2021 Apple iPad 10.2 (9th Gen) review: Subtle improvements for the most affordable Apple tablet
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.
Possible contenders in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88.5 % v7 (old) | 10 / 2021 | Apple iPad 2021 A13 Bionic, A13 Bionic GPU | 487 g | 7.5 mm | 10.20" | 2160x1620 | |
| 88 % v7 (old) | 10 / 2020 | Apple iPad 10.2 2020 A12 Bionic, A12 Bionic GPU | 495 g | 7.5 mm | 10.20" | 2160x1620 | |
| 88.4 % v7 (old) | 09 / 2021 | Huawei MatePad 11 2021 SD 865, Adreno 650 | 485 g | 7.25 mm | 10.95" | 2560x1600 | |
| 83.1 % v7 (old) | 06 / 2020 | Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite Exynos 9611, Mali-G72 MP3 | 467 g | 7 mm | 10.40" | 2000x1200 | |
| 83.4 % v7 (old) | 10 / 2021 | Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 Helio G90T, Mali-G76 MP4 | 655 g | 7.9 mm | 11.00" | 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.
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
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 | |
| Apple iPad 2021 | |
| Apple iPad 10.2 2020 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite | |
| Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 | |
| iperf3 receive AX12 | |
| Huawei MatePad 11 2021 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite | |
| Apple iPad 2021 | |
| Apple iPad 10.2 2020 | |
| Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 | |
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.
Cameras - The Front-facing camera is the star
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
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
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.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Ø4.91
ΔE Greyscale 2.4 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
97.7% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.25
| Apple iPad 2021 IPS, 2160x1620, 10.2" | Apple iPad 10.2 2020 IPS, 2160x1620, 10.2" | Huawei MatePad 11 2021 IPS, 2560x1600, 11" | Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite TFT, 2000x1200, 10.4" | Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 IPS LCD, 2000x1200, 11" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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)
| 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 8705 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) 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.
Display 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. » 38 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.9 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 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 45 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (32.8 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.
Performance - The iPad 2021 is king of its class
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.
| Antutu v9 - Total Score | |
| Huawei MatePad 11 2021 | |
| Apple iPad 2021 | |
| Average Apple A13 Bionic () | |
| Apple iPad 10.2 2020 | |
| Average of class Tablet (92766 - 1286774, n=48, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 | |
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) | |
| Average Apple A13 Bionic (128.5 - 142.2, n=5) | |
| Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Safari Mobile 13.0) | |
| Apple iPad 10.2 2020 (Safari Mobile 14) | |
| Average of class Tablet (19.9 - 334, n=70, last 2 years) | |
| Huawei MatePad 11 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (Chrome 80.0.3987.99) | |
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Safari Mobile 13.0) | |
| Average Apple A13 Bionic (279 - 302, n=5) | |
| Apple iPad 2021 (Safari 15) | |
| Apple iPad 10.2 2020 (Safari Mobile 14) | |
| Huawei MatePad 11 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 (Chrome93) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (Chrome 80.0.3987.99) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Apple iPad 2021 (Safari 15) | |
| Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Safari Mobile 13.0) | |
| Average Apple A13 Bionic (146 - 202, n=5) | |
| Apple iPad 10.2 2020 (Safari Mobile 14) | |
| Average of class Tablet (34 - 435, n=45, last 2 years) | |
| Huawei MatePad 11 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (Chrome 80.0.3987.99) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 (Chrome93) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Apple iPad 2021 (Safari 15) | |
| Average Apple A13 Bionic (153 - 171, n=5) | |
| Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Safari Mobile 13.0) | |
| Apple iPad 10.2 2020 (Safari Mobile 14) | |
| Average of class Tablet (2.59 - 572, n=64, last 2 years) | |
| Huawei MatePad 11 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 (Chrome93) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (Chrome 80.0.3987.99) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Safari Mobile 13.0) | |
| Average Apple A13 Bionic (47288 - 49388, n=5) | |
| Apple iPad 2021 (Safari 15) | |
| Apple iPad 10.2 2020 (Safari Mobile 14) | |
| Average of class Tablet (763 - 105178, n=87, last 2 years) | |
| Huawei MatePad 11 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 (Chrome93) | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (Chrome 80.0.3987.99) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (Chrome 80.0.3987.99) | |
| Lenovo Yoga Tab 11 (Chrome93) | |
| Average of class Tablet (319 - 34733, n=75, last 2 years) | |
| Huawei MatePad 11 2021 (Huawei Browser 11.1) | |
| Apple iPad 10.2 2020 (Safari Mobile 14) | |
| Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Safari Mobile 13.0) | |
| Average Apple A13 Bionic (545 - 573, n=5) | |
| Apple iPad 2021 (Safari 15) | |
* ... 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.
Emissions - Not too warm and with decent sound
Temperature
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
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 36 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 33.7 °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 33.2 °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).
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
» 33% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 62% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 24% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 70% 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
» 11% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 85% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 129%
Compared to all devices tested
» 7% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 91% 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.
| Off / Standby |   0.07 / 0.1 Watt |
| Idle |  1.3 / 7.5 / 7.58 Watt |
| Load |
10.03 / 10.91 Watt |
    
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| 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)
Energy consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
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.
| 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
Cons
Verdict - The last landmark before the 10-year anniversary
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.
Price and availability
Apple iPad 2021
- 10/15/2021 v7 (old)
Daniel Schmidt
Price comparison
