Review of the iPad 10.2: affordable, useful, yet not the one you should purchase

 

Unexpectedly, Apple raised the display size of its entry-level iPad in a recent update. In addition to that small update, we now have support for the iPad tablets' much more powerful iPadOS, which broke away from the original iOS to create its own platform and put them in the "laptop replacement" category.



But is this iPad worth $330 in your opinion? Come with me while we examine!





The design of the new iPad entry-level is familiar; it's nothing like the iPad Pro's ultra-thin body or Face ID. The classic bezels and mechanical home button with integrated Touch ID fingerprint scanning are still present. You will therefore feel quite at home if you have owned an iPad from a prior generation for some time. Although the somewhat thick bezels do appear dated, they nonetheless make handling the tablet simple and prevent inadvertent screen touches, which is pleasant.



When I initially picked up the iPad 10.2, it felt quite underpriced. Unlike other Apple devices, which seem to be shrinking to the smallest feasible size and heavily packed with electronics, this tablet feels light and empty, suggesting you may be traveling in economy class.

The display has somewhat increased in size, measuring 10.2 inches now as opposed to 9.7 inches in earlier models. There is a notable increase in screen real estate, and the tablet is slightly larger overall than it was previously.



It is an LCD panel, and although it is a tad on the chilly side, the colors look fantastic—typical of Apple style. With a 265 pixel-per-inch density, it's fairly sharp, but if you bring your face closer to the screen, you'll be able to see individual pixels and jagged edges. Additionally, the entire panel is of a lower quality; it is not the iPad Air's laminated display, which gives the impression that the content is ready to burst from the tablet. Instead, the screen of the iPad 10.2 is clearly "sunk" inside the body and concealed under the top glass layer. It therefore feels a little bit like an inexpensive iPad.



Performance and hardware



Regretfully, the 2019 iPad shares the same processor as the iPad model from the previous year. It's the Apple A10 Fusion, which made its appearance alongside the iPhone 7. Put another way, the chip is three years old.



Nevertheless, I'm not able to claim that the iPad 2019 exhibits aging hardware. Conversely, the A10 remains a perfectly good processor, particularly when combined with iOS (or, more specifically, iPadOS). The tablet functions quickly and smoothly, plays Apple Arcade games flawlessly, and is compatible with all modern games and apps from the App Store. Granted, the most recent iPad Pro is noticeably speedier when placed side by side, but the iPad 2019 is still capable of doing a respectable job.



Review of the iPad 10.2: affordable, useful, yet not the one you should purchase



The fact that the entry-level iPad is most likely not extremely future-proof could be cause for concern in this case. After release, Apple typically provides support for its mobile devices for four to five years. Does this imply that the iPad (2019) will only receive updates up to iPadOS 3 or so, given that the A10 is a three-year-old chip? There's an uneasy element of ambiguity there since we can't really know what Apple has planned. However, because it costs $330, replacing it in two or three years ought to be a less difficult pill to take.



In actuality, it's important to remember that $330 only gets you an iPad with 32 GB of storage, which is somewhat inadequate for 2019. On my iPad, I only have a few of my best productivity apps and a few games, but I've already used up 20 GB. This means that my fear of running out of storage will be triggered very rapidly if I transfer images and films to it in order to edit on the tablet. We'll go into greater detail on pricing and storage in the end.



UPDATE: The recently revealed iPadOS 17 will undoubtedly arrive on the iPad 10.2. During the annual WWDC, Apple announced the iPad's next generation operating system, which has some extremely cool new capabilities. The Health app has been revamped and tailored for iPads, and you can add interactive widgets to customize your home screen. Additionally, several functionality from iOS 17 are still available, like offline apps and AirDrop over the internet.



Cameras



Review of the iPad 10.2: affordable, useful, yet not the one you should purchase



For the very basic reason that very few people are truly interested in manipulating a large slate to record video or snap pictures, tablets typically don't come equipped with excellent cameras. Even so, they are useful for making video chats and for quickly taking pictures of your surroundings when the tablet is in your hands.



The 8 MP primary camera on the back and the 1.2 MP Facetime camera on the front are still the same for cameras in this price category. I grabbed an iPhone 7 just to compare the two phones, and I snapped the following pictures:



Review of the iPad 2019 - iPad 10.2: affordable, effective, and not the one you should purchase

Review of the iPhone 7 - iPad 10.2: affordable, functional, and not the one you should purchase



Review of the iPad 2019 - iPad 10.2: affordable, effective, and not the one you should purchase

Review of the iPhone 7 - iPad 10.2: affordable, functional, and not the one you should purchase



In abundant light, the primary cameras exhibit comparable performance. It would be difficult to discern any significant distinctions between the iPhone 7 and iPad (2019). For its price, the iPad's lens has a smaller aperture and a narrower angle. The iPad dulls the colors and adds annoying digital noise once we are inside. Even in comparison to the three-year-old iPhone 7, the selfie shots remain unsatisfactory due to the high levels of noise and fuzzy details. If nothing else, the dynamic range allows you to use Facetime in a variety of settings without having to worry too much about being spotted. Even so, when you're inside, its hues become incredibly lifeless and monotonous.



The replacement laptop



Review of the iPad 10.2: affordable, useful, yet not the one you should purchase



Since Apple debuted features like Slide Over and Split Screen, a file browser, and—gasp—USB Type-C with external file compatibility for the iPad Pros last year, the iPads have been gradually moving closer to becoming "laptop replacements."



However, surprise! You don't have to spend a fortune on an iPad Pro to have that "laptop replacement" experience. With its own triple-dot Smart Connector on the side, the iPad 2019 now supports Smart Keyboard cases.



It comes with the entire iPadOS suite, so there are no short cuts. This includes enhanced multitasking, which allows you to easily move apps in and out of split screen scenes, USB flash storage (through a Lightning-to-USB adapter), enhanced text editing with a much easier-to-use cursor, more icons on the home screen, the persistent Today View, the floating dock, and more. It even supports the brand-new Sidecar function, which lets you use your iPad as a second screen for your Mac or MacBook running MacOS Catalina by connecting the two devices over USB or Wi-Fi.





utilized as a MacBook sidecar





You can still utilize Slide Over apps on the tablet and draw on the screen with the Apple Pencil (Gen 1) when it's in Sidecar mode. Thus, even though it's the least expensive tablet available at the Apple Store, it nonetheless provides you with the entire iPad experience.



Being a multi-media device



Typically, tablets serve as your portable media device. Simple to carry along on a trip so you can catch up on TV shows, movies, games, or books. It's also easy to move around with you while doing housework. In this regard, the iPad 2019 performs passably.



Review of the iPad 10.2: affordable, useful, yet not the one you should purchase





Although the screen isn't the best, it's still good enough to watch a show without thinking, "Wow, this screen looks amazing!" as previously remarked. It can be a nuisance when the tablet's speakers are fixed to one side. They do have a good sound quality, with a noticeable bass, good clarity, and a respectable volume. Generally speaking, they are the best kind of mobile device speaker available, though occasionally they can be a little tinny depending on the kind of media. If you want to watch a movie and have nothing else to connect to the tablet, they can certainly do the job, but the only way to obtain balanced stereo is to use headphones or a nice Bluetooth speaker that is positioned correctly.



In conclusion, some purchasing guidance



The latest iPad entry-level model is a rather reliable device. It provides the standard iPad experience at a reasonable price. However, is it really worth making the sacrifices it does in order to save a hundred dollars?



Review of the iPad 10.2: affordable, useful, yet not the one you should purchase



Let's think about who this tablet is intended for first. The 2018 iPad was promoted as a tool for educational institutions and students. However, its 9.7-inch screen made it somewhat large already. Even bigger than that, the iPad (2019) makes it difficult for me to view it as a tablet for children. Then, it might be intended for people who don't want to spend a lot of money and are just searching for a basic iPad experience. Or those who have never used an Apple tablet but would like to give it a try before maybe upgrading to something better in the future? It could be wiser for both of these organizations to purchase a different model.



Now, let's discuss media usage. Although it's not the worst thing in the world, the screen is undoubtedly inferior to comparable iPads that cost not that much more. You won't be able to fill it with many games or movies (though Apple would love for you to stream such), as the 32 GB storage capacity is very constrained. It's not the best iPad in the family, but it can work well for reading books.



And those who are productive? With a Smart Keyboard and an Apple Pencil, you can use it to experiment with the iPad, but the 32 GB base storage choice is worthless. So, the 128 GB version will cost you $430 more. Even so, you are getting a processor that is three years old and has an impending expiration date.



What else can you get for $430 now? For roughly $400 (give or take), you can still find some old stock (open box state) iPad Pro 10.5 units on Ebay and Amazon. These have storage options starting at 64 GB and are powered by the Apple A10X Fusion, which is the same generation as the A10 but slightly enhanced. They are far better than the iPad (2019) in terms of screens and quad-speaker sound systems. Naturally, depending on the item's state and the retailer you choose, you might or might not lose Apple Care or any formal warranty.





If you must have something "New and from the Apple Store," you may purchase an iPad Air (2019) for $500. It is lighter, thinner, and has a better screen. It also comes with 64 GB of storage out of the box, which is far more acceptable than 32 GB.



And here's a piece of advice: all smart keyboards are compatible with the iPad (2019), should you feel compelled to get one. I used it in conjunction with an outdated Smart Keyboard designed for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro for the purposes of this evaluation. It had a somewhat peculiar appearance and a smaller keyboard than the tablet itself, but it functioned anyway. Use this information however you see fit.(*)

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