Apple's 2019 iPad: The seventh-generation tablet goes large

One of the new products to appear in Apple’s recent event was the 2019 iPad. It would be fair to call it more of a refresh or update than specifically “new”, as there is little difference between this year’s tablet and the sixth-generation version from 2018. The most obvious difference is that the seventh-generation slate has gone large, up from a 9.7-inch device to 10.2-inch iPad.

The 2019 iPad will operate on the same Apple A10 Fusion SoC that can be found in the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus smartphones and in the sixth-generation variant of the popular slate. The tablet, which sports the 10.2-inch Retina display for detailed content (2160x1620 resolution; 264 ppi; 500 nits brightness), comes in space-gray, silver, or gold finish. Two SKUs are currently offered in terms of storage, with there being a 32 GB version (from US$329) and a 128 GB model (from US$429).

The seventh-generation iPad also offers customers two different connectivity options, with both Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + Cellular being available. The latter option costs an additional US$130, so while the basic 2019 iPad costs US$329, the 128 GB variant with Wi-Fi + Cellular connectivity will set you back US$559 in total. An 8 MP camera, stereo speakers, and Bluetooth 4.2 are all included, and there's even eSIM compatibility (dependent on carrier support).

The newest iPad will run on Apple’s iPadOS software, which was revealed a few months ago and is specifically aimed at facilitating multitasking operations on the tablet. The 10.2-inch Retina display is apparently 2.5 times brighter than the 2018 iPad’s screen and offers wider viewing angles. The seventh-generation iPad, which weighs around one pound, will also support peripherals such as the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard.