Apple iPad 11" 11th Generation Blue 2021

The Apple iPad 11th Generation is the best entry-level tablet for most people in 2025. It pairs the A16 chip with all-day battery life and a solid 11-inch display. The 60Hz screen and confusing Apple Pencil compatibility are the main drawbacks, but at $310 to $490, it's hard to beat for everyday use.

The A16 Bionic is a 5-core chip that's been around the block, and it shows. In our database, the CPU lands at the 54th percentile and the GPU at the 55th, which means it's solidly middle of the pack for tablets. That's not a knock. For browsing, streaming, note-taking, and light photo editing, this thing flies. Apps open instantly, multitasking with Split View is smooth, and the 6GB of RAM keeps things from getting bogged down when you have a dozen Safari tabs open.

But if you're expecting MacBook-level performance, pump the brakes. The 4-core GPU handles casual games fine, but demanding titles will chug at higher settings. The 60Hz display doesn't help either. Scrolling feels fine, but anyone coming from a 120Hz phone will notice the difference immediately. The 500 nits of brightness is adequate indoors but gets washed out in direct sunlight. For the price, though, the performance is hard to complain about.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra is the elephant in the room. It has a bigger, better display and a faster chip, but it also costs significantly more. If you're deep in the Android ecosystem or want a tablet for media consumption with a gorgeous screen, Samsung wins. But for most people, the iPad's app ecosystem and longevity make it the safer bet. The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus is another Android option with a unique design and solid battery life, but it can't match the iPad's software support.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition is a different beast entirely. It runs full Windows, which means real desktop apps, but it's heavier, pricier, and overkill for someone who just wants to watch Netflix and take notes. The Xiaomi Pad 7 undercuts the iPad on price and offers a 144Hz display, which makes the iPad's 60Hz panel feel especially dated. But Xiaomi's software support and app optimization for tablets still lag behind iPadOS. If you want a tablet that just works for years, the iPad is still the default answer.

Here's where things get interesting. The price spread on this iPad is wild. We're seeing USD 310 to USD 490 across eight US listings, and that's a big gap. The cheapest options are renewed models on Amazon, which makes sense, but some renewed units are priced dangerously close to brand new ones. If you're shopping, check the condition and warranty before pulling the trigger. The best deal in our data is the renewed premium listing at the lower end of that range, but you'll want to confirm what "renewed premium" actually means for battery health and cosmetic condition. At $310, this is a steal. At $490, you're getting into territory where a refurbished iPad Air starts looking tempting.

The Apple iPad 11th Generation is Apple's entry-level tablet for 2025, and it's a weirdly compelling package. You get the A16 Bionic chip, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage in a 476g slab with an 11-inch Liquid Retina display. It starts around $310 for renewed models and climbs to $490 for new units with AppleCare+, which puts it in that sweet spot where it's cheaper than a MacBook but more capable than most Android tablets in the same bracket.

People searching for "best tablet for students" or "iPad for note taking" will find a lot to like here. The A16 chip handles everyday tasks without breaking a sweat, and the 12MP front camera with Center Stage keeps you framed during video calls even if you fidget. It's not a Pro iPad, but it doesn't pretend to be. It's the iPad most people should actually buy.

We've seen a lot of tablets come through our database, and this one lands in a strange position. The connectivity and battery life are near the top of the charts, but the CPU and GPU sit right around average for the category. That's the story of this iPad: excellent at the basics, unremarkable at the heavy lifting.

Skip this iPad if you're a serious gamer, a digital artist who needs the Apple Pencil Pro, or someone who can't stand 60Hz displays. The lack of ProMotion is the kind of thing that's fine until you've used a 120Hz screen, and then it's hard to go back. If you need real desktop software, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition is a better fit, though it costs more. And if you're buying renewed, double-check the price against new models. Some renewed listings are priced so close to new ones that the savings aren't worth the risk.

Should you buy the Apple iPad 11th Generation? For most people, yes. It's the best value in Apple's tablet lineup, and it nails the fundamentals: fast enough, long battery life, great screen for the price, and access to the best tablet app ecosystem on the planet. Students, casual users, and anyone who wants a reliable device for browsing, streaming, and light productivity will be happy.

But it's not for everyone. If you need a high refresh rate display, real desktop software, or top-tier gaming performance, look elsewhere. The 60Hz screen is the biggest compromise here, and it's the kind of thing that bothers you more over time. Still, at the lower end of the price range, this iPad is an easy recommendation. It's the tablet we'd tell our friends to buy.