The "1-Minute" Review
Verdict
The Apple iPad 9.7 (2018) might be the perfect iPad option for everyday use. It’s big enough for productivity or movie watching but small enough to easily stash in your bag or hold while you read. Apple Pen support is also great -- but will add to the price.What's good
- Bright, colorful display
- Blazing performance
- Solid build
- Light enough to hold for extended periods
- Apple Pen support
What's bad
- Lack of storage options
- No microSD support
- Apple Pen and a case will increase the price
- No smart connector for accessories
The iPad has always been the tablet to beat in the rankings. Between build quality and performance, there are few tablets that can touch the experience. The latest release from Apple is geared toward education -- even holding a press conference in a school -- but does it make sense as an upgrade or budget-conscious choice for everyone else?
If you’ve seen the previous few iPad models, you know what to expect with the iPad 9.7 6th Generation. It’s a thin, light aluminum shell with two bottom firing stereo speakers and the typical minimalist Apple styling. The latest release is available in an array of colors, but there’s a good chance you’ll want to pop it in a protective case anyhow.
Around front, you’ll find the same 9.7-inch display running at 1536-by-2048 pixels that was in the previous model. But this isn’t a bad thing. The screen offers plenty of brightness for outdoor use, great contrast, and good color accuracy.
If you’re planning on using your tablet for graphics or other color-sensitive work, the iPad Pro offers better accuracy. But for the average user, the screen on the 9.7 (2018) is more than enough.
There was a couple issues mentioned by reviewers. There is a noticeable gap between the screen and the glass. Also, while the screen is bright enough for outdoor use, the glossy finish leads to some glare issues.
The processor is one of the biggest upgrades in this latest release. It uses a 2.34Ghz quad-core Apple A10 Fusion processor with 2GB of RAM. The processor offers plenty of power for gaming, media consumption, and even productivity. Reviewers had no trouble with response times and even used the tablet for light video editing.
The previous model was no slouch. But the processor upgrade brings one more trick that reviewers loved -- Apple Pen support. Unfortunately, there’s still no easy way to store it with the iPad. And it’s not included with the tablet. So getting an Apple Pen will add a healthy chunk to the price.
The tablet ships with the latest version of iOS 11. Reviewers expect roughly 4 years of software updates before Apple drops support.
The one downfall to iPads is the lack of storage expansion. To make matters worse, there are only two storage capacity options -- 32 or 128GB. While the price increase for 128GB makes the tablet a little less affordable, it’s a worthy upgrade if you plan to play the latest games, use your iPad as a mobile office, or store media locally for offline viewing.
As with most tablets, the cameras are a rather basic affair. You’ll find an 8MP rear camera and a 1MP front-facing lens. Reviewers found the cameras capable of quick snaps for the web or social sharing. But don’t expect the experience you’ll get in the iPhone. Details get muddy when zoomed in and low-light performance is less than stellar.
Battery life is one area where the tablet shines. The 32.4 watt-hour battery is capable of 10 hours of average usage without breaking a sweat. Many reviewers could squeak out an hour or two more for basic tasks or by dimming the screen.
Simply stated, reviewers loved the iPad 9.7 (2018). Wirecutter called it “the best tablet for most people because it offers the best combination of speed, features (including support for Apple Pencil), screen size, ecosystem, and price.” VentureBeat agreed, labeling it “Apple’s best entry-level iPad to date.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Hans-Georg Kluge, AndroidPITApple advertises the iPad as a computer. The iPad’s performance values don’t make this sound completely absurd. The device is mobile, the battery lasts long and the app universe is impressive in terms of its quality and larger selection.
- Jason Cipriani, ZDNetApple put a lot of resources into framing the sixth generation iPad as an education device first, with consumers being the secondary category. However, there's potential here for an inexpensive iPad across multiple industries and in businesses. At $329 the sixth-generation iPad is the iPad for most...
- Adam Clark Estes, GizmodoI wasn’t sure I wanted an iPad, basically, since the iPad came out. I want this one. That’s honestly a rare feeling for me, because there are so many unwantable or too-expensive gadgets in the world. This Apple thing—I’m surprised to admit—it’s a good value.
- Serenity Caldwell, iMoreThe price is right. The tools are superb. This is the tablet I've been wanting since Jobs came out in 2010 to introduce the original iPad: the true meeting of technology and liberal arts.
- Mark Wilson, StuffIt might not look like it, but Apple’s affordable iPad has changed – what was once a tablet for ‘sit back’ media-scoffing is now a smaller, cheaper iPad Pro with new creative powers.
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