Apple has completely revised its affordable iPad model. The tablet should now score with a new design, USB-C and practical accessories.
The iPad 2022 is now the 10th generation of the original iPad from 2010. For years, Apple relied on an outdated design with a home button and thick display edges on the front for the cheapest tablet. That is now changing.
All new design and USB-C
The biggest change in the iPad 2022 is the new design. If the entry-level iPad with the old home button with Touch ID was an outsider in the iPad series, the new model now fits in well. Like the iPad Pro, Air, and Mini, it now also has an angular aluminum body with what Apple calls an “all-screen design”. Visually, it is probably the closest to the iPad Air, with a 10.9-inch display, even edges on all four edges and Touch ID in the power button.
A big advantage of the new design is that the iPad is almost the same size as its predecessor, despite the larger display. Apart from that, there are hardly any changes to the already good screen. Resolution and pixel density remain almost the same. The maximum brightness is also identical at 500 nits.
Another point where the iPad 2022 catches up with the other models is the charging port. Apple is finally taking the step from Lightning to USB-C here too. It was the last major Apple device other than the iPhone to come with the old connector. Now it is also compatible with the universal USB-C standard and a wide range of accessories.
Innovations in the cameras
The entry-level iPad gets a new 12-megapixel camera on the back, which is a significant upgrade over the 8-MP sensor in the predecessor. The camera can now also record videos in 4K resolution instead of the previous 1080p.
The iPad 2022 is also the first iPad ever where the selfie camera moves from the short to the long edge. This makes the tablet easier to use for video calls where you hold it horizontally or put it down.
Chip upgrade and faster connection
To keep the price down, Apple’s entry-level tablets usually come with an Apple chip that’s several generations old. This is also the case with the 10th generation iPad. The tablet comes with the same A14 Bionic that we know from the iPhone 12 and iPad Air 2020. Despite its age, the chip offers more performance than the vast majority of Android tablets and is also sufficient for complex 3D games as well as for photo and video editing.
Like its predecessor, the iPad 2022 is available in two memory variants: 64 gigabytes and 256 gigabytes. It is also available as a standard variant with faster WiFi 6 and as a 5G model with eSIM function.
iPad 2022 gets its own Magic Keyboard
iPad Pro and iPad Air have long been compatible with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, which turns the tablet into a small laptop with a keyboard and touchpad. Although the iPad 2022 is similar in size, you cannot use it with this accessory. Instead, it gets its own Magic Keyboard Folio. On the one hand, this is annoying because you cannot simply use the accessories from the iPad Pro and iPad Air. On the other hand, the new Magic Keyboard Folio also has a few advantages. At 299 euros, it is not only 70 euros cheaper. Finally, the keyboard has a row of function keys. The touchpad is also slightly larger on the folio version than on the previous Magic Keyboard. The folio also now comes in two parts. A cover with a kickstand is attached to the back of the iPad, allowing the tablet to stand upright. The second part with the keyboard and touchpad is magnetically attached to the bottom edge of the iPad. The advantage of this is that the keyboard and touchpad can be removed if necessary without giving up the protection provided by the cover on the back. The disadvantage, however, is that you now need a stable surface to use the iPad 2022 as a laptop replacement. It’s also annoying that Apple didn’t consider it necessary to equip the keyboard with illuminated keys, despite the price of 299 euros.
Like its predecessor, the iPad 2022 also supports the Apple Pencil – but still only the first generation. The stylus is quite usable, but wireless charging like the second generation is missing. Instead, the Pencil charges via Lightning. However, since the iPad 2022 now has a USB-C port, it cannot be charged directly via the tablet. Instead, a USB-C to Lightning adapter is required. Not a very user-friendly solution, Apple.
iPad 2022 price and availability
Apple has significantly increased the price of its entry-level iPad. The 64 GB variant with WiFi now costs 579 euros – that’s 150 euros more than the predecessor cost. 256 GB with WiFi costs 779 euros. The 5G variant with 64 GB of storage also costs 779 euros. The most expensive model with 5G and 256 GB of storage is almost in the iPad Pro league at 979 euros.
The iPad 2022 is available from October 26th and starts directly with iPadOS 16. The new tablet is available in the colors blue, yellow, pink and silver.