IPad 10.2 (2019) Review | The comparison

iPad 10.2 (2019) review | The comparison Apple iPad 10.2 (2019) deals

Two minute review

The iPad 10.2 picks up where its predecessor, the entry-level 9.7 iPad 2018, left off: It offers Apple's best value for a new iPad at a ridiculously reasonable price, and a price that's often cut by third-party retailers. It's not the newest member of Apple's entry-level iPad family, it's the new iPad 10.2 (2020). The new tablet is the same size as the one in the review, but with a few spec improvements. We'll describe the 10.2 iPad 2019 in three succinct ways: bigger, cheaper, and basic. New is the 10,2-inch display, which is slightly larger than the predecessor's classic 9,7-inch screen size. Every fraction of an inch is useful if you plan to use Split View in iPadOS, and the actual dimensions of the iPad aren't much larger. There's also support for Apple's Fabric Smart Keyboard Cover, which we've always found to be more efficient than often unreliable Bluetooth keyboards—no syncing or charging required. It just snaps into Apple's smart connector (the first time the pogo-pin port appeared on a basic iPad). Note: the keyboard is sold separately, like the Apple Pencil, and is quite expensive. Basically that's it. Other than getting more RAM in the iPad 10.2, you won't find any other upgrades over the iPad 9.7 as of March 2018, and that's just fine. Most people don't need all the higher-end features of the smaller-bezel iPad Pro 11 and iPad Pro 12.9, or need the thinner laminated display of the 2019.10.5 iPad Air.10.2-inch (although we recommend this version if you're serious about drawing with the pencil). The bottom line is that iPad 10.2 can do all the basics, and a little more than you might think thanks to the iPadOS update. In our tests, it ran the same apps, supported hardware-intensive augmented reality (AR) games, displayed the modified Start screen, and even acted as a second Mac screen thanks to the "SideCar" feature. From macOS Catalina. Buying the iPad 15 is a no-brainer if all you need is a new iPad, and you can find it for the same price as last year's iPad. This will be our only warning to everyone. If you find the older iPad model cheap, it would make sense to buy it, since so little has changed. But, all things being equal, there's enough to ensure that this year's entry-level iPad continues to shine at its core. Update: iPadOS 10.2 has been unveiled for tablets, and iPad XNUMX is one of them. The new update to Apple's operating system, coming later this year, brings an app library, multitasking changes, and widget improvements.

iPad 10.2

(Image credit: Avenir)

IPad 10.2 release date and price

The iPad 10.2 was a surprise announcement at Apple's iPhone 11 launch event, and its official release date was September 29, 2019. It actually started shipping early for some people on September 25, the day after of the release of the iPadOS update. The most important thing is its price: the price of the iPad 10.2 starts at €329 (£349, AU$529) for the rather limited 32GB version and at €429 (£449, AU$689) for the 128GB version. with only 32 GB if you plan to stream most things and use iCloud. Serious work from the iPad 10.2, with a desire to record and edit photos and video, requires the 128GB version, and perhaps an investment in the $159 (£159, AU$235) Smart Keyboard Case, the Apple Pencil €99 (£89, AU$145), or perhaps the cellular version of this iPad starting at €459 (£479, AU$729). Even for the "cheap" iPad, things can add up when you opt for the extras. It's worth noting that in times of sales and sales, like Black Friday or Cyber ​​Monday, for example, the price of the iPad 10.2 can drop a bit. We recommend you check out our best article on Black Friday iPad deals when it's time for deals.

iPad mini 5, iPad 10.2, iPad Air 10.5, and iPad Pro 11

Options these days: iPad mini 5 (7,9-inch), iPad 10.2, iPad Air 10.5, and iPad Pro 11 (Image credit: future)

Integrated

It's the seventh-generation iPad and it shows, with a solid yet familiar design that at first glance looks like it hasn't changed in years. There's a durable aluminum casing, glass on top, and the traditional home button. It comes in three colors: silver, gold, and space gray. New this year, Apple made its iPad case from 100% recycled aluminum and it's grown slightly thanks to the 10,2-inch screen size. The height and width are actually the same as the larger 2019-inch iPad Air 10.5, but it's not quite as thin and light as the Air. The smart connector is the biggest advantage if you plan to upgrade. This makes the iPad 10.2 the cheapest iPad to work with Apple's Smart Keyboard Case, Logitech's Slim Combo Keyboard Case, and a few other accessories. They never need to be recharged and pair instantly. The iPad 10.2 uses the same Smart Keyboard as the new Air, so we already knew we liked the one-piece, laser-engraved fabric keys. They are water and stain resistant, and impervious to debris. In the latest iPad review, we ate a crumbly croissant and easily cleaned off the many bits that didn't make it into our mouths. This time, same deal, but with Doritos. Once again, he checks it by cleaning well. We have reservations with the Apple Smart Keyboard. It's expensive and none of the keys are backlit. This makes it difficult to use in the dark (think: students who have roommates and spend sleepless nights on projects with the lights off). There are more shortcuts as part of the iPadOS update, but none of the 64 keys are customizable like they are on a MacBook.

iPad 10.2

(Image credit: Avenir)

Monitor

There's exactly half an inch of extra screen real estate on the iPad 10.2, and we found it to be a modest improvement over the normal iPad screen size. It won't change your life or your viewing habits, but it's nice to see more screen-to-body value in the entry-level iPad. The bottom line is that Apple has increased the resolution of the LCD screen to maintain the same pixel density as its iPad predecessors, so it still looks great in its up to 10-inch stretch. It's colourful, bright and supports Apple Pencil, the latter being a new feature on the sixth-generation iPad. This makes the new iPad a great choice for watching Netflix and playing mobile games (see: our Apple Arcade review), and its 2:4 aspect ratio is ready for playback. That extra half-inch comes in handy with iPadOS when switching the Home screen and hitting Split View, or if you're using macOS Catalina's "Sidecar" feature that turns your iPad into a second Mac screen. 3-inch iPad Air if you're serious about the Apple Pencil. Its fully laminated screen reduces the gap between the screen and the glass, so it feels like you're drawing directly on the screen. The iPad 10,5's screen isn't pressed as much against the glass, making the tip of the stylus appear to float a bit.

iPad 10.2

(Image credit: Avenir)

Specifications, performance and camera

We found the new iPad 10.2 capable of handling the same rigorous apps, high-end 3D games, and light video editing as the iPad 9.7 in our tests. This isn't a huge surprise, as it packs the same A10 Fusion chipset, which also powers the iPhone 7 and seventh-generation iPod touch. Apple increased memory from 2GB to 3GB of RAM in a year, and we saw better multi-score Geekbench results: (5.921 on the iPad 9.7 vs. 6.047 on the iPad 10.2). So the A10 chipset is outdated but quite adequate for the basic iPad. Our desire is to have more internal storage than the given 32 GB or 128 GB, it is more urgent and we miss each other a lot. Its additional RAM is a modest upgrade, but even more important given that Apple offers the 2-in-1 form factor using the Smart Keyboard as a laptop replacement for some people. Yes, you'll get more grunting and video editing power in the iPad Air and iPad Pro, which have the A12 and A12X chipsets, respectively. But at this price, you can't complain about lag-free performance. The iPad 10.2 has an unchanged 8 MP rear camera that can be used to capture photos and videos. But serious photographers should rely on their Smart HDR-equipped iPhone and avoid using the 1.2-megapixel selfie camera that looks bland and magnifies backgrounds. More importantly for a tablet, the camera acts as a fully functional AR game tool. We tested it using the new multiplayer and Harry Potter-like trading machines: Wizards Unite Pokemon Go packed with robots. This will also make a nice size 10,2 inch window into the world of Minecraft Earth.

iPad 10.2

(Image credit: Avenir)

iPadOS and apps

The iPad 10.2 offers the first taste of the iPadOS software update for many people, especially those moving from the original iPad 4 and iPad Air who are always stuck with iOS 12.4. iPadOS makes multi-window app support more robust with Slide Over and Split View easier to handle, and the new Exposé app is useful for making all open apps. Long...

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