It’s hard to tell who the new 10th generation iPad is aimed at. It’s an update of a tablet that used to be considered the entry-level iPad, the more reasonable option sitting alongside the top-of-the-range iPad Pro and the Pro-lite that is the iPad Air.
The 10th gen iPad came without the usually big event that accompanies Apple’s product launches. But it’s not because of any lack on the part of the device. It is a capable tablet that falls in line with the design of the iPad Pro, Air and Mini, with its straight edges and USB C port. Not to mention the price, which has also been increased significantly.
And that is the key thing that most people will see: the €599 price tag. It puts the new iPad out of the “affordable” range for most people, even though it is still cheaper than the iPad Air, for example.
For that you get a new chip, albeit 2020′s A14 Bionic rather than the M1 that the iPad Air got, and the same storage options — at 64GB up to 256GB.
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If you can see past that though, the new iPad is a small step up. Apart from the new design, it has a range of eye-catching colours — the yellow is particularly nice — that make it stand out from the bland silver and black that have dominated the tablet world.
Apple has made a few other changes — some welcome, some not so much — that bring the new iPad more in line with the rest of the range.
Along with the change of design, the TouchID sensor has been moved from the bottom of the screen to the power button on the top of the tablet, similar to the iPad Air and Mini.
The most useful change though is related to the front-facing camera. The 12 megapixel FaceTime HD camera has moved to the right edge of the device, rather than the top, making it far more useful for FaceTime, Zoom or Teams calls in landscape mode. It means an end to the slightly off-centre gaze that those calls had, which was disconcerting at best and uncomfortable at worst. Here’s hoping that Apple follows suit with the rest of its iPad range as the devices are updated.
It has Centre Stage too, so it follows your movement within the range of the wide-angle camera. It’s not a new element and has already featured on several of Apple’s iPad models, but it’s like having your own personal camera crew for your video calls.
There’s a slight change to the screen too, with the new version increasing the size to 10.9 inches from the previous 10.2 inches that the ninth generation offered. It may not sound like much, but it gives you a bit of extra space to work with and is noticeable compared to the ninth generation.
One of the downsides of this redesign is that Apple has removed the headphone jack, taking away one of the few advantages that the entry-level iPad had over the rest of the range. It’s Bluetooth headphones from here on in — or carry an adaptor to connect your wired headphones to the USB C port.
Speaking of which, that’s another thing you’ll have to deal with. The iPad still supports the Apple Pencil, but it’s the first generation. With the lack of the lightning port, that causes an issue with charging — it needs to be physically connected, unlike the second generation — and you’ll need an adaptor to charge it from the iPad.
It’s another thing to keep track of if you need to charge the Pencil on the go, though at least it is a cheap add-on for those who already own an Apple Pencil at €10.
Good:
The new design brings a fresh look to the iPad, and the bigger screen is also welcome, even while the overall size remains largely the same.
Apple has moved to a USB C port, which means the iPad is now compatible with a range of cables and accessories that previously would have been closed off.
Not so good:
The price jump means this iPad, while still the entry-level version, isn’t quite as good value as before. Add in to the mix that Apple is still selling the ninth generation iPad for €449, and it makes it a bit harder to see where this iPad fits.
The rest:
The iPad comes in a range of colours, including pink, blue, silver and yellow. You can also still get the wifi and mobile-enabled version, but add €200 to the price for the privilege.
Verdict:
Nice design and some great features, but the price may give people pause for thought.
