Which iPad is right for you?

Dan Moren walks you through your di fferent options

Apple o ffers four iPad models, each available
in several permutations. You’ll have to
think about the capacity you’re willing to
pay for, whether to get the version with cellular
networking, and even the colour you want. Here we
help you figure out which model is right for you.

iPad Air

Referring to the Air as the Rolls-Royce of iPads may
be a slight exaggeration, but it’s the biggest, most
luxurious option. Its features are first class across
the board, from the 64-bit A7 processor to the high
definition cameras on its front and back.
But its biggest selling point is the roomy 9.7in

Retina display. Although it has the same 2048x1536-
pixel resolution as the Retina mini, sometimes a
bigger screen is better. If you don’t want to worry
about squinting to make out text on a smaller
screen, the Air may be a more comfortable option.
Digital magazines, comics and videos look fantastic,
too. And with the larger screen, you’re likely to fi nd
that tasks such as typing are more comfortable.
Of course, those features come with a higher
price tag. The Air starts at £399 for a 16GB Wi-Fi
model, and increases in £80 increments to £639 for
the 128GB model.

iPad mini with Retina display

Apple’s latest mini has almost everything you’ll find
on the Air: a high-resolution Retina display; a 64-bit
A7 chip with M7 coprocessor; capacities of 16-, 32-,
64- and 128GB; cellular options that work with all the
major network providers; a FaceTime HD camera

on the front and a 5Mp iSight camera – capable of 
recording up to 1080p HD video – on the rear. And
then there are trappings such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,
a Lightning connector, a headphone jack, speakers
and a microphone.
Deciding between the Retina mini and the Air
comes down to two factors: size and price. If you
prefer smaller and lighter, then the mini wins, though,
not by as much as the older version (which weighs
308g); the Retina mini weighs 331g to the Air’s 469g.
Its small size may be even more of a selling
point, if you want a tablet that you can carry
around with you: about the size of a paperback,
the Retina mini can fi t comfortably into a small
bag. And even though the Air is light enough for
you to hold in one hand, the Retina mini beats it
hands-down in that category.
With prices ranging from £319 to £559 for the
various-capacity Wi-Fi models, the Retina mini
costs £80 less than a comparably equipped Air,
which is worth considering if you’re on a budget.

Original iPad mini

The main reason for anyone to look at the first
generation mini is that it’s the cheapest iPad around.
Priced at £249, the 16GB Wi-Fi-only model manages
to pack a pretty decent punch, too. It includes
high-definition cameras on the front and back,
Siri, and most of the same capabilities of newer iPads.
It’s great for those who just want to use it to get on the
web, check their email and download a few apps.
email and download a few apps.
That’s not to say there aren’t some trade-o s. The
A5 chip is three years old, so its performance can
be a bit slow, especially in intensive applications
such as some games. And the only capacity option
– 16GB – though adequate for a casual user, will fill
up rapidly with even a modest collection of digital
music, videos and photos.
Finally, it lacks a Retina display. The screen on
the first-generation mini is respectable, but its lower
resolution can make reading some text harder, and
images don’t pop quite as impressively as they do
on the Retina display. Then again, you’re here for the
appealing price, not for top-of-the-line specs.

iPad 2

The iPad 2 has been blessed with surprising
longevity since it was introduced in 2011. At £329
for the Wi-Fi-only model, it costs £80 more than
the first-generation mini; and though it shares that
model’s A5 processor, it lacks many of the niceties
of its smaller counterpart, such as Siri, high-definition
FaceTime camera, 1080p video recording (and
low-quality still shots), LTE and an older version of
Bluetooth. Like the original mini, it also comes in just
one capacity, 16GB.
On the other hand, this is the option for you
if you have accessories that require the 30-pin
dock-connector port, if you’re looking for a barebones
iPad or if you need the biggest screen for
the smallest price. In almost every other respect,
though, the mini is a better choice.

Capacity

If you’ve worked out which model to pick up, then
you’ve done the hard part. But you still have to
decide how much storage you need.
There’s no operational down side to getting
as much storage as you can a fford.
Every time you double the capacity
of the iPad Air or the Retina mini,
you’ll have to pay another £80. Consequently,
a 128GB Air will set you back £639,
while a top-of the range mini costs £559.
That said, unless your needs are truly minimal,
the 16GB models are di fficult to recommend these
days. If you maintain a digital media library
of a significant size – bear in mind that this includes
photos – you’ll soon have to start deciding which
items you want to have taking up space on your
tablet.
On the flip side, that 128GB capacity won’t be
necessary unless your iPad is your sole computer.
If you plan to use it to store your photos, music,
movies and documents, along with any apps you
need for your personal and work life, you’ll be
looking for as much capacity as you can get.
But most users will be happy with either a 32- or
64GB model. Before you purchase an iPad, it’s worth
taking a quick inventory of your iTunes library, video
collection and photos to see how much space you
need. And remember, you have the option to offload
some of those items – photos to your Mac, using
Photo Stream; iTunes Match for your music; and
iTunes in the Cloud for video purchases. Consider
using those and other services if you’re looking to
save a little bit of cash on in-tablet storage capacity.

Cellular or not?

You’re almost ready to click through to checkout.
But before you take the plunge, you need to
decide whether to add cellular networking
capabilities to your iPad. The cost for this is £80
extra across the board, regardless of which capacity
version you choose. For every iPad model, you
can choose a service from any of the four major
providers: EE, 3, O2 and Vodafone.
What’s the advantage of cellular networking? Well,
if you’re in a location that doesn’t have Wi-Fi and
you need to check your email, then this is your best
bet. Cellular networks o er broader access than
Wi-Fi; and with the move to LTE networks, speeds
are comparable, too. Also, although there’s an extra
cost, the no-contract model means that you can pay
for a chunk of data when you need it, without locking
yourself into a monthly service fee.