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In this guide
Apple's cheapest tablet is a plain iPad, not a mini or an Air. The 11-inch iPad (A16) starts at A$749 for 128GB Wi-Fi in Australia, with a 2360x1640 Liquid Retina screen and the A16 chip. For a household tablet that streams, browses and takes notes, that is the pitch.
What A$749 buys is narrower than it sounds. The display is sRGB, not the Air's P3 wide colour; Apple says this iPad has no Apple Intelligence; only two Apple Pencils fit, neither the Pro; and the USB-C port runs at USB 2.0. The Air is the step up, and it costs more than this model.
Our verdict
At A$749 the iPad (A16) is the right tablet for streaming, browsing and notes if P3 colour and Apple Intelligence are not part of the job; the Air costs more for those.
- A good fit for
- A household or student who wants a full-size iPad for streaming, web and Apple Pencil notes at the lowest Apple price.
- We would skip it if
- You need P3 wide colour, Pencil Pro, Apple Intelligence or faster USB-C transfers.
Reasons to consider it
- 11-inch Liquid Retina screen, A16 chip and 128GB of storage at A$749.
- Takes Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the first-generation Pencil, with the USB-C adapter for the older one.
- Apple's one-year limited warranty and 14-day return window sit beside Australian Consumer Law.
The compromises
- The display is sRGB, not P3, and there is no ProMotion.
- Apple lists this iPad as having no Apple Intelligence.
- USB-C data is limited to USB 2.0, and wireless is Wi-Fi 6.
What we have not verified: I have not tested the screen, battery life or Pencil latency; the specifications and prices are Apple's Australian pages on the day.
The things in this guide
A closer look at the products, who they may suit, and what to check before buying.
iPad (A16)
A$749 for 128GB Wi-Fi covers streaming, web, email and Apple Pencil (USB-C) notes, with an 11-inch screen and the A16 chip.
Before you buy: No Pencil Pro, no Apple Intelligence, sRGB rather than P3, USB 2.0 speeds and Wi-Fi 6.
Price checked 2 November 2026. Retailer prices can change.What A$749 buys
The base model is 128GB of storage with Wi-Fi, an 11-inch Liquid Retina display at 2360x1640, and the A16 chip. Apple sells it in Blue, Pink, Yellow and Silver. The price includes GST, so A$749 is the amount at the Australian checkout rather than a pre-tax figure.
The screen is the first compromise. It is a 500-nit sRGB panel without the Air's P3 wide colour or laminated anti-reflective coating. For streaming, web pages and notes that is fine; for photo editing or colour-matched work it is the wrong panel.
The Pencil and the port
Two Apple Pencils fit: the USB-C Pencil and the first-generation Pencil. The first-generation model needs a USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter to pair and charge, and the Pro is not supported. A buyer who already owns a Pencil Pro should not assume it will work.
The USB-C port carries DisplayPort and one external display up to 4K at 60Hz, but data moves at USB 2.0, up to 480Mb/s. Wireless is Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. Those are the spec-sheet limits, not defects; they are what separates this iPad from the Air.
Warranty, returns and local rights
Apple's one-year limited warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship, and the Australian store quotes a 14-day return window. The Australian Consumer Law guarantees are separate and cannot be shortened by the manufacturer's warranty, which is the part a buyer should rely on if the tablet fails early.
The return window is for a change of mind, not for a fault. Apple's page states the 14 days; the ACCC page explains the consumer guarantees that sit alongside. Try the screen and the Pencil in a shop before the 14 days are up.
When the Air is worth the step up
The Air adds P3 wide colour, a fully laminated anti-reflective display, Pencil Pro support and Apple Intelligence. It also costs more; the exact gap depends on the storage and the day, and this review does not quote a price it did not read.
For a household tablet, the base iPad covers the job. For a student who draws, edits photos or wants Apple Intelligence, the Air is the model that has those features. The mistake is buying the base iPad for a job that needs the Air's screen or Pencil.
How we put this together
Built from the product pages and listings below, without test scores or results we have not measured. Specifications and prices change, so check the original page for the exact model, current price, delivery, and returns.
- Apple Australia: Buy iPad (opens in a new tab)
- Apple Australia: Warranty (opens in a new tab)
- ACCC: Consumer rights and guarantees (opens in a new tab)
