Do you want an iPad? Then you can go for a Pro, Air, or a mini. But there is also a ‘regular’ 9th generation iPad from 2021. In this article you can read why this is the best iPad for almost everyone.
Why the iPad 2021 is the best iPad
Apple’s iPad line consists of four different models: the iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini and the ‘regular’ iPad. At its annual September 2021 event, Apple confirmed that it is the most popular iPad.
The latest version of this regular model is the 9th-generation iPad from 2021. This iPad is not the most advanced, not the largest and also not the most handy. And yet most people opt for the iPad 2021. In this article we mention three reasons.
1. He is the cheapest
Do you want a lot of iPad, for as little money as possible? Then you arrive at the iPad 2021. With its starting price of 389 euros, the entry-level iPad is by far the cheapest tablet that Apple sells. Yes: also cheaper than the iPad mini 2021. The mini may be smaller, but it has a more powerful chip and a better camera.
These are the iPad prices as Apple currently charges them:
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro: from €1,219
- 11-inch iPad Pro: from €899
- iPad Air: from €698.50
- iPad mini: from € 559
- iPad 2021: from € 389
2. He’s more than good enough
The processor of the iPad 2021 is therefore less good than the iPad mini, but fast enough for almost everyone. Only if you demand a lot from your iPad – such as using intensive augmented reality apps, or working with dozens of layers in Photoshop – you reach its limits. But the 9th generation iPad also has muscles; In fact, Apple states that the 2021 iPad is six times faster than the best-running Android tablet. If you consider yourself an average user, this iPad is more than powerful enough.
The rear camera of the iPad 2021 (8 megapixels) is also not a standout. But we still take pictures with our iPhone, which has one or more better cameras on the back. The selfie camera may be more important, because we are increasingly making video calls. And that lens (an ultra-wide-angle 12 MP) is exactly the same as the iPad mini and the iPad Air.
3. He’s the only one with a home button
Of all the iPads that Apple still sells, the iPad 2021 is the only one with a home button. That home button has a Touch ID sensor that unlocks the iPad, and you also use the button to go back to the home screen, or open the app switcher.
With the other iPad models, the home button is not there and you use swipe gestures. This is very intuitive, but some iPad users prefer the old home button. The iPad 2021 is also the favorite iPad for this group.
When will the iPad 2022 come?
Almost every year Apple releases a new generation of the regular iPad; also expected in 2022. It will take a while until that successor comes: Apple will probably launch the tablet in September 2022 at the earliest.
Besides the iPad 2021, you can also go for its predecessor: the iPad 2020. The main difference is that the iPad 2021 has a much better selfie camera: 12 MP instead of 1.2 megapixels. Very nice if you use the iPad for video calling. The iPad 2020 also has a processor that is one year older: the A12 Bionic.
However, the price differences between the iPads are also small. If we look at the iPad 2020 price comparison, we see that the older tablet is at most five tens cheaper. In that case, we recommend going for the latest version, if only because it will be provided with software updates for at least a year longer.