The new entry-level iPad in the test: upgrade to the premium class

When Apple presented two new iPad models in a press release last week, without any accompanying event, the tech world was really only expecting a minor facelift. This is also the case with the new iPad Pro: here Apple has only replaced the M1 chip with the current M2 chip, the device has remained unchanged on the outside.

Fortunately, it was different with the base model: for the first time since the original iPad was presented more than 10 years ago, Apple dared to fundamentally change the design of its cheapest device to the angular design language that the other models already use.

What’s new?

In the past, the display frames on the sides of new models were occasionally made smaller. However, the basic design with a thicker frame bar at the top and bottom and a home button at the bottom remained untouched until the ninth generation devices last year.

This means that the iPad seemed a bit outdated compared to other tablets for a number of years. Now for the first time, it is not only available in multiple colors (silver, pink, blue and yellow), but also looks very contemporary.

But the changes are not just cosmetic: a USB-C port, a camera position optimized for video telephony, a better chip, better rear camera, Wi-Fi 6 and new accessories finally make the iPad up-to-date again in every way. However, this is also reflected in the price.

How much is it?

The cheapest device with 64 GB memory and a WLAN connection costs 499 francs. With a 5G mobile module it costs another 170 francs more.

The upgrade to 256 GB of memory also costs 170 francs – for 5G and 256 GB of memory, the price is accordingly 839 francs. All this also affects the structure of the entire iPad model range – more on that below.

What is the difference with the previous model?

If you compare the ninth-generation iPad with the current tenth-generation device, the difference is noticeable in many places: As with the iPad Mini and iPad Air, the fingerprint scanner is now located on the side of the device in the power button and is available in portrait and more easily accessible as well as in landscape format.

The new display is still not laminated to the cover glass, which causes a slight offset when using the Apple Pencil depending on the perspective. However, the slightly wider format and rounded corners feel more modern in everyday use – the iOS 16 already installed on the device also displays the content of some Apple apps in a slightly more economical format.

And the cameras?

Most users will also use the iPad for video calling in landscape mode – which is usually the typical orientation when used with a kickstand or keyboard. Here, the new position of the otherwise unchanged selfie camera is a real blessing.

In landscape mode, it is now centered at the top of the screen instead of the top center of the screen (in portrait mode) as before. Previously, in landscape format, you seemed to be looking past the person you were talking to. Now it generally looks a bit more natural. To date, it is also the first iPad where this useful adjustment has been made.

This also makes the tracking mode – the ultra-wide-angle camera uses its large field of view to digitally zoom in on the speaker and automatically track them when they move – a little better.

The new keyboard case has been significantly improved

Apple’s keyboard case has also been given a real upgrade: anyone who has previously used Apple’s Smart Keyboard (179 francs) for their iPad will find the new Magic Keyboard Folio (269 francs) a significant improvement.

The new keyboard case now consists of two parts: a new real keyboard that attaches magnetically to the Smart Connector on the side of the device, and a sturdy back plate with a flip-out stand that also attaches magnetically.

This offers several advantages in everyday use: if you don’t need the keyboard, just the stand, you simply remove the first – as both parts weigh a good 300 grams each, there is a noticeable weight saving. At the same time, the stand can be adjusted so that the angle of the iPad can be freely adjusted between nearly upright and nearly 45 degrees.

The old keyboard only offered one angle here – and also held the tablet less stable in place. A second real advantage: previously, the keyboard and stand were a connected part – if you wanted to type something on your lap while on the move, the tablet itself shook a lot.

Not only can the new solution be more stable on your lap, but it also significantly reduces screen shake while typing. The keys are borrowed from the excellent Magic Keyboard of the iPad Pro and offer an excellent typing feel, which is also a big advantage over the keyboard of the predecessor. In addition, there is now also a touchpad, which was previously completely missing.

The row of function keys is also completely new: just like the Mac, you can adjust the screen brightness or volume, control music or put the device directly into “Do not disturb” mode.

A welcome addition. Within Apple’s pricing, the 90 franc surcharge over the previous keyboard is reasonably justified. Overall, though, the price is high – especially for an entry-level device. However, here buyers also have plenty of cheaper alternatives from third-party manufacturers.

However, the iPad also has an Apple-atypical feature

If you use the iPad for photos, the new 12 MP camera on the back significantly improves the quality of the images. Apple’s Smart HDR 3 also plays a part in this, which often makes a big difference. If you really want to take pictures, you should still look at iPhones. However, the camera is certainly suitable for occasional snapshots.

Also in terms of connections, the new iPad is up to date with Wifi6 support, an optional 5G modem and Bluetooth 5.2 and is finally well positioned for the coming years. The same goes for the USB-C port. However, this plug-in upgrade leads to a quirk not typical of Apple.

The new iPad also only supports the first-generation Apple Pencil. While the newer Apple Pencil attaches magnetically to the side of the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad Mini for inductive charging, the old Pencil needs to be connected to a device to charge. At the end of the pencil is a Lightning connector hidden under the magnetically secured cap, ie Apple’s previous connector format.

Until now, the pen was plugged directly into the iPad’s charging socket and charged there. This no longer works with the new USB-C connection, but a correspondingly renewed pen with a USB-C connection is also not available. That’s why the first-generation Apple Pencil now comes with a USB-C to Lightning adapter.

Users connect the USB-C charging cable to the iPad, the adapter to the other end, and then to the Apple Pencil. Incidentally, it should be mentioned here: the charging cables of the new iPad Pro and iPad now both have a fabric cover.

This solution seems somewhat unusual for Apple – and means that pen users should always think about cables and adapters. After all, the pen that protrudes dangerously from the device and the associated fear of breaking the device sooner or later through carelessness are a thing of the past.

Anyone who already owns a first-generation Apple Pencil can purchase the adapter from Apple for CHF 10. Incidentally, the adapter that comes with the pen is only about half the length of the separately available adapter.

New iPad Pro with M2 and minor changes

In a direct comparison, there is much less to say about the new iPad Pro. Here only the M1 chip was replaced by the new M2 chip. In addition to improved performance – especially for the video area – this also brings a few other improvements: for example, for the first time support for Wifi 6E (also uses the 6 GHz band and is therefore a bit more powerful – but so far there are hardly any compatible router).

The other exciting new feature is an upgrade for the Apple Pencil: it now registers by the iPad when it’s just two inches from the screen surface – allowing for some exciting usage options.

However, the manufacturers must first update their apps to make them compatible. Unfortunately, older devices don’t learn this trick: While the feature is supported by all second-generation Apple Pencils, it definitely needs the M2 chip.

Incidentally, what applied to the predecessor with the M1 chip still applies to the 12.9-inch model we tested: a very powerful tablet with an exceptionally good display, since Apple has installed thousands of micro-LEDs here. We will submit a separate test of the new iPad Pro with M2 later.

Conclusion

Long story short, the new iPad is an all-round improved iPad – an upgrade you could only wish for in an entry-level model. With a price of 499 francs, however, it is now in a different price segment.

The presentation of the new iPad is somewhat reminiscent of that of the new MacBook Air in the summer: until then it was a bit gray in design, and for a street price of around 950 francs with the M1 chip it was a price performance hit. The new MacBook Air was a vast improvement, including a great new design, but was also correspondingly more expensive and moved back into the premium segment.

Together with the – really successful – new Magic Keyboard Folio, the iPad costs just under 800 francs. It is no longer a cheap entry-level model. However, Apple has taken this into account: the ninth-generation iPad is still available – and now costs a little more, at CHF 379.

The price increase of the two devices compared to the predecessor has to be seen in the general context of the prices. As with the new iPhones, Apple has also increased the starting prices for the iPads across the board. With the iPhone 14, Apple explicitly announced that it wanted to compensate for the loss of the weak euro.

Prices currently range from 379 francs for the old and 499 francs for the new iPad, to 569 francs for the iPad Mini, 669 francs for the iPad Air, 929 francs for the new 11-inch iPad Pro and 1249 francs for the new iPad. Pro with a 12.9-inch diagonal and mini LED display. (Prices are for Wi-Fi only models without cellular connectivity and without accessories.)

The cheapest iPad is currently still available. In the future, however, the new iPad should mark the entry into Apple’s tablet world – so the entire range is clearly shifting towards the premium market and there is no cheaper entry point anymore.

The question is whether this will continue to be the case – because that would make the iPad significantly less interesting for educational institutions, where the Apple tablet has been widely used up to now. However, it’s conceivable that Apple will do something similar with the iPhone in the future — simply launching a cheaper, older version like the iPad SE.

A small minus is the somewhat clumsy operation of the Apple Pencil. Other than that, the new iPad is a very well-rounded and powerful device with the premium price increase typical of Apple.

sources