Apple’s 10th generation iPad is finally here. Taking a break from the norm the company quietly announced the next-gen tablets alongside an Apple 4K TV and sixth-generation iPad Pro upgraded with Apple’s M2 chip.
The new entry-level iPad features an all-new design featuring a thinner chassis with flat sides, sleeker screen bezels owing to a much larger 10.9in Liquid Retina display, a relocated selfie camera now featured on its landscape edge, and doing away with the iconic circular home button, the Touch ID fingerprint sensor has now been moved to its side power button.
Dimensions are reduced to 248.6mm x 179mm x 7mm while weighing 477 grams for Wi-Fi only models while the cellular model comes in at 481 grams. The display outputs a 2360×1640 resolution at 60hz refresh rate with support for Apple’s True Tone sensor technology that makes images appear more natural in different lighting situations aided by peak brightness of 500 nits.
All this is powered by the A14 Bionic chip, which we would be remiss to mention debuted in the iPhone 12 and iPad Air back in 2020. The A14 SoC features a six-core CPU, four-core graphics processor, and 16-core Neural Engine that handles various machine learning and neural network tasks such as video analysis, voice recognition and image processing and optimisation, to name but a few.
A single rear camera has been upgraded to a 12-megapixel wide sensor with f/1.8 aperture and is capable of up to five times digital zoom, 4K video recording at up to 60FPS with auto image stabilization, and Apple’s renowned suite of camera software features including Smart HDR 3, Photo geotagging, Burst Mode, and Autofocus with Focus Pixels.
As mentioned before the front-facing selfie camera is now relocated to the side and features a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with a f/2.4 aperture that allows for a 122-degree field of view. The camera is also capable of 1080p HD video recording up to 60FPS while in extended dynamic range mode records crisp and clear video up to 30FPS.
Rounding off, for audio the iPad 10th gen device features landscape stereo speakers and dual microphones. The device finally does away with Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector in lieu of a USB Type-C port and comes kitted with a 20W USB-C power adapter and accompanying USB-C cable.
Apple touts battery life of 10 hours screen time for Wi-Fi only models, while Wi-Fi + Cellular models will manage nine hours when using the cellular data network.
While the new iPad is certainly more than capable for media consumption, productivity isn’t a key focus, as evidenced by stylus support being limited to the first-generation Apple Pencil. Complicating matters, the device is now powered by USB Type-C, meaning users will require an additional USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter for stylus pairing and charging, a rather odd choice.
Now available for pre-order, the Apple iPad 10th Gen arrives on European shores October 26 starting from £499 for a 64GB, Wi-Fi only model in Blue, Pink, Silver and Yellow colourways.
