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I've been considering on getting an iPad to accompany my MacBook Air M2. I would like to know how much RAM I would need to take down notes, SideCar and just general usage for a University student. I have already asked an Apple employee and they have suggested using a 10th Gen iPad. But I'm considering on getting the iPad Air 5th Gen.
MacBook Air, macOS 13.3
iOS/iPadOS devices have very effective memory management - and as such, while available RAM does impact system performance, the absolute RAM configuration is perhaps not as important as you might intuitively anticipate. Your iPad will swap Apps and tasks into fast RAM from other storage as needed. Having more available RAM may become more important when loading memory intensive graphics processing Apps, or very large documents.
Newer device models have more installed RAM than older models - and the current iPad Pro models have the most installed RAM of all available models at 8GB RAM, or for the 1TB and 2TB models, 16GB RAM. The iPad10 benefits from 4GB RAM, whereas all models of iPad Air5 have 8GB RAM.
All current iPad models share the same iPadOS16 Operating System - and all have broadly the same core capabilities. Models essentially differ in their performance and physical attributes. iPad Pro models use FaceID for biometric user-authentication, while other use TouchID.
You can compare iPad models here:
The iPad9 is the current entry-level iPad. The iPads Pro are the opposite end of the scale - top of the range, with cutting edge capabilities and hardware. Between these two extremes is the iPad Air5, this model offering a mid-range high performance option. The new iPad10 is cheaper than the iPad Air - and differs in position of the front-facing camera. The iPad mini6 is perhaps an entirely different proposition - offering a smaller form factor and other differences in hardware and ultimate capability.
All current models of iPad support either the first or second generation Apple Pencil. For handwritten notes and sketches, this will be relevant. Ensure that you choose the correct Apple Pencil for your chosen iPad - as they are not interchangeable. Here is the definitive compatibility list:
Apple Pencil compatibility - Apple Support
Whichever iPad model you choose, you would be well advised to purchase as much internal storage as your budget might reasonably allow - as internal storage (and other hardware) cannot be changed, upgraded or extended. The available internal storage is fixed for the entire life of the device. If you run out of internal storage for your documents, photos and other data, you will forever struggle and become a source of frustration. It is far better to have more storage than you need, than to need more storage than you have.
A good rule of thumb is to quantify how much data storage you will need - add a healthy margin - then double it. If you are unable to quantify your data storage needs, it becomes more difficult. Whilst I and others cannot cannot make definitive recommendations for your personal needs, objectively I would council against purchase of any iPad with any less than 256GB storage.
Within the Apple Support Communities we see regular tales of woe and disappointment when storage requirements are exceeded, necessitating replacement of the device; by contrast, we never see complaint of having too much available storage. It is relatively easy to fill limited internal storage space; perhaps consider higher tiers of storage as providing room for growth as your needs develop or mature - potentially extending the useful usable life of the device.
Consider also the functional differences between WiFi Only and WiFi+Cellular models of iPad. Only WiFi+Cellular models include GPS capabilities - which may impact any Apps or features that require accurate and consistent location data, such as Mapping. Purchase of a WiFi+Cellular model does not commit you to using Cellular connections, but provides this flexibility should it be needed. WiFi Only models of iPad have no Cellular or GPS functions at all.
iOS/iPadOS devices have very effective memory management - and as such, while available RAM does impact system performance, the absolute RAM configuration is perhaps not as important as you might intuitively anticipate. Your iPad will swap Apps and tasks into fast RAM from other storage as needed. Having more available RAM may become more important when loading memory intensive graphics processing Apps, or very large documents.
Newer device models have more installed RAM than older models - and the current iPad Pro models have the most installed RAM of all available models at 8GB RAM, or for the 1TB and 2TB models, 16GB RAM. The iPad10 benefits from 4GB RAM, whereas all models of iPad Air5 have 8GB RAM.
All current iPad models share the same iPadOS16 Operating System - and all have broadly the same core capabilities. Models essentially differ in their performance and physical attributes. iPad Pro models use FaceID for biometric user-authentication, while other use TouchID.
You can compare iPad models here:
The iPad9 is the current entry-level iPad. The iPads Pro are the opposite end of the scale - top of the range, with cutting edge capabilities and hardware. Between these two extremes is the iPad Air5, this model offering a mid-range high performance option. The new iPad10 is cheaper than the iPad Air - and differs in position of the front-facing camera. The iPad mini6 is perhaps an entirely different proposition - offering a smaller form factor and other differences in hardware and ultimate capability.
All current models of iPad support either the first or second generation Apple Pencil. For handwritten notes and sketches, this will be relevant. Ensure that you choose the correct Apple Pencil for your chosen iPad - as they are not interchangeable. Here is the definitive compatibility list:
Apple Pencil compatibility - Apple Support
Whichever iPad model you choose, you would be well advised to purchase as much internal storage as your budget might reasonably allow - as internal storage (and other hardware) cannot be changed, upgraded or extended. The available internal storage is fixed for the entire life of the device. If you run out of internal storage for your documents, photos and other data, you will forever struggle and become a source of frustration. It is far better to have more storage than you need, than to need more storage than you have.
A good rule of thumb is to quantify how much data storage you will need - add a healthy margin - then double it. If you are unable to quantify your data storage needs, it becomes more difficult. Whilst I and others cannot cannot make definitive recommendations for your personal needs, objectively I would council against purchase of any iPad with any less than 256GB storage.
Within the Apple Support Communities we see regular tales of woe and disappointment when storage requirements are exceeded, necessitating replacement of the device; by contrast, we never see complaint of having too much available storage. It is relatively easy to fill limited internal storage space; perhaps consider higher tiers of storage as providing room for growth as your needs develop or mature - potentially extending the useful usable life of the device.
Consider also the functional differences between WiFi Only and WiFi+Cellular models of iPad. Only WiFi+Cellular models include GPS capabilities - which may impact any Apps or features that require accurate and consistent location data, such as Mapping. Purchase of a WiFi+Cellular model does not commit you to using Cellular connections, but provides this flexibility should it be needed. WiFi Only models of iPad have no Cellular or GPS functions at all.
ram is mostly system memory which is not really the same thing as storage apple doesn't really state the system memory of their devices so if one needs to get those specs a google is the way,
about how much storage you need then never get the lowest amount device, people who does often have issues when they need to update ios, but the stuff that use the most storage is if one has a lot of photos, video clips, movies and games
I know what RAM is. That still doesn't answer my question as I will have multiple apps open and need to go between them to be as productive as possible while working at university. I know for a fact that I will be getting 256GB of storage at the least with whatever iPad I will be going with.
How much memory do I need for an iPad? Uni Student Asks.
