The basic iPad, meanwhile, just misses the Apple Intelligence cutoff. And it still only works with the simple USB-C Pencil or the first-gen Pencil (with a USB-C-to-Lightning adapter).

PadOS 26 is a huge update for iPad productivity, and several features in particular make me very eager to get an M5 iPad Pro.

Display differences may not matter: For basic functions, the screen variations between models may not be worth the price.

The M3 iPad Air sounds useful, but I'm most excited about the boost to the entry-level iPad. The new models arrive March 12, but you can preorder them now.