(checked 2026-10-10)General iPad listing (blue, 128GB); ratings are from all buyers, not just parents.
Wirecutter's, Tom's Guide's and PCMag's top kids' tablet: the fastest here, with by far the biggest app library, and it grows with your child. It's the most expensive pick, there's no case or kid warranty in the box, and reviewers and parents say Apple's Screen Time controls are clunky and kids find workarounds.
Subscription: None required. Apple's Screen Time parental controls are built in.
Top complaints
- Parental controls are clunky and easy to work around
Wirecutter says Screen Time can be hard to use and doesn't do enough. Parents report glitches and kids who figure out how to get around it, and it's less easy to use than Amazon's controls. Good Housekeeping's testers say kids can reach blocked apps like YouTube through the web browser, and weekend limits lead to constant requests for more time.
- No multiple user profiles
Wirecutter and PCMag both note that iPadOS doesn't support multiple profiles, so siblings (or kids and adults) sharing the iPad share everything.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT), PCMag - Expensive and fragile without a case
PCMag says Apple raised the price by $100 to $449 in June 2026. Tom's Guide calls it an expensive bet in fragile aluminum and glass. Wirecutter and Good Housekeeping say you'll need to buy a protective case. Wirecutter also finds the 1-pound, 11-inch tablet hefty for small kids.
What owners love
- Biggest library of kids' apps
Wirecutter calls the App Store's catalog of kid-friendly apps the iPad's best feature, from Toca Boca and PBS Kids to creative tools like iMovie and GarageBand. Tom's Guide says the iPad 'reigns supreme' for child-friendly apps.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT), Tom's Guide - Fast, with a sharp screen
Tom's Guide's lab tests found it the fastest tablet in its guide. Wirecutter says the A16 runs high-end games and 4K video, and the 11-inch screen is sharp and bright enough for outdoors. Amazon shoppers praise the crystal-clear display.
- Lasts for years
Wirecutter says frequent system and security updates mean an iPad will stay useful as your kid grows. Good Housekeeping likes Find My for locating a lost tablet.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT), Good Housekeeping
- Siblings will share it (there are no separate user profiles)
- You want a rugged case and drop warranty included
- You want simple, tight parental controls out of the box
- One tablet that lasts from preschool to the teen years
- Kids who want the widest choice of games, creative and school apps
- Families already using Apple devices
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Wirecutter (NYT): Top pick (updated 2026-05-12). Its flaws are no multiple accounts, parental controls that are hard to use and easy to dodge, a hefty size for small kids, and the need for a case.
- Tom's Guide: Best overall (updated 2026-09-11). The cons are a dim display in bright areas and a fragile, expensive build that needs a rugged case.
- PCMag: Best iPad for kids and an Editors' Choice (4.0). The cons are no Apple Intelligence and hardly anything new; the price went up $100 in June 2026.