Apple unveils ninth-gen iPad with a better screen

Apple unveils ninth-gen iPad with a better screen and slimmer design

The best iPad value gets even more value. Michael Simon reports

Alongside the iPhone 13, Apple took the wraps off the new ninth-generation iPad, which brings an enhanced screen, faster processor, and a slimmer design for the same £319 price tag.

The new entry-level iPad looks a lot like the old iPad Air, with slightly slimmer bezels all around, but still sporting a larger top bezel and chin with Touch ID button. It has the same non-laminated 10.2in, but now brings True Tone for more natural

colours, along with a faster A13 Bionic processor that brings a 20 per cent speed bump over the A12 in the eighth-gen model. The iPad is the only tablet Apple sells that still has a home button with Touch ID.

Around the back, the rear camera has improved autofocus and low-light performance and the front camera is now a 12Mp ultra-wide camera and the new Centre Stage feature on the iPad Pro. With Centre Stage, the camera will keep the subject in the centre of the frame by following you as you move around the room. Like before, it also comes with support for the first-gen Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard support.

The new ninth-gen iPad starts at 64GB of storage, double the storage of before, and is available in silver and Space Grey for the same £319. .

SPECIFICATIONS

• 10.2in (2,160,620; 265ppi) Retina

IPS LCD • iPadOS 15 • Apple A13 Bionic (7nm+) processor • Hexa-core (2x 2.6 GHz Lightning, 4x 1.8GHz Thunder) CPU • Apple GPU (4-core graphics) • 64GB/256GB storage • Rear-facing camera: 8Mp, f/2.4, 31mm (standard), 1.12μm, AF • Selfie camera: 12Mp, f/2.4, 122-degree (ultra-wide) • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot • Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE • GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS (Wi-Fi and Cellular model only) • NFC • Lightning, USB 2.0; magnetic connector • Fingerprint scanner (front mounted) • Non-removable 32.4Wh lithium-ion battery • 250.6x174.1x7.5mm • 487g