Best iPads (2019): Which New iPad Should You Actually Buy?

Just don’t. I know money is tight, but your sanity is important, too. Yes, there’s a chance an older iPad could still perform decently, but unless someone is giving you one for free, try to hunt for a newer model. Many of the older iPads no longer receive software updates, and they’ll seem sooooo slow compared to your phone and your computer. The Mini 1 and iPad 1-2 also have very low-res screens. Forget buying an iPad Air 1—those are too long in the tooth. If you’re buying something for a child to use, try Amazon’s Fire tablets instead, which are cheaper than any new iPad and still have tons of kid-friendly features and parental controls.