How to choose the right iPad for you

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One of the best things about the iPad is that, regardless of which model you pick, they last a long time. But, if you're rocking an iPad 2 (which my mom was until earlier this year) and are looking to upgrade, here are your options. 

The good news is that there is no "bad iPad." Each one is perfectly suited for a specific type of person looking for a device to accomplish specific tasks.

Whether you're looking to chill on the couch while surfing the web, or are looking to replace your desktop or notebook computer with a tablet, you're covered with this list.

iPad Mini 2

Released in 2013, the iPad Mini 2 is the least powerful member of the iPad family, but its specs hold up surprisingly well for day-to-day use.

The biggest reasons for that are its high-resolution "retina" display and still-fast A7 processor. Its retina display ensures that everything you look at — text, video, games, apps — will all look exceptionally sharp. The A7 processor, on the other hand, is still plenty zippy, capable of handling modern apps fast enough. This isn't the iPad for people looking to play hardcore 3D games, but it's perfect for lounging on the couch. 

Another factor to consider is its size: 7.9 inches. That's about the size of a moderately sized book, and can be easily held with one hand for extended periods of time.

If you're looking for an iPad to read, watch Netflix and surf the web on, the Mini 2 is a good choice. 

iPad Mini 2, from $255.87, available at Amazon 

iPad Mini 4

A step up from the Mini 2, the iPad Mini 4 has two features that make it stand out next to its younger sibling. 

The first is TouchID. First introduced with the iPhone 5S, TouchID is a fingerprint reader that you can use to unlock your device, verify purchases from the App Store, and, if the app supports it, verify your identity. TouchID is one of those "once you have it you can never go back" kind of features, so if you have it on your phone, you'll want it on your iPad. 

The second big feature is that, because of its upgraded processor, the iPad Mini 4 supports multitasking. That means you can run two apps side by side, have picture-in-picture video, and easily switch between apps using a "slideover" panel. Given its relatively small screen size you won't have a ton of space for each app. But if you want to take notes while collecting info from a website, you won't have to switch between two apps.

The iPad Mini 4 is a good choice if you want the most power in the smallest package.

iPad Mini 4, from $337.49, available at Amazon

iPad Air 2

Until recently, the iPad Air 2 was the most powerful "regular sized" iPad. While that title now belongs to the smaller iPad Pro, the Air 2 still brings a lot to the table.

This tablet is pretty much a larger iPad Mini 4, and that's a good thing. All of the features present in the Mini 4, including TouchID and multitasking, are present here. The latter is significantly improved on the Air 2, because you have more space when apps are run side by side. 

I used the iPad Air 2 for a year and it's a very fast machine. Even more graphically intensive games ran smoothly, and the device never stuttered when multitasking. The biggest choice to make between the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 4 is whether you'd like a larger screen.

If you're thinking about making this your primary computer, then more screen real estate will come in handy. If you're just looking for a tablet to use occasionally for little one-off tasks, then you could go either way. But if you want a fully featured, full-sized iPad at the lowest price, you can't do better than the iPad Air 2.

iPad Air 2, from $373.98, available at Amazon