The iPad 10.9 (2022) is one of the best tablets you can buy, whether you're looking for iPads specifically or are open to anything on the market. It may be an entry-level Apple model, but its specs and features seem anything but basic. It's not perfect, though, leaving plenty of room for the new 2023 iPad to improve on it.
It's expected to be the successor to iPad 10.9 (2022), and based on our experience with Apple's current model, we've put together a list of things to expect from this next entry-level tablet.
We'll also fill this article with news and leaks, as soon as they start to surface; however, you will already find some informed guesses about the release date and some other details of the new iPad 2023.
cut to hunt
- What is it? The next basic iPad
- When did it come out? Probably September or October 2023
- How much will it cost? Maybe around $449 / £499 / AU$749
Release date and price of the new iPad 2023
While there's no word yet on when the 2023 iPad might launch, we can guess because in recent years Apple has announced new entries in this lineup in September or October.
In fact, apart from the latest model, it is made in September. So September 2023 is our best guess for the new iPad 2023 launch, likely alongside the iPhone 15. There's a good chance we'll see it in October 2023, though; any of those months seems very likely, whatever.
We don't know how much the iPad 2023 will cost, but it could have a starting price similar to the iPad 10.9 (2022), which starts at $449 / £499 / AU$749. Again, this tablet costs more than its predecessor, so that it is possible that Apple will increase the price again.
iPad 2023 News and Leaks
There are no leaks on the iPad 2023 yet, but there are a few things we can guess. On the one hand, since Apple increased the screen size and changed the design of the iPad 10.9 (2022), we expect both elements to be carried over to the next model; meaning it's likely to have a 10,9-inch screen and a design similar to the iPad Air.
However, it will almost certainly have a new chipset. Or at least a newer one: The current iPad uses Apple's existing A14 Bionic, which is also seen in 12's iPhone 2020 lineup and fourth-gen iPad Air, so the next model is likely to be updated, at least to A15. Bionic found in iPhone 13.
what we want to see
As good as iPad 10.9 (2022) is, it could always be better, so we expect the new iPad 2023 to include some of the following tweaks and updates.
1. Apple Pencil 2 compatibility
One of the most unusual aspects of iPad 10.9 (2022) is that it supports the original Apple Pencil instead of the new Apple Pencil 2. And this despite the switch to a USB-C port, which means you can't even charge the apple pencil (which charges via Lightning) without an adapter.
There are reasons for this decision, but it seems like a bug in general, and we hope that Apple will fix it for the next model.
2. A lower price, or at least no price increase
Apple has raised the price of the iPad 10.9 (2022) significantly over its predecessor, so for the next model we'd like to see an ideal price drop, given that this is the company's least expensive range of tablets. However, at least we don't want it to go any higher.
3. A less reflective screen
While we were very happy with the iPad 10.9 (2022) display, one issue we found in our review was that the lack of an anti-reflective coating meant there could be a lot of reflections, especially when used outdoors.
We don't expect Apple to switch to a mini-LED or OLED screen, or pack more pixels for the new iPad 2023, but we'd like to at least be able to use it comfortably outdoors, so we're hoping this model will have this coating.
4. More camera modes
Cameras are rarely a priority for tablets, and that's the case with the iPad 10.9 (2022). We're generally okay with that, but the absence of Portrait mode and Cinematic mode is noticeable and disappointing, so we'd like to see them included for the new 2023 iPad.
5. Improved battery life
The iPad 10.9 (2022) actually has pretty reasonable battery life, with our review managing around 8-10 hours of constant use. That's in the same range as most other iPads, but considering the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) lasted over 16 hours in our tests, we think Apple can do better, given that a tablet isn't a million to one. of miles from a laptop.
Even a few extra hours would make a difference, so hopefully that's a goal for Apple with the next model, as it could help secure the 2023 iPad's place among the best iPads.