The iPad (2021) was perhaps the least exciting product of the entire California Streaming event. Yet this is the tablet that most consumers are likely to get their hands on. But then, isn’t this year’s upgrade very easy or is this target audience at their beck and call?
To get that answer to you, I went hands-on with the iPad (2021) this past week. In this review I’ll tell you what it has to offer, what exactly is new and whether you should buy it.
iPad (2021): what does the tablet have to offer you?
The entry-level iPad is still one of the best-selling tablets in the entire tablet market. In that respect, the iPad (2021) wasn’t the most exciting product from California Streaming, considering we know by now what to expect from it. But in case you don’t quite know yet, I’ll list the most important specifications for you:
Display: 10.2-inch Retina IPS LCD
Processor: Apple A13 Bionic
Storage Capacity: 64GB or 256GB
Battery: 32.4 watt-hour battery
Charging: 20W
Camera system: 8 megapixel main camera (f/2.4)
Selfie camera: 12 megapixel ultra-wide (122 degrees & f/2.4).
Software: iPadOS 15
Weight: 487 grams (Wi-Fi) / 498 grams (cellular)
Dimensions: 250.6mm x 174.1mm x 7.5mm
Color Options: Silver and Space Gray
The entry-level iPad is of course popular not only for its specifications, but mainly for its accessible price. The 64GB model of the iPad (2021) costs you at least €389. Do you want 256GB storage capacity, then you tap the tablet from €559 on the head.
Nothing changed in terms of appearance (Image: Mark Hofman / WANT)
So for the 64GB model of the iPad (2021), the Wi-Fi variant will cost you €389, but if you also want to put a SIM card in it, the tablet will cost you €529. For the other model you pay €559 for the Wi-Fi and €699 for LTE.
iPad (2021): 4 things that are new
Considering a new iPad also appeared last year, I can imagine people questioning the iPad (2021). Thus, while it’s normally good to judge a product purely on its own merits, it’s nice to take a moment to focus on the things that have improved upon it.
What exactly makes the iPad (2021) different from the iPad (2020)?
#1 A13 Bionic chip
It’s certainly not Apple’s newest processor, but the A13 Bionic chip does bring improvements. For example, CEO Tim Cook’s company announces that it makes the iPad (2021) perform twenty percent better than its predecessor.
The back (Image: Mark Hofman / WANT)
#2 Selfie camera is a step forward
The biggest improvement of the iPad (2021) is without a doubt the selfie camera. This time the tablet is equipped with a 12 megapixel ultra-wide camera with a viewing angle of 122 degrees. That may not mean much to you yet, but it ensures that even the entry-level iPad can make use of Center Stage. This model is also better suited for things like video calling, live streaming and other purposes.
#3 More Storage Capacity
Consumers will have more choice in storage capacity with the iPad (2021). Whereas the previous model made do with 32GB as standard, this year consumers will get 64GB. The most comprehensive option offers 256GB, where last year it was 128GB.
#4 True Tone in the display
By the way, Apple has also equipped the iPad (2021) with a well-known display technology. The new model features True Tone, which adjusts the temperature of the colors to your environment. So when you are outside your screen shows more blue light and when you are inside the image becomes more orange.
Screen True Tone (Image: Mark Hofman / WANT)
iPad (2021): very easy, but is that bad?
The entry-level iPad not only feels very easy, it simply is. Apple has clearly made as little effort as possible to once again provide consumers with an affordable model. The design is outdated, the tablet is the only one still using the Lightning Port and support for accessories remains minimal. For example, only the first generation Apple Pencil can still be used, where all other models can do with the second generation.
Still, we have to seriously question whether this is a bad thing. Without a doubt, the design could be a bit more stylish, but it is logical that Apple does not choose to do so. You can’t give the entry-level model the same design as the other models, given that you would then get tangled up with your own iPad Air.
Space Gray (Image: Mark Hofman / WANT)
In addition, the entry-level iPad is still one of the best-selling tablets in the entire tablet market. This has nothing to do with the specifications of the device, but purely with the price tag. So this year, consumers are getting four brand new features and more storage capacity, without paying a penny more for it either. So the question is really: is it really that bad that this upgrade is very easy. The answer is: no.
iPad (2021): still very much up to par
The iPad (2021) is still an incredibly impressive tablet. More value for money you hardly get at Apple. For $389, you have an extremely powerful tablet that is at your beck and call. Streaming content, playing games and even performing graphics tasks is easy to do. The display is excellent, the battery life is just right and the camera system lives up to expectations.
The iPad (2021) is still a very good tablet and, thanks to this year’s upgrades, is even more impressive than it was last year. So the outdated design is something consumers will probably take for granted, and as far as I’m concerned, that’s entirely appropriate.
