The 2025 ZUGU Holiday Gift Guide: Find Their Perfect iPad (and a Case to Match)

Choosing the right iPad for someone can be tricky. Pairing it with the proper case? Even harder. With so many different iPads and iPad cases on the market, it’s time for gifting without the guesswork.

We’ve created a guide to gifting iPads, matching different personalities, from the busy parent to the digital artist, with our iPad and ZUGU Case recommendations to help you find the perfect match.

1. The Creative Visionary

These are gifts for the digital artist in your life. For the person who sketches in cafés or spends hours animating at their desk. They’ll need maximum storage and high performance, so there’s only one option.

iPad Pick: iPad Pro 13 (M5)

Price: Starts at $1,299, or $108.25/mo for 12 months

Key Features: You get 256 GB of storage as standard, but for creatives, upgrading to 2TB gives you extra space required to handle large project files. The new M5 chip is strong for rendering 3D graphics and editing 4K videos. It also has an XDR display for color accuracy and the Apple Pencil Pro for its tilt sensitivity. It’s a dream for creatives!

ZUGU Case Pick: ZUGU iPad Pro 13 Case

Design with precision using the ZUGU case and its magnetic stability features. Our case magnetically locks into multiple viewing angles, providing flexibility in how you use your iPad for designing, drawing, animating, writing or editing quickly.

Buy Now

2. The Busy Professional

We all know someone who’s always on the move, juggling work and family life, often handling multiple tasks simultaneously. Whether they’re in the office, at an airport lounge, or at the kitchen table, they need an iPad that works as hard as they do.

iPad Pick: iPad Air 13 (M3) 

Price: Starts at $599 or $49.91/mo for 12 months

The iPad Air is lightweight and incredibly fast, making it perfect for those who are constantly on the go. It gives them the large 13-inch canvas needed for split-screen and multitasking. The M3 chip can handle CPU-intensive tasks, such as running multiple apps, video conferencing, and large uploads and downloads without breaking a sweat.

ZUGU Case Pick: ZUGU iPad Air 13 (M3)

At $69.99, our case is slim enough to slip into a briefcase but tough enough to withstand the rigors of hectic travel days. Available in eight colors, its multi-angle feature makes it perfect for working remotely, whether it’s taking calls or writing up a proposal.

Buy Now

3. The Everyday Parent

We all know someone who is a part-time planner, cleaner, household operations chief, and parent. An iPad could be exactly what they need to manage the chaos.

iPad Pick: iPad A16/11th Gen

Price: Starts at $349, or $29.08/mo for 12 months

Key Features: This is a durable, intuitive, and family-friendly tablet. Thanks to its superfast A16 chip, your busy parent can make lists, store family photos, and plan ahead. When paired with an Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard Folio, it makes multitasking a breeze.

ZUGU Case Pick: ZUGU A16/11th Gen Case

Our A16 Case comes with much-needed drop protection and hands-free viewing angles. The magnetic mounting lets you attach it to a metal surface, making it easy to follow recipes, manage schedules, or enjoy films and TV shows around the house.

Buy Now

4. The Legacy Thinker

This is for the person with a practical mind who appreciates clarity and staying connected. Whether catching up on news, documentaries, or planning ahead, they’ll need an iPad that does it all.

iPad Pick: iPad Air 11 (M3)

Price: Starts at $599, or $49.91/mo for 12 months

Key Features: Known for its high performance and impressive display, the iPad Air M3 has a high-resolution Liquid Retina display that reduces glare. With a 16-core Neural Engine, it’s up to 60% faster than previous iterations, making it a practical purchase that’s more affordable than newer models.

ZUGU Case Pick: ZUGU iPad Air 11

Our iPad Air design is an iPad case that does it all. Its secure grip and range of comfortable viewing angles make it a popular choice for those looking for a handy tech companion for everyday use. Its clean aesthetic makes it a premium gift for those who appreciate quality.

Buy Now

5. The Elegant Simplifier

They prefer tools that “just work” and feel good to use every day without confusing features. They’ll want a simple and cost-effective iPad and iPad case that allows for drawing, writing, or watching films.

iPad Pick: iPad A16/11th Gen

Price: From $349, or $29.08/mo for 12 months

Key Features: This is a straightforward iPad. It gets things done, from writing lists and managing online banking to watching films and engaging in casual gaming. At $349, it’s one of Apple's most affordable models. It’s a simple, capable, and dependable option that comes in multiple colorways.

ZUGU Case Pick: ZUGU iPad (A16/11th Gen)

Our iPad case comes with adjustable multi-viewing angles, and magnetic features that add simple joy to daily routines. It’s known for being sturdy, with robust bumpers around the edges and rugged TPU, perfect for those who don’t want to worry about accidentally damaging their iPad with regular, everyday use.

Buy Now

6. The Tech Lover

We all have a tech lover in our lives; someone who knows about the latest iPads and the best iPad accessories. They’ll need an iPad with the latest features and a high-resolution display.

iPad Pick: iPad Pro 13 (M5)

Price: Starts at $1,299, or $108.25/mo for 12 months.

Key Features: For tech lovers, there’s no better option than the iPad Pro 13. Apple's latest release is its most advanced and versatile design yet. This is all thanks to its M5 chip that revolutionizes AI technology. It has a 6.7x faster pro rendering performance and 4x faster AI image generation.

ZUGU Case Pick: ZUGU: The 360 Case

With dual screening for your iPhone and iPad, this case performs like no other. Its detachable magnetic kickstands enables side-by-side viewing with your iPhone while the fibreglass, aluminum and leatherette shell offers robust, portable protection. It also comes with a 5 year warranty, so you can be confident in making a long-lasting purchase for your tech-loving friends and family.

Buy Now

7. The Savvy Student 

From lectures to libraries to late-night study sessions, students need something portable, durable, and ready to handle a multitude of tasks. Not only are iPads great for work, they’re also excellent entertainment devices for when study time is over.

iPad Pick: iPad Air 11 (M3)

Price: Starts at $599, or $49.91/mo for 12 months

Key Features: This iPad strikes the perfect balance between power and portability. It’s light enough to carry across campus all day but powerful enough for research papers. At $599, it’s a sound investment. When you add on a Magic Apple Keyboard, it turns it into a transferable workstation on the go.

ZUGU Case Pick: ZUGU iPad Air 11 

Our case is slim enough for a backpack but sturdy enough to handle the rough and tumble that comes with life at college. The adjustable stand is crucial for getting a good typing angle in lecture halls, while the dedicated Apple Pencil holder makes it an excellent choice for students who prefer writing up their notes by hand.

Buy Now

Give the Gift of a Better iPad Experience

Whether you’re shopping for your mom, your partner, or your best friend, we’ve got all the bases covered. Shop our full range of iPad cases and make the most of gifting an iPad this year.

Shop Now