There sure are a lot of different iPads now. Last week's announcement of a new iPad Air and iPad mini means that Apple's tablet lineup includes five different screen sizes, each of which has its own storage or LTE options on top of that.

Fast processor; Excellent screen; Keyboard connector

First-gen Apple Pencil support only; Speakers only on one side; Touch ID isn't as convenient as Face ID

Despite its name, the new iPad Air (2019) is basically an iPad Pro, only without the expensive price tag.

Blistering-fast performance; Long battery life; Supports Apple Pencil (first-gen; Large high-res Retina display

Two-year-old design; Average cameras; No Face ID

For the past few years, Apple's iPad lineup has had a large and obvious hole in it. At one end, there's the $329 iPad , an affordable way to do basic computing and run the many excellent apps out there.

Excellent display; Strong battery life; Snappy performance; Support for Apple's Smart Keyboard

Uses the goofy old Apple Pencil; A design that's getting rather tired; Only two speakers

Sandwiched neatly between the budget iPad and the pricey iPad Pro is the iPad Air, a strange set of tradeoffs and compromises that delivers most of...

Hundreds less than the iPad Pro; A12 chip is blazing fast; Fits existing iPad Pro 10.5-inch Smart Keyboard

No quad stereo speakers; No Face ID; No ProMotion display

Apple's new iPad Pros are high-end tablet marvels, with a new slim-bezel design, Face ID, crazy-fast A12X chip, and new wireless Apple Pencil. But when Apple introduced the overhauled third-generation models, it also blew up the price.

Hundreds less than the iPad Pro; A12 chip is blazing fast; Fits existing iPad Pro 10.5-inch Smart Keyboard

No quad stereo speakers; No Face ID; No ProMotion display

The 10.5-inch iPad Air (2019) is almost the 10.5-inch iPad Pro (2017), minus a few features and for a much lower price.

For the past few years, there's been a giant void left in Apple's iPad lineup. On the low end, the base iPad model has retained the traditional form factor, with a spec bump here and there, and most recently gained Apple Pencil support.

Affordably priced; Solid performance and battery life; Smart Keyboard support

No Face ID; Needs more speakers

The iPad Air is a powerful and easy-to-use tablet with a large and well-specced screen, long battery life and attractive design, all at a sensible price. There are some compromises here, but as an all-round package this is vastly appealing.

Fast processor; Improved selfie camera; Lightest iPad;

Big bezels; Only supports old Apple Pencil; Slow charging;

For the past few years, there's been a giant void left in Apple's iPad lineup. On the low end, the base iPad model has retained the traditional form factor, with a spec bump here and there, and most recently gained Apple Pencil support.

Affordably priced, Solid performance and battery life, Smart Keyboard support

No Face ID, Needs more speakers