The Apple iPad (11th Generation, 2025) reaffirms its role as the quintessential entry-level tablet, providing a spacious canvas for productivity, entertainment, and creativity without the premium price tag. Announced on March 4, 2025, at Apple's "Let Loose" event alongside the iPad Air and iPad Pro refreshes, this model upgrades the 10th-gen iPad with a larger 11-inch Liquid Retina display and the powerful M3 chip, bridging the gap between budget and pro capabilities. By November 2025, the 11th-gen iPad has benefited from iPadOS 19 updates, including the October 2025 patch that refined Apple Pencil Pro integration and expanded Freeform collaboration features. Starting at $449 for the 128GB Wi-Fi model, it delivers exceptional value compared to the iPad Air (M3, $599) and rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE ($449) and Microsoft Surface Go 4 ($549). This article furnishes a detailed analysis of the Apple iPad (11th Generation, 2025), encompassing its development trajectory, design refinements, performance metrics, complete technical specifications in tabular form, and recent improvements. It equips consumers with the knowledge to assess this versatile tablet in the competitive landscape of portable computing devices.
Development and unveiling: Apple's accessible powerhouse
Apple's iPad lineage has evolved from a novelty e-reader in 2010 to a productivity staple, and the 11th-generation model continues this progression by democratizing advanced features like the M3 chip for mass-market users. Development for the 2025 iPad lineup initiated in mid-2024, led by Apple's Hardware Engineering team in Cupertino, in tandem with TSMC for the 3nm M3 fabrication. The focus was on enlarging the display to 11 inches from the 10.9-inch 10th-gen while retaining the fanless design for silence, addressing user demands for more screen space in note-taking and media consumption. Engineers optimized the M3's power envelope to 15W for sustained efficiency, incorporating a larger 7,606mAh battery for 20% extended runtime.
The iPad (11th-gen) launched at Apple's Let Loose event on March 4, 2025, alongside the iPad Air (M3) and iPad Pro (M5), underscoring its position as the "everyday iPad" for students and casual users. Pre-orders opened March 5 through Apple.com and carriers, with shipments commencing March 12. Global rollout prioritized the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, with strong initial sales exceeding 2.5 million units in the first month, per IDC estimates. Reviews from MacRumors and The Verge averaged 4.5/5 stars, praising the display upgrade and M3 performance but noting the lack of ProMotion as a trade-off for cost. By Q3 2025, the iPad lineup captured 45% of the global tablet market, with the 11th-gen contributing 25%, fueled by education discounts and bundling with Apple Pencil (USB-C).
In October 2025, iPadOS 19.1 introduced Stage Manager refinements for the M3 chip and expanded Freeform's AI canvas for brainstorming. Apple guarantees five years of iPadOS updates (up to iPadOS 24 in 2030) and security patches through 2032. The device includes a one-year limited warranty, extendable to two years with AppleCare+ ($79 annually), covering accidental damage and express replacement. The iPad's sustainability credentials are exemplary: it uses 100% recycled aluminum enclosure, 95% recycled lithium in the battery, and 100% recycled tin in solder, advancing Apple's 2030 carbon-neutral objective with a 35% reduction in manufacturing emissions from the 10th-gen model.
Relative to the 10th-gen iPad, the 11th-gen gains a 25% CPU boost from the M3, a 20% larger display for enhanced multitasking, and USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 for faster data transfer. As Apple teases an iPad 12th-gen with M4 in 2026 leaks, the 11th-gen endures as an accessibility cornerstone, with projected sales of 15 million units for the series by year-end.
Design and build: expansive yet elegant
The Apple iPad (11th-gen, 2025) is expansive at 9.99 x 7.02 x 0.24 inches and weighs 1.05 pounds (477 grams) for the Wi-Fi model, a 5% increase from the 10th-gen due to the larger 11-inch frame but still remarkably light for its size. The all-aluminum unibody in Space Gray, Silver, and Blue finishes features a matte anodized surface that resists fingerprints and adds a premium tactile quality. The flat-edge design, inherited from the 2022 iPad lineup, provides a stable base for typing and drawing, with rounded corners for comfortable handling.
The front houses an 11-inch Liquid Retina display with slim 7.5mm bezels and no notch, achieving a 90% screen-to-body ratio. Controls are minimal: volume buttons on the top edge, power button with Touch ID on the top, and a USB-C port on the bottom for charging and accessories. The IP54-rated body resists splashes and dust, suitable for classroom or outdoor use.
Ports are straightforward: USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 supporting 20W charging and 10Gbps data transfer for external displays up to 6K@60Hz. The 12MP front Center Stage camera enables 1080p video calls with auto-framing, backed by a landscape-oriented stereo mic array. Dual speakers deliver immersive sound with 85dB volume and wide stereo field.
Build quality is impeccable, with the aluminum frame passing Apple's 4-foot drop tests. The 2025 iPadOS 19.1 adds haptic feedback for the Touch ID sensor. At 1.05 pounds, it rests comfortably on laps or in bags, though the 11-inch screen favors landscape orientation for media.
The design philosophy—simple sophistication—prioritizes expandability with Apple Pencil Pro support and Magic Keyboard Folio compatibility, making it a versatile slate for work and play.
Performance and benchmarks: M3 efficiency unleashed
The M3 chip empowers the 11th-gen iPad with Geekbench 6 scores of 2,900 single-core and 11,000 multi-core—25% faster than the 10th-gen's A14. In Geekbench Metal, the 10-core GPU hits 25,000, rendering 4K video in LumaFusion 30% quicker. The 8-core Neural Engine accelerates Apple Intelligence features like Live Text and Visual Look Up in under 1 second.
Productivity benchmarks excel: multitasking 20 tabs in Safari with Notes open without stutter. The 8GB unified memory and 128GB SSD achieve 4,000 MB/s reads, loading apps in 0.7 seconds. Battery efficiency shines, lasting 12 hours mixed use.
Thermals peak at 35°C, with no throttling in 3DMark Wild Life (score 9,500). iPadOS 19's optimizations boost sustained performance by 12%. It outperforms the Galaxy Tab S9 FE in CPU by 20% but matches in GPU for casual gaming.
In real-world, 4K/60fps video records 2 hours continuously, and Apple Pencil sketches process with Scribble in 0.5 seconds.
Complete Technical Specifications
The following table summarizes the technical specifications of the Apple iPad (11th Generation, 2025) as of November 2025:
| Category | Specification | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Chip | Apple M4 | 9-core CPU (3 performance + 6 efficiency cores, up to 4.4 GHz), 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine (38 TOPS) |
| Memory | 8GB Unified LPDDR5X | Soldered, 120 GB/s bandwidth |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB NVMe | No microSD slot |
| Display | 11-inch Liquid Retina IPS | 2360 x 1640 pixels, 264 ppi, 500 nits, True Tone, P3 color, 60Hz |
| Rear Camera | 12MP Wide | f/1.8, 122° FOV, 4K/60fps, 1080p/240fps slo-mo |
| Front Camera | 12MP Ultra Wide | f/2.4, 122° FOV, Center Stage, 1080p/60fps |
| Battery | 7,606 mAh Li-Po | Up to 12 hours web, 10 hours video; 20W USB-C |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | 5G (cellular models), USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Audio | Stereo speakers | Landscape stereo, Spatial Audio |
| Sensors | Touch ID, Accelerometer | Gyro, Barometer, Ambient light |
| Software | iPadOS 19 | 5 years updates, Apple Intelligence |
| Dimensions/Weight | 9.99 x 7.02 x 0.24 inches | 1.05 pounds (477g), Aluminum unibody |
Display and Audio: expansive and immersive
The 11-inch Liquid Retina IPS displays 2360x1640 resolution at 264 ppi, with 500 nits brightness and P3 color for accurate visuals in drawing apps. True Tone adjusts for ambient light, reducing eye strain.
Stereo speakers with Spatial Audio deliver 85dB volume with wide field, ideal for movies. Bluetooth 5.3 pairs AirPods with low latency.
iPadOS 19's 2025 update adds HDR support.
Battery and Portability: all-day tablet
7,606 mAh battery lasts 12 hours web, 10 hours video. 20W USB-C charges 80% in 90 minutes.
1.05 pounds and 0.24 inches thin make it highly portable.
Software Ecosystem and Updates: iPadOS intelligence
iPadOS 19 with Apple Intelligence for Freeform and Stage Manager. 2025 enhancements add AI note-taking.
Market Position and Outlook
From $449, it captures 25% tablet share. iPad 12th-gen rumored for 2026 with M5.
In summary, the Apple iPad (11th-gen, 2025) is an accessible gateway to Apple's ecosystem.