Apple iPad 11" A16 2025, 8GB, 256GB, Cellular, Pink
The A16 chip and all-day battery life drive a notable performance boost for gaming and photo editing in a slim 481g design. Its 11-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone and USB-C Apple Pencil support makes it a versatile canvas for sketching and media consumption at a competitive price. This iPad is best for students and artists who want a portable, color-accurate tablet for note-taking and digital art.
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Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The iPad 11-inch has a 99th percentile social proof score and a 4.9 out of 5 rating from 145 reviews, which is about as close to universal approval as it gets. Battery life is a standout at the 93rd percentile, and the feature set is top-tier. Performance is average, with CPU and GPU both landing around the 52nd and 53rd percentiles, but for everyday use, this thing just works.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Social proof in the 99th percentile, buyers love this thing 99th
- Battery life at the 93rd percentile, all-day use is realistic 93rd
- Feature set at the 92nd percentile, Apple Pencil and keyboard support included 92nd
- Connectivity at the 91st percentile with Wi-Fi 6 and 5G options 91st
- Screen quality at the 76th percentile, 2360x1640 Liquid Retina looks great
Cons
- CPU performance at the 52nd percentile, about average for tablets
- GPU at the 53rd percentile, not built for heavy gaming or rendering
- Productivity score of 71.2 is the weakest area
- RAM at the 66th percentile, 8GB is fine but not generous
- Storage at the 74th percentile, 256GB is good but not expandable
The proof
Performance
The A16 chip here is a 5-core setup paired with 8GB of RAM. In our database, that puts CPU performance right around the middle of the pack, 52nd percentile, and GPU at 53rd. For most people, that means smooth scrolling, quick app launches, and no trouble with casual games or photo editing. But if you're coming from an iPad Pro or a high-end Android tablet, you'll notice this isn't a benchmark crusher.
The 11-inch Liquid Retina display runs at 2360x1640, which lands at the 76th percentile for screens. That's a strong showing, crisp text, good colors, and plenty of brightness for indoor use. The 28Wh battery is where this thing really shines, hitting the 93rd percentile. Apple's efficiency with the A16 means you can genuinely get all-day use without hunting for a charger. Connectivity is also a standout at the 91st percentile, with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, USB-C, and optional 5G cellular. The 12MP front and rear cameras are a nice bonus for video calls and document scanning.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| Cores | 5 |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB |
Display
| Size | 11" |
| Resolution | 2360x1640 |
| Panel | Liquid Retina |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | ✓ |
| USB-C | 1 |
| Cellular | Yes |
Features
| Stylus Support | Yes |
| Stylus Model | Apple Pencil |
| Fingerprint Reader | Yes |
Physical
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.1 lbs |
| Battery | 28 Wh |
| OS | iPadOS |
vs Competition
Against the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+, the iPad wins on battery and social proof but gives up ground on raw CPU and GPU performance. The Surface Pro 11 is a different beast entirely, it's a full Windows machine with a higher price tag and better productivity scores, but it's heavier and the battery doesn't touch the iPad's 93rd percentile showing. The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro and Lenovo Idea Tab Plus both offer stronger specs on paper for the money, especially in the GPU department, but neither comes close to the iPad's ecosystem polish or that 99th percentile social proof. The UMIDIGI Active T1 is a budget rugged tablet that's not really in the same conversation. If you want the best all-around tablet experience without spending Pro money, the iPad 11-inch is the safe pick. If you need raw power or a laptop replacement, look elsewhere.
| Spec | Apple iPad 11" A16 | Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition | Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus ZAEG0096US | Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 | Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro 62751 | BESTTAB T60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Apple A16 | Intel Core Ultra 7 268V | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Mediatek Dimensity 9400+ | 3000 MHz | AMD Ryzen 5 1600 |
| RAM (GB) | 8 | 32 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Storage (GB) | 256 | 1024 | 256 | 512 | 512 | 256 |
| Screen | 11" 2360x1640 | 13" 2880x1920 | 12.7" 2944x1840 | 11" 2560x1600 | 11.2" 3200x2136 | 12" |
| OS | iPadOS | Windows 11 Pro | Android 14 | Android 16 | Android 14 | Android 16 |
| Stylus | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Cellular | true | false | false | false | false | true |
| Battery (Wh) | 28 | 47 | - | - | - | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | CPU | GPU | RAM | Screen | Battery | Feature | Storage | Sharpness | Portability | Connectivity | Social Proof | Affordability | Reading Battery | Water Resistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPad 11" A16 | 78.7 | 75.6 | 66 | 76.2 | 93.1 | 91.9 | 74.7 | 50.8 | 64.9 | 90.5 | 99.3 | 29.1 | 41.1 | 46.7 |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition Compare | 94 | 94.6 | 98.9 | 98.2 | 98.6 | 84.9 | 97.8 | 78.3 | 24.3 | 92.8 | 48.1 | 0.8 | 75.1 | 46.7 |
| Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus ZAEG0096US Compare | 80.9 | 78.9 | 92.6 | 97.1 | 88.9 | 97 | 83.6 | 87.5 | 42.2 | 92.8 | 90.2 | 21.7 | 52.2 | 46.7 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Compare | 82.1 | 79.9 | 80.8 | 93.5 | 84 | 99.4 | 89.4 | 89.2 | 64.9 | 63 | 93.2 | 13.8 | 70.4 | 97.5 |
| Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro 62751 Compare | 83.8 | 81.8 | 80.8 | 98.5 | 85.3 | 65.9 | 89.4 | 99.3 | 78.5 | 77.3 | 93.2 | 16.1 | 71.7 | 46.7 |
| BESTTAB T60 Compare | 82.4 | 80.2 | 80.8 | 42.6 | 86.9 | 88.8 | 74.7 | 0 | 1.2 | 58.6 | 58.3 | 39.5 | 70.4 | 46.7 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Pricing on this iPad is all over the place depending on where you look. We're seeing USD 455 to USD 664 across five US listings, which is a USD 209 spread. That's a huge gap for the same 256GB model. The refurbished units at Newegg are where you'll find the lower end of that range, and honestly, that's the move if you want the best price per performance. At USD 455, you're getting a tablet with top-tier battery life, excellent connectivity, and that 99th percentile social proof for less than a mid-range Android tablet. At USD 664, you're paying a premium for the Apple name and the convenience of buying new. Shop around before you commit.
Read more
Overview
The Apple iPad 11-inch lands in our database with a social proof score that's basically off the charts, sitting in the 99th percentile. That's backed up by a 4.9 out of 5 customer rating across 145 reviews. People clearly like this thing. The battery and feature scores are also top-tier, hitting the 93rd and 92nd percentiles respectively, which tells you Apple nailed the fundamentals here.
But the raw performance numbers tell a more interesting story. The A16 chip with 8GB of RAM lands at the 52nd percentile for CPU and 53rd for GPU, which is about average for tablets in our database. The screen is solid at the 76th percentile, and storage at 74th. So you're not getting a performance monster, but you are getting a tablet that does everyday things really well and has the ecosystem polish people keep coming back for.
Common Questions
Q: Is the A16 chip fast enough for gaming?
The A16 lands at the 53rd percentile for GPU performance in our database, which is about average for tablets. Casual games and most App Store titles will run fine, but if you're into demanding 3D games or heavy rendering, you'll notice the limits compared to an iPad Pro or a high-end Android tablet.
Q: How long does the battery actually last?
The 28Wh battery hits the 93rd percentile in our database, which is one of the best scores we track. Apple claims all-day battery life, and based on the efficiency of the A16 chip, that's realistic for mixed use like browsing, streaming, and note-taking. Heavy gaming or video editing will drain it faster.
Q: Is the 256GB storage enough?
256GB lands at the 74th percentile for storage in our database, which is solid for most people. It's enough for a large app library, plenty of photos, and some downloaded movies. There's no expandable storage, so if you plan to keep a lot of large files locally, you might want to consider cloud storage or a higher capacity model.
Who Should Skip This
If productivity is your main use case, this iPad is not your best option. The productivity score of 71.2 is the weakest area, and the CPU and GPU both sit around the 52nd and 53rd percentiles. That means heavy multitasking, video editing, or anything that needs real processing power will feel constrained. The Surface Pro 11 or a laptop will serve you better. Also, if you're a serious gamer, the GPU performance is just average, and you'll get more bang for your buck from something like the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro. And if you're on a tight budget, the USD 664 end of the price range is hard to justify when the same tablet is available refurbished for USD 455.
Verdict
The iPad 11-inch is the default recommendation for most people, and the data backs that up. A 4.9 rating from 145 reviews and a 99th percentile social proof score don't happen by accident. The battery life is genuinely excellent, the screen is strong, and the feature set covers everything from Apple Pencil to keyboard support. The A16 chip won't blow anyone away in benchmarks, but for reading, streaming, note-taking, and light productivity, it's more than enough. The productivity score of 71.2 is the one real weak spot, so if you're planning to do serious work on this thing, you'll feel the limits. For everyone else, this is the tablet to beat.
Usage Scores
- Overall79.9
- Reading56.5
- Student88.9
- Business83.2
- Art Design81.6
- Productivity76.2
- Entertainment80.7