buy?

For starters, I am going to eliminate iPad Pro from my iPad roundup. At this time I cannot foresee a reason why anyone but a professional artist or video editor would need a device of the Pro's calibre. Those who need that device already know what specs they are looking for and are in a class of their own. This leaves us with the iPad mini, and of course, the new iPad and iPad Air.

I have begrudgingly included the 13-inch model of the iPad Air into this roundup as well. I personally think that it is a waste of money to purchase this device, as a MacBook Air is faster, cheaper, and offers more features. With that being said, there are some people who would argue the need for this extra real estate, so I will include it in my roundup.

iPad, iPad Air, and iPad mini Price Comparison Chart