Apple iPad Apple 11" iPad A16 Chip (128GB, Wi-Fi + 5G, Review

The 11-inch iPad with the A16 chip is a solid, no-nonsense tablet that knows what it's good at. It scores a 63 out of 100 for reading and a 58 for entertainment, which tells you exactly where its strengths lie. It's light, it's got that crisp Liquid Retina display, and it connects like a champ with 5G and WiFi 6 putting it in the 96th percentile for connectivity. But with a productivity score of just 38, it's not trying to be your laptop. It's a media and web machine, and it's priced to prove it.

Performance is all about the A16 chip here. It's the same processor from the iPhone 14 Pro, and in a tablet, it's plenty fast. The CPU lands in the 60th percentile, which is more than enough for smooth app switching, web browsing, and streaming. Gaming is decent too, with the 4-core GPU sitting at the 59th percentile. You won't be pushing the latest console ports to their limits, but for mobile games and graphics, it's snappy. The 11-inch IPS screen hits 500 nits and is in the 71st percentile, so movies and books look great, even if it's locked at a standard 60Hz refresh rate.

The value story here is straightforward. You're getting last year's flagship phone chip in a premium-feeling tablet body for under $500. That's a compelling price, especially when you consider the excellent connectivity and solid screen. You're not paying for the absolute top-tier performance or pro features, but you're getting a very polished experience for the money. The price range of $449 to $499 is tight, so shop around, but you're unlikely to feel ripped off.

Compared to the iPad Pro with the M5 chip, this iPad gives up a lot of raw power and the 120Hz ProMotion display, but it saves you hundreds of dollars. The Surface Pro 11 with Copilot+ is a full Windows laptop replacement with much higher productivity scores, but it's heavier, more expensive, and its battery life can be a gamble. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra has a stunning OLED screen and better multitasking features, but you're paying a premium for that. This 11-inch iPad carves its niche by being the best pure tablet in its price range—it's simpler, more focused, and often just more pleasant to use for its core tasks than the jack-of-all-trades competitors.

If you want a tablet primarily for reading, watching videos, and light web use, this 11-inch iPad with the A16 is an easy recommendation. Its connectivity is top-notch, the screen is great, and the performance is more than sufficient. The low productivity and RAM scores mean you should look at a Surface or an iPad Pro if you need a laptop alternative, but for a companion device, this one hits the sweet spot between price and polished experience. Just be ready to manage that 128GB storage.