When you start shopping for an iPad for your kid, you quickly come to realize that there are a surprising number of models—and prices. The best iPads for kids are those that balance your family’s needs with your budget. From the super lightweight iPad Air to the powerful iPad Pro, small details like screen size and storage space can end up making a big difference depending on what your child is using the tablet for the most—gaming, streaming videos, homework or content creating. Our best overall pick, the Apple iPad 11-inch (11th generation), hits all the marks for the vast majority of families: Powerful enough to learn, game or stream, lightweight enough to tote just about anywhere and fairly affordable at under $350 in the Wi-Fi model.
The best iPads for kids are versatile, easy-to-use and powerful.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers
No matter which iPad you end up purchasing, having a conversation that establishes boundaries and guidelines around screentime should always be the first step. Michael Robb, head of research at Common Sense Media, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families make safe digital choices, says: “What’s really going to be important in the end is whether your child is using it in moderation and in balance with other things in their lives—that it’s not displacing other important activities.” This means parents have to be consistent with screentime rules (including establishing consequences if these rules are broken) and keep a close eye on the content their child accesses on an iPad. Robb also suggests setting up “device-free zones” like their bedroom, during car rides and at meal and homework times. Read on to discover the best iPads for kids (and some worthy alternatives)—and don’t miss our guide to safely setting up an iPad for a child or teen.
Display size:11 inches | Screen resolution: 2360 x 1640 pixels | Processing: Apple A16 bionic chip | Storage capacity: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | Size: 9.8 x 7.1 x 0.3 inches | Weight: 1.1 pounds | Battery life: Up to 10 hours
Pros:
Fast performance
Long battery life
Good parental controls
Cons:
No Apple Intelligence features
It’s hard for families to go wrong with the latest iteration of the iPad. While the differences between the 11th and 10th generation aren’t massive, if it’s your first time buying an iPad (or it’s been a really long time since you’ve last upgraded), you may as well go for the newest release, which uses a faster A16 bionic chip meaning apps launch more quickly and smoothly—and should last your family a fair number of years. Starting at just $50 more than the base model of the previous generation, this workhorse of a tablet has a vibrant Liquid Retina display, comes in four fun colors and is powerful enough to support everything from basic streaming to more processor-heavy gaming, interactive learning apps, graphic designing and light content creating.
The 11th generation also comes with more storage in its base model (128GB) than its predecessor (64GB), so you’re likely not going to have to deal with deleting apps or photos and videos to keep it running efficiently. Older kids can pair it with an Apple Pencil (1st generation or USB-C) to use it as a note-taking device or pair it with the Magic Keyboard Folio to use it as a laptop alternative for writing papers and doing online schoolwork.
I’ve personally found the parental controls available on the new iPads surprisingly robust, allowing you to set not only screentime limits, but also disable specific apps like web browsers, and anything else you don’t want them to have access to. You can restrict content (or curate it based on their age) and filter music from Apple Music, so they don’t accidentally stumble upon anything explicit. You should know it doesn’t come with a traditional headphone jack, so kids must use Bluetooth headphones or a USB-C adapter.
Want to save this story for later?
No need to bookmark—get it straight to your inbox.
A Budget-Friendly Option That Works For Most Families
Apple
Apple iPad (10th Generation)
Display size: 10.9 inches | Screen resolution: 2360 x 1640 pixels | Processing: Apple A14 Bionic chip | Storage capacity: 64GB, 256GB | Size: 9.8 x 7.1 x 0.3 inches | Weight: 1.0 pounds | Battery life: Up to 10 hours
Pros:
Touch ID capabilities
Quality camera
Fast enough
Cons:
Less storage than the 11th generation
This now slightly older iPad model is still a rock solid choice for most families at a more accessible price than the latest iteration. Starting at around $300 for the 64GB version, the high-resolution display, a solid 12PM camera and long battery life are just some of the features packed into this sturdy and reliable tablet. It is starting to suffer some stock issues, making this lower-priced iPad harder to find.
The primary differences between the 11th and 10th generations involve the aforementioned storage space and power. While these details may be noticeable for adults (or teens) who are heavy tablet users downloading lots of high-definition video, most kids are unlikely to notice the difference. “My youngest kids use 10th gen iPad, and in general, it’s enough for their Netflix and Disney streaming needs and keeping one game going like Minecraft or Roblox,” says Forbes Vetted deputy editor Rose Gordon Sala. “It is frustrating that they can’t have too many apps without filling up the 64GB storage, but we appreciated the lower cost given the kids aren’t exactly gentle with them.”
For browsing, streaming, gameplay and even schoolwork via Google Classroom or apps like Think Central and Clever, the speed and high-resolution display on the 10th gen iPad will be more than enough—especially if this isn’t your family’s only iPad. It uses Touch ID and is compatible with both the Magic Keyboard Folio and Apple Pencil (USB-C and 1st generation).
Best iPad For Older Kids Or Teens
A Powerful Tablet That Can Do It All
Amazon
Apple iPad Air, 11-inch
Display size: 11 inches or 13 inches | Screen resolution: 2360 x 1640 pixels | Processing: Apple M3 chip | Storage capacity: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Size: 9.7 x 7.0 x 0.2 inches | Weight: 1 pounds | Battery life: Up to 10 hours
Pros:
Lightweight
Compatible with Apple Pencil Pro
Compatible with Magic Keyboard
Cons:
Pricier
As kids grow older, their interests change and often get more focused, so their needs for a tablet may go beyond simply wanting to stream shows and play Minecraft. The powerful latest iteration of the iPad Air sits firmly between the base model iPad and the iPad Pro, both in terms of price and specs. While the iPad Pro is a significant leap in price and performance—and something your average tween or teen probably won’t need—the iPad Air is a nice middle ground for those going beyond basic streaming and gaming who need a bit more power and space.
If your older child has started shooting and editing their own footage or using drawing and graphic design apps that require a significant amount of processing power and storage space to save their work, the iPad Air is the way to go. “The iPad Air has plenty of computing power for just about any activity the average kid will do, and it comes in both 11-inch and 13-inch screen sizes, both of which are big enough for drawing, games and good viewing experience," says Forbes Vetted tech writer and dad of two, Steven John. “The smaller iPad Air is the better choice for younger (and smaller) kids, while an older kid, like a tween or teen, may want the larger 13-inch option.”
My own 11-year-old uses our family iPad Air with an Apple Pencil for her Procreate designs while my 13-year-old often uses it to type up assignments for school with the Magic Keyboard attachment. It’s versatile, powerful, and multifunctional if you’re okay with the higher price (and trust your older kid to keep it safe) and far easier to tote around than an actual laptop. Unlike the entry-level iPad, the Air comes with Apple Intelligence capabilities. The iPad Air comes in four muted colors like an aesthetic pale lavender and light blue that tweens and teens are sure to appreciate.
Best iPad For Serious Content Creators
The Most Powerful iPad Out There
Amazon
Apple iPad Pro 11-Inch (M4)
Display size: 11 inches or 13 inches | Screen resolution: 2360 x 1640 pixels | Processing: Apple M4 chip | Storage capacity: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | Size: 9.8 x 7 x 0.21 inches | Weight: 15.5 ounces | Battery life: Up to 10+ hours
Pros:
Extremely powerful
Lots of storage
Super slim and lightweight
Improved camera placement
Cons:
Very expensive
If you have an older kid who is serious about content creating, graphic design or other processor-heavy activities, it doesn’t get more powerful than the latest and greatest iPad Pro. With a blazing fast M4 chip, it’s notably faster than the other iPad models, which comes in especially handy for editing content, playing games or completing school assignments using multiple tabs and applications.
This version has also moved the front-facing camera location to the landscape side of the tablet, making it more intuitive to how most people use it for FaceTimes, Zoom and self-recording. Speaking of cameras, it comes with a Pro camera capable of shooting 4K ProRes videos. The super crisp high-resolution Ultra Retina XDR display uses OLED technology to give them the sharpest viewing experience available.
One of the most notable features of this iPad Pro: it’s extremely slim, making it ideal to stow in a backpack or even a purse. This model integrates Apple Intelligence, can be unlocked with FaceID and is compatible with Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro and both the Apple Pencil and Pencil Pro, making it a true laptop replacement option, which makes sense given the high price.
Best iPad Alternative For Younger Kids
Affordable And Easy-To-Use, With A Kid-Friendly Case
Amazon
Amazon Fire 10 HD Kids Tablet
Display size: 10.1 inches | Screen resolution: 1920 x 1200 pixels | Processing: Octa-core 2.0 GHz processor | Storage capacity: 32GB (expandable by up to 1 TB)| Size: 10.5 x 8.2 x 1.1 inches (includes kid-proof case) | Weight: 23.8 ounces | Battery life: up to 13 hours
Pros:
Affordable
Extra thick case to keep it safe from drops
Robust parental controls
Cons:
On the heavier side
Limited app selection
They’ll grow out of it
Often on sale for less than $100 during Amazon Prime Days, the Amazon Fire HD 10 is a steal for families who are looking for a basic kid-friendly tablet they can stream their favorite shows on or to take on vacation without worrying too much about keeping close tabs on it. It comes with a nicely padded case with kickstand in kid-friendly colors and a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ to check out thousands of kid-friendly e-books they can read via the Kindle app. Amazon also states that if your kids breaks it within the first two years, they’ll replace it, which should be music to any parent’s ears.
I bought this model specifically for a weeks-long road trip and was pleasantly surprised. As soon as you turn it on, you find it’s pre-loaded games and kid-friendly apps to get started with. While the Fire is slower than our iPad, my three kids watched shows, read tons of e-books and played games, navigating the interface easily without assistance. Parental controls were pretty easy to set up through the Parent Dashboard and can be used to set time limits, see what (and how long) your child is spending time using and make them read e-books and learning apps for a certain amount of time before they can even access any entertainment. Another bonus? The web browser comes with kid-safe filters already built-in.
Both the rear and front-facing cameras are 5MP—which isn’t iPad quality, but good enough for little ones just having fun—and can record high-def 1080p videos. Recommended for ages 3 to 7, this is an ideal and affordable first tablet for young kids who don’t need all the powerful features of an iPad or other more technologically advanced Android tablet.
Best iPad Alternative For Older Kids
Slim With A Large Display And Long Battery Life
Amazon
Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro
Display size: 10.1 inches | Screen resolution: 1920 x 1200 pixels | Processing: Octa-core 2.0 GHz processor | Storage capacity: 32GB (expandable by up to 1 TB)| Size: 7.5 x 10.1 x 0.7 inches (includes kid-proof case) | Weight: 23.2 ounces | Battery life: Up to 13 hours
Pros:
Two-year warranty
Can also be used as an Alexa smart display
Durable case
Cons:
Works mainly in Amazon’s ecosystem, which may limit available apps
If you’re not getting your older kid, tweens and teens an iPad, the Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is a solid alternative. The case is slimmer (and decidedly less childish) than the cushioned Fire 10, but it still boasts the same large 10.1-inch display. As a result, it’s also slightly lighter. It’s available in three more tween-friendly colors.
Unlike the Fire 10, the Pro is designed for kids ages 6 to 12 (and up) and instead of coming with pre-loaded kid-safe sites on the browser has an open but filtered (still ad-free) approach that parents can control from the parental control settings instead, giving them a little more freedom and flexibility for information they may need for school. It still comes with a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+.
Older kids can pair it with a wireless keyboard for greater functionality and to write papers if needed.
The author of this article, Esther Carlstone, is a longtime parenting editor who has extensively tested various kid tech products and is a parent of three kids ranging in age from little kid to teen who have all used iPads in the home and at school.
The story was edited by Forbes Vetted executive editor Dave Johnson. He has covered consumer technology for decades and is the author of over three dozen books on mobile tech like smartphones and tablets, along with digital photography, robotics and more. He has owned countless tablets including his current, much-loved iPad Pro.
We interviewed two experts: Steven John, Forbes Vetted tech writer, founder of Dad Gear Review and dad of two, as well as Michael Robb, head of research at Common Sense Media, a nonprofit dedicated to making media and technology safer and healthier for kids.
We spoke with other parents to see which iPad models (or alternatives) they were using for their kids, what appeared to be any pros and cons with what their kids were primarily using them for, and also took my personal experiences as a mom of three into account.
We combed through online reviews of various iPad models, comparing their specs, including processing speed, battery life, weight, camera capabilities and storage space and honed in on reviews specifically from parents.
How We Chose The Best iPads For Kids
To find the best iPads for kids we considered the specs of each model, prices and any additional features that may make one model better suited for a certain age group of kids than others.
We side-by-side compared the details of the various latest models of each iPad along with older generations of iPads that are still widely available to purchase.
We considered insights from other parents, including ourselves, to see what their kids most often used their iPads for and what kind of capabilities they really needed.
The battery life was pretty much the same across all the iPad models, so we weighed other factors like processing speed, price and storage to narrow down our top picks on this list.
We also considered iPad alternatives that would work well for many families, especially those who wanted an inexpensive secondary tablet.
We relied on the advice of our expert to see which specs really mattered for older kids versus younger kids and also reviewed our consumer tech team’s iPad reviews and guidance on selecting the right tablet, such as comparing the Apple iPad Air Vs. the iPad Pro.
What To Look For In The Best iPads For Kids
While at a glance many of the iPad models seem similar, there are some key details to look out for if you’re shopping for an iPad for a specific reason or child.
Storage And Speed
These two details are especially important if you plan on using the iPad with multiple kids or as a family iPad that the parents regularly use as well. Anyone with an iPhone knows how quickly that storage space can fill up. If you have a kid who’s a heavy gamer or one who likes to take millions of photos and videos, you’ll likely want to upgrade to a model with more storage space. Likewise, if you do a lot of long-haul travel and want to download several movies for the plane ride, you’ll need more space.
Speed won’t matter for most families with young kids, but again, if you have a kid that uses interactive apps or games that require lots of processing (think Minecraft and Roblox, for example, or video editing programs for teens), the faster iPad may be a better fit to prevent lag and general frustration.
Screen Size
Apple iPads come in various screen size options, with the iPad Mini starting at a little over 8-inches and the iPad Air and Pro available in 11- and 13-inch versions. If the primary use of the iPad is to stream shows and movies or to play graphic-rich games, a larger screen size may make the most sense. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more portable one that can easily be carried in a purse, a smaller screen may be ideal.
Price
The current iPads vary widely in price depending on the model and storage space, with older generations starting in the $250 range to well over $1,000 for a 13-inch iPad Pro. Unless you’re looking for a complete laptop replacement, chances are most parents are going for an entry-level or midrange model.
If you’re purchasing an iPad for a tween or teen who will use it for more technical or creative projects than a 7-year-old would, consider an upgrade in storage and specs especially since it’s likely they’ll be using it for years to come. You also may not trust a younger child with a pricier version.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Most of the iPad models—the iPad, iPad Air and iPad Mini—are good for kids. The iPad Pro is more powerful (and consequently far more expensive) and is probably too much power that would be underutilized for most children.
According to Robb, there’s no right or wrong age for a kid to get an iPad, with the caveat that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends “very limited” screen and media time for kids under age 2. “It really depends on individual circumstances, including what your kids maturity level, family values around technology and what your goals are for device use,” he says, whether it’s to occupy them for 15 minutes or to provide them with some educational learning.
Both the iPad and iPad Mini are suitable for kids as long as caregivers set screentime limits and are paying close attention to the content they are consuming on the tablet. “The quality is going to be as important, if not more important, than the quantity of time that kids are using their devices,” says Robb.
If having a compact and portable iPad is important to you, the iPad Mini is a good choice, otherwise, the regular iPad probably makes more sense for most families.
Want to save this story for later?
No need to bookmark—get it straight to your inbox.
We added pros and cons to each product and also included a Best iPad for Serious Creators and Best iPad Alternative for Older Kids. We also updated the pricing information.
