The Best iPads For Kids That Educate And Entertain (2024)

All of Apple’s iPads run the same operating system and have roughly the same features, so picking one out seems like it should be easier. But narrowing down the best iPads for your kids can be tricky because there are more choices and configurations than ever before. The most important considerations are obviously screen size and storage capacity, but don’t forget about the camera particulars and color options—super important to a lot of kids—to weigh when shopping for your child’s next tablet.

And if this is going to be your child’s first tablet, you might want to establish some rules upfront. “When a child is given an iPad, parents should establish simple rules. Talk about when, where, and how kids can use the device, and practice a routine for when it's time to stop using it,” says Christine Elgersma, senior editor for learning content at Common Sense, a nonprofit that offers ratings and reviews on children’s movies, TV shows and video games, among other things. “That’s also why co-viewing and co-playing are important; it helps parents establish screen time as a shared experience.” She adds that parents should also consider setting up Apple’s Screen Time to help them monitor iPad usage.

Read on to see the best iPads for kids. We evaluated all the models available and considered factors like age, needs and family budgets. After reading this story, you may also want to check out our favorite phones for kids or the best laptops for kids.

• Best iPad For Kids Overall: iPad Air (5th Gen)
• Best Affordable iPad For Kids: iPad (10th Gen)
• Best iPad For Kids Under 10: iPad (9th Gen)
• Best iPad For Older Kids And Teens: iPad Pro (12.9-Inch)
• Best Portable iPad For Kids: iPad Mini (6th Gen)
• Best iPad Alternative For Kids: OnePlus Pad

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

Forbes Vetted takes digital safety for children seriously. We also know that many of us enjoy sharing movies, e-books and more entertainment with our kids via screens, including tablets. In putting together this story on the best iPads for kids, we drew on our expertise in both the parenting and technology sectors.

As the author, I’ve also been writing about technology and consumer products professionally for more than a decade. I spent a number of years personally reviewing and evaluating products. Plus, being a parent for as long as I’ve been a professional writer has deeply informed my work curating products for kids.

For this guide, I leaned on my excessive knowledge of the tablet market to reach these product recommendations as well as talked to local parents to hear real-world anecdotal information. I talked to several elementary school educators to hear firsthand how they have seen iPads used in their classrooms and to parents to understand how their own children use iPads at home, including the senior editor of kids and baby gear, Rose Gordon Sala, who owns (in her own words): “an embarrassing number of iPads” for her children and family.

We frequently review this article for accuracy and most recently updated it in November 2023.

How We Chose The Best iPads For Kids

After compiling the recommendations from the various parents and educators I spoke to, I also considered each iPad’s size, price and features when making these picks. For the most part, websites, streaming video apps and casual activities run just fine on the majority of iPad models. The physical attributes such as a home button, large screen, LiDAR sensor and the front-facing camera are the aspects that especially informed how each product slotted into the chosen best categories above.

If cost isn’t the main purchasing consideration at the moment, you’ll probably want to upgrade the storage space when buying an iPad. More room to download movies and large photo libraries means not having to keep the iPad connected to the internet when heading out on a road trip or using the tablet on an airplane.

What To Look For In The Best iPads For Kids

An iPad is a tablet computer that, for a lot folks, actually take the place of a laptop. But you don’t shop for an iPad the same way as you do for a MacBook.

Consider Storage If More Than One Child Is Using The iPad

If an iPad will be shared between multiple kids, you may want to consider adding more storage space to whichever model you choose. Each kid will likely want to download their own games, music and videos, all of which can fill up the iPad fast.

The Port Type Might Actually Matter

Currently, the only Apple iPad that uses a Lightning port is the 9th Generation model. That doesn’t matter on its own, but since the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro both have USB-C ports, like all the other iPads, it might be more convenient for a family to have all their devices using the same chargers with the same cables.

Some iPads Are Better To Use With An Apple Pencil

If you thought choosing an iPad was difficult, wait until you try to buy an Apple Pencil.

The company announced Apple Pencil (USB-C) on October 17, 2023, which brings to three the number of models available. But here’s what you need to know: Get the Apple Pencil (1st Generation) for the 9th Generation iPad, get the new, USB-C Pencil, for the 10th Generation iPad and get the 2nd Generation Pencil for every other iPad model.

Is There A Kid Version Of An iPad?

Apple doesn’t offer a specific kid-version of its iPads in the same way that Amazon does with its Fire Tablet. Kids can use all models of iPads with the primary differentiators being size, screen technology and camera capabilities.

Of course, handing over a device designed for adults to your child means implementing a few parental controls and opening up a conversation on appropriate behavior and usage. “No tech-based solutions can ever replace the ongoing conversation families need to have with their kids about using devices and media responsibly,” says Elgersma. “Screentime can be used as a starting point to discuss a kid's tech use and help set limits that work for each individual family.”

How Many Gigabytes Should Your Kid’s iPad Have?

The storage space on your iPad is measured in gigabytes. While some iPad applications can be several gigabytes in size, the majority of space is consumed by long videos, large amounts of photos and downloaded movies. All current iPads start at 64GB which is sufficient for consuming media and daily tasks. If the device will be offline, however, and needs to store movies and videos, say for a flight with your kids, it would be best to step up to more storage capacity.

Which iPads Have A Home Button?

The only iPad that Apple sells with a home button is the iPad (9th Gen). The iPad (10th Gen), iPad mini, iPad Air and iPad Pro all use swipe gestures to return to the home screen full of app icons. On iPads with a home button, you can double-click it to see recently used apps. On iPads without a home button, you swipe halfway up the screen to see recently used apps.

Should A 10-Year-Old Get An iPad Pro?

If a child isn’t ready for a phone or laptop, then an iPad could be a great electronic device to allow them to access information and video content at home or while traveling. There is no specific age that kids can use iPads or other tablets and very young kids have no problem using the devices. For concerns around blocking certain types of content, including websites, Apple does offer ScreenTime on iPads for parents to restrict apps, times, websites and other content.

What’s The Difference Between An iPad And iPad Pro?

The iPad Pro is a more powerful device with a faster processor. It includes a higher resolution screen, more storage by default and other premium features that either cost more for regular iPads to upgrade to or simply aren’t available.

Much like the iPhone and iPhone Pro lines, the iPad and iPad Pro function similarly, but the Pro models have more premium components or options and do cost more. But just because the Pro iPads are better in certain ways does not mean those extra features will be beneficial for the way each person is using their tablet.