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2021 Apple iPad 10.2 (9th Gen) review: Subtle improvements for the most affordable Apple tablet

Softgrade. The Apple iPad 2021 only offers a minor upgrade this year, which mainly focuses on the processor, storage, and the front-facing camera. Read on to find out what other innovations the 9th generation iPad has in store.

The 9th generation iPad is often referred to as iPad 9, iPad 10.2 (2021), or simply iPad 2021. But this always refers to Apple's budget tablet, which also starts at a stable MSRP of $329 this year.

The most obvious difference to last year's model is the larger storage, which has been doubled to 64 GB for the entry-level model, while the top model comes with 256 GB. That said, 5G hasn't found its way into the iPad yet, and the models with a cellular modem continue to only support LTE.

iPad (10.2", Wi-Fi, 64 GB) (iPad Series)
Processor
Apple A13 Bionic 6 x - 2.7 GHz, Lightning and Thunder
Graphics adapter
Memory
3 GB 
Display
10.20 inch 4:3, 2160 x 1620 pixel 265 PPI, capacitive, IPS, True Tone, glossy: yes, 60 Hz
Storage
64 GB SSD, 64 GB 
, 49.91 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm audio jack, Lightning, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer, Lightning
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 7.5 x 250.6 x 174.1 ( = 0.3 x 9.87 x 6.85 in)
Battery
32.4 Wh, 8686 mAh Lithium-Ion, 3.73 V
Operating System
Apple iPadOS 15
Camera
Primary Camera: 8 MPix (f/2.4, 31 mm, 1.12 µm)
Secondary Camera: 12 MPix (f/2.4, 122°)
Additional features
Speakers: dual, Keyboard: on-screen, 20-watt charger, USB-C-to-Lightning cable, sticker, Quick Start guide, 12 Months Warranty, fanless
Weight
487 g ( = 17.18 oz / 1.07 pounds), Power Supply: 74 g ( = 2.61 oz / 0.16 pounds)
Price
379 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Possible contenders in comparison

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Height
Size
Resolution
Best Price
88.5 %
10/2021
Apple iPad 2021
A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU
487 g7.5 mm10.20"2160x1620
88 %
10/2020
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
A12 Bionic, A12 Bionic GPU
495 g7.5 mm10.20"2160x1620
88.4 %
09/2021
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
SD 865, Adreno 650
485 g7.25 mm10.95"2560x1600
83.1 %
06/2020
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Exynos 9611, Mali-G72 MP3
467 g7 mm10.40"2000x1200
83.4 %
10/2021
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
Helio G90T, Mali-G76 MP4
655 g7.9 mm11.00"2000x1200

Case - The iPad retains its aluminum unibody

The Apple iPad 9 is visually identical to the iPad 8, but it weighs a few grams less. The tablet consists of a unibody completely made of recycled aluminum and is again available in Silver and Space Gray.

The build quality is flawless. The iPad is sturdy, slim, feels great to the touch, and the transitions between the display glass and the case are very smooth and streamlined. The camera on the back is slightly recessed, so that the tablet lies absolutely flat on a smooth surface.

Apple was able to improve its environmental impact a bit by further reducing the CO2 footprint. The packaging contains even more recycled materials, and even the rare earth elements are 100% recycled and reused now.

Size comparison

256.8 mm / 10.1 inch 169 mm / 6.65 inch 7.9 mm / 0.311 inch 655 g1.444 lbs253.8 mm / 9.99 inch 165.3 mm / 6.51 inch 7.25 mm / 0.2854 inch 485 g1.069 lbs250.6 mm / 9.87 inch 174.1 mm / 6.85 inch 7.5 mm / 0.2953 inch 487 g1.074 lbs250.6 mm / 9.87 inch 174.1 mm / 6.85 inch 7.5 mm / 0.2953 inch 495 g1.091 lbs244.5 mm / 9.63 inch 154.3 mm / 6.07 inch 7 mm / 0.2756 inch 467 g1.03 lbs210 mm / 8.27 inch 148 mm / 5.83 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 2.9 g0.00639 lbs

Connectivity - Still only Bluetooth 4.2

Apple doesn't offer any new features in terms of connectivity. The iPad 2021 still has a Lightning port, an audio jack, it can use the first-generation Pencil, and it can be connected to optional keyboards via the pin connector. Unfortunately, Apple has refused to update the somewhat dusty Bluetooth standard this year as well.

The iPad 9 is offered in the following configuration variants:

  • iPad with Wi-Fi and 64 GB for $329
  • iPad with Wi-Fi and 256 GB for $479
  • iPad with Wi-Fi, LTE and 64 GB for $459
  • iPad with Wi-Fi, LTE and 256 GB for $609
Top: Audio, microphone, power button
Top: Audio, microphone, power button
Left: Pin connector for Smart Keyboard
Left: Pin connector for Smart Keyboard
Right: Volume rocker
Right: Volume rocker
Bottom: Speaker, Lightning, speaker
Bottom: Speaker, Lightning, speaker

Software - iPadOS 15 with improved multitasking

The Apple iPad 10.2 (2021) comes with the latest iPadOS 15, which mainly provides optimized multitasking, the Focus function that we already know from the iPhone, as well as numerous enhancements for FaceTime and Widgets. In addition, the scribble feature from the iPad Air has now been made available for the iPad.

For a comprehensive overview of the new features in iPadOS 15, please visit Apple's website.

Communication and GNSS - iPad with Wi-Fi 5 and optional LTE

Our review sample is the Wi-Fi version of the iPad 9. The Apple tablet supports Wi-Fi 5 over 2.4 and 5.0 GHz, and it boasts a long range. The transfer speeds in combination with our Netgear Nighthawk AX12 reference router have been improved compared to the predecessor, but since the specifications have remained the same, this is more likely due to software optimizations.

The iPad is optionally available with an LTE modem, but 5G is not supported yet. NFC is not available, and Bluetooth 4.2 is now outdated. However, no limitations should be expected in everyday use due to the backwards compatibility of more recent products.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
Adreno 650, SD 865, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
902 (886min - 925max) MBit/s +54%
Apple iPad 2021
A13 Bionic GPU, A13 Bionic, 64 GB SSD
587 (290min - 624max) MBit/s
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
A12 Bionic GPU, A12 Bionic, 128 GB NVMe
459 (223min - 497max) MBit/s -22%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Mali-G72 MP3, Exynos 9611, 64 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
231 (114min - 380max) MBit/s -61%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
Mali-G76 MP4, Helio G90T, 256 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
140 (55min - 209max) MBit/s -76%
iperf3 receive AX12
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
Adreno 650, SD 865, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
780 (635min - 867max) MBit/s +61%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Mali-G72 MP3, Exynos 9611, 64 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
613 (300min - 633max) MBit/s +26%
Apple iPad 2021
A13 Bionic GPU, A13 Bionic, 64 GB SSD
485 (191min - 554max) MBit/s
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
A12 Bionic GPU, A12 Bionic, 128 GB NVMe
342 (291min - 400max) MBit/s -29%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
Mali-G76 MP4, Helio G90T, 256 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
141 (83min - 201max) MBit/s -71%
03570105140175210245280315350385420455490525560595Tooltip
Apple iPad 2021 Apple A13 Bionic, Apple A13 Bionic GPU; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø478 (191-554)
Apple iPad 10.2 2020 Apple A12 Bionic, Apple A12 Bionic GPU; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø342 (291-400)
Apple iPad 2021 Apple A13 Bionic, Apple A13 Bionic GPU; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø577 (290-624)
Apple iPad 10.2 2020 Apple A12 Bionic, Apple A12 Bionic GPU; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø452 (223-497)

Apple doesn't reveal the satellite networks that the iPad 2021 supports apart from GPS. Nonetheless, our location is determined quickly in everyday use, and the delays are very short even indoors.

During our test drive, the tablet has to hold its own against the Garmin Edge 500. Over long distances, the iPad shows a more detailed route than the bike computer.

GNSS test ride: Lake
GNSS test ride: Lake
GNSS test ride: Turning point
GNSS test ride: Turning point
GNSS test ride: Summary
GNSS test ride: Summary

Cameras - The Front-facing camera is the star

Selfie taken with the iPad 9
Selfie taken with the iPad 9

The rear-facing main camera is identical to those of the past few years on paper, and it's definitely not a highlight. However, it's more than sufficient for simple photos and capturing documents. A small auxiliary LED would have been very helpful here. Videos can be recorded at Full HD and 25, 30, or 60 FPS.

Apple has increased the resolution of the front-facing camera tenfold in order to equip it optimally for all FaceTime features. It's also an ultra wide-angle lens with a 122-degree field of view now, so features like the following camera mode in video calls or group selfies are supported as well. Image quality is pretty good, but noise sets in very quickly in low-light conditions. Videos can also be recorded at Full HD resolution and up to 60 FPS with this lens.

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Wide angleWide angleZoom (5x)Low light
ColorChecker
13.7 ∆E
6.8 ∆E
9.6 ∆E
16.4 ∆E
7.9 ∆E
5.2 ∆E
6.4 ∆E
8.5 ∆E
8.3 ∆E
6.4 ∆E
9.2 ∆E
8.2 ∆E
9.8 ∆E
10.5 ∆E
8.3 ∆E
8.8 ∆E
6.7 ∆E
10 ∆E
4.1 ∆E
5.4 ∆E
8.2 ∆E
9.3 ∆E
5.8 ∆E
4.6 ∆E
ColorChecker Apple iPad 2021: 8.24 ∆E min: 4.05 - max: 16.38 ∆E
ColorChecker
29.6 ∆E
55.1 ∆E
39.8 ∆E
34.8 ∆E
45.6 ∆E
62 ∆E
53.7 ∆E
36.1 ∆E
44.2 ∆E
29 ∆E
64.7 ∆E
64.1 ∆E
31.5 ∆E
47.7 ∆E
37.8 ∆E
76.8 ∆E
44.6 ∆E
42 ∆E
94.3 ∆E
71.4 ∆E
52.5 ∆E
36.9 ∆E
23.8 ∆E
13.3 ∆E
ColorChecker Apple iPad 2021: 47.14 ∆E min: 13.35 - max: 94.33 ∆E

Accessories and warranty - Still includes a charger

The Apple iPad 9 comes with a modular 20-watt charger, which has a USB-C port. Furthermore, a Lightning-to-USB-C cable, documentation, and two Apple stickers are included.

Optionally, Apple also offers the Pencil input pen (1st generation, $99), a compatible Smart Keyboard ($159), as well as other cases and adapters.

There is a 12-month warranty, which does not influence the retailer's warranty. The AppleCare+ insurance package can be purchased for a one-time fee of $69 or just $3.49 per month. It covers a period of two years and allows up to two repairs per year, including repairs for a Pencil or Smart Keyboard that were purchased at the same time.

Input devices and handling - Touch ID for the iPad 9

The capacitive touchscreen of the iPad 10.2 (2021) feels like that of the predecessor; it works very reliably and responds accurately to every touch input. The tablet also supports the Pencil (Gen 1), which worked smoothly in the test, providing a good writing experience. However, the slightly protruding display glass makes writing a bit awkward at first, because the pen always hovers a bit above the writing surface.

Apple's in-house keyboard is preinstalled, but it can also be replaced with other variants from the App Store. Alternatively, a Smart Keyboard can be used too, and resorting to the predecessor model poses no issues.

Biometric security is provided by the Touch ID function, which is integrated into the Home button. The fingerprint scanner works quite quickly and very reliably in the test.

Display - iPad 9 with PWM-free IPS panel

Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid

The Apple iPad (2021) has a 10.2-inch (25.91 cm, 322.2 cm²) IPS panel that isn't entirely laminated. Although this makes for an awkwardly hollow feeling when writing with the Pencil at first, it's a plus in terms of repairability.

Brightness has been slightly improved compared to the predecessor, and it's identical both when using a pure white background as well as in the APL50 measurement. Users who do without the ambient light sensor control can still make use of the full brightness. The black level is slightly elevated at 0.5 cd/m², but it's still sufficient for a good contrast ratio.

A high-frequency flickering can be detected with the oscilloscope at minimum brightness, but this isn't the traditional PWM, so no discomfort should be expected.

497
cd/m²
513
cd/m²
506
cd/m²
493
cd/m²
507
cd/m²
484
cd/m²
484
cd/m²
469
cd/m²
462
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 3
Maximum: 513 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 490.6 cd/m² Minimum: 1.98 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 90 %
Center on Battery: 507 cd/m²
Contrast: 1014:1 (Black: 0.5 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.7 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 2.4 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
97.7% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.25
Apple iPad 2021
IPS, 2160x1620, 10.20
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
IPS, 2160x1620, 10.20
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
IPS, 2560x1600, 10.95
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
TFT, 2000x1200, 10.40
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
IPS LCD, 2000x1200, 11.00
Screen
-15%
-53%
-54%
-44%
Brightness middle
507
477
-6%
550
8%
503
-1%
380
-25%
Brightness
491
452
-8%
515
5%
477
-3%
376
-23%
Brightness Distribution
90
86
-4%
90
0%
91
1%
89
-1%
Black Level *
0.5
0.5
-0%
0.96
-92%
0.29
42%
0.24
52%
Contrast
1014
954
-6%
573
-43%
1734
71%
1583
56%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
1.7
2.2
-29%
3.3
-94%
4.4
-159%
4.61
-171%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
3.9
5
-28%
7.9
-103%
10.4
-167%
8.77
-125%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.4
3.3
-38%
4.9
-104%
7.5
-213%
5.1
-113%
Gamma
2.25 98%
2.23 99%
2.24 98%
2.19 100%
2.248 98%
CCT
6923 94%
7019 93%
7288 89%
7700 84%
7966 82%

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 40000 Hz ≤ 1 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 40000 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 1 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 40000 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18034 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

We examined the picture quality of the iPad 9 with the spectrophotometer and the CalMAN analysis software and found it to be good overall. Cyan is the only color that shows a visible deviation from the target, but this shouldn't be a problem in everyday use. When the the True Tone function is disabled, light shades are a bit too cool in terms of grayscales.

Grayscales (target color space: sRGB)
Grayscales (target color space: sRGB)
Colors (target color space: sRGB)
Colors (target color space: sRGB)
Color space (target color space: sRGB)
Color space (target color space: sRGB)
Saturation (target color space: sRGB)
Saturation (target color space: sRGB)

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
18.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 6.4 ms rise
↘ 12.4 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 35 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
35.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16.4 ms rise
↘ 18.8 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 43 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33.8 ms).

The iPad remains legible outdoors in shaded areas. This is more difficult in direct sunlight because brightness isn't that high, and the protruding display glass facilitates annoying reflections.

The viewing-angle stability of the IPS panel in the iPad 10.2 (2021) is good. Color accuracy is preserved at all times, and the brightness loss at flat viewing angles is kept within limits. We were unable to determine glow or ghosting effects in our test device. Likewise, we didn't notice any bothersome screen bleeding.

Viewing-angle stability of the Apple iPad (2021)
Viewing-angle stability of the Apple iPad (2021)

Performance - The iPad 2021 is king of its class

AnTuTu storage test
AnTuTu storage test

The 2021 Apple iPad is powered by the 2019 A13 Bionic, and it has access to 3 GB of RAM.

Despite the older SoC, the iPad delivers a strong performance in the benchmarks compared to the competition. Only in the now somewhat outdated 3DMark Sling Shot (Extreme) did we not get a result in the first place, or the MatePad 11 (Snapdragon 865) was superior. The iPad is clearly ahead in all other benchmarks.

The AnTuTu storage test came as a small surprise because the result is weaker than that of the predecessor. Compared with the current iPhone 13 Pro, the iPad isn't even half as fast in this test.

Geekbench 5.5
Single-Core
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
1342 Points +1%
Average Apple A13 Bionic (1326 - 1342, n=4)
1333 Points 0%
Apple iPad 2021
1328 Points
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
1116 Points -16%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
905 Points -32%
Average of class Tablet (140 - 1892, n=67, last 2 years)
670 Points -50%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
483 Points -64%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
345 Points -74%
Multi-Core
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
3531 Points +9%
Average Apple A13 Bionic (3235 - 3531, n=4)
3381 Points +5%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
3288 Points +2%
Apple iPad 2021
3235 Points
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
2772 Points -14%
Average of class Tablet (312 - 8524, n=67, last 2 years)
2377 Points -27%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
1593 Points -51%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
1207 Points -63%
Vulkan Score
Average of class Tablet (521 - 11502, n=14, last 2 years)
3537 Points
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
3302 Points
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
2041 Points
3DMark
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
10427 Points
Average Apple A13 Bionic (9199 - 10699, n=3)
10108 Points
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
9901 Points
Average of class Tablet (539 - 17675, n=28, last 2 years)
5681 Points
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
3122 Points
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
2074 Points
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Points
Apple iPad 2021
Points
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Graphics
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
20154 Points
Average Apple A13 Bionic (17853 - 20154, n=3)
19381 Points
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
13005 Points
Average of class Tablet (485 - 35165, n=28, last 2 years)
8154 Points
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
3055 Points
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
2021 Points
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Points
Apple iPad 2021
Points
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Physics
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
5394 Points
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
3877 Points
Average Apple A13 Bionic (3411 - 4052, n=3)
3780 Points
Average of class Tablet (463 - 6449, n=28, last 2 years)
3683 Points
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
3346 Points
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
2283 Points
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Points
Apple iPad 2021
Points
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
8089 Points +51%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
6006 Points +12%
Average Apple A13 Bionic (5362 - 6067, n=4)
5781 Points +8%
Apple iPad 2021
5362 Points
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
5049 Points -6%
Average of class Tablet (267 - 14235, n=58, last 2 years)
3148 Points -41%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
2609 Points -51%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
1649 Points -69%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Graphics
Apple iPad 2021
9773 Points
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
9428 Points -4%
Average Apple A13 Bionic (7847 - 9773, n=4)
8528 Points -13%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
8374 Points -14%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
6175 Points -37%
Average of class Tablet (240 - 24605, n=58, last 2 years)
3723 Points -62%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
2476 Points -75%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
1528 Points -84%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Unlimited Physics
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
5403 Points +160%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
3492 Points +68%
Average of class Tablet (441 - 5751, n=58, last 2 years)
3216 Points +55%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
3082 Points +48%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
3018 Points +45%
Average Apple A13 Bionic (2078 - 3219, n=4)
2803 Points +35%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
2280 Points +10%
Apple iPad 2021
2078 Points
Wild Life Score
Apple iPad 2021
7457 Points
Average Apple A13 Bionic (7245 - 7457, n=3)
7326 Points -2%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
3818 Points -49%
Average of class Tablet (286 - 7933, n=58, last 2 years)
1580 Points -79%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
1363 Points -82%
Wild Life Unlimited Score
Average Apple A13 Bionic (7800 - 8037, n=4)
7927 Points +1%
Apple iPad 2021
7858 Points
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
7800 Points -1%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
3823 Points -51%
Average of class Tablet (289 - 25317, n=64, last 2 years)
2917 Points -63%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
1371 Points -83%
Wild Life Extreme
Apple iPad 2021
1992 Points
Average Apple A13 Bionic (1901 - 2080, n=3)
1991 Points 0%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
1116 Points -44%
Average of class Tablet (75 - 6919, n=64, last 2 years)
838 Points -58%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
372 Points -81%
Wild Life Extreme Unlimited
Apple iPad 2021
1872 Points
Average Apple A13 Bionic (1402 - 1931, n=3)
1735 Points -7%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
1103 Points -41%
Average of class Tablet (72 - 6909, n=62, last 2 years)
891 Points -52%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
376 Points -80%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
60 fps 0%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
60 fps 0%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
60 fps 0%
Apple iPad 2021
60 fps
Average Apple A13 Bionic (59 - 60, n=5)
59.8 fps 0%
Average of class Tablet (14 - 120, n=57, last 2 years)
58.2 fps -3%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
58 fps -3%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
44 fps -27%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
309 fps +1%
Apple iPad 2021
307 fps
Average Apple A13 Bionic (250 - 322, n=5)
295 fps -4%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
239 fps -22%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
206 fps -33%
Average of class Tablet (15 - 873, n=57, last 2 years)
135.6 fps -56%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
79 fps -74%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
48 fps -84%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
60 fps 0%
Apple iPad 2021
60 fps
Average Apple A13 Bionic (60 - 60, n=5)
60 fps 0%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
58 fps -3%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
58 fps -3%
Average of class Tablet (8.1 - 120, n=57, last 2 years)
44.7 fps -25%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
42 fps -30%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
24 fps -60%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
168 fps +1%
Apple iPad 2021
167 fps
Average Apple A13 Bionic (149 - 175, n=5)
163.2 fps -2%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
131 fps -22%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
127 fps -24%
Average of class Tablet (7.3 - 494, n=57, last 2 years)
82.5 fps -51%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
46 fps -72%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
26 fps -84%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
60 fps +5%
Average Apple A13 Bionic (57 - 60, n=5)
59.4 fps +4%
Apple iPad 2021
57 fps
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
49.51 fps -13%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
45 fps -21%
Average of class Tablet (4.8 - 118.3, n=57, last 2 years)
32.9 fps -42%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
26 fps -54%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
14 fps -75%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
112 fps +2%
Apple iPad 2021
110 fps
Average Apple A13 Bionic (93 - 117, n=5)
106.4 fps -3%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
89 fps -19%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
85.8 fps -22%
Average of class Tablet (5 - 340, n=57, last 2 years)
56.3 fps -49%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
29 fps -74%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
16 fps -85%
GFXBench
on screen Car Chase Onscreen
Average Apple A13 Bionic (43 - 60, n=5)
52 fps +21%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
49 fps +14%
Apple iPad 2021
43 fps
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
31.72 fps -26%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
27 fps -37%
Average of class Tablet (3.1 - 94.5, n=57, last 2 years)
20.4 fps -53%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
16 fps -63%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
9.6 fps -78%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen
Apple iPad 2021
69 fps
Average Apple A13 Bionic (59 - 73, n=5)
65.4 fps -5%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
63 fps -9%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
52 fps -25%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
51.3 fps -26%
Average of class Tablet (2.2 - 214, n=57, last 2 years)
33.4 fps -52%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
18 fps -74%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
10 fps -86%
on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen
Average Apple A13 Bionic (35 - 60, n=5)
49.2 fps +41%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
45 fps +29%
Apple iPad 2021
35 fps
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
25.34 fps -28%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
18 fps -49%
Average of class Tablet (1.9 - 97.3, n=68, last 2 years)
14.1 fps -60%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
10 fps -71%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
5.8 fps -83%
2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
Apple iPad 2021
31 fps
Average Apple A13 Bionic (29 - 33, n=5)
30.6 fps -1%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
29 fps -6%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
23.09 fps -26%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
21 fps -32%
Average of class Tablet (0.9 - 90, n=68, last 2 years)
13.2 fps -57%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
6.5 fps -79%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
3.6 fps -88%
on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
57 fps +14%
Average Apple A13 Bionic (50 - 60, n=5)
57 fps +14%
Apple iPad 2021
50 fps
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
37.01 fps -26%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
29 fps -42%
Average of class Tablet (3 - 111, n=68, last 2 years)
20.7 fps -59%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
17 fps -66%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
9.7 fps -81%
1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen
Apple iPad 2021
82 fps
Average Apple A13 Bionic (72 - 87, n=5)
78 fps -5%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro
74 fps -10%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
62.4 fps -24%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
54 fps -34%
Average of class Tablet (2.5 - 279, n=68, last 2 years)
35.4 fps -57%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
19 fps -77%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
10 fps -88%
Antutu v9 - Total Score
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
628715 Points +1%
Apple iPad 2021
622382 Points
Average Apple A13 Bionic
622382 Points 0%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
549549 Points -12%
Average of class Tablet (92766 - 1416727, n=51, last 2 years)
448233 Points -28%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
323166 Points -48%

Legend

 
Apple iPad 2021 Apple A13 Bionic, Apple A13 Bionic GPU, 64 GB SSD
 
Apple iPad 10.2 2020 Apple A12 Bionic, Apple A12 Bionic GPU, 128 GB NVMe
 
Huawei MatePad 11 2021 Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, Qualcomm Adreno 650, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite Samsung Exynos 9611, ARM Mali-G72 MP3, 64 GB UFS 2.0 Flash
 
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 Mediatek Helio G90T, ARM Mali-G76 MP4, 256 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Apple A13 Bionic, Apple A13 Bionic GPU, 256 GB NVMe

You can browse the web quickly with the Apple iPad 9, and the tablet outperforms its contenders in the benchmarks.

Jetstream 2 - Total Score
Apple iPad 2021 (Safari 15)
142.2 Points
Average Apple A13 Bionic (128.5 - 142.2, n=5)
134.5 Points -5%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Safari Mobile 13.0)
128.5 Points -10%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020 (Safari Mobile 14)
123.8 Points -13%
Average of class Tablet (19.9 - 236, n=58, last 2 years)
83.7 Points -41%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1)
66.6 Points -53%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
35.99 Points -75%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (Chrome 80.0.3987.99)
27.46 Points -81%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Safari Mobile 13.0)
300 Points +3%
Average Apple A13 Bionic (279 - 302, n=5)
293 Points +1%
Apple iPad 2021 (Safari 15)
291.1 Points
Apple iPad 10.2 2020 (Safari Mobile 14)
266.8 Points -8%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1)
112.9 Points -61%
Average of class Tablet (57.3 - 135.7, n=5, last 2 years)
85.4 Points -71%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 (Chrome93)
69.8 Points -76%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (Chrome 80.0.3987.99)
50.3 Points -83%
WebXPRT 3 - Overall
Apple iPad 2021 (Safari 15)
202 Points
Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Safari Mobile 13.0)
183 Points -9%
Average Apple A13 Bionic (146 - 202, n=5)
179.2 Points -11%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020 (Safari Mobile 14)
166 Points -18%
Average of class Tablet (34 - 342, n=41, last 2 years)
118.7 Points -41%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1)
105 Points -48%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (Chrome 80.0.3987.99)
54 Points -73%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 (Chrome93)
53 Points -74%
Speedometer 2.0 - Result
Apple iPad 2021 (Safari 15)
171 runs/min
Average Apple A13 Bionic (153 - 171, n=5)
158.4 runs/min -7%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Safari Mobile 13.0)
153 runs/min -11%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020 (Safari Mobile 14)
139 runs/min -19%
Average of class Tablet (14.7 - 376, n=51, last 2 years)
75.2 runs/min -56%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1)
65.5 runs/min -62%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 (Chrome93)
33.5 runs/min -80%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (Chrome 80.0.3987.99)
29.2 runs/min -83%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Safari Mobile 13.0)
49151 Points +4%
Average Apple A13 Bionic (47288 - 49388, n=5)
48727 Points +3%
Apple iPad 2021 (Safari 15)
47288 Points
Apple iPad 10.2 2020 (Safari Mobile 14)
41443 Points -12%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1)
24196 Points -49%
Average of class Tablet (2672 - 74614, n=70, last 2 years)
22748 Points -52%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 (Chrome93)
15632 Points -67%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (Chrome 80.0.3987.99)
9415 Points -80%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (Chrome 80.0.3987.99)
4872 ms * -794%
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 (Chrome93)
3782 ms * -594%
Average of class Tablet (451 - 34733, n=58, last 2 years)
3251 ms * -497%
Huawei MatePad 11 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1)
1933 ms * -255%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020 (Safari Mobile 14)
653 ms * -20%
Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Safari Mobile 13.0)
572 ms * -5%
Average Apple A13 Bionic (545 - 573, n=5)
562 ms * -3%
Apple iPad 2021 (Safari 15)
545 ms *

* ... smaller is better

Games - Apple's A13 provides unlimited fun for gamers

The Apple A13 in the iPad is already two years old, but it still offers an enormous amount of GPU power, which should be more than sufficient for all games available in the App Store.

Despite its size, the tablet is quite suitable for gaming because it fits well in the hands, is not too heavy, and provides a good grip due to the wide bezels.

We weren't able to determine any restrictions when we checked the gaming performance with GameBench. Even demanding titles can be run smoothly using the highest detail settings.

PUBG Mobile
PUBG Mobile
League of Legends: Wild Rift
League of Legends: Wild Rift
051015202530354045505560Tooltip
Apple iPad 2021; League of Legends: Wild Rift; 2.4.0: Ø59.5 (57-60)
Apple iPad 2021; PUBG Mobile; Smooth; 1.6.0: Ø59.4 (49-60)
Apple iPad 2021; PUBG Mobile; Balanced; 1.6.0: Ø59.5 (57-60)
Apple iPad 2021; PUBG Mobile; HD; 1.6.0: Ø39.3 (34-40)
Apple iPad 2021; PUBG Mobile; Ultra HD; 1.6.0: Ø39.3 (37-40)

Emissions - Not too warm and with decent sound

Temperature

GFXBench battery test: T-Rex
T-Rex
GFXBench battery test: Manhattan
Manhattan

The surface temperatures of the Apple iPad 9 are slightly elevated already in idle usage, but then they increase only marginally under continuous load.

The SoC manages the resulting waste heat quite well. In the GFXBench battery test, which repeats the respective scenario thirty times in a row and logs the frame rates in addition to the battery status, the tablet remains largely stable. While the T-Rex test (OpenGL ES 2.0) doesn't pose a problem, the performance curve drops slightly in the Manhattan benchmark (Metal), but at less than 3%, the losses are very small.

In the 3DMark Wild Life stress tests, the iPad's first run is particularly powerful; it drops a bit subsequently but then remains at a consistently high level.

3DMark Wild Life stress test

0510152025303540Tooltip
Apple iPad 2021 A13 Bionic GPU, A13 Bionic, 64 GB SSD; Wild Life Stress Test Stability: Ø39.5 (38.7-44.5)
Huawei MatePad 11 2021 Adreno 650, SD 865, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash; Wild Life Stress Test Stability: Ø22.7 (22.7-22.9)
Apple iPad 2021 A13 Bionic GPU, A13 Bionic, 64 GB SSD; Wild Life Extreme Stress Test: Ø10.7 (10.6-12.2)
Huawei MatePad 11 2021 Adreno 650, SD 865, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash; Wild Life Extreme Stress Test; 1.0.4.2: Ø6.66 (6.65-6.67)
Max. Load
 35.5 °C
96 F
35.6 °C
96 F
36 °C
97 F
 
 34.4 °C
94 F
34.2 °C
94 F
33.3 °C
92 F
 
 35.4 °C
96 F
35.6 °C
96 F
34.8 °C
95 F
 
Maximum: 36 °C = 97 F
Average: 35 °C = 95 F
33.2 °C
92 F
34.3 °C
94 F
34.4 °C
94 F
32.9 °C
91 F
34.6 °C
94 F
34.1 °C
93 F
32.8 °C
91 F
34.9 °C
95 F
33.7 °C
93 F
Maximum: 34.9 °C = 95 F
Average: 33.9 °C = 93 F
Power Supply (max.)  31.3 °C = 88 F | Room Temperature 22 °C = 72 F | Fluke t3000FC (calibrated) & Voltcraft IR-260
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 35 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 30 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Tablet.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 36 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F, ranging from 20.7 to 53.2 °C for the class Tablet.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 34.9 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 33.3 °C / 92 F
(±) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 32.9 °C / 91 F, compared to the device average of 30 °C / 86 F.

Speakers

The two speakers at the bottom provide a well-balanced sound including some bass at medium volumes. Turning up the volume on the iPad will result in a more high-pitched output, which can sometimes distort during volume peaks.

In addition to wireless connectivity via Bluetooth, headphones or external speakers can also be connected to the Apple tablet via the audio jack (3.5 mm), which impresses with a very low-noise output (SNR: 102.75 dBFS).

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs203734.42525.637.43129.137.24023.440.35036.843.26328.441.38024.841.710022.444.312519.246.716016.95820015.655.825013.857.631513.46240013.361.950013.865.86301268.180012.769.8100012.275.912501373.8160013.777.9200013.276.8250013.478.831501380.2400013.381.6500013.682.5630013.385.2800013.883.61000013.778.4125001473.81600013.571.2SPL25.591.9N0.789.5median 13.5median 73.8Delta0.79.635.838.332.228.225.1262129.734.433.62433.528.94922.851.417.657.319.262.515.862.515.565.715.769.71369.712.472.814.47314.774.412.878.214.679.113.578.713.178.213.576.413.466.813.367.913.373.613.472.413.766.913.26813.257.412.255.325.987.20.772.1median 13.5median 69.70.95.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseApple iPad 2021Huawei MatePad 11 2021
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Apple iPad 2021 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (91.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 19.7% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 7.7% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (16.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 28% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 65% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 23%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 22% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 73% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Huawei MatePad 11 2021 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (87.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 8.2% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.8% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (2.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (11.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 7% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 87% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 23%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 6% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 92% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy management - Apple tablet with long battery life

Energy consumption

Power consumption is surprisingly higher than that of the predecessor in most aspects. The included 20-watt power adapter is still more than adequately sized, but it doesn't support true fast charging, since it takes almost four hours to fully recharge the iPad.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.07 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 1.3 / 7.5 / 7.58 Watt
Load midlight 10.03 / 10.91 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Apple iPad 2021
8686 mAh
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
8827 mAh
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
7250 mAh
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
7040 mAh
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
7700 mAh
Power Consumption
-5%
19%
28%
47%
Idle Minimum *
1.3
2.12
-63%
1.33
-2%
1.21
7%
1.2
8%
Idle Average *
7.5
6.43
14%
5.37
28%
4.24
43%
1.5
80%
Idle Maximum *
7.58
6.69
12%
5.41
29%
4.34
43%
1.9
75%
Load Average *
10.03
8.17
19%
6.87
32%
6.99
30%
4.9
51%
Load Maximum *
10.91
11.84
-9%
10.08
8%
8.79
19%
8.8
19%

* ... smaller is better

Energy consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)

012345678910111213Tooltip
Apple iPad 2021 Apple A13 Bionic: Ø7.02 (2.66-13.2)
Huawei MatePad 11 2021 Qualcomm Snapdragon 865: Ø4.42 (2.21-8.49)

Energy consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)

0123456789101112Tooltip
Apple iPad 2021 Apple A13 Bionic; 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Offscreen: Ø10.9 (6.88-12.6)
Huawei MatePad 11 2021 Qualcomm Snapdragon 865; 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Offscreen: Ø6.24 (3.01-8.63)
Apple iPad 2021 Apple A13 Bionic; Idle 150cd/m2: Ø2.87 (2.83-2.97)
Huawei MatePad 11 2021 Qualcomm Snapdragon 865; Idle 150cd/m2: Ø2.34 (2.28-2.92)

Battery life

The battery of the iPad 9 has shrunk slightly to 32.4 Wh compared with last year's model (32.9 Wh), but the newer Apple tablet still manages slightly better runtimes, which is mainly due to the more efficient SoC. Only during video playback is the iPad 8 a bit more enduring.

In our real-world Wi-Fi test with an adjusted display brightness (150 cd/m²), all competitors are close to each other, and only the Yoga Tab 11 manages to stand out a bit. Overall, however, the iPad 10.2 offers really good battery life.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
38h 12min
WiFi Websurfing (Safari 15)
13h 25min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
14h 58min
Load (maximum brightness)
4h 13min
Apple iPad 2021
8686 mAh
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
8827 mAh
Huawei MatePad 11 2021
7250 mAh
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
7040 mAh
Lenovo Yoga Tab 11
7700 mAh
Battery Runtime
-2%
-5%
5%
0%
Reader / Idle
2292
2241
-2%
1972
-14%
2120
-8%
1835
-20%
H.264
898
934
4%
864
-4%
950
6%
1115
24%
WiFi v1.3
805
782
-3%
835
4%
792
-2%
891
11%
Load
253
238
-6%
236
-7%
309
22%
216
-15%

Pros

+ high-quality aluminum unibody
+ long battery life
+ fast SoC
+ extensive range of accessories
+ long-term availability of updates

Cons

- only Bluetooth 4.2
- long charging times

Verdict - The last landmark before the 10-year anniversary

In review: Apple iPad (2021)
In review: Apple iPad (2021)

The iPad was the first tablet of the type that we know today, and while our review unit is only Apple's most affordable entry-level product in this segment, it gets a lot right and is, in the end, a very good tablet. It provides a first-class feel, high performance, and a long life cycle. Some manufacturers could take a page out of Apple's book.

The additional storage for the entry-level variant was overdue, and the new SoC is a logical consequence. We find the camera upgrade to be very positive, especially since the iPad is a popular tablet at schools and is therefore ideally equipped for future video conferences.

The iPad (2021) offers a strong overall package that users will enjoy for a long time.

Of course, the fact that the design is a bit old-fashioned, the storage is not expandable, and that there is no USB ports are all points of criticism. In return, the accessories of the predecessors can continue to be used, and the price has remained stable. This could change next year if Apple has plans for a more comprehensive upgrade for the anniversary iPad.

Good Android tablets in a similar price range and with stylus support are the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and the Huawei MatePad 11.

Download your licensed rating image as SVG / PNG

Price and availability

The Apple iPad (2021) is available in all colors and configurations directly from Apple. You can also find it on Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and Walmart, for example.

Apple iPad 2021 - 10/15/2021 v7
Daniel Schmidt

Chassis
85 / 98 → 86%
Keyboard
73 / 80 → 91%
Pointing Device
92%
Connectivity
46 / 70 → 66%
Weight
83 / 40-88 → 90%
Battery
90%
Display
88%
Games Performance
61 / 78 → 78%
Application Performance
91 / 92 → 99%
Temperature
90%
Noise
100%
Audio
80 / 91 → 88%
Camera
47 / 85 → 55%
Average
79%
89%
Tablet - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > 2021 Apple iPad 10.2 (9th Gen) review: Subtle improvements for the most affordable Apple tablet
Daniel Schmidt, 2021-10-21 (Update: 2021-11-14)