2025 Apple iPad Review: 11th Generation iPad Behind

I can tell you the whole story of the 11th generation iPad by explaining the results of a benchmark. Called Geekbencha cross-platform tool that simulates many real-world activities to make each device’s score roughly approximate its capabilities. It’s not perfect (no benchmark is), but can be revealed. In this case, it shows an iPad that is very good at it Always good at itbut it may reach its limits – absolutely not ready for what is coming.

When you run Geekbench CPU tests on devices like your iPad, it tests single-core and multi-core energy performance. Most modern devices have multiple cores: the iPad’s A16 chip has five CPU cores and four GPU cores; Current iPad Pro There are nine and 10, respectively; you can list the latest Mac Studio as 28 CPU cores and 60 GPU cores. Not all cores are the same, we can talk about this forever, but don’t.

What you need to know is that a single-core process can only do one thing at a time, often used for simple daily computing tasks such as running an email application or refreshing the Spotify homepage. On the other hand, the multifunctional process is designed to do many things at the same time, such as when editing a video or creating a 3D model that requires one build, rendering and one move. Again, there are almost no difficult rules for all this. But overall, the more cores you have, the more you can do at once.

This brought me back to the score. The new $349 base model iPad scores actually with Last year’s M2 drives air During the single core process, and This year’s M3 Air Only beat about 11%. This shows that for most normal, simple iPad things they should all do almost the same, which is exactly what I’ve experienced. Watch videos, browse the web, browse photos – The M3 Air is occasionally smoother, but they are all effectively the same.

However, in a multi-core test, this test measures the device’s ability to do many things at once, and the basic iPad is definitely shipped by the brethren. The M3 Air scored more than twice the base iPad, and even last year’s M2 Air performed 60% better in the test. In Geekbench’s GPU test, this test is specifically designed to target the intensive graphics processing you care about in video games, editing apps, and powerful creativity tools, both of which double the iPad.

These numbers show what my tests confirm: the basic iPad is still a cute, fast, available device that is ready to use. This is a great Netflix machine with an 11-inch screen and four speakers, and it’s a lot if not great. This is great for browsing the web, which is fast for casual games (I’ve been playing a lot of it dredge and Mini subway,,,,, In addition to my usual fill diet and Tiny wings) and is responsive in everyday use – overall a very good iPad.

But once you increase the intensity, the basic iPad starts to falter. There are many games that cannot be played at all: Assassin’s Creed Sea City Rage and Resident Evil 4 It just doesn’t support the device directly. There are others, such as Call of Duty: Warzone, You can really feel the lack of graphics capabilities. I’ll run in a dark alley Warzone, The shadows start to flash in and out positions, rendering and replaying beats are too slow. Even in productivity-centric tools, the basic iPad falls under the weight of a special visual page. And if you are a multitasking, easy to launch stage manager or just a lot of slide usage, you’ll notice a difference.

Even if you don’t care about the core right now, I bet you will soon. For example, the basic iPad does not support Apple Smart Some Worth the local AI capabilities in the coming years. (Another AI-related drawback: The iPad also has 6GB of RAM when the air has 8GB.) As more apps are updated to take advantage of the extra power on the Air and Pro, they may start to feel slower on the iPad. Other iPads have more features than most people need, but that means they need space for you and your growth. Basic iPad doesn’t.

Another big compromise with a basic iPad is the accessories. Both the iPad Pro and iPad Air support the latest Apple Pencils and have good magic keyboard accessories, both of which the iPad cannot be used. Instead, you get the last generation of pencils and worse magic keyboard portfolio. The tablet is the same size as 11-inch air, which is totally annoying Can Working on the same keyboard, does not include magnets except Apple? Yes. But that’s where things are.

I still think the iPad is a great tablet and is excellent on most things that most people need in their iPad. If the price is $349, it’s right for your budget, or you’re looking for something simple for the kids, buy it without a reservation. Frankly, if you just want something because yellow and pink are the best colors Apple offers on any of its devices, I’ll get it. But if you can, you should buy an iPad, which will last for at least five years and even more iPads. The iPad is already well behind the curve enough that I no longer believe it will last that long. I think this is a better choice for most people.

Photography by David Pierce / The Verge