➤ iPad 9 10.2 "2021, the review of Apple's cheapest tablet perfect for every need 🎮

Together with the new iPhone 13 and 13 Pro and alongside the attractive iPad Mini, Apple announced and subsequently introduced to the market the new revision of its iPad da 10.2", the entry-level model of the tablet line now in its ninth generation. This is not a revolutionary update, mind you: aesthetically there are no significant changes and even at the hardware level the steps forward compared to last year are mostly in the line of continuity.

Nevertheless, this iPad remains an extraordinarily capable "entry" model, suitable to meet the needs of practically all "non-pro" users and, above all, perfect for accessing the enormous resources of the App Store at a perfectly adequate price.

Let's find out the details then in ours iPad 9 10.2 "2021 review.

Technical features

As already anticipated, iPad 9 continues in the groove traced by its predecessor from practically every point of view. This does not mean, however, that the progress is marginal, especially in some key areas starting with the processor.

In this new version, in fact, Apple has chosen to use theA13 Bionic 6-core, practically the SoC that was introduced in 2019 and mounted on the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and SE 2020.

It is a powerful chip and fully adequate to run any application and easily support iOS 15 multitasking. Speaking of cold percentages, we are around 20% higher performance than the A12 mounted on the previous generation of iPad, with an increase which occurs above all in the context of more complex operations or with the most technically demanding games. This upgrade can also guarantee a superior longevity to the device in the years to come.
The amount of RAM, on the other hand, remains stationary at 3 GB, completely adequate for the management of operations in full fluidity, thanks also to the always fundamental optimization of iPad OS. Considering therefore that the ideal environment of this model is the family one, for teaching, the reproduction of audio / video contents and as a possible substitute for a second PC, the configuration and the value for money seem to us fully convincing.

Another notable, albeit perhaps a bit late, step forward can be traced back to the quantity of storage memory doubled compared to the previous iPad: the two memory cuts are now in fact from 64 and 256 GB, with the first that can already be considered more than enough for most users.

Technical Data

Amazon 2021 Offer Apple iPad (10,2 ", Wi-Fi + Cellular, 64GB) - Space Gray (9th Generation)

€ 529,0 € 512,0

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Processor: A13 Bionic
colors: Space gray, Silver
Memory: 64 256GB
Dimensions and weight: 250,6 x 174,1 x 7,5mm and 487/498 grams
Display: 10,2-inch Retina with True Tone (2160 × 1620 pixels)
Camera:
Rear: 8MP wide angle with f / 2.4 aperture
Front: 12MP ultra-wide angle with Center Stage FOV 122 °
Speaker: stereo
Connectivity: Lightning and 5G for the Cellular model
Security: touch ID
Price and memory:
iPad 9 and 64 GB: € 389
iPad 9 and 256 GB: € 559
iPad 9 da 64 GB + Cellular: 529€
iPad 9 da 256 GB + Cellular: 699€

Design

From the point of view of the design there is not much to say since the ninth generation iPad is practically indistinguishable from iPad 7 and 8: in fact this model is the last of the tablet line to adopt the "old" stylistic course, therefore without the most recent square design which is instead present on iPad Pro, Air and Mini.

So here we find an aluminum body on the back and a front part with large and thick frames, especially on the short sides, and the historic round home button that also contains the touch ID. It goes without saying that the only connection port present is Lightning and not - unfortunately - USB-C. A drawback of maintaining this aesthetic lies in the lack of compatibility with the Apple Pencil second generation, which is why if you need to draw or write by hand on the tablet, by buying this iPad you will necessarily have to choose the first generation Apple Pencil or a compatible third-party version. Instead, the right to use the Smart Keyboard as well as any Bluetooth keyboard is retained.

Overall, therefore, the design of the iPad 9 certainly cannot be defined as modern or exciting, this is rather obvious. On the other hand, it is a product that makes concreteness and the quality / price ratio its guiding star, a factor that is also reflected in stylistic choices like this one. The arrangement of the power and volume keys remains unchanged, as well as the presence of the 3.5 mm audio jack, a factor that can be relevant for a slice of users since no other iPad has it.

The colors available are now only two, Silver and Space Gray, while Gold has been eliminated.

Display

even the it does not introduce substantial innovations, substantially confirming the characteristics of the one mounted on the iPad 8: it is a IPS LED 10.2 inches at 60Hz with 2160 x 1620 resolution, a combination that guarantees a pixel density of 264ppi. The maximum achievable brightness is around 500 nit. We are faced with a high quality panel for LED standards, with excellent color calibration and deep blacks, which is appreciated in all conditions, including situations of strong direct ambient light.
Le dimensions then they represent an ideal compromise that allows you to maintain good portability while maintaining a widely sufficient area of use both for reading in total comfort and for managing iOS 15 multitasking and for watching movies and videos.

The only difference that distinguishes the new iPad in this area is the presence of the mode true Tone, which automatically manages the white balance in relation to the light conditions of the environment in which the tablet is used, to ensure a less tiring vision.

Cameras

In photo gallery instead iPad 9 marks a nice departure from the previous generation. There rear camera is the same, an 8 MP ƒ / 2.4 wide angle and 3x digital zoom that certainly cannot be defined as extraordinarily advanced: on the other hand, photographing is a secondary activity in a tablet and is useful above all for taking photos of documents or in emergency conditions. Useful in this case is the "live text" based on machine learning, which allows you to copy and paste text from a photo. The A13 Bionic also brings some benefits, which at the software level improves the quality of the shots especially in the management of auto focus and in low light conditions. THE video, of good quality, can be recorded up to 1080p and 30 fps.

Where, on the other hand, we find the most consistent step forward is in frontal room, which goes from the very modest 1.2 MP of the previous generation to an excellent 12 MP ultrawide ƒ / 2.4 which, needless to say, proves to be excellent for video conferencing and video calling. The strong attitude of iPad in this sense is also enriched thanks to the function Center Stage, or "automatic framing" in Spain, which is able to follow the subject as it moves, centering it in the frame automatically. With the front camera you can then take excellent selfies and record videos up to 1080p 60 FPS with automatic stabilization. In short, really not bad since one of the most obvious and annoying gaps of previous generations is filled.

Battery

La battery it should be the same as iPad 8, so the autonomy remains completely comparable. Apple claims 10 hours of duration with mixed use which is an absolutely realistic value based on our experience during the test, which indeed could be passed quite comfortably. Obviously, by making a more thorough use of the processor, for example with more advanced video games, this reference is destined to be reduced.

Experience of use

Using iPad 9 is probably one of the most familiar and reassuring experiences there can be in technology. The fidelity to a design that we are used to seeing for years leads to knowing how to perfectly manage the size of the tablet, which can be easily handled despite being quite close to half a kg in weight (487 grams for the wifi version, 498 for the wifi + cellular version. ). Certainly there is not even a shadow of the "wow factor" for this very reason, yet this is clearly not the goal of a product like iPad 9.

As soon as attention is diverted from the large frames and the ancient home button, in fact, we find ourselves in front of auser experience which does not suffer in any situation, on the contrary: the A13 Bionic has more than enough power to respond head-on to any request without difficulty. Responsive, fast, almost instant in opening applications, with a mature and optimized operating system that runs without hesitation.

Obviously an important part is played by iPadOS 15, the version of the operating system released last month that has been able to smooth the edges of the previous major release, further optimizing the experience.

For this reason it is iPad 9 that we would like to recommend to anyone who needs a tablet for study or work without the intention of spending large sums: with € 389 you can take home a device without obvious weaknesses, concrete and capable of maintaining itself. reliable and responsive for many years. From this point of view, the only real lack, mostly linked to the operating system and Apple's choices, lies in the impossibility of management multi user on a single iPad: a mode that would certainly be useful for families with more than one child who would like to use the tablet of the Cupertino house for teaching, keeping individual accounts separate. On the other hand, the 12MP front camera is very good, which is truly remarkable and allows you to make video calls in optimal quality.

Performances

We have long argued that the processors of high-end smartphones are too powerful for the real needs of users, and the A13 Bionic mounted on the iPad 9 is a confirmation of this: despite being a 2-year-old SoC it is still perfectly capable of respond to any type of user request without showing any difficulty. THE benchmarking confirm this reflection with the numbers, given that iPad 9 ranks very high in terms of overall results in all tests. In short, despite being the cheapest tablet from Apple, it is far from poor in terms of performance.

Streaming Video

With the platforms of video streaming iPad 9 performs brilliantly, because the quality of the LCD screen and its dimensions they are more than enough to ensure a satisfactory view. The stereo speakers then they have a good yield even at high volumes, without croaking or distorting the sound. All applications are then perfectly optimized for the 10.2 "display, with the various Netflix, Disney + and Prime Video that manage to return pleasant experiences and clean and understandable interfaces.

Video Game

iPad 9 is also an ideal companion as regards the gaming component, with the only discriminating factor of the screen size which in some cases make the management of the virtual keys complex and therefore their accessibility with both hands. Let's think for example of Call of Duty Mobile, which runs at maximum detail without any problem and with excellent fluidity but which is uncomfortable to play by holding the tablet and relying on the on-screen keys. A whole different ballgame using a bluetooth controller, and it is obviously in this configuration that iPad 9 manages to give its best with Games allowing you to get very close to the experience of a portable console. Even with the "usual suspects" Genshin Impact and Asphalt 9 there are no uncertainties from a technical point of view, thanks to the capabilities of the A13 Bionic.

The experience with Apple Arcade is excellent, since iPad 9 has no difficulty in reproducing even the most technically complex titles present in Apple's service catalog.

Even more interesting for experienced gamers is the use of Xbox Cloud Gaming and Google Stadia, which on the 10.2 "of the display are able to make practically any type of gaming experience fully appreciated. Also in this case the use of a controller is very more than recommended, which is why it is advisable that you recover one if you intend to dedicate yourself to "serious" gaming on your new iPad (those of Xbox One, Series X | S, Dualshock 4 and DualSense are fully compatible).

Comment

Price 389 € / 559 € Buy it here

Resources4Gaming.com

8.2

iPad has been the most accessible gateway to the Apple ecosystem for years, but this ninth generation manages to leave behind the imperfections and defects of the past, revealing itself to be capable of fulfilling virtually all the needs of "non-pro" users. Especially in the educational field, iPad 9 has great potential thanks to the support for Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil (first generation only), plus a very performing A13 Bionic processor and a front camera that makes a huge leap forward from 1.2 to 12. MP, making it perfect for video conferences and the like. But also for anyone who wants an Apple tablet while keeping an eye on the wallet, iPad 9 is able to give great satisfaction, as long as you don't give too much weight to a design that has made history, but which today appears undoubtedly outdated.