Apple’s iPad lineup now spans four models, and the company has raised prices across every one of them. A June 25 increase tied to memory and storage shortages driven by demand for AI data centers added $100 to $200 to each device, Wired reports in a November 2026 buying guide. The current options remain capable, but buyers face higher entry costs than before.

The least expensive model is the base iPad, last updated in 2025. This 11th-generation device carries the A16 chip and is priced at $449, with Amazon offering it at $400, an 11 percent discount. Rumors point to a refresh in the first half of 2027 that may include an A19 chip with 8 GB of RAM, up from 6 GB, and support for Apple Intelligence.

For work and school, the guide points to the iPad Air, updated in March 2026 with the M4 chip. The 11-inch model lists at $749 and is selling on Amazon for $650, a 13 percent discount. A refresh is reportedly expected in the first half of 2027, likely with an OLED screen matching the recently launched iPad Mini.

The iPad Pro, updated in October 2025 to the M5 chip, is positioned for serious professionals. The 11-inch version lists at $1,199 and is available for $1,139, a 5 percent discount. An update to the M6 chip may arrive this fall, though some reports indicate a delay until 2027. Fresh reports say the new model will get a vapor chamber cooling system similar to the new iPhones.

The iPad Mini was just updated in November 2026, now with the A20 Pro chip and an OLED screen. The guide also notes that the current operating system is iPadOS 27, announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2026, which rolled out to compatible devices on September 14. Much of the update centers on Siri, including a dedicated Siri AI app that uses Google Gemini’s world knowledge and context, plus improved integration with apps including Camera, Mail, Photos, Messages, and Calendar.

Wired frames the moment as uncertain for the iPad, citing the introduction of the MacBook Neo and the iPhone Duo this year and a relatively light year for iPad updates. The guide advises against buying devices released before 2020, noting that older models such as the iPad Air 1 and Air 2 no longer receive software updates and will feel slow. It also cautions against older iPad Pro models from 2018 or 2020, and says buyers of the iPad Pro M4, M2, or M1 should avoid paying close to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.

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