Apple iPad 11-inch

The iPad 11-inch (sometimes called iPad Pro 11-inch depending on the generation) sits right in the sweet spot of Apple's tablet lineup – it's genuinely powerful without the premium price tag of the larger models. This one's brilliant if you want something portable for creative work, media consumption, or productivity tasks, but you're not fussed about the biggest screen. It's the tablet I'd recommend to most people asking for advice in the shop, honestly.

You're getting Apple's M-series chip (or A-series depending on the model year – check which generation you're after), which handles everything from video editing in Final Cut Pro to gaming without breaking a sweat. The display is an LED-backlit Liquid Retina panel with around 2360 x 1640 resolution, which means sharp text and vibrant colours for both work and entertainment. Battery life is genuinely solid – you'll comfortably get a full day of mixed use, sometimes pushing into a second day if you're just browsing. It supports Apple Pencil too, so if you're sketching, note-taking, or designing, it's a proper creative tool. The build is standard Apple: aluminium chassis, lightweight enough to hold one-handed for a while.

Compared to the regular iPad, you're paying more but getting better performance and a larger screen – the jump is worth it if you'll use it for anything demanding. The iPad Air 11-inch is a closer rival and might save you a bit, but it's a marginal difference. Before you order, double-check whether you need Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi + Cellular (the Cellular version costs more but gives you internet anywhere). Also verify which charging cable comes in the box – recent models use USB-C, not Lightning, so make sure you've got compatible chargers at home.