iPad sizes compared: Which one should you buy in 2026?

iPad sizes at a glance

8.3-inch iPad mini: Best for travel, reading and maximum portability. Current model: iPad mini with A17 Pro. Weight: 293 g.

11-inch iPad: Best for everyday use, students and portable productivity. Current models: iPad with A16, iPad Air with M4 and iPad Pro with M5. Weight: from 444 g.

13-inch iPad: Best for multitasking, drawing, PDFs and desk-based work. Current models: iPad Air with M4 and iPad Pro with M5. Weight: from 579 g.

✨ TL;DR

iPad sizes come down to a simple trade-off, not a spec-sheet decision. The 11-inch size is the one you'll carry everywhere, from travel and commutes to the couch and lectures. The 13-inch size earns its keep at a desk, for PDFs, split-screen work, drawing and typing. The iPad mini is the most portable of all, brilliant for one-handed reading but cramped for sustained work. If new pricing is pushing you toward the wrong size for your needs, a refurbished iPad is very often the way to get the size you want.

Why you can trust this iPad size comparison

Back Market is a marketplace where you can find professionally refurbished iPads from verified sellers. This guide combines Apple's current UK size and weight specifications with practical buying guidance, current UK pricing and Back Market's UK warranty, returns and condition information.

Current iPad lineup at a glance

Which iPad size should I get?

✨ Don't start with chip names and storage tiers. Start with where you'll actually use the thing; the right size falls out of that answer naturally. The single most useful question isn't “which iPad is best?”, it's "will you mainly use it as a handheld tablet or as a desk-based laptop substitute?" In practice, that distinction is a useful way to narrow down the right size before comparing chips, storage and accessories. The current range spans the A17 Pro iPad mini and A16 iPad through to the M4 iPad Air and M5 iPad Pro. If you're simply weighing up iPad 11 vs 13, that one question usually settles it faster than any spec sheet.

• Choose the iPad mini if you prioritise one-handed use, reading and travel above everything else.

• Choose 11-inch if you want a real tablet that handles notes, browsing and creative work and you'll actually carry with you.

• Choose 13-inch if you frequently read PDFs, multitask, type, draw or mainly use your iPad at a desk.

• Choose the refurbished 13-inch if the larger screen is what you want but the price of a new model is the only thing pushing you toward the 11-inch instead.

• Choose the refurbished 11-inch Pro if portability matters most but you still want premium performance and display quality.

11-inch: The iPad you'll actually carry everywhere

✨ If you already own a laptop and want your iPad to genuinely leave the house with you, the 11-inch is very likely the right call.

The 11-inch size, available on the standard iPad, iPad Air and iPad Pro, gives you a large screen while remaining easier to carry and hold than a 13-inch model. It's well suited to travel, couch use, lectures and moving between rooms and is the safer default if you want your iPad to behave primarily like a tablet. For most people, it's also the best iPad for travel, light enough for a bag or backpack without sacrificing screen space.

Where it can struggle: Split-screen work has less room than on a 13-inch model, long PDF sessions involve more scrolling and zooming, and the smaller keyboard footprint may feel less comfortable for sustained typing. If portability matters more than maximum workspace, those trade-offs may be worth it.

Which 11-inch iPad should you choose?

Not all 11-inch iPads are aimed at the same buyer. The standard iPad with the A16 chip is the straightforward option for browsing, streaming, notes and general use. Step up to the M4 iPad Air for more performance for creative work and multitasking, while the M5 iPad Pro adds Apple's most powerful iPad chip and premium display features for more demanding creative and professional work. It's also worth noting that the A16 chip in the standard iPad does not support Apple Intelligence features, if that matters to you, the M4 Air or M5 Pro both do.

Apple Pencil compatibility differs too. The current iPad supports Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil (1st generation), while the current iPad Air and iPad Pro support Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C). The iPad mini also supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C).

13-inch: The iPad that gives you room to work

✨ If your iPad mostly lives on a desk and needs to replace real work, not just supplement it, the 13-inch size is worth the extra weight and cost.

The 13-inch size, available on iPad Air and iPad Pro, gives you noticeably more screen space for PDFs, textbooks, Split View multitasking, drawing and keyboard-based work. Apple itself positions the 13-inch iPad Air as the option for people who want more room to multitask, making it the more natural choice when the iPad will spend much of its time on a desk.

The trade-off is portability. A 13-inch iPad is larger and heavier, and adding a case or keyboard increases the total weight further. Once you're spending 13-inch iPad Pro money, it's also worth comparing the full setup with a MacBook to decide which form factor suits your work better.

iPad mini: The size that disappears into your day

✨ The mini isn't a compromise size; it has a different job entirely. Don't judge it against the 11-inch or 13-inch on productivity terms.

The iPad mini isn't an entry-level iPad; it just has different use cases: maximum portability, one-handed reading, quick notes and a digital sketchbook that's easy to carry. At 293 g for the Wi-Fi model, it is by far the lightest current iPad, but its smaller display naturally gives you less working room.

The honest limitation is that it gets cramped fast for split-screen work, long typing sessions or anything resembling laptop-replacement use. If you're deciding between an iPad mini and an 11-inch Air, the question isn't really about screen size but about whether you want a serious secondary device or a grab-and-go companion.

iPad dimensions and measurements compared

If you're specifically after iPad dimensions in millimetres rather than just screen size in inches, here's the current UK lineup using Apple's official specifications: If you prefer centimetres, just divide the millimetre figures below by 10, for example, the 11-inch iPad Air's 247.6 mm height is 24.76 cm.

Note: The iPad (A16) shares the same external dimensions and physical chassis as the iPad 10. This matters if you're buying a case or keyboard as accessories designed for the iPad 10 will fit the current model.

Device alone vs with a keyboard: The decision that changes everything

✨ Price the full bundle before you commit to a size; the total often changes the decision.

The screen-size decision is usually made against the total bundle, considering the keyboard case, Apple Pencil, storage tier and whether you're buying new or refurbished. This matters more than most size guides admit. A buyer who initially wants a 13-inch iPad often downgrades to 11-inch once they see the full bundle price, while refurbished pricing can make the 13-inch option financially realistic again without the compromise.

This is also where the laptop-replacement question gets real. An iPad with a keyboard case starts to live on that keyboard, which can make it less versatile as a genuine handheld tablet. If you're weighing this trade-off seriously, our can an iPad replace a laptop guide goes deeper on exactly this question.

What current UK information tells us

✨ Use the size as the first filter, then compare model, chip, storage, accessories and price within that size.

For a UK buying guide, the most reliable evidence is Apple's current UK specifications and pricing, supported by UK-facing reviews and live Back Market UK listings. Apple's current range makes the basic size trade-off clear. The 11-inch iPad Air is positioned as highly portable, while the 13-inch Air is designed for people who want more room to multitask.

The practical takeaway is straightforward. Choose 11-inch when carrying and handheld use matter most; choose 13-inch when screen space matters more. Treat that as buying guidance rather than a claim that every buyer in either group will prefer the same size.

What Back Market UK offers refurbished iPad buyers

✨ A good refurbished comparison should make condition, warranty, returns and the exact configuration as clear as the price.

Every iPad on Back Market UK gets professionally inspected and condition-graded before it's listed, and you're covered by free 30-day returns plus a 12-month seller warranty. All devices listed on Back Market are inspected for battery health, screen condition, connectivity, cameras, buttons and ports.

Before you order, double-check the generation, storage, connectivity, cosmetic condition and whether your accessories will actually work with it. Prices and stock shift depending on configuration and seller, so it's worth comparing the exact device you're after rather than just chasing the biggest discount you see.

Shopping tips: How refurbished changes the size decision

✨ Don't choose a smaller size on price alone. Check current refurbished options before deciding which trade-off makes sense.

New-device pricing can make buyers reconsider screen size, storage or generation. Buying refurbished gives you another route, though. Instead of choosing a smaller model purely to stay within budget, you can compare previous-generation 11-inch and 13-inch models and see which combination of size, performance and price works best. In short, refurbished iPad size shouldn't be a compromise, it can often be an upgrade.

Two refurbished options are especially worth comparing. A previous-generation 13-inch Air or Pro can offer the larger workspace at a lower price than a brand-new equivalent, while a refurbished 11-inch Pro suits buyers who want premium display and performance features without moving to the larger form factor. Always compare like-for-like storage and connectivity when judging the savings. See our guides about the best iPad to buy or best iPad for students for more details.

What does refurbished actually mean?

A refurbished iPad on Back Market has been professionally inspected and is guaranteed to be fully functional, with condition grading to describe its cosmetic state. Back Market UK currently includes free 30-day returns and a 12-month seller warranty on its refurbished iPad listings.

For size-driven buyers, choosing a refurbished model can widen the choice within your budget. The important thing is to compare the exact generation, storage, connectivity and condition alongside the screen size.

Thinking of trading in your current iPad?

If you’re sizing up or down, trading in your current iPad can make the switch a little easier on your budget. Depending on its condition, your old device could go on to be reused, refurbished or kept in circulation in another way.

That can also help extend the life of existing tech instead of replacing it with something new straight away. What happens next depends on the device and its condition, but giving it another life where possible is a much better outcome than leaving it forgotten in a drawer.

iPad price comparison: Current UK examples

✨ Prices checked on 11 September 2026. Back Market prices change with stock, condition, storage and connectivity, so treat these as current examples rather than fixed prices.

Apple UK starting prices (Wi-Fi, base storage) as of date of publication. Refurbished prices set by sellers.

Final thoughts: Which iPad size should you actually buy?

The honest answer this guide keeps circling back to is that there's no single best iPad size, only a better fit for where and how you'll use it. If you want the iPad you'll genuinely carry everywhere, the 11-inch is the safer, more versatile choice. If your iPad needs to earn its keep at a desk, dealing with PDFs, drawing, typing and real multitasking, the 13-inch size is worth the extra weight and cost. If you want something that disappears into your day entirely, the mini does that better than either.

And if the price of a brand-new model is the only thing standing between you and the size you want, buying refurbished is worth considering before you settle for a smaller screen or a lower tier. Compare current refurbished pricing across generations and sizes, then choose the model that gives you the right balance of portability, workspace, performance and price. Our iPad Air M3 review has more detail if you want to go deeper.