When it comes to tablets, at least budget tablets, there’s iPad and there’s everything else. The only real competition for Apple’s most affordable iPad (which starts at Rs30,900/$329) are Kindle Fires and some deeply disappointing Android tablets that have retail prices in the $150 range and are often used as free giveaways when you buy service subscriptions or other more expensive tech gear.



If what you want is an inexpensive tablet with a good operating system and loads of tablet-optimized applications, you want the standard iPad (not the iPad Air or iPad Pro). This year’s model, the 10.2-inch “9th generation” iPad, has barely been upgraded from last year's model, which was barely upgraded from the previous year’s model.

Apple is treading water with its most affordable iPad, and that’s a shame, but that doesn’t make it a bad tablet. Far from it. For the price, this is a very capable device that will prove pleasant to use and last for years. For basic needs like web browsing, playing casual games, email, video chats, and watching videos, this is a more than serviceable tablet. If you want an educational and entertainment device for your child, this is a great choice.

Just don’t bother upgrading if you already have an iPad made in the last few years.

Faster processor, more storage

There really two upgrades you’d notice over the 8th gen-ipad. The new A13 processor is not one of them. Yes, it’s faster than the A12 in last year’s iPad, and as per usual it’s the processor from the two-years-ago iPhone.

But for the things you use this modest tablet for, being 20-30 percent faster doesn’t mean much. Scrolling through web pages and messages and emails feels about the same. Casual games run well, but then they ran well before. You can find some premium games that benefit well from the extra CPU and graphics muscle, but the general experience is the same with the A13 as it was with the A12, when it comes to everyday performance.


It’s the fact that you get twice as much storage for the same price that you’ll notice right away. The base model now comes with 64GB of storage instead of 32GB (the upper model has 256GB of storage instead of 128GB, too), and that’s a difference you’ll really appreciate when you start to fill it up with apps or a bunch of downloaded videos to keep the kids occupied on a car trip. Apple’s stock apps are great and there are hundreds of incredible third-party ones in the App Store to choose from, which is what really gives the iPad its advantage. No other platform is even close.

Design: The same

It looks exactly the same as last year. It has that old circle Touch ID button. It still uses Lightning, not USB-C. And, you know what? It's fine. It works with last year's iPad cases. And it's the last iPad on Earth that has a real headphone jack. And its starting price is the same. But Apple's bumped the storage up, finally, with 64GB on the Rs32,900 (£319, AU$499) version -- you could survive with that, just about -- and 256GB on the Rs44,900 version, which I'd recommend without a doubt if you're planning to download any movies for travel, or any content-making apps.



Display

  • Retina IPS panel
  • True Tone colour tech
  • No 120Hz ProMotion like the Pro iPads

Like the design, the screen sticks rigidly to the blueprint of the previous model. It’s a 10.2-inch IPS panel, with a sharp 2160 x 1620 resolution and brightness levels that can reach around 450 nits.

Apple’s True Tone tech is here, altering the colour temperature depending on your environment in an effort to make it easier to read. It works well, especially on bright white pages.

It’s a good screen, though it’s exactly what I have come to expect from the base iPad’s screen. It’s accurate with colours, though lacks the punch of OLED panels. Blacks can look a little washed out too, though this is, admittedly, an issue on the iPad Air 4 too.

There’s no 120Hz ProMotion to speed up scrolling, nor is the panel laminated to make it feel like you’re actually touching the pixels.


Battery Life

  • Around 10 hours of battery life
  • Charges via Lightning
  • Comes with a charger

The iPad 9 is now the only Apple tablet with a Lightning port. This means it can’t be charged with the same cables as Apple’s laptop, but it can be charged with an iPhone charger. To get the fastest charging speeds and a full charge in roughly 2 hours 45 minutes use the included 20w block and USB-C to Lightning cable.

Apple has stuck rigidly to its 10-hour claims on iPads over the past few years and it’s a claim that rings true if you simply play video on loop. If you’re travelling across the pond, then this should provide you with adequate endurance for consistent video watching.

In real-life tests, I have found I charge this tablet a couple of times a week. That’s with streaming video on a morning commute, some reading, browsing and emails. Don’t go upgrading to this for a big battery boost though, as it manages to go just about as long as any previous iPad.



iPad Mini 2021 and 9th-gen iPad, compared

If you didn't have any big emotions about last year's iPad, this year's basic model won't wow. It would be nice to have less bezel, switch away from Lightning and also, to have stereo speakers. (Sound only comes out of one side of the iPad in landscape mode, like always, but the fancier iPads fix that. Answer: Deal with it or use headphones.)

Pencil support is fine, but that older Pencil has nowhere to go unless you buy a case that has a loop to hold it (those do exist, like Logitech's keyboard folios). And the front-facing camera is still stuck on the side in landscape mode, which is how you'll have it set up for laptop-style use. 

Verdict 

The iPad ninth-generation is an easy recommendation for those who want to get the iPad experience without having to spend a hefty premium. Of course, to get the absolute best, you will need to buy the iPad Pro models, which come with a starting price tag of Rs 71,900. The iPad 10.2-inch, on the other hand, offers the same software experience and a large enough screen at a starting price of Rs 30,900. For the price, you get 64GB of internal storage, which should be good enough to store plenty of movies and videos. Those who want more memory can opt for the 256GB variant, which is priced at Rs 44,900. The baseline iPad also comes in a WiFi + Cellular configuration for both storage options, which are priced at Rs 42,900 and Rs 56,900.

Those looking for a smaller iPad can check the iPad mini 6. However, it is not as affordable as the baseline iPad 10.2-inch and comes with a starting price of Rs 46,900. Pro users who want a 120Hz display and the latest hardware from Apple should look at the iPad Pro series, which starts at 71,900 for the base 11-inch model.