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Apple iPad (A16) review

No. 1 of 10 in our tablets ranking · Updated · How we rank

Our verdict: The best tablet in 2026 is the Apple iPad (A16). It tops our ranking with 9.3 out of 10.

Apple iPad (A16)

9.3/10Best Choice

The Apple iPad (A16) is Apple's entry 11-inch iPad, with a Liquid Retina screen, a USB-C port and Touch ID. It suits households, students and anyone who wants an easy, mainstream tablet for browsing, streaming and schoolwork.

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Why it's here

  • 11-inch Liquid Retina screen with a 128GB starting size
  • A16 chip with 6GB of RAM handles school work and mainstream games smoothly
  • Works with the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple's Magic Keyboard Folio
  • iPadOS gets updates for many years, so it holds its value and stays secure

Keep in mind

  • The screen is not laminated and has no anti-glare coating, so it reflects light more than the Air
  • No microSD slot, so extra space means paying for a bigger model or using iCloud
  • Pencil and keyboard are extras and add a lot to the real cost

Why the Apple iPad (A16) scores 9.3

Each bar shows where it places among the 10 tablets in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.

  • How happy owners are1st of 10
  • How many rated it3rd of 10
  • How new it is7th of 10

No. 1 and No. 2 are level

The Apple iPad (A16) and the Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro) score the same, so either is a safe pick. The Apple iPad (A16) goes first because it leaves owners a little happier.

About the Apple iPad (A16)

The iPad (A16) has an 11-inch Liquid Retina display at 2360 x 1640 pixels (264 ppi), with True Tone and a brightness of 500 nits. The body measures 248.6 x 179.5 x 7 mm and the Wi-Fi model weighs 477 g. It comes in silver, blue, pink and yellow, and in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB sizes. Touch ID is built into the top button.

Inside is the A16 chip, with a 5-core CPU, a 4-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine. It runs iPadOS 26. Cameras are a 12MP rear camera and a 12MP front camera with Center Stage, which keeps you in frame on video calls. Rear video goes up to 4K at 60 fps. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 are standard. Cellular models add 5G and Gigabit LTE, using eSIM only.

It works with the Apple Pencil (USB-C), and with the first-generation Apple Pencil through a USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter. Apple also sells the Magic Keyboard Folio for it. The battery is 28.93 Wh, rated by Apple at up to 10 hours of web browsing or video on Wi-Fi. In the box you get the iPad and a 1-metre USB-C charge cable. A retailer listing confirms there is no power adapter, so you may need to buy one.

What owners report about the Apple iPad (A16)

We found little owner feedback specific to this model in places we could open. What we did find came from Apple Community threads, and it is mostly about battery.

Some owners reported much faster battery drain after updating to iPadOS 18.5, even with light use such as browsing. Replies said background tasks run after a big update and that use usually settles within a few days. Another owner said a new iPad was flat by morning after a full charge. Replies suggested the same background setup work, then a restart and reset, and returning it if the fault stayed. No one in that thread reported a fix.

A third owner asked whether battery health of 87% after about 11 months was a defect. Replies said it was not unusual, and that heat and long spells at 100% charge speed up wear.

Who the Apple iPad (A16) suits

Buy it if you want a plain, dependable tablet for the family, for study, streaming, reading and casual games, and you like Apple's software. It also suits anyone planning to add a Pencil or the Magic Keyboard Folio, though those cost extra.

Look elsewhere if you want a laminated, less reflective screen: the iPad Air 11-inch (M4) has one. The iPad mini (A17 Pro) is smaller. If you want a microSD slot for cheap extra space, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ has one. For a very low outlay, the Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) costs less.

Questions about the Apple iPad (A16)

What iPad is the Apple iPad (A16)?

It is Apple's 11-inch base iPad, the 11th generation, with the A16 chip. Apple lists it as iPad (A16) and sells it with 128GB, 256GB or 512GB.

Does the Apple iPad (A16) come with a charger?

No. The box has the iPad and a 1-metre USB-C charge cable, but no power adapter. Apple's 20W USB-C Power Adapter is sold separately.

Which Apple Pencil works with the Apple iPad (A16)?

The Apple Pencil (USB-C) works directly. The first-generation Apple Pencil also works, but only with a USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter.

How long does the Apple iPad (A16) battery last?

Apple rates it at up to 10 hours of web browsing or video on Wi-Fi. Cellular models are rated at up to 9 hours of web browsing on mobile data.

Can the Apple iPad (A16) use a SIM card?

No physical SIM. Wi-Fi + Cellular models support 5G and Gigabit LTE through eSIM only, and the Wi-Fi model has no cellular at all.

Other tablet picks

The other badge winners in our tablets ranking.

All 10 tablets, compared

  1. 1 Apple iPad (A16)This reviewBest Choice 9.3 Check Price
  2. 2 Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro)Best Premium 9.3 Check Price
  3. 3 Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+Value for Money 9.0 Check Price
  4. 4 Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023)Best Budget 8.8 Check Price
  5. 5 Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE 8.8 Check Price
  6. 6 Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4) 8.7 Check Price
  7. 7 Xiaomi Pad 7 8.6 Check Price
  8. 8 Lenovo Idea Tab Pro 8.6 Check Price
  9. 9 OnePlus Pad 3 8.5 Check Price
  10. 10 Samsung Galaxy Tab S12+ 8.4 Check Price
See the full tablets ranking

The Apple iPad (A16) on Amazon

Apple iPad (A16)

The Apple iPad (A16) is Apple's entry 11-inch iPad, with a Liquid Retina screen, a USB-C port and Touch ID. 9.3 out of 10.

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How we score it

Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. We haven't read the review sites for this guide yet, so for now it is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 21 models for this guide before settling on these ten.

Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in November 2026.

How we rank, in full

Where these facts come from