iPad (2022) Review: Apple’s New iPad Is Best Selling
The iPad (2022) was launched in India last month, as the first entry-level iPad in years to feature a redesigned chassis. It is also the first basic iPad model to include a USB Type-C port. The new, redesigned 10th generation iPad is powered by the company’s A14 Bionic SoC. which made its debut in the iPhone 12 series, and offers greater performance improvements than ever before. However, it is also more expensive compared to the 9th generation iPad, so should you consider it instead of the older iPad (2021) model?
In this week’s episode of the Gadgets 360 podcast Orbital, host Akhil Arora talks to Reviewer Pranav Hegde and Senior Reviewer Sheldon Pinto about Apple’s latest entry-level iPad model and how it stacks up against the competition.
The first entry-level iPad model in years to feature a major redesign in the chassis, the iPad (2022) is also a step up from the iPad (2021) in terms of hardware and price, Pranav said. It’s the most confusing product in Apple’s lineup, he says, since you can’t really call it an entry-level iPad, he adds. Apple is still selling the iPad (2021), but now it costs more than last month.
While the iPad (2022) is more expensive compared to its predecessor, you also get a few hardware improvements. First, the front-facing camera is now located on the side of the display when you hold it vertically. This means that when you use your iPad to make video calls in landscape mode, you will be looking directly at the camera instead of looking to one side, like older models.
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Meanwhile, Apple also swapped out its Lightning port for a USB Type-C port on the latest iPad model. The iPad Pro and iPad Air have already switched to USB Type-C ports, which offer faster data transfer compared to the Apple Lightning connector. However, you will now need a Lightning to USB Type-C adapter to connect your first-generation Apple Pencil to the iPad (2022). While it may sound like a concern, Pranav explains why this is so.
You get a bigger display on the iPad (2022), but it’s still an LCD with 500 nits of maximum brightness. Visibility while watching dark scenes on OTT apps isn’t the best, and you may have difficulty seeing details in the dark, he says. It should still be fine if you want to watch content on the go, or if there’s enough light, he says. Sheldon says that if someone is looking for a tablet for entertainment purposes only, they may want to consider an Android tablet.
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While you won’t get the new Stage Manager feature available on iPad models with M-series processors, you can still take advantage of split-screen, which is also available on competing Android tablets. Pranav says the new iPad can run up to eight apps including two games, without any problems, and switching apps across them all lets you pick up where you left off.
When it comes to usability, Pranav says the Magic Keyboard works like a charm. The iPad’s keyboard accessory is almost identical to the keyboard found on the M1 MacBook models. He says he’s used a 2017 MacBook Pro model (with Butterfly keys known to attract dust and dirt) and an M1 MacBook Air, and says the Magic Keyboard sits somewhere between the two in terms of performance.
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The new iPad lasts about two days with regular use, according to Pranav. Using a SIM in the Mobile variant will lead to more battery drain, of course, so users who plan to use the tablet in a Wi-Fi model may see better battery life. You can also expect to see years of software support on Apple’s latest model, which runs iPadOS 16 out of the box.
Should you consider alternatives from Android competitors? Sheldon says it should boil down to your use case, and if you’re going to consume video on your iPad, you might as well buy an Android tablet. You can consider the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro, which sports an AMOLED display. It runs on Android 13, and comes with proximity mode. However, you won’t be able to access many apps optimized for tablets, unlike apps designed specifically for iPadOS.
You can listen to all that in detail and more in our episode by pressing the play button on the Spotify player embedded above.
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