Apple this month unveiled the new iPad (10th gen.) With a full-screen design featuring a large 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display. The new iPad is powered by the A14 Bionic chip, which delivers even faster performance with incredible energy efficiency for the most demanding tasks, while ensuring all-day battery life. The upgraded cameras include a 12MP ultra wide-angle front camera located along the iPad’s horizontal edge for an even better video calling experience and an upgraded 12MP rear camera to capture crisp, vivid photos and 4K video. A USB-C port supports a wide range of accessories, Wi-Fi 6 offers even faster connections, and cellular models feature super-fast 5G so users can stay connected on the go. With iPadOS 16 and support for Apple Pencil (1st generation), iPad gives users more ways to be creative and productive.
Brenda Stolyar for Wired:
I can’t pinpoint exactly why I fell in love with the new 10th generation iPad so easily. Maybe it was the candy color range, or the more modern design without the classic Home button. Maybe it was the new placement for the front camera, which meant I no longer had to look awkwardly to the side during video calls. Or the stand for the floating Magic Keyboard Folio with detachable keyboard and stand.
But it wasn’t long before the bubble burst. When crunching the numbers, reality comes into play. The affordable and very roomy iPad that started at $ 329 has now been raised to $ 449. That’s without the additional cost of accessories (Apple charges $ 249 for the Keyboard Folio). It’s hard to justify a $ 120 price increase over its predecessor …
The redesign on this iPad is simply catching up with the rest of the lineup. The A14 chipset that powers it, while snappy, is already two years old. The display is larger, but it’s still not fully laminated – there’s no air gap between the glass and the screen, so using it with the Apple Pencil isn’t as accurate as with the more expensive iPads. The USB-C port, which I’m grateful for, requires an adapter to charge the first generation Apple Pencil, because, yes, bafflingly, this iPad doesn’t support the second generation Apple Pencil. This slate looks exciting and fresh at first, until you realize you’re just paying for the cosmetic changes. Apple almost got me …
None of this is to say that the 10th generation iPad isn’t a great tablet – it offers looks and performance. Maybe he’s just waiting for a sale.
MacDailyNews takes: This is the modern entry-level iPad (the 9th generation iPad decorated with the Home button is still available at the sub-entry level), so you won’t have the laminated display, an M1 chip, support for the Apple Pencil 2, etc. That’s why it’s entry-level. Nobody should expect iPad Pro specs and features at an entry-level price.
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