Is it worth it to buy the latest iPad 11 with an A16 chip? Apple’s latest budget tablet comes with a big boost in performance at an even lower price — and now with double the internal storage. It’s an absolutely fantastic starter tablet, and a genuine bargain.
If you have an old iPad with a Home Button, now is a great time to upgrade. Especially if you have an 8th-generation model or older. Although it doesn’t have Apple Intelligence, the iPad 11 is still a great buy.
Is it worthwhile to upgrade from a newer iPad? We have a guide below with helpful charts and a video to help you decide.
This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.
Is the 2025 iPad 11 with A16 worth it?
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
It’s time to upgrade from an 8th-generation iPad (or older)
If you have an old 8th-generation iPad from 2020 — or older — the time has come to upgrade to the latest 11th-generation iPad. Though it may only be five years old, the iPad 8 has an A12 chip from 2018, which is practically antique. The latest iPad will bring a whopping boost in speed. You’ll also get a larger edge-to-edge screen, significantly upgraded camera and a USB-C connector on the bottom. Trust, me it’s way better.
Upgrade from the 9th-generation if you can
If you have a 9th-generation iPad, I recommend upgrading if you can afford it. You’ll get the fancy new all-screen design that ditches the Home Button for fast modern gestures. It also supports modern accessories like the Magic Keyboard and the Apple Pencil with USB-C.
Don’t upgrade from the 10th-generation model
If you already have a 10th-generation iPad, you have little reason to upgrade. Your iPad already has nearly all the modern niceties and will last many more years to come.
Apple's entry-level tablet gets a solid upgrade, with a welcome boost to the base model's storage. It's a great option for watching videos, checking emails, surfing the web and more.
- A16 processor
- Ultra Wide 12MP front camera supports Center Stage
- Storage starts at 128GB
- Does not support Apple Intelligence.
More upgrade guides
If you have a lot of old tech, check out our other upgrade guides for the latest Apple products:
D. Griffin Jones is a writer, podcaster and video producer for Cult of Mac. Griffin has been a passionate computer enthusiast since 2002, when he got his first PC — but since getting a Mac in 2008, he hasn’t turned back. His skills in graphic and web design, along with video and podcast editing, are self-taught over 20+ years. Griffin has a bachelor’s degree in computer science and has written several (unpublished) apps for Mac and iOS. His collection of old computers is made up of 40+ desktops, laptops, PDAs and devices, dating back to the early ’80s. He brings all of these creative and technical skills, along with a deep knowledge of Apple history, into his work for Cult of Mac.
