2021 Apple 10.2-inch iPad (Wi-Fi + cellular 256GB) – silver review

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How can you tell which iPad suits you the best? We’ve picked up the finest iPads for every need and price, so whether you’re an Android lover trying to switch to Apple or an Apple devotee looking to add another gadget to your collection, we’ve got you covered. Regardless of model or screen size, all current iPads are compatible with either the first- or second-generation Apple Pencil and the most recent iPadOS (an iOS version specifically designed for iPads). Reveal more in 2021 Apple 10.2-inch iPad (Wi-Fi + cellular 256GB) – silver review.

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Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Long-lasting battery
  • Fantastic image quality
  • High-quality audio for headphones
  • Advanced front camera
  • For video calls, the front camera is much better

Cons

  • Compared to Apple’s other iPads, the design is dated.

2021 Apple 10.2-inch iPad Specs

  • 64GB or 256GB of storage
  • Silver and Space Grey finishes
  • 8MP or 12MP cameras
  • Dimensions are 25 x 17.4 x 0.75 cm (hwd).
  • Size 487g
  • 9.8 × 6.8 by 0.3 inches in size
  • Apple iPad OS, the operating system
  • 1.1 lbs. in weight
  • 10.2-inch size of the screen
  • CBR, CBZ, EPUB, RTF, HTML, AZW, MOBI, PDF, TXT, and other book formats
  • Resolution of the screen: 2,160 by 1,620 pixels
  • Apple A13 Bionic CPU
  • five hours and eighteen minutes

Price

Over the reliable but uninspiring device from last year, the new ninth-generation entry-level iPad adds a few helpful upgrades: greater storage for $329. (64GB, rather than the ridiculously low 32GB of the last model).

Compare 2021 Apple 10.2-inch iPad (Wi-Fi + cellular 256GB) – silver

iPad 2021 10.2-inch (5th gen)iPad Air 2022 10.9-inch (5th gen)iPad Pro 2021 12.9-inch (9th gen)
Display resolution2,160×1,620-pixel resolution2,360×1,640-pixel resolution2,732×2,048-pixel resolution
Pixel density (pixels per inch)264 ppi (Retina)264 ppi (Liquid Retina True Tone)264 ppi (Liquid Retina XDR True Tone with ProMotion)
Rear camera8-megapixel f2.412-megapixel f1.812-megapixel f1.8 wide, 10-megapixel f2.4 ultrawide
Video recording1080p at 30fps4K at 24, 30 or 60fps; 1080p slo-mo at 120 or 240fps4K at 24, 30 or 60fps (wide); 60fps (ultrawide)
FaceTime front-facing camera12-megapixel photos; 1080p video12-megapixel f2.4 ultrawide; 1080p video12-megapixel TrueDepth; 1080p video
ProcessorA13M1M1
Dimensions9.8×6.8×0.29 inches9.7x7x0.24 inches11×8.5×0.25 inches
Weight1.07 lbs. (Wi-Fi); 1.09 lbs. (LTE)1.02 lbs.1.5 lbs. (Wi-Fi); 1.51 lbs.(LTE)
BatteryUp to 10 hours use over Wi-Fi; up to 9 hours over cellularUp to 10 hours use over Wi-Fi; up to 9 hours over cellularUp to 10 hours use over Wi-Fi; up to 9 hours over cellular
Headphone jackYesNoNo
Connector portLightning; Apple Smart ConnectorUSB-C; Apple Smart ConnectorUSB-C with Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 support
Apple Pencil-compatibilityYes; first generationYes; second generationYes; second generation
Unlock withTouch IDTouch IDFace ID
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.0802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.0
SIM card support for cellular modelNano-SIM; eSIMNano-SIM; eSIM; 5G NR supportNano-SIM; eSIM; 5G support (sub-6 GHz and mmWave)
iPad Keyboard compatibilitySmart KeyboardMagic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard FolioMagic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio
AudioTwo-speakerTwo-speakerFour-speaker

2021 Apple 10.2-inch iPad (Wi-Fi + cellular 256GB) – silver review

Build

If you’re holding the iPad in portrait mode and staring at it, the iPad still has those uneven bezels and bigger bezels at the forehead and chin. It also still has a home button with Touch ID built in beneath the display. Every every physical characteristic stays exactly where it is.

Design

The iPad is 4g heavier this year for the Wi-Fi model and 5g heavier for the cellular edition, according to Apple’s Tech Specs page, but those are the only minuscule changes; the chassis’ dimensions stay the same at 174 x 7.5 x 251mm (WDH).

Available color

You can choose between grey or silver for the enclosure, which is made of recycled aluminium. There is no longer a rose gold choice, which was an option for the past few years.

2021 Apple 10.2-inch iPad Chip

The iPhone 11 series of phones were powered by the Apple A13 Bionic CPU, which is also found in the iPad 10.2 (2021). Apple is the epitome of effectiveness. Although the new iPad is supposedly faster than its predecessor, I didn’t see any appreciable gains in game play, multitasking switching, or programme opening times. There might have been a few places where a half-second was cut, but overall, not much has changed.

Which iPad storage should I choose?

The base iPad storage size is now 64GB. Prior versions had meagre starting storage sizes of 32GB. I’ll be quite honest: 64GB isn’t much better. Of course, Apple tries to persuade you to upgrade to the 256GB storage option. That could be a wise choice, depending on the deals and your use case.

64GB can work for you if you use the iPad mostly for work-related activities or video viewing. The amount of movies you load for your road trip must be kept to a minimum, therefore 64GB is still insufficient. But if it weren’t, there wouldn’t be any incentive to pay an extra $100 to upgrade to 256GB, would there? Once more, Apple is the epitome of effectiveness. Nevertheless, I value the improvement.

2021 Apple 10.2-inch iPad Camera

The front-facing FaceTime HD camera, which was only 1.2MP (720p) on the ninth-generation iPad, has been upgraded to a 12MP, 122-degree (f/2.4) ultrawide camera, which is also found on the iPad mini (2021). Even when Centre Stage zooms in on your face, everything is considerably sharper and cleaner than before. Additionally, HDR processing is superior, maintaining a greater balance between the image’s bright and dark portions.

Color

The display is undoubtedly adequate for that. Although it doesn’t have a wide gamut display like the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021), its average Delta E in the sRGB colour space is a fantastic 1.09. In all but the harshest lighting circumstances, it will be viewable thanks to its peak brightness of 483cd/m2, and its 1,104:1 contrast ratio guarantees that onscreen content will look vibrant and striking.

Audio

Another area with few changes is audio. The bottom-firing speakers on the newest iPad are not as good as those on the one it replaces. They have an 84db maximum loudness, which is just loud enough to fill a room. Tinny and devoid of any bass is the best way to characterise the sound quality. Thankfully, there are wireless alternatives including Bluetooth 4.2 and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Video call

When you’re on a FaceTime chat, the camera automatically pinches in around you rather than displaying the entire 122-degree field of view thanks to a function Apple calls “Center Stage.” However, the camera can follow you as you move around the frame since it has so much room to work with.

2021 Apple 10.2-inch iPad Gaming

When Ford vs Ferrari is playing the Willow Springs race on Apple TV, the iPad 9 (2021) shows an authentic colour scheme with a smooth and detailed picture as the vehicles race across the screen. It performs almost identically to the iPad 8 (2020), but the newer device depicts some colours, especially skin tones, more accurately. For instance, the iPad 8 has a warmer, slightly jaundiced tint contrasted to Christian Bale’s face, which is covered in perspiration and oil.

Appel pencil & upgrade

It still uses the first-generation Apple Pencil, which is adequate for the price and works with a variety of keyboard shells. It costs $329 from Apple directly, but is occasionally available for about $299 at other stores.

It is absolutely worthwhile to choose the 256GB model if you intend to do any type of artistic work on it or download numerous videos for on-the-go viewing. It really needs a 128GB option; the fact that you have to buy more than you need to is bothersome, and 128GB would likely be the ideal combination of cost and capacity.

Which generation iPad is best 2021 vs 2022?

The company’s M1 CPU, which is also featured in its most recent MacBooks and the new 24-inch iMac, powers the 11- and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models as well as the 2022 Air. The iPad Pros also boast a high-speed Thunderbolt USB-C port, an optional 5G mobile wireless connection, and a Liquid Retina XDR display, at least on the 12.9-inch model.

Is new Apple iPad Air (2022) worth buying?

The most recent iPad Air has the same starting price ($599) and starting storage (64GB) as the one from a year and a half ago, but it also includes a Center Stage front-facing camera, a 5G option, and an M1 CPU that is similar to the iPad Pro from 2021. It appears to be quick and will undoubtedly provide a welcome power improvement over the 2020 model, but it lacks a number of small advantages that the iPad Pro provides.

How long is battery life in Apple iPad?

In our video rundown test, the 2021 iPad’s battery life was 13 hours and 11 minutes. That’s really good and equates to 26 minutes more than the 2020 model, which itself lasted about 30 minutes longer than the model before it. In other words, it’s a steady progression; nothing exceptional, but also nothing to be upset about.

How to charge iPad?

For instance, the new iPad Mini’s USB-C connector enables you to recharge the tablet using the same cable as your MacBook. The second-generation Apple Pencil can be easily stored and recharged thanks to the Mini’s support for it.

2021 Apple 10.2-inch iPad (Wi-Fi + cellular 256GB) – silver consumer reviews

Apple 10.2 inch iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular

I love this iPad. The price point was great for what I needed. Best Buy matched this price with a competitor. The reason for my purchase was for Wi-Fi and the 256GB capacity. I am an author and sell my books at locations where I speak. Now I can be certain of security for credit card transactions and have plenty of storage at a great price. Best Buy also helped me with data transfer.

By DRJZR at Best Buy

2021 Apple 10.2-inch iPad (Wi-Fi + cellular 256GB) – silver alternative

Apple iPad Pro (2021)

The newest iPad Pro is what you want, whether you’re a digital artist or have been waiting years for a new iPad Pro that blurs the line between tablet and MacBook. With the exception of their screen widths and the 12.9-inch model’s greater resolution and XDR technology, which is based on Mini LED display backlighting technology, the 11- and 12.9-inch Pros are almost identical. You’ll undoubtedly value the improved performance of the M1-driven Pro if you frequently use graphics programmes like those in Adobe Creative Cloud.

We advise you to invest in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro if you’re thinking about using the 11-inch model as a laptop substitute due to the huge increase in workspace; if you’re a screen nerd, you might also want it for the Liquid Retina XDR display. Also keep in mind that the price increases when you choose a 1TB or 2TB model because the RAM doubles from 8GB to 16GB for people who truly require the maximum amount of power.

These were the first iPads to feature wireless 5G connectivity in addition to improved performance, however Apple has since added 5G capability to other models in the lineup.

Editor’s recommendations

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