Apple iPad 9 10.2-inch Tablet (2021)

MSRP 329 USD81% External
Keywords: appleipadipadossiritablet

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Photo 0of Apple iPad 9 10.2-inch Tablet (2021)Photo 1of Apple iPad 9 10.2-inch Tablet (2021)Photo 2of Apple iPad 9 10.2-inch Tablet (2021)

Product Overview

The 9th-gen Apple iPad (officially marketed as iPad 10.2) is the 2021 mainstream tablet by Apple. An incremental update, it remains largely unchanged from the 2020 model, with the new front-facing camera and iPadOS 15 being the most notable changes.
While in the past the front-facing camera on the standard iPad had been elementary (1.2MP only), the new 12MP camera allows owners to use the iPad 9th for video calls more enjoyably. It is also able to record videos at FHD, bringing the front camera in line with the rear, main camera.
In terms of downsides, the new iPad 10.2 uses the same A13 Bionic chip from a 2019. It has no new sensors or compelling features, either. The same display panel from last year is reused as well.
Apple did double the storage space on the new iPad, though it still is low compared to alternatives on the market.

Ratings

What we found**

Pros
  • Good battery life
  • iPadOS 15
  • Good front-facing camera
Cons
  • Poor display performance
  • Lightening connector is old

What external reviewers found***

External score 81% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
  • Great screen
  • Excellent performance
  • Decent performance
  • Great battery life
Cons
  • No multi-user support
  • No Apple Pencil support
  • No support for multiple user accounts
  • No stereo sound
Read More

Price Comparison

Specifications

WiFiWiFi + cellular

Connectivity

PortsLightning connector, Smart Connector, 3.5 mm headphone jack
Wireless ConnectivityWiFi 5 + Bluetooth 4.2 + optional LTE

Construction

Battery | Capacity32.4 Wh
Camera | Front12MP, f/2.4
Camera | Rear8MP, f/2.4, 5x digital zoom
ColorsSilver, Space Gray
MicrophoneDual microphones
SpeakersStereo speakers

Dimensions

Size | Depth7.5 mm / 0.29"
Size | Height250.6 mm / 9.8"
Size | Width174.1 mm / 6.8"
Weight487 g498 g

Display

Brightness500 nits
Display Diagonal10.2 inch
Display TypeIPS
Pixel Density264 ppi
Resolution2160 x 1620

Function

GPSCellular model only
Operating SystemiPadOS 15
Operating Temperature0-35 °C
ProcessorA13 Bionic chip, 64 bit
SensorTouch ID, Three‐axis gyro, Accelerometer, Barometer, Ambient light sensor
SIMNano SIM / eSIM, LTE
Video RecordingFHD 30 fps, 720p 120 fps
Voice AssistanceSiri

Performance

Battery Life10 h
Storage64 or 256 GB

Production

AccessorySupports Apple Pencil (1st gen)
Availability2021-09-24
Debut2021-09-14

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Launch Comparison
Clear List

3rd-Party Review Videos

External Reviews

androidauthority[1]

Reviewer score 79%
Reviewers from androidauthority have found the following***:
The Apple iPad (2021) is faster than anything else in the price category. It runs even the most challenging apps and games without breaking a sweat. The screen is large, sharp, and bright enough to handle all the content you can throw at it. With a starting price of $329, the Apple iPad is a bargain.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Sleek design
  • Excellent performance
  • Excellent battery life
Cons
  • No stereo speakers
  • No multi-user support

gsmarena[2]

Reviewer score 78%
Reviewers from gsmarena have found the following***:
The iPad 10.2 (2021), also known as the 9th generation iPad is quite a familiar device. It is pretty much impossible to beat as an entry point into the Apple ecosystem. If you don't mind rocking Android instead, there are plenty of options below or around the EUR 350 mark.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Sleek, attractive design
  • Good battery life
  • Decent performance
Cons
  • Screen flash isn’t great

notebookcheck[3]

Reviewer score 82%
Reviewers from notebookcheck have found the following***:
The 2021 Apple iPad is powered by the 2019 A13 Bionic, and it has access to 3 GB of RAM. Despite the older SoC, the iPad delivers a strong performance in the benchmarks compared to the competition. The two speakers at the bottom provide a well-balanced sound including some bass at medium volumes.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Very good performance
  • Good battery life
  • Long-lasting SoC
  • High-quality case
Cons
  • Display could be brighter

pcmag[4]

Reviewer score 90%
Reviewers from pcmag have found the following***:
For $329, the ninth-generation iPad is a killer deal. It performs better than pricier Android competitors, has a nice display well-suited for work and play. Although iPadOS 15 is a significant improvement over its predecessors, it's not going to replace your laptop operating system full time.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Excellent performance
  • Excellent front-facing camera
  • Excellent battery life
Cons
  • No multi-device support
  • No support for multiple user accounts

t3[5]

Reviewer score 88%
Reviewers from t3 have found the following***:
The new processor here is the Apple A13, which is an upgrade from the A12 chip used in the previous model. As mentioned before, the Apple Pencil (1st Gen) is supported here, and though its charging system is less slick than the newer version, there's no issue when it comes to accuracy or general performance. This is still the best cheap tablet if you want something that can be a surprisingly powerful creative tool as well as a way to watch video and browse social media. It's a shame that it still doesn't offer proper stereo sound, considering how many people will use it to watch videos on.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Great value for money
  • Great screen
  • Great battery life
Cons
  • No stereo sound
  • No 3.5mm headphone jack

tomsguide[6]

Reviewer score 74%
Reviewers from tomsguide have found the following***:
Apple's iPad 2021 is a well-made tablet that offers a great screen, smooth performance, and good battery life for a reasonable price. It's the cheapest iPad Apple sells, but it doesn't feel cheap, and the upgraded internals and selfie camera are meaningful improvements over the prior iPad. Apple advertises the iPad 2021 as lasting up to 10 hours of use (surfing the web or watching video) on a full battery, or up to 9 hours if you're on a cellular connection.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Great screen
  • Better battery life than last year's iPad
  • Long battery life
Cons
  • Slightly dated design
  • No Apple Pencil support

wired[7]

Reviewer score 73%
Reviewers from wired have found the following***:
Apple finally brought its True Tone technology to the 10.2-inch screen. You get more storage in the base model than ever before, but 64 GB still feels a bit lacking. The front-facing camera has been upgraded to a 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor. Battery life can be iffy at times.
Find the original article here.
Pros
  • Sleek design
  • Great battery life
  • Long-lasting battery
Cons
  • No second-gen Apple Pencil support
  • Battery life could be better

User Reviews

Comments

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References

  1. ^ Apple iPad (2021) review: Bare minimum update still beats the competition. [androidauthority]. https://www.androidauthority.com/apple-ipad-2021-review-3034503/. 2021-10-10. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  2. ^ Apple iPad 10.2 (2021) review. [gsmarena]. https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_ipad_10_2_2021-review-2328p6.php. 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  3. ^ 2021 Apple iPad 10.2 (9th Gen) review: Subtle improvements for the most affordable Apple tablet. [notebookcheck]. https://www.notebookcheck.net/2021-Apple-iPad-10-2-9th-Gen-review-Subtle-improvements-for-the-most-affordable-Apple-tablet.573915.0.html. 2021-10-21. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  4. ^ Apple iPad (2021) Review. [pcmag]. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/apple-ipad-2021. 2021-09-30. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  5. ^ Apple iPad 10.2-inch (9th Gen) review: small updates, still top value. [t3]. https://www.t3.com/reviews/ipad-10.2-9th-gen-review. 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  6. ^ Apple iPad 10.2 (2021) review. [tomsguide]. https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/ipad-2021. 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  7. ^ Review: Apple iPad (2021). [wired]. https://www.wired.com/review/apple-ipad-2021/. 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2021-10-13.

The MSRP provided on this page may not apply to all regions equally. For the current price, please refer to the Price Comparison section.

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These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.

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