At a little over $300, the newly released iPad is considered powerful for a palatable price. It might not have all the bells and whistles of the $650-and-up iPad Pros, but it delivers if the goal is simply to stream content, check emails, read and browse the internet.
Reviews are pouring in. Here are points to ponder:
— Techspot.com praised the new iPad for its fast A10 Fusion performance, but notes it is neither “rugged nor waterproof.” Despite the lower price of the new iPad, the site opines that some consumers may still desire the bigger screen and Smart Connector, a charging port, found on the Pro models.
— Time magazine on March 30 lauded the addition of Apple Pencil support, which is the company’s stylus tool previously only usable with the Pros. The magazine also observed that side by side, the more affordable iPad does not have as distinct a screen presence as the Pros: “That’s not to say the 9.7-inch iPad’s screen is poor; it just looks noticeably different than the iPad Pro’s by comparison in certain scenarios.”
— Techradar.com points out that with 2GB of RAM, there is plenty of power to tackle most basic tasks; the only slowdown the reviewer found was with heavier apps, but wait times were minimal.
— Digitaltrends.com noticed that the bezels surrounding the 9.7-inch screen could have been shaved down a bit, but the review site gave the design high marks for its “nice weight” and aluminum frame that makes it feel “well-built.”
Although the new iPad is geared toward education settings with features such as augmented reality apps to examine works of art or digitally dissect a frog, it is expected to appeal to basic iPad users as well.
Currently Apple Stores and apple.com/ipad/trade-up/ offer up to $285 credit for older iPads, including mini, Air and Pro models. Or, recycle your device at apple.com/recycling or an Apple Store.