Forget about the iPad Air — this is the ideal iPad for the majority of users.

      You might find it hard to believe, but two new iPads were released yesterday. Apple appeared to try to downplay the updated iPad 2025, preferring that we concentrate on the iPad Air 2025 instead. There are valid reasons for this; the more expensive model is certainly the more impressive of the two. It’s more powerful, visually appealing, and features the highly advertised Apple Intelligence. In contrast, the basic iPad is equipped with a slower, less remarkable processor, remains largely the same as the previous year, and lacks Apple Intelligence as a standard feature.

      Despite all this, it's the basic iPad that has captured my attention. While most of the upgrades are minor, Apple has made one change that has prompted me to choose the basic iPad over the pricier options. In fact, it has transformed the iPad back into the ideal tablet.

      The iPad has always been the best value among all iPads.

      Throughout the years, my advice for purchasing a tablet has remained constant: opt for the basic iPad.

      While there are arguments in favor of the iPad Air or even the iPad Pro, I find that most users simply don't require anything more powerful or capable than the standard $329 iPad. Sure, its display isn’t the most stunning, and it’s not suitable for tasks like video editing that demand significant processing power. But if, like me, you just need a tablet for browsing the internet, reading books, watching Netflix, and playing the occasional game, the iPad is all you need. It offers the best value in the tablet market, with only the Amazon Fire Max 11 coming close.

      My fondness for the basic iPad is unquestionable. So why, despite needing an iPad upgrade, did I refrain from purchasing the 10th generation iPad? It was due to one important issue that held me back.

      The previous iPad had a significant drawback.

      My seventh-generation iPad still performs well. Although its design is dated, its performance remains strong, and the battery life continues to serve me well. So it should be set for another five-plus years, right? It would be, except for one thing: the storage.

      When I bought my iPad, it was the entry-level model, which came with a mere 32GB of storage. That wasn’t ideal when it was new, but it was manageable. Fast forward to 2025, and that's become downright inadequate. Not a day goes by without discovering that yet another app has been offloaded to create space, and it can't even update to the latest version of iPadOS because the 10.5GB download requires nearly a third of my remaining storage. I’d have to delete most of my apps to perform the update, and since it often serves as entertainment for a toddler, I’m not willing to risk the displeasure of a two-year-old if it’s unresponsive when needed.

      The solution is straightforward: buy a new iPad. However, that's easier said than done.

      The 10th generation iPad was a significant upgrade. It features a larger display, better processor, and still works with my first-generation Apple Pencil. The base model comes with 64GB of storage, which may be double what I currently have, but I’ve learned from experience. I’d prefer a bit more storage as a safety net, so I might as well opt for the 128GB version, which would add about $50.

      However, the next version of the 10th generation iPad offered 256GB for $150 more, with no 128GB option available.

      And that’s where things stalled for me. 64GB? Too little. 256GB? Excessive. At that price, I might as well consider the iPad mini or even upgrade to the iPad Air. Cynically, that might have been the reason for its existence.

      So there I was, deliberating on purchasing a more expensive iPad that I didn’t actually need—until yesterday.

      The new iPad is once again perfect.

      The new iPad is quite appealing, isn't it? Yes, it has a similar appearance to its predecessor, and while the upgrade to the A16 processor isn’t groundbreaking, Apple’s decision to boost the standard storage to 128GB is a game-changer. This provides an ideal balance of storage and cost, making the iPad my ideal choice once more. It will handle games, stream Netflix, and allow me to read my favorite books—plus, it will finally have enough storage for everything. It may not have Apple Intelligence, but honestly, I’m indifferent to Apple’s AI, and given my concerns over storage space, I’m happy to keep that in check.

      For the first time in years, the basic iPad is back to being perfect, and I couldn't be more satisfied.