Apple 2021 iPad (10.2-inch iPad, Wi-Fi, 256GB) - Silver (9th Generation)

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Even though this is a fairly cheap device, the display is certainly good enough for that. It isn’t a wide gamut screen like that on the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021), but it is wonderfully accurate in the sRGB colour space with an average Delta E of 1.09. It produces a peak brightness of 483cd/m², so it will be readable in all but the brightest conditions, and its contrast ratio of 1,104:1 ensures that onscreen imagery looks punchy and impactful. Like the iPad mini (2021), the iPad 10.2 (2021) arrives running iPadOS 15, Apple’s dedicated tablet version of iOS. As well as offering many of the features found in iOS 15, it’s designed to make the most of the tablet’s form factor, and as such, it brings refinements to multitasking. Of course, the new iPad also comes equipped with iPadOS 15 and all its exciting new features, but that’s not exclusive to this generation. If you own one of the previous two 10.2in iPads, you’ll also be able to update to this latest version of iOS. Apple iPad (2021) review: Price and competition

Although there’s no Wi-Fi 6 on board, the iPad supports dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). I tested it on a gigabit fiber network and recorded average speeds of 421.8Mbps down and 41.2Mbps up. Digital compass, Gyroscopic Sensor, Accelerometer / G-Sensor, Barometer, Ambient Light Sensor / Light Sensor, Finger Print Sensor The iPad has the same 32.4-watt-hour battery as its predecessor, and Apple claims it will last up to 10 hours between charges. In our battery drain test, which streams HD video over Wi-Fi at full brightness, the iPad lasted 5 hours and 18 minutes before shutting down. That’s a little less than we’ve seen in past years, but with more conservative use (and a lower screen brightness level), we believe the battery will last close to Apple's estimate. Finally, a New CameraThe displays have rounded corners. When measured diagonally as a rectangle, the iPad Pro 12.9‑inch screen is 12.9 inches, the iPad Pro 11‑inch screen is 11 inches, the iPad Air and iPad (10th generation) screens are 10.86 inches, and the iPad mini screen is 8.3 inches. Actual viewable area is less.

The iPad has the old Touch ID home button but you can also use the more modern swipe gestures to get to the home screen and recent apps menu. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian Adding a Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil makes the iPad a capable laptop replacement for simple tasks (Photo: Steven Winkelman) USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter required to work with iPad (10thgeneration). Subject to availability.The step up from A12 Bionic to A13 Bionic isn’t quite such a big upgrade as the front camera – last year’s iPad didn’t exactly feel slow (and still doesn’t) – but it is another worthy improvement. In context, it’s the same processor as in the 2020 iPhone SE and the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max and, unsurprisingly, it performs on a similar level. AppleCare+ provides unlimited incidents of accidental damage protection. Each incident is subject to an excess fee. The tablet is compatible with the Apple Pencil (1st generation), and we found that note-taking and sketching on the slate was a breeze. To charge the Pencil you need to either plug it into the tablet’s Lightning port or use the bundled adapter with a Lightning cable, whereas the Apple Pencil (2nd generation) offers fuss-free magnetic charging from the tablet. The screen has a resolution of 2160 x 1620 and a brightness of 500 nits, which is the same as its predecessor. While there’s no sign here of Apple’s Liquid Retina display tech, which offers brighter colors and an anti-reflective coating, the iPad 10.2 (2021) does come with the company’s True Tone feature – it’s the first time Apple has included this on its cheapest tablet.

In real-world use, the latest iPad is slightly snappier in operation – Apple claims it’s 20% faster than the previous model, although it’s not as speedy as the iPad Air 4, which touts the new A14 Bionic chipset, nor can it touch the iPad Pro (2021) and its M1 chipset in terms of speed.Among the major innovations of iPad 2021 the processor or the A13 Bionic chip certainly stands out. Apple promises a 20% faster GPU than its predecessor, particularly responsive when gaming or multitasking. The Neural Engine is combined with the new iPadOS 15 operating system, proving to manage even the most complex apps very well. For those who want to use the tablet as if it were a small notebook, Apple guarantees full compatibility with the Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard. Taking notes, drawing or taking screenshots becomes child's play. Apple: The Price of Innovation If you opt for the cellular model, you can pop in a SIM from any carrier or use an eSIM for service. I tested the slate on Verizon’s network in downtown Chicago and recorded average speeds of 78.4Mbps down and 56.6Mbps up. Granted, those aren't the same super-fast 5G speeds you can get on the iPad Pro, but it’s more than enough power for working on the go or streaming Netflix. Less Need to Lug Your Laptop Available space is less and varies due to many factors. Storage capacity is subject to change based on software version, settings and iPad model. 1GB = 1 billion bytes; 1TB = 1 trillion bytes. Actual formatted capacity less. This automatically adjusts the display to suit the ambient lighting of your surroundings so that it’s easier to see – when using the iPad outdoors in the daytime the screen automatically becomes brighter, for example – and during our testing we found this to be a welcome upgrade.

Pros: great performance, good battery life, good screen, iPadOS, plenty of apps, good speakers, very long support, recycled aluminium, Centre Stage camera.

Apple: The Price of Innovation

Apple has given the iPad 10.2 a new chipset in the form of the A13 Bionic processor, which debuted in 2019 in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. While it’s not the brand’s latest processor – that’s the A15 Bionic, which can be found in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro – it’s certainly a solid upgrade over the A12 Bionic in the iPad 10.2 (2020). On the Basemark Web 3.0 Safari benchmark, the new iPad earned 821.17, for another huge jump on the 592.82 score its predecessor earned. It’s perfectly powerful for anything you can possibly think of, from jotting down a few notes to editing RAW files in Lightroom Mobile or producing the occasional video with iMovie. It won’t keep up with an iPad Pro 12.9, but that tablet costs nearly three times as much. Center Stage, Apple’s once-limited feature that keeps you centered within the frame as you move about, also makes its debut on the entry-level iPad. For the most part it’s a solid addition, though I encountered a few hiccups. When my cat crept up the bookcase on a call, Center Stage couldn’t decide if it should keep its focus on me or the cat. And in a different call, the feature lopped off the top of my hat.