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Apple iPad (2022)
Our best choice
$349 $449 Save $100
The Apple iPad (tenth era) is a wonderful pill. It would not have all of the options and energy of another fashions inside Apple’s portfolio, however it gives an upgraded and improved design, a stunning massive show and greater than sufficient energy for many duties. It’s a good mix of options and worth for cash.
Execs- Nice up to date design
- Strong efficiency
- Good battery life with USB-C charging
Cons- No Apple Pencil (2nd gen) compatibility
- No anti-reflective show
- No Stage Supervisor help
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Apple iPad (2021)
Nice worth alternative
$250 $329 Save $79
The Apple iPad (ninth era, 2021) is the right pill for individuals who merely want one thing that permits them to surf the web, watch streaming providers, and do the occasional different stuff — comparable to connect a keyboard by way of the Sensible Connector for doing a little work — reasonably than attempt to be one thing extra glamorous.
Execs- Sturdy design
- Apple Pencil (1st Gen) help
- Sensible Connector for keyboards
Cons- Design somewhat dated now
- No touch-to-wake display screen
- Nonetheless makes use of Lightning connector
While you’re pondering of getting yourself a tablet, the iPad is undoubtedly the one you instantly take into account. Apple has the pill market in a chokehold, providing unbelievable machines in most value ranges – apart, in fact, from the funds sphere. It should not actually be a shock, as their combination of nice software program, unbelievable apps and wonderful {hardware}, blended with (typically) surprisingly affordable pricing, is one thing the competitors is but to beat.
Even should you should not have 1000’s of {dollars} to spend, Apple has bought you coated with two entry-level gadgets presently in its lineup: the iPad (9th generation, 2021) and the iPad (10th generation, 2022). Despite the fact that their names would possibly recommend that they don’t actually differ that a lot from each other, Apple has lastly made fairly a couple of modifications to their funds lineup and the 2 generations have much less in widespread than ever earlier than — together with a totally refreshed look.
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In fact, when seeking to get your self the best iPad for you, even should you’re procuring on a tighter funds, you must also be considering the iPad Air 5th gen. It’s fairly a bit extra expensive, however it additionally will get many new options that the essential iPads miss out on, such because the Stage Manager.
Specs, value, availability
Let’s first discuss value. The iPad (tenth era) begins at $449 within the US and £499 in the UK. That is for the 64GB, Wi-Fi solely mannequin. The iPad (ninth era), in the meantime, begins at $329 within the US and £369 in the UK. Once more, that is for the 64GB, Wi-Fi solely mannequin. The ninth era is sort of a bit cheaper than the tenth era. Each can be found via Apple, and numerous different retailers, that are more likely to expertise value drops and offers all through and after the vacation.
The Apple iPad (tenth era, 2022) is available in a variety of shade choices (Yellow, Blue, Pink, Silver), whereas the iPad (ninth era, 2021) solely is available in Silver and House Gray. You may see a rundown of the specs for each tablets beneath, providing you with a fast indication as to how they examine, although do not forget that numbers aren’t every thing — as we dive somewhat deeper into additional down this characteristic — so hold that in thoughts if you end up making your determination.
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Apple’s iPad (tenth era) arrived in October 2022 and has not seen any modifications to both pricing or spec choices ever since. The identical is true for the even older iPad (ninth era). It was launched in September 2021, and even after the newer mannequin was introduced, it saved its value and place within the iPad lineup.
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Apple iPad (2022) Apple iPad (2021) Storage 64 / 256GB 64 / 256GB CPU Apple A14 Bionic A13 Bionic Working System iPadOS 16 iPadOS Battery As much as 10 hours, USB-C As much as 10 hours Ports USB-C Lightning Digital camera (Rear, Entrance) 12MP f/1.8 rear, 12MP f/2.4 entrance panorama 8MP rear, 12MP f/2.4 entrance Worth From $449 / £499 From $329 / £369 Measurements 248.6 x 179.5 x 7mm, 477g 250.6 x 174.1 x 7.5mm, 487g Colours Yellow, Blue, Pink, Silver House Gray, Silver
Design
The Apple iPad (tenth gen) steals its design from the iPad Air, so it seems fairly totally different to the iPad (ninth era) and gives a way more trendy design total. The iPad (tenth gen) has flat edges and uniformed bezels across the show. It additionally strikes the Contact ID residence button from beneath the show to the ability button positioned on the highest edge, providing far more show inside the footprint and ditching the dated giant bezels we have seen on iPads for years.
On the rear of the iPad (tenth era), there’s a single digicam lens, although it’s fairly a bit bigger than the iPad (ninth era). The iPad (ninth era) includes a very small digicam lens within the prime left nook of its rear and its edges are rounded – a design some would possibly choose. It additionally has bigger bezels across the display screen and the Touch ID residence button sits on the backside of the show, as we talked about. It’s a dated look now, however bigger bezels may be helpful when holding the pill to look at motion pictures, for instance, providing you with someplace to put your thumbs away from the display screen. Each fashions have a Sensible Connector positioned on the left edge, however the iPad (tenth era) is slimmer, shorter and lighter than the iPad (ninth era) total, in addition to barely wider.

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It is also value noting that the newer iPad is mostly a lot better suited to use in panorama mode than the older model. Not solely is the digicam positioned on the longer facet, in order that it is within the heart of the gadget when utilizing it in panorama place, whereas the older mannequin has the digicam on the higher edge, which sits weirdly to the facet in panorama. What’s extra, the iPad ninth gen’s audio system are stereo, however each of them are positioned on the underside edge, making them stereo solely when the gadget is used vertically. The brand new iPad, then again, has true stereo audio system in panorama mode, so you possibly can watch your reveals with the most effective sound potential.
Show
The Apple iPad (tenth era) has a ten.9-inch Liquid Retina show that provides a 2360 x 1640 decision, leading to a pixel density of 264ppi. It is a beautiful show in use and whereas it is not nearly as good as the iPad Air (2022), it gives an important viewing expertise total with punchy colours and good angles.
The iPad (ninth era) has a smaller 10.2-inch Retina show, with a pixel decision of 2160 x 1620. This too ends in a pixel density of 264ppi and, once more, there is a good viewing expertise. As you would possibly discover although, the tenth era mannequin has a 0.7-inch bigger show than the ninth era mannequin inside a really comparable footprint, so that you get extra display screen with out having a bigger physique, as we briefly touched on above.
Each the iPad (tenth era) and the iPad (ninth era) characteristic Apple’s True Tone technology, a 500nits max brightness and a fingerprint-resistant coating. Neither have a fully-laminated show although, or an anti-reflective coating, which the iPad Air gives, and each make a distinction in use. It’s best to particularly hold the shortage of a fully-laminated show in thoughts should you’re in search of an iPad to begin drawing digital artwork. Non-laminated shows usually are not nice for this sort of utilization, as you basically glide the stylus a millimeter away from the display screen, making them a lot much less exact and tough to work with. If that is what you wish to use the iPad for, you need to take into account one of many best drawing tablets on the market.
{Hardware} and specs
The Apple iPad (tenth era) runs on the A14 Bionic chip, whereas the iPad (ninth era) runs on the A13 Bionic chip, so that you get a efficiency improve with the newer mannequin. It is probably not as noticeable because the M1 chip on the iPad Air — or the M2 chip on the latest iPad Pros, however the iPad (tenth era) is somewhat speedier than its predecessor.
The one vital distinction that you’re going to really feel in your on a regular basis use is the quantity of RAM that these gadgets have. iPad ninth era comes with 3GB of RAM, whereas the most recent era bumps it as much as 4GB. This may appear not that vital — particularly when in comparison with Android competitors — however it’s typically a distinction between preserving all of your tabs and apps open, and having to reload them each time you turn apps.
Each the iPad (tenth era) and the iPad (ninth era) are provided in 64GB and 256GB storage choices although, they usually each promise as much as 10 hours of battery life for net shopping or watching video.
The iPad (tenth era) switches to USB-C for charging although, whereas the iPad (ninth era) has Lightning. Each are appropriate with the primary era of Apple Pencil, although you have to an adapter to cost the Apple Pencil with the iPad (tenth era) because the Pencil makes use of Lightning to cost.

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Together with the improve in processor and change to USB-C, the iPad (tenth era) additionally upgrades the rear digicam from an 8-megapixel snapper discovered on the ninth gen mannequin to a 12-megapixel sensor, able to 4K video recording.
There are additionally variations within the entrance digicam. Each the tenth gen mannequin and the ninth gen mannequin have a 12-megapixel sensor with f/2.4 aperture and the corporate’s Centre Stage feature, although the tenth gen mannequin strikes the entrance digicam to a panorama place on the correct edge, whereas the ninth gen mannequin has it on the prime of the show like the opposite fashions within the vary. The panorama orientation is a lot better for video calling, so if that is one thing you are planning on doing loads together with your iPad, the tenth gen mannequin is the higher possibility.
Elsewhere, the tenth gen iPad gives Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), whereas the iPad (ninth gen) has Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi‑Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac). The iPad (tenth gen) can be 5G compatible for the Wi-Fi & Mobile mannequin, whereas the iPad (ninth gen) is 4G.
Software program
The Apple iPad (ninth gen) got here out in 2021 with iPadOS 15, whereas the iPad (tenth gen) got here out a 12 months later, in 2022, and runs iPadOS 16. Nevertheless, each of those may be up to date to the most recent model of the system, so you possibly can relaxation assured that iPadOS 17 will work nicely with each of those gadgets.
That being mentioned, it is value noting that the older iPad, although it is nonetheless obtainable on Apple’s web site, will certainly get system updates shorter than the newer model — it is a 12 months older, it has an older chip, and an already dated design. So should you’re in search of a machine to make use of for a very long time, springing for the tenth gen is perhaps the easiest way to go right here.
Nevertheless, neither of them will lose help shortly. You may make sure that each of them will nonetheless be supported with the upcoming iPadOS 18, which we should always see round September 2024.
Relating to software program options, these two are fairly comparable. Neither have Stage Supervisor, although there are many options that include iPadOS 17 that make each these tablets nice. You may read all about iPadOS 17 in our separate feature to seek out out all of the options obtainable, or head to our tips and tricks feature to find every thing the iPad can do.
In a nutshell, whereas there are variations in efficiency and design between these two fashions, the overall consumer expertise may be very comparable, whichever mannequin you select and whichever software program model you might be working. These are each fundamental iPads, simply in several skins, so utilizing them can be very acquainted to the followers of those sorts of gadgets.
iPad (tenth gen, 2022) vs iPad (ninth gen, 2021): Which do you have to purchase?
The Apple iPad (tenth era) makes some nice upgrades in comparison with the iPad (ninth era) — the design being the important thing enchancment. Shifting to the iPad Air’s design sees the tenth era mannequin supply a bigger show inside a really comparable footprint to the ninth gen mannequin, in a refresh that has been lengthy overdue.
There’s additionally an improve in processor and reminiscence, the change to USB-C, a extra logically-positioned entrance digicam and audio system, and a wider shade alternative. It truly is the essential iPad to purchase proper now, however it additionally sadly prices fairly a bit greater than the older model.

Apple iPad (2022)
Our best choice
$349 $449 Save $100
The iPad (tenth era) is an ideal mix of options and worth for cash, and with its upgraded design, we count on it to be the go-to iPad for most individuals.
You pay for these upgrades although, and whereas we expect the iPad (tenth era) is superb, with the identical consumer interface, it could be that the ninth gen mannequin is extra interesting because of its lower cost. When you simply want a fundamental pill to look at YouTube or Netflix, browse the web and verify your electronic mail, you actually do not want far more than that, and the inclusion of Heart Stage and different useful options nonetheless makes it an important companion. As a utility software, that is actually all that you simply want.

Apple iPad (2021)
Good different
$250 $329 Save $79
The iPad (ninth era, 2021) is one for individuals who merely want a pill that permits them to surf the web, watch streaming providers, and do the occasional different stuff, reasonably than attempt to be one thing extra glamorous. It nonetheless has its place although.
There’s an argument to think about the iPad Air (2022) over the iPad (tenth gen) if in case you have some additional funds and wish extra energy, and there is additionally a strong argument to go for the ninth gen mannequin if you wish to get monetary savings. That mentioned, the iPad (tenth gen) is a wonderful center possibility that can meet many wants in a stunning design that matches its costlier siblings and strong upgrades over the ninth gen mannequin. Sadly, not every thing is but so as — I am wanting (actually) at you, non-laminated show — however the iPad tenth gen would be the best option for a overwhelming majority of customers.
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