Top iPads to Consider for Your Children
Purchasing an iPad for your child is a significant decision that involves both financial and responsibility aspects, so it’s crucial to choose the most suitable iPad model for children.
As someone who evaluates iPads professionally at Tom’s Guide, I frequently receive inquiries from parents—both friends and readers—about which iPads are best for children and young teenagers. The straightforward response is this: select an iPad that fits your budget and won’t cause a financial burden if it needs replacing.
Generally, I suggest the standard Apple iPad as the optimal choice for kids in most cases. It offers a complete iPad experience at the most affordable price and comes in a variety of appealing colors. For those seeking more budget-friendly options, consider purchasing a refurbished model or look for sales on new iPads.
If you’re inclined to spend more, consider a smaller or more premium iPad model. The iPad mini is often my recommendation for an upgrade option for smaller hands. Although it’s about $150 more than the standard iPad, it’s significantly lighter and more compact, making it ideal for portability.
For children who prefer a larger display, the iPad Air is an excellent upgrade. It’s a slimmer and lighter alternative to the standard iPad and is available in two sizes (11″ or 13″), offering enhanced performance. However, it is roughly $250 more than the basic model, so make sure the child is prepared for such a responsibility.
No matter which iPad model you choose, considering an AppleCare+ plan is a wise decision. While it’s not common, iPads can be accidentally damaged by kids.
After deciding on a model, don’t forget to set up parental controls on the iPad to ensure safe usage by your child.
Top iPad Choices for Kids Available Now
The 10th Gen iPad offers a sleeker design than earlier versions, with a larger display and excellent battery life. It’s an ideal choice for children due to its simple, interactive interface that supports virtually any app from Apple’s extensive App Store. This makes the device a versatile tool for entertainment and education, from watching videos and reading to video chatting and gaming.
Many schools even provide iPads to students for educational purposes, so I can confidently say it’s a solid choice for young children to teenagers currently in school. It’s the most affordable entry-level tablet from Apple, making it an attractive option for parents.
It’s also the easiest to replace if lost or damaged, a significant advantage when entrusting technology to younger users. Despite its durability, even older models continue to offer decent performance, quality cameras, and reliable battery life.
I often suggest looking for deals on older or refurbished models when buying an iPad for a child, as previous generations still perform well and are often available at reduced prices. However, I recommend not purchasing models older than the 10th Gen iPad released in 2022, as they may not support the latest iPadOS.
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The iPad mini 7 is an excellent choice for a compact and portable device that retains all the capabilities of a larger iPad. Although it may not have been specifically designed for children, its smaller size makes it exceptionally suitable for little hands.
This model is particularly popular among parents looking to provide their child with a high-quality device for long trips, as it’s light enough to be easily manageable. Despite its reduced size, it can run every application available on the App Store, matching the functionality of its larger counterparts.
The iPad mini 7 is also great for gaming, powered by the robust A17 Pro chip, making it faster than the standard iPad. This performance boost helps justify its higher cost, which is about $150 more than the base model.
Its compact design is advantageous for reading digital books and comics. The 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display is not only easy to hold with one hand but also closely resembles the size of a physical book page. Additionally, the device supports all-day use with a battery life of about 10 hours. In practical testing, the iPad mini 7 lasted for 10 hours and 34 minutes, which, although slightly less than its predecessor, remains impressive.
However, it’s important to note that this model does not support the Apple Pencil 2, limiting its use to the standard Apple Pencil for those who wish to doodle or take handwritten notes.
Overall, the iPad mini 7 is an excellent choice for younger children who might find managing the size and weight of full-sized models challenging.
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Tobias Nguyen covers mobile technology and social media trends. He combines a background in digital marketing with a passion for emerging tech to provide readers with data-driven insights and practical tech usage tips.
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