2019 10.2-INCH iPAD REVIEW: THE PREMIER ENTRY-LEVEL APPLE DEVICE

When I first saw the new 7th-generation iPad, I wondered why Apple even bothered to release an updated model this year. Sure, the 10.2-inch display reveals a slight boost in size over last year’s 9.7-inch iPad, and the latest model finally has a Smart Connector, but for all that, this iPad has the same cameras and A10 processor as last year’s model, the form factor hasn’t changed significantly, and it’s even ever-so-slightly heavier. Both models still only come in 32GB and 128GB configurations, and both deliver around 10 hours of battery life. Let’s get this out of the way now: If you have last year’s 9.7-inch iPad, I see no reason to “upgrade” to this one.

But after a few days with the new iPad, I think I get Apple’s line of thinking. The agreeable $329 starting price, the extra viewing room, the theoretical options afforded by the Smart Connector, and the general excellence of everything under the hood combines to make this the best and most approachable entry-level Apple device. This was also true, which greatly expands the productivity possibilities for Apple’s tablets.