You’re staring at a sleek slab of aluminum and glass, wondering if it’s the one that works with that fancy new Apple Pencil or if it’s destined to be a very expensive paperweight for the latest iPadOS 26. Don't worry. It happens to the best of us. Apple has a habit of making iPads that look almost identical for years on end, only to change a tiny internal chip or move a camera half an inch.
Honestly, knowing exactly which generation iPad you have is the only way to shop for cases without ending up at the post office for a return. It’s also how you figure out if your battery is actually dying or if your processor is just too old to keep up with 2026's AI demands.
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The Settings App is Your Best Friend
The easiest way to solve this mystery isn't by squinting at the tiny text on the back. It’s buried in your software.
Grab your device. Go to Settings. Tap General, then hit About.
You’ll see a line labeled Model Name. It’ll say something like "iPad Air (5th generation)" or "iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)." That’s your answer. Easy, right? Well, sometimes it just says "iPad." If that’s all you see, look at the line below it called Model Number.
It usually looks like a long string of letters and numbers (like MUUK2LL/A). Tap that string once. It will transform into a shorter code starting with the letter "A" followed by four numbers. That "A-number" is the DNA of your device.
Decoding the Secret A-Number
If you can't turn the iPad on because it’s dead or the screen is smashed, flip it over. Look at the very bottom of the back casing. In tiny, almost invisible print, you’ll find that same "A" number. Once you have it, you can match it to the real-world generation.
Standard iPad (The Classic)
The "budget" iPad is the one most people own. It kept the home button longer than any other model, but the newer ones finally ditched it for a full-screen look.
- iPad (11th Gen, 2025): A3006, A2836 (The "A16" model)
- iPad (10th Gen, 2022): A2696, A2757, A2777
- iPad (9th Gen, 2021): A2602, A2604 (The last one with a Home button!)
- iPad (8th Gen, 2020): A2270, A2428, A2429
iPad Air (The Middle Ground)
The Air is confusing because it comes in two sizes now. If you bought one recently, it’s probably an M-series chip.
- iPad Air 11/13-inch (M3, 2025): Check your settings; these are the newest mid-rangers.
- iPad Air 11/13-inch (M2, 2024): A2898, A2899, A2902
- iPad Air (5th Gen, 2022): A2588, A2589, A2591
iPad Pro (The Powerhouse)
Pros are easy to spot because they usually have the most cameras. If yours is impossibly thin and has an OLED screen, you’re likely holding a 2024 or 2025 model.
- iPad Pro 11/13-inch (M5, 2026): Just hitting the shelves.
- iPad Pro 11/13-inch (M4, 2024): A2836, A2837, A3006
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th Gen, 2022): A2436, A2764
iPad Mini (The Tiny One)
There haven't been many of these. If it's small and has flat edges, it's a 6th gen or the newer "A17 Pro" version. If it has a home button, it’s ancient in tech years.
Why "Which Generation" Actually Matters in 2026
We’ve moved past the era where every iPad does the same thing. Nowadays, the generation you own dictates whether you can use Apple Intelligence.
If you have a base model iPad from 2022 (the 10th gen), you're basically locked out of the newest AI writing tools and Siri upgrades because it only has 4GB of RAM. You need at least the iPad (A16) or an M-series chip to play in the big leagues.
Then there’s the Apple Pencil mess. Honestly, it’s a nightmare. Some iPads need a dongle to charge the pencil, some attach magnetically to the side, and the newest Pencil Pro only works with the M2/M4/M5 Airs and Pros. If you buy the wrong generation accessory, you've just bought a very expensive plastic stick.
Physical Clues If You're Still Unsure
Sometimes you’re looking at a listing on eBay or finding an old device in a drawer and can't find the number. Look at the port.
Is it a wide, 30-pin slot? That’s a relic from 2011. Is it a Lightning port (the same as an iPhone 13)? Then it’s a "middle-age" iPad. If it’s USB-C, you’re in the modern era.
Check the speakers, too. Budget iPads usually only have speakers on the bottom. The Air and Pro models have grilles on both the top and bottom for "landscape stereo" sound. If you see a weird magnetic three-dot connector on the back or side, that’s a Smart Connector for keyboards.
What to Do Once You Know
- Check Warranty: Head to checkcoverage.apple.com and plug in your serial number (found in the same "About" menu).
- Update Safely: If you have an iPad older than the 8th generation, be careful with the latest iPadOS 26 updates. They can sometimes make older hardware feel sluggish.
- Buy the Right Case: 11-inch iPads are not all the same thickness. A Pro case rarely fits an Air perfectly because of the camera bump.
- Trade-In Value: If you’re sitting on a 9th Gen iPad, its value is dropping fast because it’s the last one with the old design. Now might be the time to swap it.
Knowing your model isn't just about trivia. It’s about not wasting $100 on a keyboard that doesn't click or a screen protector that covers your camera. Flip it over, find that "A" number, and you’re set.
Actionable Next Steps
- Locate your A-number on the back of the device or in Settings > General > About.
- Verify Apple Intelligence compatibility by checking if your model has an M1 chip or newer (or the A17 Pro/A19).
- Match your model to the correct Apple Pencil using Apple's official compatibility chart before purchasing any stylus.