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iPad (2020) Review: Old standby

Apple's ageing entry-level iPad remains a contender

iPad (2020)

The Pros

  • Reasonable price
  • A12 processor upgrade is great

The Cons

  • Design is starting to show its age
  • Still features Lightning port

There’s nothing inherently wrong with Apple’s iPad (2020) refresh, but it’s also not the least bit exciting.

Apple’s new entry-level iPad is almost entirely identical to its predecessor. This means it features the same 10.2-inch 2160 x 1620-pixel resolution Retina display, 8-megapixel rear camera and positively ancient-feeling 1.2-megapixel front camera.

The only new feature is Apple’s A12 processor, the same chip featured in the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPad Mini (2019) and iPad Air (2019).

iPad (2020) playing Alto's Odyssey

As you may have already guessed, this is a substantial power boost, amounting to the tablet being 40 percent faster than the 7th-generation iPad (more on this later).

But beyond the chip’s power bump, this is the same iPad Apple has released for years. It features identical sizeable bezels, a lightning port, a physical Touch ID button and first-generation Apple Pencil support.

For those looking for a tablet that they can use as a companion device, these shortcomings won’t be an issue. After all, the iPad (2020) is an entry-level device. Still, it would have been nice to see Apple at least refresh some aspects of the iPad’s design, especially given how great its upcoming iPad Air (2020) looks with its colourful design and squared-off edges.

Specs

iPad (2020)

iPad Air (2019)

Display

10.2-inch IPS Retina LCD display, 2160 x 1620 pixel resolution

10.5-inch LCD, 1668 x 2224 pixels, 265 ppi

Processor

Apple A12 Bionic

A12 Bionic

RAM

N/A

Storage

32GB, 128GB

64GB, 256GB

Dimensions (in.)

250.6 x 174.1x 7.5mm

250.6mm x 174.1mm x 6.1 mm

Weight

490g

456g

Rear Facing Camera

1.2-megapixel (f/2.4 aperture)

8-megapixels, f/2.4

Front Facing Camera

7-megapixel (f/2.2 aperture)

7-megapixels, f/2.2

OS

iPadOS 14

iOS

Battery

N/A

Network Connectivity

Wi-Fi up to 802.11.ac, LTE (23 bands), Bluetooth 5.0, GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE

GSM/HSPA/LTE

Sensors

Touch ID, Three axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer

Touch ID, Three axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer

SIM Type

Nano SIM, eSIM

Nano SIM, eSIM

Launch Date

September 15, 2020

March 18, 2019

Misc

Colours: Silver, Space Gray, Gold

Colours: Space Gray, Silver, Gold

Display

iPad (2020)

10.2-inch IPS Retina LCD display, 2160 x 1620 pixel resolution

iPad Air (2019)

10.5-inch LCD, 1668 x 2224 pixels, 265 ppi

Processor

iPad (2020)

Apple A12 Bionic

iPad Air (2019)

A12 Bionic

RAM

iPad (2020)

iPad Air (2019)

N/A

Storage

iPad (2020)

32GB, 128GB

iPad Air (2019)

64GB, 256GB

Dimensions (in.)

iPad (2020)

250.6 x 174.1x 7.5mm

iPad Air (2019)

250.6mm x 174.1mm x 6.1 mm

Weight

iPad (2020)

490g

iPad Air (2019)

456g

Rear Facing Camera

iPad (2020)

1.2-megapixel (f/2.4 aperture)

iPad Air (2019)

8-megapixels, f/2.4

Front Facing Camera

iPad (2020)

7-megapixel (f/2.2 aperture)

iPad Air (2019)

7-megapixels, f/2.2

OS

iPad (2020)

iPadOS 14

iPad Air (2019)

iOS

Battery

iPad (2020)

iPad Air (2019)

N/A

Network Connectivity

iPad (2020)

Wi-Fi up to 802.11.ac, LTE (23 bands), Bluetooth 5.0, GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE

iPad Air (2019)

GSM/HSPA/LTE

Sensors

iPad (2020)

Touch ID, Three axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer

iPad Air (2019)

Touch ID, Three axis gyro, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Barometer

SIM Type

iPad (2020)

Nano SIM, eSIM

iPad Air (2019)

Nano SIM, eSIM

Launch Date

iPad (2020)

September 15, 2020

iPad Air (2019)

March 18, 2019

Misc

iPad (2020)

Colours: Silver, Space Gray, Gold

iPad Air (2019)

Colours: Space Gray, Silver, Gold

The tablet for most people

Back of iPad (2020)

I view the iPad (2020) as the ideal tablet for most people. While some may have switched entirely over to using the iPad Pro as their main computer, many of us still use tablets — usually the iPad — as a companion device for chatting with friends, playing games, browsing the web and watching video content.

Despite its rapidly ageing look, the iPad is still perfect for these specific purposes, especially given its reasonable $429 starting price tag for the 32GB version. Its 10.2-inch display remains great for watching Netflix or Crave while lying in bed despite not featuring some of the iPad Pro’s high-end wide-colour screen with a laminated display.

iPad (2020) from multiple angles

Of course, if you want to turn it into a productivity device, you easily could. The iPad (2020) is still compatible with Apple’s first-gen Pencil, which seems strange given you have to awkwardly charge it with the stylus sticking out of the tablet’s Lightning port. This is likely because the $129 2nd-gen Apple Pencil attaches via magnets at the top of the tablet and uses conductive charging. Adding support for the new Pencil would likely require a redesign of the iPad.

You can also attach Apple’s pricey $219 Smart Keyboard to the iPad (2020) thanks to its ‘Smart Connector.’ The Smart Keyboard isn’t great. Its keys feel overly mushy and it only allows you to set the iPad at one angle. There are tons of third-party keyboards out there that are similarly priced and in some cases, far better, like Logitech’s slightly cheaper Folio Touch that also features a built-in trackpad.

No new friends

iPad (2020) with a green wallpaper

The new iPad feels slightly heavier than the 7th-gen version, though not noticeably so. It still features the same curved design as its predecessor, measures in at 25cm by 17cm and is a very reasonable 7.5mm thick. Despite its ageing aesthetic, the iPad (2020) still looks pretty small and sleek. However, putting it beside an iPad Pro or the upcoming iPad Air really shows its age.

Its selfie camera is a disappointment coming in at a dismal 1.2-megapixels, with the rear lens measuring in at 8-megapixels. It’s safe to say that you should not be planning to snap photos with the iPad (2020) as it takes pretty bad images unless the lighting conditions are ideal. Further, this isn’t a great tablet for video call meetings given the horizontal orientation of the camera coupled with its low quality.

iPad (2020) benchmark

The only significant change this year is the inclusion of the A12 chip. Whether this upgrade is worth it to you will likely depend on which iPad you’re currently using and if it’s capable of still performing what you need it to do smoothly.

Though I don’t put much stock into benchmarks, the iPad (2020) hits 1,099 in single-core performance and 2,626 in multi-core performance with Geekbench. The tablet could handle anything I threw at it, including gaming, photo editing with Lightroom and browsing the web with one of iPadOS’ still unfortunately confusing multitasking modes.

Everything else

iPad (2020) Folio Case

The tablet features passable sound that isn’t remarkable in any significant way since there’s little stereo separation between its speakers. This is in stark contrast to the absolutely stellar sound featured in the iPad Pro (2020), but again, this is Apple’s no-frills tablet, so this shortcoming is forgivable.

On the plus side, the iPad (2020) still comes with a pair of headphones and also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, unlike its more expensive counterpart. While I’ve long since moved on to the sometimes-frustrating world of wireless earbuds, Apple keeping the traditional headphone jack on its entry-level tablet is a welcome move by the tech giant.

iPad (2020) side view

There’s also the same Lightning port we’ve seen in previous generations of the iPad. While it would have been great to see Apple switch the entire line over to USB-C, there’s still an ecosystem of Lightning accessories out there. However, there’s no denying that the iPad (2020) should have also made the jump to USB-C given how universal the port is now.

Though it’s unlikely many people will need significant storage on an entry-level iPad like this, the fact that the iPad (2020) features only 32GB of internal storage isn’t great, especially since even the iPhone SE (2020) starts at 64GB now.

iPad (2020) widgets

It’s also worth noting that the iPad (2020) is compatible with iPadOS 14, the latest version of Apple’s tablet operating system that brings with it a host of new features.

‘Scribble,’ which allows you to write with the Apple Pencil directly into any text field, works great, but isn’t likely a feature many people will end up using since typing is so much faster. Still, it’s cool Apple carried this functionality down to the entry-level iPad and first-gen Apple Pencil.

iPad (2020) Apple Pencil

Widgets are also here, though just like with every other version of the iPad, can’t be moved around and placed wherever you want like with iOS. This limits their usefulness significantly.

There are other subtle improvements like ‘Smart Selection’ with the Apple Pencil or your finger, shape recognition when drawing objects, Siri being less intrusive and more. Overall, iPadOS 14 is a decent, but not very exciting update to Apple’s tablet operating system.

side view of iPad (2020)

Dreaming of the iPad Air

The iPad (2020) is still a solid tablet, it's just not exciting in any way, especially in the face of the soon to launch but far more expensive iPad Air (2020) that brings all of the pricey iPad Pro (2020)'s best features down to a slightly lower cost.

I would have liked to see more of an update this year, particularly when it comes to design. For example, as each year passes, the iPad's bezels are beginning to look increasingly large.

Still, as a companion device designed to be "the good screen" you hang out on after work, Apple's iPad (2020) is difficult to beat thanks to its capable operating system and the access it has to the vast variety of apps available in Apple's App Store.

Apple's iPad (2020) is available now starting at $429 for the 32GB version of the tablet.

"As a companion device designed to be 'the good screen' you hang out on after work, Apple's iPad (2020) is difficult to beat"

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