The best iPad for streaming isn’t the one you’re thinking

• What you need to weigh when buying an iPad for video
• Which iPad should you buy for movies and TV shows?

For a long time now — arguably, since the beginning — there’s been a fundamental tension between how Apple designs iPads and what buyers expect from them. The biggest gap is in the desire many people have to treat iPads like a laptop — they lack an open filesystem and many other things people are used to from Macs and PCs. iPadOS 26 was an important leap forward, but there’s still some progress to be made before everyone can pick up an iPad as a viable alternative to a MacBook Air.

One thing everyone can agree on, though, is that an iPad is a great device for watching video, especially if you’re a frequent traveler. My iPad Pro comes with me on any trip that’s longer than a couple of days. But what’s the best iPad model for movies, TV shows, and YouTube? Are you making sacrifices by buying the cheapest option? Here’s what you need to know if you’re more concerned about catching up on The Punisher or Twin Peaks than you are about catching up on work projects.

What you need to weigh when buying an iPad for video

Screen size and technology

Instinctively, a lot of people assume that bigger is better when it comes to buying an iPad, but that’s not always true. Apart from the price difference — it costs $200 to jump from an 11-inch Air to a 13-inch one — bigger models can be more cumbersome to hold or stash in a carry-on bag. In fact, if you usually fly Economy class, an 11-inch iPad is so much easier to pull out of a carry-on and rest on a seat tray. I’ve seen people bring 13-inch tablets onboard, but you can tell that they’re compromising on convenience.

Larger screens are more immersive, so you may still end up veering in that direction if you want the best possible viewing experience. But speaking personally, it tends not to matter that much if you’re sitting about a foot (30cm) or so away. I watched the entirety of Masters of the Air on flights to and from Texas, and not once did I think that I was missing out using an 11-inch Pro. Having a pair of quality noise-canceling earbuds proved more important.

Instinctively, a lot of people assume that bigger is better when it comes to buying an iPad, but that’s not always true.

In terms of panel technology, iPad Pros benefit from being equipped with tandem OLED. As on a TV, OLED allows for greater contrast than an LCD, as well as more accurate color representation — you can even flip Pros into a Reference Mode if you want to do professional image or video editing. In terms of entertainment, OLED translates to the best possible results for compatible HDR content.

Having said that, I think the value of OLED is sometimes overstated. My wife owns an entry-level 2022 iPad, and I’ve been impressed with how bright and colorful its LCD is. There are limitations — it’s capped at 60Hz, and you may still see its backlights in dark scenes — but only the pickiest cinephiles wouldn’t enjoy watching a movie on it. Any recent iPad should be just as good or better, especially once Apple finally brings its 120Hz ProMotion tech to cheaper models.

Storage capacity

For travelers, this may be the most essential spec. As you can see, iPadOS alone takes up a few dozen gigabytes, and apps can consume hundreds. Once you add photos, podcasts, and/or music into the mix, there may be surprisingly little room for caching movies and shows. Having offline access tends to be very important when you’re flying, or just don’t want to pay exorbitant fees for cellular roaming or cruise ship Wi-Fi.

Along those lines, the smallest capacity I would consider for an iPad is 128GB. You might be tempted to buy a used 64GB model, but even without installing any third-party apps, you’ll be hard-pressed to fit many movies on it, let alone complete show seasons. In Apple’s TV app, a non-4K download of The Fellowship of the Ring (Extended Edition) is about 4GB all by itself. If you want the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, that’s well over 12GB.

Anything over 256GB tends to be excessive if you’re not using your iPad as a laptop replacement. You might in theory benefit from a 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB iPad if you want a massive catalog accessible anywhere at any time. Remember, though, that streaming services tend to impose time and quantity restrictions on caching, and there’s no sense filling up a device with video you’re not going to watch anytime soon. On a trip, all you need are enough options for different moods.

You can potentially get around storage concerns later using an external SSD, but only if you have an offline video library you can sync from your computer. Apps like Netflix don’t allow saving video to an external drive.

Other potential issues

While processor power is vital for editing video, it’s irrelevant for watching it. There’s no video that supports the resolution of a recent iPad that will tax one beyond its limits. A model with an M-series processor does provide smoother multitasking, including the ability to push video to a second display without simply mirroring your iPad, but that’s about it.

iPad Pros have four internal speakers — two on each side — so you may want one if you want the option of stereo sound without headphones or other external accessories. Realistically, however, that audio won’t have much in the way of bass, and it’s plain rude to listen to the internal speakers in public. Even the cheapest AirPods will provide a better experience.

Which iPad should you buy for movies and TV shows?

A clear-cut decision for the average person

If the primary reason you’re buying an iPad is casual entertainment, whether on a couch or a plane, you’ll probably be fine with an entry-level iPad. Its LCD is excellent, and for video, there’s not much functional advantage to more expensive models beyond OLED or an occasionally awkward 13-inch screen size. You may want to upgrade past 128GB of storage if you want a huge offline library — otherwise, there’s little incentive to spend beyond Apple’s $349 baseline.

If you want the absolute best experience, and there aren’t any price or ergonomic barriers, the obvious answer is a 13-inch iPad Pro. Certainly you should gravitate towards some sort of 13-inch model if your iPad needs to double as a productivity device. Though you can get work done on an 11-inch screen if you have to, I’ve found there just isn’t enough room for more than one or two windows before you run out of usable space. A 13-inch Air will do if you can afford more than a base iPad, but still need to mind your budget.

If the primary reason you’re buying an iPad is casual entertainment, you’ll probably be fine with an entry-level iPad.

I’d recommend that most people stay away from the iPad mini. It’s a great device in many respects, but it’s actually more expensive than the entry-level iPad despite sporting an 8.3-inch LCD. It’s only worthwhile if you insist on a device separate from your phone while still keeping things as compact as possible.