Apple released the iPad (10th generation) in mid-October, along with a new model of the iPad Pro with the M2 chip. The iPad (10th generation) has been upgraded in design, the processor has been upgraded, and there have been reasonable changes to the placement of the front-facing camera. But with that comes cost, making it significantly more expensive than its predecessor, the iPad (9th generation).
The iPad (9th gen) remains in the portfolio as the entry-level model, and the iPad (10th gen) is between the 9th gen model and the iPad Air (2022), which iPad should you buy?
We compared the iPad (10th generation) and iPad Air (2022) in a separate feature, but here we’re focusing on the iPad (10th generation) versus the cheaper but older iPad (9th generation) .
Price
Let’s talk about price first. The iPad (10th gen) starts at $449 in the US and £499 in the UK. This applies to the 64GB, Wi-Fi-only model.
Meanwhile, the iPad (9th gen) starts at $329 in the US and £369 in the UK. Again, this is for the 64GB, Wi-Fi-only model. So it’s a lot cheaper than the iPad (10th gen).
Design
The Apple iPad (10th generation) borrows the design from the iPad Air, so it looks nothing like the iPad (9th generation). iPad (10th generation) has flat edges and uniform bezels around the display. It also moves the Touch ID home button from under the display to the power button on the top edge.
On the back of the iPad (10th generation), there is a camera lens, although it is much larger than the iPad (9th generation). The iPad (9th generation) has a very small camera lens in the upper left corner of its rear, with rounded edges. As we mentioned, it also has larger bezels around the screen, and the Touch ID home button sits at the bottom of the display. Both models have a Smart Connector located on the left edge.
In terms of color options, the iPad (9th generation) is only available in space gray and silver, while the iPad (10th generation) is brighter and comes in four colors: yellow, blue, pink and silver. The iPad (10th generation) is also thinner, shorter, and lighter than the iPad (9th generation), but slightly wider.
Exhibit
The Apple iPad (10th generation) features a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2360 x 1640 and a pixel density of 264ppi. It’s a lovely display in use, and while it’s not quite as good as the iPad Air (2022), it offers a great overall viewing experience, with strong colors and good angles.
iPad (9th generation) has a smaller 10.2-inch Retina display with 2160 x 1620 pixel resolution. This also results in a pixel density of 264ppi, and again provides a good viewing experience. You may notice, though, that the 10th-gen model has a 0.7-inch larger display than the 9th-gen model, but is very similar in size, so you get more screen without needing a larger body.
Both iPad (10th generation) and iPad (9th generation) feature Apple’s True Tone technology, 500 nits of maximum brightness, and an anti-fingerprint oleophobic coating. The iPad Air offers neither a fully laminated display nor an anti-reflective coating, both are different.
Hardware and Specs
The Apple iPad (10th gen) runs on the A14 Bionic chip, while the iPad (9th gen) runs on the A13 Bionic chip, so you can get a performance upgrade with newer models. It might not be as dramatic as the M1 chip on the iPad Air or the M2 chip on the latest iPad Pro, but the iPad (10th generation) will be a little faster than its predecessor.
Both the iPad (10th generation) and iPad (9th generation) are available in 64GB and 256GB storage options, and they both promise up to 10 hours of battery life for web browsing or watching videos. The iPad (10th generation) switched to USB-C for charging, while the iPad (9th generation) has Lightning. Both are compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil.
Along with the processor upgrade and the switch to USB-C, the iPad (10th gen) also upgrades the rear camera from the 8-megapixel snapper on the 9th-gen model to a 12-megapixel sensor capable of recording 4K video.
The front camera is also different. Both the 10th and 9th gen models have a 12-megapixel sensor with an f/2.4 aperture and the company’s center stage function, although the 10th gen model moved the front camera to a landscape position on the right edge, while the 9th gen model The generation model number sits at the top of the display like the rest of the range.
Elsewhere, the 10th generation iPad offers Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), while the iPad (9th generation) offers Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi‑Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac). The iPad (10th generation) is also compatible with Wi-Fi and 5G in cellular mode, while the iPad (9th generation) is 4G.
Software
The Apple iPad (10th generation) is as compatible with iPadOS 16 as the iPad (9th generation), so the two models will offer a very similar overall user experience.