The Best iPad to Buy (and Some to Avoid) in 2026: Compare the Air, Pro, Mini

Published 19 June 2026 · tech

Which Apple Pencil Should You Buy? Photograph: Julian Chokkattu The Apple Pencil is a must-have for any iPad owner who takes a lot of notes

Which Apple Pencil Should You Buy? Photograph: Julian Chokkattu The Apple Pencil is a must-have for any iPad owner who takes a lot of notes or likes to draw. (You can even use it to sign documents.) iPadOS also has handwriting support within certain search fields and apps (like Notes), so you don't need to switch to the keyboard every time you want to type. Apple debuted a new Pencil in 2024, so now there are four to choose from. Here are the differences Apple Pencil (1st-gen) for $99: The first-generation Pencil is quite old but still functions well, offering pressure sensitivity (lines become thicker as you press down harder on the screen) and tilt sensitivity (for shading). Unlike the other two Apple Pencils, this one has a glossy finish instead of matte (if that matters), and it is also completely rounded, meaning it will roll off surfaces. There are no magnets, so you can't stick it to the tablet for safekeeping. It has a Lightning connector, so to charge it, you'll have to remove the cap and plug it into the iPad's charging port. If your iPad has a USB-C port, you can buy an adapter. It's only compatible with the iPad (6th gen and later), iPad Air (3rd gen), iPad Mini (5th gen), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd gen), iPad Pro 10.5-inch, and iPad Pro 9.7-inch. Apple Pencil (USB-C) for $69: Apple's USB-C Apple Pencil is a bit perplexing. It doesn't come with pressure sensitivity, so it's better suited for note-takers rather than artists. It can attach magnetically to the sides of an iPad, so you don't need to find a place to store it, but it doesn't support wireless charging, so you'll have to pair and charge it via USB-C. It does support Hover Mode, which allows you to preview what will happen before touching the display, but this is exclusive to the select iPad Pro and iPad Air models.

It's compatible with iPad (10th gen and A16), iPad Air (4th, 5th gen, M2, M3, and M4), iPad Mini (6th gen), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st gen and later, including M4), and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd gen and later, including M4 and M5). Apple Pencil (2nd-gen) for $129: The second-generation Apple Pencil comes with all the same capabilities as the 1st-gen and USB-C versions, plus wireless pairing and charging (it'll charge when it magnetically sticks to the top edge of supported iPads). It also adds a double-tap feature that lets you quickly switch between tools by tapping on the Apple Pencil twice. It's compatible with the iPad Air (4th gen and 5th gen), iPad Mini (6th gen), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st gen and later), and the 12.9-inch (3rd gen and later). Unfortunately, Apple has officially discontinued it, so newer iPads don't support it, including the iPad Air (M2, M3, and M4) or iPad Pro (M4 and M5). Apple Pencil Pro for $129: Apple's Pro Pencil is the most feature-packed of them all. It looks identical to the second-generation model, complete with a matte finish, but it also has a few new tricks. A “squeeze” feature opens up a tool palette (in addition to the double-tap feature), and a new haptic engine gives feedback as you squeeze. A built-in gyroscope sensor allows you to change the orientation of the tools as you twist them (for finer control), and it supports Apple's Find My network to track the stylus when you lose it. It's only compatible with the iPad Air (M2, M3, and M4), iPad Pro (M4 and M5), and 7th-gen iPad Mini. (C'mon, why isn't it backward-compatible?) Great iPad Accessories iPad accessories are endless. Below, we've highlighted some of our favorites to round out your tablet experience, and you can find more in our Best iPad Accessories guide. Photograph: Luke Larsen Twelve South Curve Mini for $50: iPads can be great tools to use in conjunction with your MacBook or PC, but they need a proper stand with lots of adjustments.