So, you have decided to get an Apple iPad. And especially if you’re making the switch from an Android device, the price for an iPad, like any other Apple products such as iPhone and MacBook, doesn’t come cheap.
But the combination of quality, power and practicality, coupled with great battery life made iPads such a popular and irresistible tablet even until today. iPads are also compatible with essential accessories from the stylus Apple Pencil for writing or drawing to attaching it to a keyboard and connecting a mouse via Bluetooth.
Depending on your needs and budget, you can easily consider old and new generations of iPads regardless of Mini, Air or Pro models thanks to Apple’s longstanding software support. Here are the reviews for 6 of the best iPads in Malaysia worth considering.
Table of Contents
- Best Apple iPads in Malaysia
- Apple iPad Air vs iPad Mini vs iPad Pro
6 Best Apple iPads in Malaysia
- Apple 11-inch iPad Pro (2021, 3rd Gen) - Wi-Fi
- Apple 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2021) - Wi-Fi
- Apple iPad Mini (2019, 5th Gen) Wi-Fi + Cellular
- Apple iPad Air (2020, 4th Gen) - Wi-Fi
- Apple iPad (2021, 9th Gen)
- Apple iPad Mini (2021, 6th Gen)
Table of Contents
Why It’s Our Top Pick:
“With an optional storage capacity of up to 2TB, the Apple iPad Pro 3 boasts a stunning 11-inch display and smoother motion, thanks to its high 120Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile the performance-driven M1 chipset makes it ideal for daily multitasking. All-in-all, a great -all-in-one device.”
Features:
Powered by the Apple M1 chipset, the 3rd generation of iPad Pro (iPad Pro 3) sports an 11-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone display. It also has adaptive, higher refresh-rate ProMotion technology for a buttery-smooth scrolling experience.
The iPad comes with a Face ID authentication feature for easy unlocking and support for the 2nd generation of Apple Pencil. Since the iPad Pro is quite powerful, you can have your iPad Pro 3 offer a laptop-like experience by pairing it with a Magic or Smart Keyboard. For cameras, the iPad Pro 3 features 12MP wide and 10MP ultra-wide shooters.
Performance:
The iPad Pro 3 scores high in terms of its desktop-like performance with its powerful M1 chipset, so you can multitask with barely any lag. Its display, as expected, looks magnificent with great colour reproduction and brightness level. Other aspects to know includes the camera which offers decent performance as well as a superb 10-hour battery life.
Hardcore gamers with deep pockets can consider getting this portable beast of the 2021 version of iPad Pro, which sports a larger-than-usual 12.9” screen.
Features:
Looking at the key features, the aforementioned screen benefits from a Liquid Retina XDR display and runs on an Apple M1 chipset. You have optional storage capacity that’ll start from 128GB up to a maximum of 2TB.
It’s even blessed with a 120Hz refresh rate for a smoother visual experience, which is ideal enough for competitive gaming.
Other highlights include a 12MP main + 10MP ultra-wide camera function which also supports up to 4K video recording. Not forgetting, there’s a Face ID feature and four built-in speakers, with two on the top and another two on the bottom.
Performance:
Most users who used the the Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch praised its ultra-vibrant XDR display, offering superb brightness and accurate colours. Visuals aside, the powerful Apple M1 chipset offers a desktop-level performance, where it does just as good for multitasking purposes (e.g. opening multiple Google Chrome tabs, running YouTube app).
It has an amazing 10-hour battery life too, or 6-8 hours worth if you are heavy on gaming. As for the camera performances, both rear and ultra-wide shooters offer crisp images, particularly if you are taking daylight photos or in a brightly lit environment. Do not expect much for low-light or night photos since the quality is said to be subpar.
Finally, the built-in audio performance is surprisingly loud and immersive for such a slim tablet.
Sporting a 7.9-inch screen, the iPad Mini 2019 is not too big and not too small. In fact, it’s just nice enough for the likes of doing simple word-processing or taking notes. Not to mention, it only weighs around 310g, making it light and comfortable enough to hold in your hand.
Features:
The iPad Mini 2019 supports the first-generation Apple Pencil which will allow you to scribble and handwrite notes on a touchscreen. As for the specs, we have a Retina display that runs on an A12 Bionic chipset and a choice of 64GB or 256GB storage capacity.
In terms of security, it supports a Touch ID fingerprint sensor too. And on the camera, there’s dual lenses with 8MP on the back and 7MP on the front.
Performance:
Expect a bright screen and a fantastic battery life that manages to last around 10 hours on a single charge. You can even trust the A12 Bionic-powered chipset to handle multitasking well. On the other side of things, the dual-camera setup is average at best, with washed-out colours and grainy shots if captured in low-light.
Combining power and portability, the 4th generation of iPad Air (2020) is lightweight enough (at approximately 460g) to carry everywhere with you in your backpack.
Features:
Powered by Apple’s A14 Bionic chipset - the same component used for iPhone 12, the iPad Air (2020) sports a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with the optional 64GB or 256GB storage capacity. It has a 12MP rear camera, coupled with a 7MP front shooter for FaceTime or selfie purposes.
Performances:
According to user reviews, the iPad Air (2020) is blessed with a powerful, yet blazing-fast A14 Bionic chipset made suitable for multitasking. The screen is vibrant, complete with optimum brightness and great colour reproduction at 2360 x 1640 resolution. It has good dual-camera performances too. And with the battery life packing a wallop, clocking around 10 hours on a single charge, makes this a great pick for most people.
Looking to make a switch from an Android tablet to an iPad but not wanting to spend a fortune? Here’s one for you from the latest 9th generation of iPad. You can own it for under 2 grand. That is if you don’t mind the 64GB storage capacity.
Features:
The iPad 2021 sports a 10.2-inch Retina display and runs on the latest A13 Bionic chipset. It is also made compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. Camera-wise, it comes with an 8MP rear and 12MP selfie shooters.
Then, there’s the cool new camera feature called Center Stage, where it works by recognising the user and then keep them in centre view, which is useful for say, during video calls. The weight, in the meantime, is just around 485g light.
Performances:
According to some tech reviewers, the iPad 2021 is widely praised for its vivid display as well as its optimal brightness of approximately 500 nits. To add, the True Tone support automatically brings the right colour balance in response to ambient light.
Meanwhile, the upgraded A13 Bionic chipset delivers excellent performance no matter if you are multitasking, editing photos or playing games. Battery life is just as great too, lasting around 9-10 hours of normal use.
Moreover, the iPad 2021 is also blessed with decent camera performances, with the front-facing Center Stage feature being particularly useful for those who are regularly on video calls.
[Available in mid October 2021]
The 6th generation of iPad Mini a.k.a. iPad Mini 6 features an 8.3-inch screen, a feature upgraded from the previous generation’s 7.9 inches, and an overall slim, yet compact design. This is great for teachers who want the utmost portability possible.
Features:
Apart from the aforementioned display in both Liquid Retina and True Tone glory, the iPad Mini 6 runs on an A15 Bionic chipset. It supports a Touch ID fingerprint sensor for faster and easier authentication as well. Storage-wise, you have the option of choosing either the 64GB or 256GB capacity.
As for the camera, it comes with dual 12MP shooters (wide rear + ultra-wide front camera), whereby the latter includes Center Stage support. This specific feature helps to keep you in the frame during video calls even if you move around.
Performance:
Based on most tech reviews, the iPad Mini 6’s Liquid Retina display is sharp and gorgeous with a peak brightness of 500 nits. Teachers can benefit from using Apple Pencil 2 (available separately) for taking notes too. And you can bet that the A15 Bionic chipset is good enough for multitasking. Not forgetting, average battery life was reported to last up to 9-10 hours.
The camera performs better than the previous model too, beginning with its upgraded 12MP wide-angle rear shooter, which takes good shots in a well-lit environment. And the Center Stage-supported front camera works like a charm too.
[Available in mid October 2021]
Apple iPad Air vs. iPad Mini vs. iPad Pro
Assuming this is your first time purchasing an iPad, you’ll likely be thinking which tablet should you get. Should you go for the iPad Air? Maybe iPad Mini, or the iPad Pro? Well, to make things easier for you, let’s take a look at the main differences between each of these three iPad models.
iPad Air
Just like the name suggests, iPad Air is thin and lighter in its size without sacrificing power.
- The most recent iPad a.k.a. iPad Air 4 has Apple’s performance-driven A14 Bionic chipset and a gorgeous 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display.
- It comes in five colours to choose from, which include Green, Rose Gold, Space Grey, Silver and Sky Blue.
- The storage capacity, however, is only limited to 64GB and 256GB.
- iPad Air also supports Apple Pencil 2nd Gen, Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard Folio.
iPad Mini
The name of this iPad tablet says it all: the size.
- It’s smaller (7.9 inches, to be exact) and compact enough at just 310g, as in the case of iPad Mini 5th Gen.
- It’s supported by the Apple A12 Bionic chipset, and gives the option of 64GB or 256GB storage capacity and has a Retina display.
- But if you prefer an upgraded version, look out for the 6th generation of iPad Mini a.k.a. iPad Mini 6.
- Among the notable upgrades include a slightly bigger screen size, a faster Bionic chipset as well as better camera functions.
iPad Pro
Think of the iPad Pro like the big brother of all iPads. They are generally pricier and come in two sizes: 11 inches and 12.9 inches.
- To note, the latter costs nearly 5 grand and above. They also only come in Silver and Space grey.
- A big difference is that they come with five different storage capacities: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB.
- Other great highlights include a Liquid Retina display (XDR a.k.a. Extreme Dynamic Range for 12.9 inches), ProMotion technology, a powerful Apple M1 chipset (used in Macbooks) and a 12MP wide + 10MP ultra-wide camera functions.
- The Pro models support Apple Pencil 2nd Gen.
- Overall, they offer a near laptop-like performance in a tablet body.
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