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Apple iPad (2022)
Our best choice
$349 $449 Save $100
The Apple iPad (tenth era) is a superb pill. It does not have all of the options and energy of another fashions inside Apple’s portfolio, but it surely provides an upgraded and improved design, a beautiful huge 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
- Stable 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 selection
$250 $329 Save $79
The Apple iPad (ninth era, 2021) is the proper pill for individuals who merely want one thing that allows them to surf the web, watch streaming companies, and do the occasional different stuff — reminiscent of connect a keyboard through the Good Connector for doing a little work — relatively than attempt to be one thing extra glamorous.
Execs- Sturdy design
- Apple Pencil (1st Gen) help
- Good Connector for keyboards
Cons- Design a bit of dated now
- No touch-to-wake display screen
- Nonetheless makes use of Lightning connector
If 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 unimaginable machines in most value ranges – apart, after all, from the finances sphere. It should not actually be a shock, as their combination of nice software program, unimaginable apps and superb {hardware}, blended with (typically) surprisingly affordable pricing, is one thing the competitors is but to beat.
Even if you happen to don’t have 1000’s of {dollars} to spend, Apple has bought you lined with two entry-level units at the moment in its lineup: the iPad (9th generation, 2021) and the iPad (10th generation, 2022). Regardless that their names may recommend that they don’t actually differ that a lot from each other, Apple has lastly made fairly a couple of modifications to their finances 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 trying to get your self the best iPad for you, even if you happen to’re buying on a tighter finances, you also needs to be considering the iPad Air 5th gen. It’s fairly a bit extra dear, but it surely additionally will get many new options that the fundamental 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 kind of a bit cheaper than the tenth era. Each can be found via Apple, and varied 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 coloration choices (Yellow, Blue, Pink, Silver), whereas the iPad (ninth era, 2021) solely is available in Silver and Area Gray. You possibly can see a rundown of the specs for each tablets under, supplying you with a fast indication as to how they examine, although do not forget that numbers aren’t every thing — as we dive a bit of deeper into additional down this characteristic — so preserve that in thoughts when you find yourself 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 stored 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 Digicam (Rear, Entrance) 12MP f/1.8 rear, 12MP f/2.4 entrance panorama 8MP rear, 12MP f/2.4 entrance Value 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 Area Gray, Silver
Design
The Apple iPad (tenth gen) steals its design from the iPad Air, so it seems fairly completely different to the iPad (ninth era) and provides a way more fashionable design general. The iPad (tenth gen) has flat edges and uniformed bezels across the show. It additionally strikes the Contact ID dwelling button from under the show to the facility 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 digital camera lens, although it’s fairly a bit bigger than the iPad (ninth era). The iPad (ninth era) encompasses a very small digital camera lens within the prime left nook of its rear and its edges are rounded – a design some may favor. It additionally has bigger bezels across the display screen and the Touch ID dwelling 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 films, for instance, supplying you with someplace to put your thumbs away from the display screen. Each fashions have a Good Connector positioned on the left edge, however the iPad (tenth era) is slimmer, shorter and lighter than the iPad (ninth era) general, in addition to barely wider.

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It is also price noting that the newer iPad is usually a lot better suited to use in panorama mode than the older model. Not solely is the digital camera positioned on the longer facet, in order that it is within the middle of the gadget when utilizing it in panorama place, whereas the older mannequin has the digital camera 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 may watch your reveals with one of the best sound attainable.
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 pretty much as good as the iPad Air (2022), it provides an ideal viewing expertise general 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 leads to a pixel density of 264ppi and, once more, there is a good viewing expertise. As you may discover although, the tenth era mannequin has a 0.7-inch bigger show than the ninth era mannequin inside a really related 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 provides, and each make a distinction in use. It’s best to particularly preserve the shortage of a fully-laminated show in thoughts if you happen to’re on the lookout for an iPad to start out drawing digital artwork. Non-laminated shows are usually 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 troublesome to work with. If that is what you wish to use the iPad for, it’s best 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 might not be 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 a bit of 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 units have. iPad ninth era comes with 3GB of RAM, whereas the latest era bumps it as much as 4GB. This may appear not that important — particularly when in comparison with Android competitors — but it surely’s typically a distinction between holding 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 supplied in 64GB and 256GB storage choices although, they usually each promise as much as 10 hours of battery life for net looking or watching video.
The iPad (tenth era) switches to USB-C for charging although, whereas the iPad (ninth era) has Lightning. Each are suitable with the primary era of Apple Pencil, although you’ll need 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 digital camera 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 digital camera. 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 digital camera to a panorama place on the suitable 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 along with your iPad, the tenth gen mannequin is the higher possibility.
Elsewhere, the tenth gen iPad provides 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 also 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 yr later, in 2022, and runs iPadOS 16. Nonetheless, each of those may be up to date to the latest model of the system, so you may relaxation assured that iPadOS 17 will work properly with each of those units.
That being stated, it is price noting that the older iPad, despite the fact that it is nonetheless accessible on Apple’s web site, will certainly get system updates shorter than the newer model — it is a yr older, it has an older chip, and an already dated design. So if you happen to’re on the lookout for a machine to make use of for a very long time, springing for the tenth gen may be one of the simplest ways to go right here.
Nonetheless, neither of them will lose help rapidly. You possibly can make certain that each of them will nonetheless be supported with the upcoming iPadOS 18, which we must always see round September 2024.
In the case of 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 possibly can read all about iPadOS 17 in our separate feature to seek out out all of the options accessible, 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 person expertise could be very related, 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 might be very acquainted to the followers of those sorts of units.
iPad (tenth gen, 2022) vs iPad (ninth gen, 2021): Which must you purchase?
The Apple iPad (tenth era) makes some nice upgrades in comparison with the iPad (ninth era) — the design being the important thing enchancment. Transferring to the iPad Air’s design sees the tenth era mannequin supply a bigger show inside a really related 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 digital camera and audio system, and a wider coloration selection. It truly is the fundamental iPad to purchase proper now, but it surely 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 anticipate it to be the go-to iPad for most individuals.
You pay for these upgrades although, and whereas we predict the iPad (tenth era) is superb, with the identical person interface, it could be that the ninth gen mannequin is extra interesting because of its lower cost. Should you simply want a fundamental pill to look at YouTube or Netflix, browse the web and examine your electronic mail, you actually do not want far more than that, and the inclusion of Middle Stage and different helpful options nonetheless makes it an ideal companion. As a utility instrument, that is actually all that you just want.

Apple iPad (2021)
Good various
$250 $329 Save $79
The iPad (ninth era, 2021) is one for individuals who merely want a pill that allows them to surf the web, watch streaming companies, and do the occasional different stuff, relatively than attempt to be one thing extra glamorous. It nonetheless has its place although.
There’s an argument to contemplate the iPad Air (2022) over the iPad (tenth gen) when you have some additional finances and want extra energy, and there is additionally a strong argument to go for the ninth gen mannequin if you wish to get monetary savings. That stated, the iPad (tenth gen) is a superb center possibility that may meet many wants in a beautiful 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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