Hands on with the 2019 10.2-inch seventh generation iPad
Apple's education-focused 2019 got only a few -- but significant -- changes year-over-year. AppleInsider picked up one of the refreshed models to see how meaningful those changes are.
7th generation iPad
Feature-wise, the 2019 seventh-generation iPad remains largely the same. It still packs many of the great features that made the 2018 model a great entry-level iPad.
Apple stuck with the A10 processor for a second iteration. Additionally, the seventh generation iPad still supports the first generation Apple Pencil, and of course, there is the TRRS headphone jack.
What is different with this incarnation, is the display. It has been updated to 10.2 inches, up from the 9.7-inches of its predecessor. It isn't just a bigger display -- Apple has kept the same pixel density in the display, increasing the resolution.
The 2019 iPad supports a full-sized keyboard
While we were testing out the iPad, we noticed a difference in usability, induced by that added screen real estate. On the 9.7-inch sixth generation iPad, multitasking and multiple windows can feel constrained, but the extra area that the 10.2-inch iPad provides reduces that quite a bit.
Obviously, the seventh generation iPad isn't as large as the 11-inch or 12.9-inch iPad Pro line. But, it certainly is an improvement for a fraction of the price retained year-over-year.
Multitasking on iPad
As a side effect of the larger design, the seventh-generation iPad can now utilize a full-sized keyboard. The sixth-generation had to use a compressed keyboard, but the updated model now has proper spacing in between the keys.
If you're using this iPad day-in and day-out for taking notes or writing emails, the keyboard is quite important. On the surface, it sounds like a relatively minor change to have a slightly larger display and a bigger keyboard in the seventh generation 10.2-inch iPad. In actual use, that half-inch can be profound.
The new 2019 seventh-generation iPad is available now to order for $329 -- or $299 for educational institutions.
Stay tuned for a full review of the updated entry-level iPad in the coming days.
7th generation iPad
Feature-wise, the 2019 seventh-generation iPad remains largely the same. It still packs many of the great features that made the 2018 model a great entry-level iPad.
Apple stuck with the A10 processor for a second iteration. Additionally, the seventh generation iPad still supports the first generation Apple Pencil, and of course, there is the TRRS headphone jack.
What is different with this incarnation, is the display. It has been updated to 10.2 inches, up from the 9.7-inches of its predecessor. It isn't just a bigger display -- Apple has kept the same pixel density in the display, increasing the resolution.
The 2019 iPad supports a full-sized keyboard
While we were testing out the iPad, we noticed a difference in usability, induced by that added screen real estate. On the 9.7-inch sixth generation iPad, multitasking and multiple windows can feel constrained, but the extra area that the 10.2-inch iPad provides reduces that quite a bit.
Obviously, the seventh generation iPad isn't as large as the 11-inch or 12.9-inch iPad Pro line. But, it certainly is an improvement for a fraction of the price retained year-over-year.
Multitasking on iPad
As a side effect of the larger design, the seventh-generation iPad can now utilize a full-sized keyboard. The sixth-generation had to use a compressed keyboard, but the updated model now has proper spacing in between the keys.
If you're using this iPad day-in and day-out for taking notes or writing emails, the keyboard is quite important. On the surface, it sounds like a relatively minor change to have a slightly larger display and a bigger keyboard in the seventh generation 10.2-inch iPad. In actual use, that half-inch can be profound.
The new 2019 seventh-generation iPad is available now to order for $329 -- or $299 for educational institutions.
Stay tuned for a full review of the updated entry-level iPad in the coming days.
Deals on Apple's new 10.2-inch iPad
Instant discounts on Apple's new 2019 iPad are already available, with Amazon leading the pack at press time with a $30 markdown on 128GB Wi-Fi models. For the latest deals and product availability, be sure to check out the AppleInsider 10.2-inch iPad Price Guide.| iPad (Fifth) | iPad (Sixth) | iPad (Seventh) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 9.7 | 9.7 | 10.2 |
| Screen resolution (pixels) | 2048x1536 at 264dpi | 2048x1536 at 264dpi | 2160x1620 at 264dpi |
| Screen brightness (nits) | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Processor | A9 | A10 Fusion | A10 Fusion |
| Apple Pencil | No | First Generation | First Generation |
| Smart Connector | No | No | Yes |
| Dimensions (inches) | 9.4x6.6x0.29 | 9.4x6.6x0.29 | 9.8x6.8x0.29 |
| Weight (lbs) | 1.03 | 1.03 | 1.07 |
| Battery (hours) | Up to 10 | Up to 10 | Up to 10 |
| Rear Camera (megapixels) | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Front Camera (megapixels) | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Video | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| Biometric | Touch ID | Touch ID | Touch ID |
Comments
This naming scheme perfectly frames in the mind of the customer what such a device can and cannot do, "its powerfull, but not as powerful as a mac" its capable yet light and agile, sleak ellegent and very portable, an Apple chrome book for when an Air is too big and an iPad Pro is too un-ergonomic.
The only stubling block i see would be that cursed cursor I'm not sure that circle thing Apple is doing is optimum, what do you guys think ?
Quick charging is a great feature, and I don't think that Apple ever mentioned that during the presentation. That's weird that they didn't, imo.
I recently bought a 30 watt USB - C charger for my iPad Pro 10.5, I had never used one before, and the difference in charging time is significant.
If it's true that this 10.2 iPad supports quick charging, then it'll be the first non-Pro iPad to have it.
Plenty of other people will be buying this iPad.
Clearly the A10 is good processor -- it works well in an iPhone 7 and in the 6th Gen iPad.
But, using it in the 7th Gen iPad suggests to me either of two things:
1) The 7Th Gen iPad will have a shorter lifespan than usual for a new Apple product
2) The A10 processor and the equipment that uses it will have a longer lifespan than usual
I wonder which it is?
It handles side by side documents in Pages / Notes well.
Apple sells overpowered mobile hardware which can be used for several years.
For instance my wife & I have used the iPhone 6 for 5 years. Capable phones. (We will be upgrading in a few months.)
I expect our iPads to last as long.
But yes, if you buy a 7th-gen iPad today, you'll probably get 3-5 years out of it rather than the 5-7 years a lot of people got out of their first iPads (I still routinely see people with the original iPad Mini or first iPad Air happily chugging along still).
The one caveat to this is web apps - there's more and more being written in java/java script. Feature for feature these take significantly more processor power than a native application.
Historically, the exponential growth periods of computing have been triggered by advances in communications: In the mainframe world it was the advent of dedicated T1-T3 lines. Then in the PC world the introduction of dial up. Then another leap forward with cable connections. And today, 5G has the potential to kick that off again -- not directly, but just as the other leap forwards in communications technology, by the things it enables.
All of those revolutions triggered a new wave of demands on computing power. But, right now, we're in the lull before the storm.