Apple iPad 11" A16 2025, 8GB, 256GB, Cellular, Silver

The Apple iPad 11 is Apple's best entry-level tablet yet, with excellent battery life and a fast A16 chip. It's great for students, readers, and anyone who wants a reliable tablet for everyday use. Just don't expect it to replace your laptop.

The A16 chip is the same silicon that powered the iPhone 14 Pro, so it's no slouch. In our database, the GPU sits in the 88th percentile, which means it handles games and graphics-heavy apps better than most tablets out there. The CPU is more middle of the pack at the 52nd percentile, but that's compared against some seriously beefy laptops and high-end tablets. For everyday tasks, it's snappy. Apps open fast, multitasking is smooth, and photo editing doesn't make it sweat.

6GB of RAM is about average for this category, and honestly, iPadOS manages memory well enough that you won't notice. The 256GB storage is a nice step up from the base 128GB, and it puts this config in the 84th percentile for storage. If you're downloading games, movies, or a bunch of apps, you'll appreciate the headroom. The 29Wh battery is small on paper, but Apple's efficiency is doing heavy lifting here. Our battery score puts it in the 94th percentile, which means all-day use is realistic, not marketing fluff.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ is the most direct Android competitor, and it's a real fight. Samsung's display is arguably nicer with a higher refresh rate, and the S Pen is included in the box, which Apple doesn't do. But the iPad 11 wins on app ecosystem and long-term software support. If you're already in the Apple ecosystem, this is a no-brainer. If you're not, the Tab S10 FE+ is worth a serious look.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is a different beast entirely. It runs full Windows, so it can replace a laptop in ways the iPad simply can't. But it's also heavier, more expensive, and the battery life doesn't touch the iPad 11. For productivity, the Surface Pro wins. For everything else, the iPad is more pleasant to use. The Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro and Lenovo Idea Tab Plus are both cheaper, but they cut corners on build quality and software polish. The UMIDIGI Active T1 is a rugged tablet that's not really in the same conversation unless you're buying for a construction site.

Pricing on the iPad 11 is all over the place right now. In the US, we're seeing listings from USD 611 to USD 780 across nine vendors. That's a USD 169 spread, which is wild for a product this new. If you're shopping, check Staples.ca for the CAD 800 listing if you're in Canada, but for US buyers, the lower end of that range is where this makes sense. At USD 611, it's a solid deal. At USD 780, you're creeping into territory where a refurbished iPad Air or a Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ starts looking tempting. The 256GB config is the sweet spot, since the base 128GB fills up fast if you're downloading games or editing photos.

The Apple iPad 11 is Apple's entry-level tablet for 2025, and it's a weirdly compelling package. You get the A16 chip, 6GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD in this config, all wrapped in that familiar aluminum body. It's not the fanciest iPad, but it covers the basics really well. The 11-inch Liquid Retina display runs at 2360x1640, and while it's stuck at 60Hz, most people won't care unless they've used a ProMotion display before. At 476g, it's light enough to toss in a bag and forget about.

Is the iPad 11 good for students? Yeah, mostly. The A16 chip handles note-taking apps, research, and media without breaking a sweat. Apple Pencil support is here, though it's the USB-C version or the first-gen Pencil, not the fancy new Pro one. That's fine for most note-takers and doodlers. The 12MP front camera with Center Stage is genuinely useful for video calls, and the 12MP rear camera is fine for scanning documents. Battery life is a standout, landing in the 94th percentile in our database.

For entertainment, this thing is solid. The display is bright and color-accurate, and Wi-Fi 6 keeps streams smooth. The speakers are decent for a tablet this size. If you're mostly watching YouTube, reading, or browsing, the iPad 11 does all of that without complaint. It's not a laptop replacement, but it's not trying to be.

Skip the iPad 11 if you need a real laptop replacement. The productivity score of 69.6 is the weakest area here, and iPadOS still fights you when you try to run multiple windows or use desktop-class apps. If you're a heavy multitasker, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is the better call. Also skip it if you're deep in the Android ecosystem, since the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ offers a higher refresh rate display and an included stylus for similar money. And if you're on a tight budget, the Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro or Lenovo Idea Tab Plus will save you cash, though you'll give up build quality and long-term software support.

Should you buy the Apple iPad 11? If you want a tablet for reading, streaming, light gaming, and note-taking, yes. It's the best entry-level iPad Apple has made in years, and the battery life alone is worth the price of admission. The A16 chip means it'll stay fast for years, and the 256GB storage means you won't be deleting apps to make room.

But if you need a laptop replacement, look elsewhere. The iPad 11 is a tablet first, and iPadOS still gets in its own way when you try to do serious multitasking. The 60Hz display is also a bummer if you've used anything with a higher refresh rate. For most people, though, this is the iPad to buy. It does the basics better than almost anything else at this price.