Apple iPad (A16) 128GB Wi-Fi
By Apple · Tablets · Phones & Computers
- A16 chip
- 2360-by-1640 resolution display
- 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage
- Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video
Lowest price seen
$390.00
from $390.00 at eBay · Checked Oct 13, 2026
- eBay $390.00View at eBay
- Costco $399.99View at Costco
- Abt $427.00View at Abt
- BrandsMart USA $449.00View at BrandsMart USA
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Summary
Apple’s entry-level 11-inch tablet, built around the A16 chip with 128GB of base storage and a non-laminated display. Check whether you can live without Apple Intelligence and Apple Pencil Pro — this model supports neither.
Strengths
- The A16 chip handles streaming, note-taking, multitasking and demanding games without hiccups.
- 128GB of base storage is double the previous model’s 64GB.
- Tom’s Guide measured 11 hours 25 minutes of battery life.
- The landscape front camera with Center Stage is well suited to video calls.
- USB-C charging is convenient and universal.
- It is the cheapest iPad in Apple’s lineup.
Weaknesses
- The display is not laminated, leaving a visible air gap and parallax when drawing.
- No Apple Intelligence support — the A16 has 6GB of RAM and Apple requires 8GB.
- The 60Hz refresh rate feels dated next to 120Hz ProMotion on the iPad Pro.
- Only the 1st-gen and USB-C Apple Pencils work, and neither offers pressure sensitivity.
- The USB-C port runs at USB 2.0 speeds, not USB 3 or Thunderbolt.
- Brightness tops out at 500 nits and the screen struggles with glare outdoors.
Verified specifications
| Model | iPad 11-inch (A16), also sold as the 11th-generation iPad; Wi-Fi model A3355. |
|---|---|
| Chip | Apple A16 Bionic — 5-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine; 6GB of RAM. |
| Storage | 128GB base; 256GB and 512GB options available. |
| Display | 11-inch Liquid Retina (10.86 inches measured as a rectangle), 2360×1640 at 264 ppi, LED-backlit IPS, 500 nits, True Tone, 60Hz, non-laminated. |
| Battery | 28.93 Wh lithium-polymer; up to 10 hours of web surfing on Wi-Fi or video playback. |
| Charging | USB-C port (USB 2.0, up to 480 Mb/s); 20W USB-C power adapter included. |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.3. |
| Cameras | 12MP Wide rear (f/1.8), 12MP landscape front with Center Stage (f/2.4). |
| Biometrics | Touch ID in the top button. |
| Durability | aluminum chassis, glass front; no IP rating for water or dust resistance. |
| Apple Pencil | Apple Pencil (1st gen) and Apple Pencil (USB-C) only; no Apple Pencil Pro or 2nd-gen Pencil. |
| Colors | Silver, Blue, Pink, Yellow. |
| Operating system | iPadOS — ships with iPadOS 18, compatible with iPadOS 26. |
| Apple Intelligence | not supported (requires 8GB of RAM; the A16 has 6GB). |
| Stage Manager | works on the iPad itself; external display output is mirroring only. |
| Dimensions | 9.79 × 7.07 × 0.28 in (248.6 × 179.5 × 7 mm); 1.05 pounds (477 grams). |
| In the box | iPad, USB-C charge cable (1 meter), 20W USB-C power adapter. |
| Warranty | one year limited; AppleCare+ available; Apple Certified Refurbished units carry a full one-year Apple warranty. |
Full research notes and sources
Display and Apple Pencil
The 11-inch Liquid Retina panel is sharp at 2360×1640 and 264 ppi, but it is not laminated: there is an air gap between the display and the glass, and WIRED’s reviewer noticed a slight delay when sketching. Wirecutter measured 441 nits of brightness against Apple’s 500-nit claim, and reviewers note glare and dimness near windows or outdoors. This is the most noticeable compromise against the iPad Air and iPad Pro, which have laminated displays.
Apple Pencil support stops at the 1st-generation Pencil and the USB-C Pencil. Neither supports pressure sensitivity, and the USB-C Pencil does not charge magnetically. The Apple Pencil Pro and 2nd-gen Pencil are not compatible.
Performance and battery
The A16 Bionic is the oldest chip in Apple’s current iPad lineup — the iPad mini 7 uses the A17 Pro and the iPad Air uses the M4 — but it still runs demanding games like Destiny: Rising at 60fps, and Tom’s Guide exported a 5-minute 1080p video in 1 min 24 sec, against 50 sec on the M3 iPad Air. Geekbench scores came in at 2,589 single-core and 6,176 multi-core, with 10,610 in 3DMark WildLife Unlimited.
Battery life is solid: Tom’s Guide measured 11 hours 25 minutes, and Wirecutter got about 10 hours of continuous use, or three to four days of intermittent use. The USB-C port is limited to USB 2.0 speeds (up to 480 Mb/s), so moving large files to external storage is slow. Stage Manager works on the iPad itself, but external display output is mirroring only.
Price and running costs
Apple launched the 128GB Wi-Fi model at $349 in March 2025 and raised it to $399 in June 2026, a $100 increase Apple attributed to AI-related component shortages. WIRED listed it at $329 at Walmart in April 2025, and Wirecutter lists Walmart at $443 as of June 2026.
Accessories are extra: the Apple Pencil USB-C is $79, the Smart Folio case is $79, and the Magic Keyboard Folio is $249 (Wirecutter, 2026). AppleCare+ is available for additional cost, and Apple Certified Refurbished units carry a full one-year Apple warranty.
Is it worth it?
At the $349 launch price it was the cheapest iPad Apple sold and an easy recommendation for most people. At $399 the gap to the iPad Air (M4) narrows, and Wirecutter’s analysis suggests considering the Air if you want a laminated display, Apple Intelligence or Apple Pencil Pro support. Above $400 the value is weak unless you specifically need the iPad form factor. Apple typically supports iPads with iPadOS updates for 5-7 years, and WIRED says this one will easily last the next five years, if not more.
Which model this is
This page covers the iPad 11-inch (A16) with 128GB of storage and Wi-Fi, model A3355, in Silver, Blue, Pink or Yellow. The Amazon listing is ASIN B0DZ75TN5F. It is not the iPad Air (M4), iPad Pro (M5) or iPad mini (7th gen) — those are different products with different chips, displays and prices.
Sources
Manufacturer:
Independent reviews:
- Apple iPad (A16, 2025) review: Brilliantly Basic — WIRED
- iPad 11 review: Apple nails the affordable tablet — Tom’s Guide
- Apple iPad (11th Gen, 2025) — PCMag UK
- Wirecutter’s iPad review
Owner reports:
- No owner discussions were accessible during research (search rate limits excluded Reddit and retailer Q&As), so this review rests on professional testing.
