It's been a year since Apple updated the entry-level iPad, but it's making the changes count for the seventh-generation tablet.
The company is letting its cheapest iPad borrow some of the more premium features of more expensive tablets while keeping in all in a $329 package.
Apple revealed that the new iPad is already available for orders and will be released in stores on Monday, Sept. 30.
A Bigger Tablet For A Bigger Experience
Apple has designed the new iPad to make sure clients are getting the best value possible, starting with the 10.2-inch Retina display that's slightly bigger than last year's 9.7-inch iPad. With almost 3.5 million pixels and a wide viewing angle, the new iPad offers a more immersive experience to users, especially paired with the A10 Fusion processor.
Perhaps most significantly, the new iPad comes with iPadOS, which offers a new and unique overall experience on Apple tablets. From a redesigned Home to more seamless switching while working, the tablet becomes much easier and faster to use.
It also supports the Apple Pencil and Keyboard now, which allows it to become a more flexible tool on the go.
"The new iPad was built to run iPadOS, which introduces powerful new ways to multitask, manage and mark up documents, use Apple Pencil and view more information at a glance on a redesigned Home screen," Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of product marketing, said in a statement. "This new iPad with iPadOS takes everything people love about our most popular iPad and makes it even better for creating, learning, working and playing."
Still A Beat Behind The More Advanced iPad Options
While the 10.2-inch iPad has taken major strides, it's still a beat behind the other tablets on the iPad lineup, which is why it's priced significantly lower.
While the years-old A10 chip is certainly serviceable, it simply can't match the newest A12X Fusion chip running on the iPad Pro. As ArsTechnica said, there is a wide gap between the two processors, especially in games and augmented reality apps.
The Verge also noted that the tablet's Touch ID may feel like a step back to users who are already used to the company's facial recognition technology in other devices. It also comes equipped with the Lightning connector and a headphone jack, unlike the higher-end products of Apple.
