Apple iPad 10.2 (2021) review. Apple iPad 2021
Apple‘s iPad 2021 offers small but welcome upgrades over last year’s model
Tom’s Guide Verdict
The Apple iPad 2021 is a well-made tablet with a dated design that offers a great screen, smooth performance, and good battery life for a reasonable price.
Pros
- Bright, vibrant screen
- Great front-facing camera
- Speedy performance thanks to A13 Bionic
- Good battery life
Cons
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OS: iPadOS 15 CPU: A13 Bionic Storage: 64GB, 256GB Display: 10.2-inch (2160 x 1620 pixels) Liquid Retina Rear camera: 8MP wide (f/2.4) Video: Up to 1080p at up to 30 fps Front camera: 12MP Ultra Wide (f/2.4) Wireless: Wi-Fi 6, optional 4G LTE Battery: 32.4 watt-hour Battery life: 11:59 (tested) Size: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.29 inches Weight: 1.07 lbs (Wi-Fi), 1.09 lbs (Wi-Fi Cellular) Price: 329
The Apple iPad 2021 (starting at 329) is little different from its predecessor, offering the same winning combination of beauty and speed in a slim, relatively affordable package. It’s still one of the best tablets and best cheap tablets you can buy, and this year’s model sports a faster A13 Bionic chip and an impressive new front-facing camera that set it apart from earlier models.
However, I could stand to see Apple do a little more to improve the base iPad’s design. It still has thick black bezels around the screen, especially around the top and bottom, and it’s still limited to charging via Lightning cable when most iPads now support USB-C charging. On the bright side, it still has a headphone jack too, which for some people will make this the only iPad worth buying.
But is it worth your hard-earned money? Should you upgrade if you already own an iPad? This iPad 2021 review aims to help you answer those questions, so you can make a more informed purchasing decision.
We’ve also outlined the differences between the different types of iPad in our dedicated guide to Which iPad should you buy? iPad vs. iPad mini vs. iPad Air vs. iPad Pro, so take a look at that if you want more information.
Apple iPad 2021 review: Price and release date
The Apple iPad 2021 is available for purchase via Apple’s website, in your local Apple store and at third-party retailers. Stock is currently hard to come by, though, so make sure you check out our where to buy the 2021 iPad guide.
Like the previous model, the iPad 2021’s price starts at 329 for the Wi-Fi model and 459 for the Wi-Fi Cellular version, though anyone working in education can get a discount that brings the starting price for the Wi-Fi model down to 299.
Apple has doubled the storage capacity of the iPad compared to previous generations, bumping the entry-level 329 model up from 32 to 64 GB and the 479 upgraded storage model up from 128 to 256 GB. If you splurge for the iPad with cellular connectivity and the upgraded storage, you’re looking at a 609 price tag. The storage upgrade is a significant and welcome change, as it’s hard to enjoy all the functionality of an iPad when you have less than 32 GB of storage for all your photos, movies, apps, and games.
Of course, the price of upgrading to the model with more has storage also increased, up to 150 instead of the 100 it used to cost. Still, we recommend paying the upgrade cost if you plan to be downloading a lot of apps and HD media, as 64 GB still isn’t an impressive amount of storage space.
Accessory-wise, the iPad 2021 is, like its predecessor, compatible with Apple’s 159 Smart Keyboard and the 99 1st Gen Apple Pencil and not the company’s more-recent accessories. They’re decent add-ons, but it would have been nice to see Apple find a way to make the iPad compatible with its improved Magic Keyboard and/or the 2nd Gen Apple Pencil.
Our testing unit is a Wi-Fi Cellular iPad 2021 with 256 GB of storage, which we used with a Smart Keyboard and 1st Gen Apple Pencil. To buy it all directly from Apple, you’d spend about 867 plus taxes and fees.
Apple iPad 2021 review: Design
The new iPad looks the same as the old iPad, which looked roughly the same as the iPad before it. Apple seems uninterested in updating the look and feel of its entry-level iPad, making it feel like an almost charming throwback to the early days of tablets.
Still, I can’t help but wish Apple would redesign the base iPad to have the same flat edges, rounded corners, and thin bezels of siblings like the iPad mini 6 or the iPad Pro 2021 (12.9-inch). Of course, those tablets are hundreds of dollars more expensive than the iPad 2021, and it’s hard to quibble too much with what you get for that price: the iPad is still a thin, light tablet, weighing just over a pound and measuring 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.29 inches. It still sports the same machined aluminum chassis, and comes in the same two familiar colors: silver and Space Gray.
When held in the portrait orientation, the Home button is still prominently featured in the center of the bottom bezel, with a TouchID sensor built in so you can unlock the device with a fingerprint.
Along the right edge you’ll find the volume buttons and the SIM card slot on cellular models, while the power/wake button sits at right side of the top edge. On the far left of that top edge you’ll find a headphone jack, making the iPad 2021 the only iPad model which supports wired headphones.
This is also now the only iPad to still rely on a Lighting port for charging, rather than USB-C. As nice as the upgrade to Lightning was from Apple’s old 30-pin proprietary connector, it’s starting to feel silly to have to dig out a Lightning cable to charge the iPad instead of grabbing a ubiquitous USB-C cable.
Apple iPad 2021 review: Display
Look down at the iPad 2021 and you’ll find yourself staring into a 10.2-inch, 2,160 x 1,620-pixel panel that’s quite similar to the screen in last year’s model. It’s still rated for up to 500 nits of brightness, but this year the iPad’s panel has gained support for Apple’s True Tone tech, which automatically adjusts the screen’s white balance in response to ambient light.
In person, it’s an eye-catching display that looks bright and vibrant. While streaming Good Omens the slight color variations in outfits worn by Aziraphale and Crowley really popped, and even while streaming older works like the original Dune, the iPad delivered a sharp, vivid picture. There is a bit of glare if you’re under bright lights, and it gets bad enough to render the iPad nigh unusable if you’re outside at high noon on a sunny day.
When we tested the iPad 2021 in our lab we found the screen’s brightness maxes out at 494 nits in the center of the display, but it gets significantly less bright near the top and bottom, delivering an average maximum brightness of 473 nits across the whole panel. That’s a bit worse than the panel on last year’s iPad, which achieved an average maximum brightness of 484 nits in the same test. It also falls a bit short of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, a more expensive Android tablet that maxed out at 499 nits of brightness in our lab testing.
As far as color accuracy goes, we pointed a colorimeter at the iPad 2021 and found it delivers 105.3% of the sRGB color gamut. That’s pretty good (100% is typically the ideal for accurate color reproduction), and comparable to the 97% covered by last year’s iPad.
Apple iPad 2021 review: Performance
The Apple iPad 2021 has an A13 Bionic chip under the hood, the same chip that drives the iPhone 11 family of devices. It’s an improvement over the A12 Bionic in last year’s iPad, and what it means is that you should notice almost no lag when playing the latest games, noodling around in apps, or editing photos.
I happily spent way too much time playing games like Asphalt 9, Genshin Impact, and World Flipper, with no noticeable slowdown or missed inputs. Editing and retouching photos in Darkroom feels nice and snappy on the iPad 2021, as does the process of quickly swapping back and forth between apps.
When we put this tablet to the test using the Geekbench 5 multi-core CPU benchmark, which measures CPU performance, the iPad 2021 and its A13 Bionic chip earned a score of 3,387.
That’s a good score, and a notable improvement over the 2,685 its predecessor earned in the same test. It’s also better than competitors like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 (3,074), though even the iPad 2021 can’t quite match the performance of the A14 Bionic-powered iPad Air 2020 (4,262) or the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (4,878), with its 10th Gen Intel CPUs. Of course, the Surface Pro is more expensive than the iPad 2021, even after you factor in the cost of optional Apple accessories like the Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil.
Apple iPad 2021 review: Audio
The speakers along the bottom edge of the iPad 2021 sound good enough that I didn’t mind watching movies or playing games without good headphones. They get surprisingly loud, too, though to my ears the sound quality gets very tinny when you crank the volume up.
However, you can definitely enjoy a better listening experience if you plug in a good pair of headphones via the headphone jack, a simple pleasure that feels like a luxury now that Apple’s removed the headphone jack from all other iPad models.
Apple iPad 2021 review: Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil
Speaking of which, the optional Smart Keyboard (159 extra) and 1st Gen Apple Pencil (99 extra) work as well as they always have with Apple’s entry-level iPad. The Smart Keyboard is versatile, serving as a front cover for the iPad when closed and a decent stand for the tablet when open.
If you’re anything like me you’ll likely find yourself using it as a stand more than anything else, since the small membrane keys aren’t very satisfying to type on and they’re so close together that typing for long periods feels cramped and uncomfortable.- at least, for my oversized mitts. Still, it’s nice to have in a pinch, and those with more reasonably sized hands may find the Smart Keyboard renders the iPad a reasonable laptop replacement.
The 1st Gen Apple Pencil is more comfortable to use, and having one turns the iPad into a pretty decent digital canvas for doodling and painting. There are a bunch of intriguing iPadOS features that take advantage of the Apple Pencil too, including Scribble, which lets you write into any text field and see it converted into text right there on the page. It’s a small but neat feature that works in apps like Safari, Gmail, and Slack, making communicating across the Internet feel a bit more tactile.
Such small but useful features make the Apple Pencil a decent investment if you’re planning to use your iPad regularly, especially if you like to doodle. As I tested the stylus by writing emails (literally) and painting digital art (badly), the Pencil felt precise and I never noticed any lag or missed inputs. The only meaningful drawback is its dated design: unlike its successor, the 1st Gen Apple Pencil charges via Lightning port, which can be a pain since you have to pop a plastic cap off one end and plug the Pencil into either a charger or the iPad itself, while trying not to lose said cap. There’s also no convenient place to stow the Pencil when you’re not using it, so you just have to tote it around with you as best you can.
Apple iPad 2021 review: iPadOS 15
Apple launched iPadOS 15 the same week as the iPad 2021, and the new operating system deliver some valuable new features that make the iPad a little more versatile.
As you can read in our iPadOS 15 review, Apple’s latest tablet OS delivers some welcome improvements. Most notably, you can now put widgets anywhere on the home screen, just like on iOS, and there’s a helpful new multitasking menu accessible via a small icon at the top of every app. It looks like three small gray dots in a horizontal line, and when you tap it a little window pops up with icons for viewing the app three different ways: in fullscreen, split view, or slide over view.
Split view does what you might expect, splitting the screen down the middle and putting one app on either side, while Slide Over view fullscreens one app and displays the other atop it in a thinner window. While it’s been possible to pull off tricks like this in prior iPadOS iterations, the new multitasking menu makes it much easier to do, which is great since having two apps open at once in landscape mode feels like something the iPad 2021 was built for.
Apple iPad 2021 review: Cameras
The Apple iPad 2021 has the same 8 MP rear camera as its predecessor, and it does a similarly solid job of capturing details and color. It works well enough to capture good photos both indoors and out, though if you own a recent iPhone or premium Android smartphone, it probably takes better photos.
No, the really exciting camera news about the iPad 2021 is the fact that Apple’s upgraded the front-facing camera from the measly 1.2 MP sensor on last year’s model to an excellent new 12 MP TrueDepth ultrawide camera with support for Apple’s new(ish) Center Stage feature.
As seen first in the iPad Pro 2021, Center Stage is a novel feature that kicks in during video calls using the front-facing camera and uses machine learning to try and ensure the face of whoever is speaking stays on camera. It does this by capturing an ultra-wide video feed and then digitally panning and zooming to center on the face of the speaker, ensuring you can set it up for a call and then walk around a bit without worrying about going off-screen; if someone else enters the camera’s field of view it will also try and keep them in the frame.
I tested this out a few times, perching the iPad 2021 in my kitchen and taking calls with friends and colleagues while walking around preparing meals. It works well, and the camera can follow you out to a surprisingly wide angle — I had to nearly walk behind the iPad before it stopped tracking me. It’s a neat trick that seemed to impress folks on the other end of the call, but beyond that it doesn’t really offer much practical benefit: the people I was video calling with could hear me just as well whether I was on camera or off. If you don’t enjoy the feature, you can switch it off from within apps like Google Meet and Zoom.
Apple iPad 2021 review: Battery life
Apple advertises the iPad 2021 as lasting up to 10 hours of use (surfing the web or watching video) on a full battery, or up to 9 hours if you’re on a cellular connection. But as is often the case, the company is commendably conservative in their battery life promises: in our tablet battery test, which tasks the slate with endlessly surfing the web over Wi-Fi with its display set to a brightness of 150 nits, the new iPad 2021 lasted a good 11 hours and 59 minutes.
12 hours is very respectable battery life for a tablet, though it’s about an hour less than last year’s iPad 2020 achieved (12:57) in the same test and over an hour less than the runtime of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S7 (13:16). However, this year’s iPad delivers better battery life than the Apple iPad Air 2020 (10:29), which ran out of juice about 90 minutes sooner in the same test.
Plus, the iPad 2021 charges pretty quick: I plugged it in at 9% power, and an hour later the battery was charged to 50% capacity.
Apple iPad 2021 review: Verdict
Apple’s iPad 2021 is, like its predecessors, a well-made tablet that offers a great screen, smooth performance, and good battery life for a reasonable price. It’s the cheapest iPad Apple sells, but it doesn’t feel cheap, and the upgraded internals and selfie camera are meaningful improvements over the prior iPad.
However, I don’t think they’re meaningful enough to merit upgrading from last year’s iPad to the iPad 2021. Apple’s latest iPad is one of the best tablets you can buy, but if you already own the iPad 2020 the performance improvements over last year’s model aren’t worth the cost of upgrading — unless you do a lot of video calls (thanks COVID) and want to try out Center Stage, but don’t want to shell out for an iPad Pro 2021.
But if you’re shopping for a new tablet, it’s hard to find something better than the iPad 2021 in the same price range. If you’re open to Android, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is a more expensive tablet with a great screen and better battery life than the iPad 2021, plus it comes with a stylus packed in. If you’d like to ditch the dated design of the iPad, upgrading to the 599 iPad Air 2020 gets you a speedier Apple tablet with support for the Magic Keyboard and 2nd Gen Apple Pencil, but it costs hundreds of dollars more and offers slightly less battery life.
Alex Wawro is a lifelong tech and games enthusiast with more than a decade of experience covering both for outlets like Game Developer, Black Hat, and PC World magazine. A lifelong PC builder, he currently serves as a senior editor at Tom’s Guide covering all things computing, from laptops and desktops to keyboards and mice.
Apple iPad 2021 review: still the best tablet for most people
Apple’s updated low-end iPad looks set to continue its dominance of the market with newer chips, twice the storage and a brilliant new video-calling camera.
The 10.2in iPad costs £319 (329/A499) – £300 for students – making it Apple’s best-value tablet, sitting below the £479 iPad mini and £579 iPad Air.
Unlike most of its tablet models, Apple has taken to updating the internal components of the standard iPad once a year while keeping its cost and design the same, ensuring its long line of accessories such as keyboards, cases and pens remain compatible.
As such the experience of using the 2021 iPad is the same as the 2020 iPad, but with the updated iPadOS 15 and a few new additions that keep it firmly in pole position.
Faster chip, double the storage but same battery life
The iPad now has Apple’s A13 Bionic processor from 2019’s iPhone 11. It’s not Apple’s newest chip but it is considerably more powerful than most lower-cost rivals and easily able to handle anything you can do with an iPad. The tablet now comes with twice the minimum of storage compared with the previous version, at 64GB, which will be enough for those who mainly stream content rather download vast movie libraries.
Centre Stage camera and better screen
The new 12-megapixel wide-angle “Centre Stage” camera removes some of the annoyance of video calls by automatically panning and zooming to keep you and friends in frame without having to think about it. It also has much better low-light performance, meaning everyone gets a better, easier view, which will be particularly useful for remote education.
The screen has had a minor but welcome upgrade with the addition of Apple’s “true tone” technology, which keeps colours looking true to life adjusting to ambient light. The display is otherwise still crisp and bright and significantly better than many cheaper rivals.
Sustainability
Apple does not give a rated lifecycle for the iPad battery, typically 500 full-charge cycles in similar devices, but it can be replaced for £99. The tablet is generally repairable, with an out-of-warranty service costing £246.44, which includes the screen.
The iPad uses 100% recycled aluminium in its case, 100% recycled tin in the solder of its main board, more than 65% recycled rare earth elements and at least 60% recycled plastic in multiple other components. Apple breaks down the tablet’s environmental impact in its report.
Apple also offers trade-in and free recycling schemes, including for non-Apple products.
Observations
- The iPad only has wifi5 and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity, not wifi6 and Bluetooth 5 that has been available on most new devices for the last few years.
- The rear 8MP camera is slightly improved, but still miles off a good smartphone camera.
Price
The iPad (9th generation) costs £319 (329/A499) with 64GB of storage or £459 (479/A729) with 256GB. 4G-capable models cost £120 (130/A200) more.
For comparison, the iPad mini costs £479, the iPad Air costs £579 and the iPad Pro costs from £749, Amazon’s Fire HD 8 costs £90, the Fire HD 10 costs £150 and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S7 costs £519.
Verdict
The 10.2in iPad is still the best tablet for most people offering an unbeatable combination of value, performance, software and longevity.
It’s not flash and it has some older technology, such as the lightning cable and wifi5, but its old design means accessories made for many previous models still fit. Doubling the storage to 64GB is welcome, the faster chip and better display too, but it is the Centre Stage auto-tracking video call camera that is a biggest upgrade and will be particularly useful.
Pros: great performance, good battery life, good screen, iPadOS, plenty of apps, good speakers, very long support, recycled aluminium, Centre Stage camera.
Cons: older design, no USB-C, fairly slow charging, no multi-user support, more expensive than budget rivals.
Apple iPad (10th gen) vs iPad (9th gen): Which should you buy?
Here is how the Apple iPad (10th generation) compares to the entry-level iPad (9th generation). Which should you buy?
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Apple iPad (2022)
РАСПАКОВКА И ОБЗОР iPad 10.2 2021 ГОДА! НОВИНКА ОТ APPLE
The Apple iPad (10th generation) is an excellent tablet. It doesn’t have all the features and power of some of the other models within Apple’s portfolio, but it offers an upgraded and improved design, a lovely big display and more than enough power for most tasks. It is a perfect blend of features and value for money.
- No Apple Pencil (2nd gen) compatibility
- No anti-reflective display
- No Stage Manager support
Apple iPad (2021)
The Apple iPad (9th generation, 2021) is the perfect tablet for those who simply need something that enables them to surf the internet, watch streaming services, and do the occasional other stuff. such as attach a keyboard via the Smart Connector for doing some work. rather than try to be something more glamorous.
- Design a little dated now
- No touch-to-wake screen
- Still uses Lightning connector
Apple’s iPad (10th generation) arrived in October 2022 and it sees an upgrade in design, an upgrade in processor and it makes a logical change to the front camera position too. With that comes a cost though, making it quite a bit more expensive than its predecessor, the iPad (9th generation).
With the iPad (9th generation) remaining in the iPad portfolio as the entry-level model and the iPad (10th generation) sliding in between the 9th gen model and the iPad Air (2022), which iPad should you buy? We’ve detailed how the iPad (10th generation) compares to the iPad Air (2022) in a separate feature, but here we are focused on how the iPad (10th generation) compares to the cheaper, but older, iPad (9th generation).
Specs, price, availability
Let’s first talk about price. The iPad (10th generation) starts at 449 in the US and £499 in the UK. That’s for the 64GB, Wi-Fi only model. The iPad (9th generation) meanwhile, starts at 329 in the US and £369 in the UK. Again, that’s for the 64GB, Wi-Fi only model. It’s therefore quite a bit cheaper than the iPad (10th generation). Both are available through Apple, as well as various other retailers.
The Apple iPad (10th generation, 2022) comes in a range of colour options, while the iPad (9th generation, 2021) only comes in Silver and Space Grey. You can see a rundown of the specs for both tablets below, giving you a quick indication as to how they compare, though remember that numbers aren’t everything. as we dive a little deeper into further down this feature. so keep that in mind when you are making your decision.
| 64 / 256GB | 64/256GB |
| Apple A14 Bionic | A13 Bionic |
| iPadOS 16 | iPadOS |
| Up to 10 hours | Up to 10 hours |
| USB-C | Lightning |
| 12MP f/1.8 rear, 12MP f/2.4 front landscape | 8MP rear, 12MP f/2.4 front |
| 10.9-inch Liquid Retina, 2360 x 1640 pixels, 264ppi, 500nits | 10.2-inch Retina, 2160 x 1620 pixels, 264ppi, True Tone |
| From 449 / £499 | From 329 / £369 |
| 248.6 x 179.5 x 7mm, 477g | 250.6 x 174.1 x 7.5mm, 487g |
| Yellow, Blue, Pink and Silver | Space Grey, Silver |
Design
The Apple iPad (10th gen) steals its design from the iPad Air, so it looks quite different to the iPad (9th generation) and offers a much more modern design overall. The iPad (10th gen) has flat edges and uniformed bezels around the display. It also moves the Touch ID home button from below the display to the power button positioned on the top edge, offering much more display within the footprint and ditching the dated large bezels we’ve seen on iPads for years.
On the rear of the iPad (10th generation), there is a single camera lens, though it is quite a bit larger than the iPad (9th generation). The iPad (9th generation) features a very small camera lens in the top left corner of its rear and its edges are rounded. a design some might prefer. It has also larger bezels around the screen and the Touch ID home button sits at the bottom of the display, as we mentioned. It is a dated look now, but larger bezels can be useful when holding the tablet to watch movies for example, giving you somewhere to place your thumbs away from the screen. Both models have a Smart Connector positioned on the left edge, but the iPad (10th generation) is slimmer, shorter and lighter than the iPad (9th generation) overall, as well as slightly wider.
Display
The Apple iPad (10th generation) has a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display that offers a 2360 x 1640 resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 264ppi. It’s a lovely display in use and while it isn’t as good as the iPad Air (2022), it offers a great viewing experience overall with punchy colours and good angles.
The iPad (9th generation) has a smaller 10.2-inch Retina display, with a pixel resolution of 2160 x 1620 resolution. This too results in a pixel density of 264ppi and again, there’s a good viewing experience. As you might notice though, the 10th generation model has a 0.7-inch larger display than the 9th generation model within a very similar footprint so you get more screen without having a larger body, as we briefly touched on above.
Both the iPad (10th generation) and the iPad (9th generation) feature Apple’s True Tone technology, a 500nits max brightness and a fingerprint-resistant coating. Neither have a fully-laminated display though or an anti-reflective coating, which the iPad Air offers and both make a difference.
Hardware and specs
The Apple iPad (10th generation) runs on the A14 Bionic chip, while the iPad (9th generation) runs on the A13 Bionic chip so you get a performance upgrade with the newer model. It may not be as noticeable as the M1 chip on the iPad Air. or the M2 chip on the latest iPad Pros, but the iPad (10th generation) is a little speedier than its predecessor.
Both the iPad (10th generation) and the iPad (9th generation) are offered in 64GB and 256GB storage options though and they both promise up to 10 hours of battery life for web browsing or watching video.
The iPad (10th generation) switches to USB-C for charging though, while the iPad (9th generation) has Lightning. Both are compatible with the first generation of Apple Pencil, though you will need an adapter to charge the Apple Pencil with the iPad (10th generation) as the Pencil uses Lightning to charge.
Along with the upgrade in processor and switch to USB-C, the iPad (10th generation) also upgrades the rear camera from an 8-megapixel snapper found on the 9th gen model to a 12-megapixel sensor, capable of 4K video recording.
There are also differences in the front camera. Both the 10th gen model and the 9th gen model have a 12-megapixel sensor with f/2.4 aperture and the company’s Centre Stage feature, though the 10th gen model moves the front camera to a landscape position on the right edge, while the 9th gen model has it at the top of the display like the other models in the range. The landscape orientation is much better for video calling so if that’s something you’re planning to do a lot of with your iPad, the 10th gen model is the better option.
Elsewhere, the 10th gen iPad offers Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), while the iPad (9th gen) has Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi‑Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac). The iPad (10th gen) is also 5G compatible for the Wi-Fi Cellular model, while the iPad (9th gen) is 4G.
Software
The Apple iPad (10th generation) is compatible with iPadOS 16, like the iPad (9th generation) so the two models offer a very similar user experience overall.
Neither have Stage Manager, though there are plenty of features that come with iPadOS 16 that make both these tablets great. You can read all about iPadOS 16 in our separate feature to find out all the features available, or head to our tips and tricks feature to discover everything iPad can do.
In a nutshell though, while there are differences in performance and design between these two models, the general user experience is very similar whichever model you choose.
iPad (10th gen, 2022) vs iPad (9th gen, 2021): Which should you buy?
The Apple iPad (10th generation) makes some great upgrades compared to the iPad (9th generation). the design being the key improvement. Moving to the iPad Air’s design sees the 10th generation model offer a larger display within a very similar footprint to the 9th gen model, in a refresh that has been long overdue.
There’s also an upgrade in processor, the switch to USB-C, a more logically-positioned front camera and a wider colour choice.
Apple iPad (2022)
The iPad (10th generation) is a perfect blend of features and value for money, and with its upgraded design, we expect it to be the go-to iPad for most people.
You pay for those upgrades though and while we think the iPad (10th generation) is excellent, with the same user interface, it may be that the 9th gen model is more appealing thanks to its lower price.
Apple iPad (2021)
The iPad (9th generation, 2021) is one for those who simply need a tablet that enables them to surf the internet, watch streaming services, and do the occasional other stuff, rather than try to be something more glamorous. It still has its place though.
There’s an argument to consider the iPad Air (2022) over the iPad (10th gen) if you have some extra budget and need more power, and there’s also a solid argument to opt for the 9th gen model if you want to save money. That said, the iPad (10th gen) is an excellent middle option that will meet many needs in a lovely design that matches its more expensive siblings and solid upgrades over the 9th gen model.
Apple iPad 9th gen review: The safest iPad bet makes more sense than ever
I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.
- Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps
Apple iPad (9th gen, 2021)
Like
- Better A13 processor
- storage (64/256GB)
- Center Stage camera zooms in video chats
- Works with older keyboard cases
- Headphone jack
Don’t like
All of Apple’s new iPads have relatively fresh designs … except for the basic iPad. While the new iPad Mini just got a total makeover, the ninth-gen non-Pro, non-Mini, non-Air iPad still has that big old circular home button. And it still has big bezels around the screen. There’s no USB-C. No Magic Keyboard or newer Pencil support. But I’m OK with that, and you might be, too.
I’m writing this review on the new ninth-gen iPad. I’m able to do this because the iPad allows connections to keyboard cases, like the Apple Smart keyboard cover I’m using to write this. It’s not as good as the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro and Air, but it’s good enough (and costs less). And good enough is exactly what the ninth-gen iPad is: In fact, compared with all other iPads right now, it covers all the bases best. Let me explain.
iPads are secondary devices for most people. Maybe even tertiary devices. After phones and laptops, of course. But they’re also pretty essential and useful for a lot of people. Families, kids. That’s why budget factors heavily into iPad purchases. In that regard, the basic iPad (still called “iPad” on the box) should be your default pick. That’s how I felt last year (see my eighth-gen iPad review ), and it’s how I feel now, too. It’s inexpensive but versatile: This iPad works with the Apple Pencil for sketching (although it’s the first-gen Pencil) and with keyboard cases (although not the Magic Keyboard), and has a big enough screen to feel laptoplike (unlike the Mini, which is lovely but expensive and for me, too small). And there’s more storage, which helps.
The lowest-priced iPad has always been a trickle-down device, gradually getting upgrades other iPads got years ago. The same is true here: a new A13 processor, a zooming-in Center Stage camera that the iPad Pro got this spring and True Tone on the display for ambient color temperature adjustments. This iPad may get a redesign next year (or later), but for now it’s the safest iPad purchase.
Design: The same
It looks exactly the same as last year. It has that old circle Touch ID button. It still uses Lightning, not USB-C. And, you know what? It’s fine. It works with last year’s iPad cases. And it’s the last iPad on Earth that has a real headphone jack. And its starting price is the same. But Apple’s bumped the storage up, finally, with 64GB on the 329 (£319, AU499) version.- you could survive with that, just about.- and 256GB on the 479 version, which I’d recommend without a doubt if you’re planning to download any movies for travel, or any content-making apps.
iPad Mini 2021 and 9th-gen iPad, compared
If you didn’t have any big emotions about last year’s iPad, this year’s basic model won’t wow. It would be nice to have less bezel, switch away from Lightning and also, to have stereo speakers. (Sound only comes out of one side of the iPad in landscape mode, like always, but the fancier iPads fix that. Answer: Deal with it or use headphones.)
Pencil support is fine, but that older Pencil has nowhere to go unless you buy a case that has a loop to hold it (those do exist, like Logitech’s keyboard folios ). And the front-facing camera is still stuck on the side in landscape mode, which is how you’ll have it set up for laptop-style use.
Center Stage: Zooming-in FaceTime and Zoom calls
You’ll notice that when you launch video chat on the new iPad, it’ll start zooming in on your face. That’s Center Stage. a feature that leans on the wider-angle iPad front-facing camera to zoom in during calls.
In general, Center Stage is a useful tweak to the video chat experience, especially from a distance with families. Like a Portal and a few other devices, it’ll follow you around. The autotracking works smoothly, almost like a panning camera. But on a few FaceTime calls, using a prerelease iPad, I found stutters. (Maybe a software update will fix that). It works with Zoom, and whatever video chat apps want to support it (it’s openly available for any video chat app to incorporate).
Center Stage can be turned off by swiping down from the Control Center and toggling it with the Video Effects button, and some video recording apps like Filmic Pro use it. But Apple’s built-in Camera app doesn’t take advantage of it, oddly.
One note: On my review iPad I found a few times that Center Stage made FaceTime calls seem to stutter. It might be something Apple needs to address in an iPadOS update.
Performance: than good enough
The added A13 processor upgrade makes it fast enough for most needs and then some. On benchmark tests, it’s about as fast an iPhone 11 (no surprise, since it has the same processor). It’s fine for multitasking, gaming and video and doesn’t seem to lag.
And its front camera is notably better: crisper for video calls, with a digital-zoom face-following Center Stage mode that works with Zoom, FaceTime and other apps, making it a better family video-chat screen from a distance. They’re not amazing cameras, but they’re suitable, and better than on most laptops. The front camera went from a 1.2 megapixels to a 122-degree wide-angle 12 megapixels, which makes a real difference, and also lets that camera zoom in using Center Stage without losing effective resolution.
Battery life feels largely the same in daily use so far: Apple keeps leaning on the “10 hours of battery” promise as always, and I find that iPads generally last a whole day of normal use.
Boring, but recommended
Seriously: The iPad Mini costs more, lacks the same keyboard support and is probably too small. Last year’s iPad Air is good but lacks Center Stage (but if it’s on sale, it may be worth snapping up). And the iPad Pro is great but it’s expensive.
For 2021, I think the basic unexciting iPad wins out. Especially for the price, which usually hits 300 for holiday season sales. But other sales could change that metric fast. The iPad Air is better, and last year’s eighth-gen iPad is perfectly fine still, too.- if that’s on sale for a steep discount, it’s worth considering. If you already have last year’s iPad there’s no need to upgrade. But if you’ve been waiting a few years and need one soon for the kids or family, here’s your choice.
The iPad is still the best tablet you can buy for 330
Apple’s iPad remains the tablet to beat. Amazon tried to unset it with sub-100 pricing, Microsoft came at it with full Windows support, and Samsung tried with its superior OLED display. None managed to unseat the iPad. With a few minor tweaks, Apple continues its tradition of gradual improvements without an increase in price, which is great news if you’re on a budget. So the iPad continues to fly off shelves and, for many people, should be both the first and last tablet worth considering.
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- About the Apple iPad (9th-gen)
- What we like
- What we don’t like
- Should you buy it?
- Related content
About the Apple iPad (9th-gen)
The 9th-gen iPad upgrades the internals from the A12 Bionic to the A13 Bionic, expands the base model’s storage from 32GB to 64GB, delivers an upgrade to the front-facing camera, and adds True Tone to the display.
What we like
The iPad is a true jack of all trades
If you need a portable device that can do it all, look no further than the Apple iPad 9th-gen.
The iPad’s combination of versatility and value is unrivaled not just by other tablets, but by any other computing device available today.
It’s capable straight out of the box. The large touchscreen, while inferior to more expensive iPad models and the best Android tablets, can handle most tasks with ease. From Netflix to Excel, the iPad responds quickly to your touch and delivers a vivid, bright, usable experience. But it goes deeper than that.
The iPad is a solid gaming device, especially if you sign up for Apple Arcade or use a Cloud gaming service like Google Stadia. It feels fast and fluid when editing all but the largest photos and videos. Buy the first-gen Apple Pencil, a 99 accessory, and the iPad becomes a capable note-taking machine and a great entry-level device for creating digital art. Need to write a term paper or a business plan? Pair a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse or buy a keyboard case.
This isn’t to say the iPad is the best at any of these tasks. A Nintendo Switch is better for gaming, a beefy desktop is better for video editing, and a Wacom tablet connected to a workstation PC (or Mac) is better for digital artists. However, the iPad is good enough at all these tasks to handle the job for most people.
Sized perfectly
iPadOS, Apple’s tablet-centric spin on iOS, currently ships on five iPad tablets with a screen size from 8.3 to 12.9 inches. The iPad’s 10.2-inch lands comfortably between these extremes and feels like the “right” display size for the operating system.
The iPad Mini’s home screen feels awkward. It’s a bit cramped when held in portrait, yet feels underutilized in landscape orientation, and text is often very small. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro, on the other hand, feels underutilized. The dock is more compact than it needs to be and apps often look overly large with too much unused space.
The iPad doesn’t have these issues. It looks right in both landscape and portrait orientation, with great spacing between icons and plenty of room for widgets. The dock takes up most of the screen, but individual dock icons remain large and easy to see. Text is easily readable for those privileged with good eyesight and the larger overall screen size (compared to the Mini) provides room for adjustment if you need to make text larger.
That’s good news for value shoppers. The base iPad is affordable, yet opting for it doesn’t mean ditching key features of iPadOS. On the contrary, iPadOS is better on the iPad than on some more expensive iPad models. It’s great that Apple offers smaller and larger iPads for those who prefer them, but the iPad (along with the iPad Air and 11-inch iPad Pro) is clearly the benchmark for which iPadOS was designed.
Great performance on a budget
Thanks to compatible Cloud gaming platforms, the 9th-gen iPad doubles a portable gaming machine.
Apple’s A13 Bionic powers the latest iPad. First released in 2019, the A13 is not Apple’s latest and greatest but delivers a decent upgrade over the prior iPad’s A12 Bionic.
The Geekbench 5 benchmark, which measures raw processing performance, reached a single-core score of 1331 and a multi-core score of 3346. The single-core score is impressive, as it’s barely behind the single-core performance of a premium laptop with Intel’s 11th-gen Core processor; The Dell XPS 13 OLED, with an as-tested MSRP of 1,439.99, scored 1441 in this benchmark.
The multi-core score is less exciting but in the ballpark of devices like the Microsoft Surface Go and Acer Spin 3, which generally score between 3000 and 4000 depending on the processor. This remains a solid result for the iPad, as PC-based competitors are more expensive.
Of course, the iPad’s secret sauce is iPadOS itself which, compared to Windows, is more focused and efficient. The numbers say a Surface Go 3 and iPad should feel similar, but the difference is night-and-day in favor of the iPad. The Surface Go can seem reluctant even when browsing the web or switching between documents. The iPad never skips a beat, loading, and switching between (most) apps as quickly as you can use the touchscreen.
The iPad’s graphics performance is less or more exciting, depending on your perspective. Geekbench ML’s GPU test reached a score of 7288 which, for an iPad, is just ok. It’s ahead of the 2nd-gen iPad Pro but well behind the latest iPad Air, which scores 12488.
Still, the iPad handles modern 3D games well. Genshin Impact felt a bit sluggish at the game’s High detail preset, but it was smooth at the Medium preset. The iPad is a far better gaming device than a budget Windows 2-in-1 with Intel HD graphics.
Battery life is similar to other iPads. In regular use, I charged the iPad once every two days, and I never saw the battery dip below 25%. The iPad lasted just over 10 hours while playing a video loop. This is about the same as past models but still solid for a budget tablet.
You won’t find a better value
There’s a lot of reasons to like the iPad, but the best reason remains the price.
The basic iPad starts at 329 for 64GB of storage. This is an upgrade from the 8th-gen iPad, which had only 32GB in its 329 configuration. Some might argue the storage is still too lean, but I think it’s fine for an entry-level tablet (my older iPad Pro also has 64GB of storage, and I manage).
You can spend more. The top-tier 256GB Wi-Fi Cellular model we received from Apple will set you back 609. That’s a great price for a tablet with mobile data but not budget-friendly. The model I tested was bundled with the 99 Apple Pencil and 159 Smart Cover for an all-in price of 867.
That may seem steep, but it remains competitive. To find similar features in a Surface device you must go for the new Surface Pro 8 which, after keyboard and stylus, costs around 1,400. Android fans have a more affordable choice in the Galaxy Tab S7, which is available for 829.99 with keyboard and stylus included, but it lacks mobile data.
But obsessing over the top-tier iPad is missing the point; The 329 iPad is a great tablet that can handle anything most owners will throw at it. Slap on Logitech’s 149.99 Combo Touch (which we recommend over Apple’s 159 Smart Keyboard) and it becomes a great 2-in-1 for less than 500.
What we don’t like
Display and audio need an upgrade
The latest iPad doesn’t have the best audio, so make sure you have a good pair of headphones.
The iPad has a 10.2-inch Retina touchscreen with a resolution of 2160 x 1620. This delivers 264 pixels per inch which, though far from record-setting, is not bad. It’s an improvement over most price-competitive laptops, which usually have a 1080p screen, and are equal to the more expensive iPad Air. The iPad has a maximum brightness of 500 nits, equal to the iPad Air and Mini, though it lacks the wide color gamut support found in those models.
However, the iPad’s touchscreen has a flaw: It lacks the fully laminated design and anti-glare coating of more expensive iPad models. You can see a gap between the touchscreen’s glass surface and the screen, and the glass itself is highly reflective. Using the iPad in a bright room can be difficult. Using it outside on a sunny day, while possible, is uncomfortable.
Apple’s not feeling the heat from competitors. Devices sold at a similar price, like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite or Microsoft Surface Go 3, have their own limitations. Still, the iPad’s display is a constant reminder it’s the least expensive iPad money can buy.
The same can be said of the speakers placed on either side of the Lightning port. While technically stereo, they only work as stereo speakers when the tablet is held in portrait mode. Flip it horizontal to watch Netflix and you’ll hear sound from just one side of the tablet. The speakers aren’t loud, either, so they only work well in a quiet room. It’s a good thing the iPad still has a 3.5mm audio jack. You’re gonna need it.
So-so cameras, missing features
While the 9th-gen iPad has a great front-facing camera, the rear one could be better.
The iPad has an 8MP rear-facing camera that’s unimpressive by modern standards. It’s capable of HDR photos and includes image stabilization but lacks the headline features of modern iPhones including Portrait Mode and Night Mode. Its video capabilities are modest, as well, with 1080p supported at only 30 FPS and Slo-mo available only at 720p and 120 FPS. Sorry, aspiring YouTube stars: 4K video capture is not supported.
Unlike an iPhone, the iPad’s front-facing camera takes priority. It’s a 12MP ultrawide camera capable of 1080p at up to 60 FPS. This is a massive upgrade from the prior iPad’s rather dreadful 1.2MP (yes, 1.2!) camera. However, the camera still lacks features you might expect including Portrait Mode. I find the lack of Portrait Mode odd given its inclusion in the iPhone SE which, on paper, appears to have similar specifications to the 9th-gen iPad.
Despite these flaws, the front-facing camera’s resolution deserves praise. Most modern laptops ship with a 720p camera, no matter their price. The iPad’s front-facing camera is a stark improvement over what you’ll find in price-competitive PCs.
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Old-school design past its prime
The iPad’s design has changed little over the years. Its last major redesign came with 2019’s 7th-gen update, which switched from a 9.7-inch to 10.2-inch display and tweaked the iPad’s dimensions. Still, the modern iPad looks remarkably similar to the original iPad released over a decade ago.
This is most noticeable when lifting the iPad to use it. It weighs in at a hair over one pound and is about three-tenths of an inch thick. The iPad Air, by comparison, weighs just one pound and is a quarter of an inch thick.
The difference seems unremarkable on paper, but the iPad feels a bit more awkward to handle than the Air or 11-inch iPad Pro. The extra weight and bulk make the tablet more eager to escape your grasp.
The old-school design also means thick display bezels and the absence of Apple’s modern Face ID facial recognition login. we’re more willing to forgive these features on the budget-friendly iPad than on the more expensive iPad Mini, but hopefully, Apple will roll out a thin-bezel design and Face ID to all devices in the future. Apple’s big, round Face ID button is a relic from another era of Apple design, but it’s more intuitive and responsive than the narrow Touch ID power button on the flanks of the iPad Air and Mini.
Should you buy it?
Yes, the iPad is the best budget tablet
The iPad’s design hasn’t changed much over the years, for better and worse.
The 9th-gen Apple iPad is the best budget tablet, best budget computer, and all you need to experience the bulk of what Apple has to offer. Compared to other iPad models, the iPad is clearly the best value. Yes, the iPad Pro is faster, has Face ID, and has a nicer display. That’s all great, but also optional. You’ll be hard-pressed to find an app on the App Store that doesn’t perform well on the iPad. The iPad also supports every key Apple service and accessory: Arcade, iCloud, TV, Pay, Handoff, iMessage, the first-gen Apple Pencil, and more.
The value holds up if you consider competitors. Samsung has a few good tablets, but the Android operating system hasn’t prioritized features useful to tablets and 2-in-1s such as external mouse support and multi-tasking. Both features are present in Android but executed with less elegance than iOS. Android also has an app support issue. Apps often lack tablet-specific support and instead work as oversized smartphone apps.
That leaves Windows and ChromeOS 2-in-1s like the Microsoft Surface Go, Acer Spin, or HP Chromebook x360 series. Some are great, but price-competitive models often pack Intel Pentium or Celeron processors that lag behind the iPad’s A13 Bionic. Windows also has an issue with app support, as many legacy applications are difficult to use with a touchscreen.
There are reasons to buy a budget Windows or ChromeOS 2-in-1 over an iPad. Perhaps you prefer Windows (or ChromeOS), need external monitor support, or have a grudge with Apple’s App Store. For most people, however, the iPad is the clear victor. Nothing else comes close.
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were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
Meet the tester
Matthew S. Smith is a veteran tech journalist and general-purpose PC hardware nerd. Formerly the Lead Editor of Reviews at Digital Trends, he has over a decade of experience covering PC hardware. Matt often flies the virtual skies in Microsoft Flight Simulator and is on a quest to grow the perfect heirloom tomato.
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