Recently, Apple presented the new 9.7-inch iPad. The presentation took place in a school, which gives the impression that this iPad is mainly intended for education. Will the new iPad get a ten with a stylus? We were allowed to extensively test the new iPad including Apple Pencil.
9.7-inch iPad (2018)
PriceOur model: 579 euros
From: 359 euros
OS
iOS 11
Processor
A10 Fusion chip
RAM
2GB
Storage
32GB, 128GB
Screen
9.7-inch, 4:3 ratio, 1536 x 2018 pixels, LED backlight IPS LCD display
Camera
8 MP, f/2.4 (front) 1.2 MP, f/2.2 (rear)
Connectivity
Wi-Fi; dual band, Bluetooth 4.2 (All models) GSM/EDGE, LTE, GPS and GLONASS (WiFi + Celullar only) Lightning connector
Battery
Li-Ion battery (32.4 Wh), up to 10 hours of surfing the web, watching videos or listening to music
Dimensions
24 x 16.95 x 0.75 cm (H x W x D)
Weight
469 grams (WiFi), 478 grams (WiFi + Cellular)
Colour
Silver, Gold, Space Gray
Other
Fingerprint scanner, two speakers at the bottom
Website
www.apple.com
To buy
www.kieskeurig.nl 8 Score 80
- Pros
- Enough computing power for many tasks
- Support Apple Pencil
- Price
- Negatives
- No laminated screen
- Thick screen edges
The design of the iPad is unchanged and that's not surprising. Where Android tablets can differ, the iPad is a true concept in terms of design. With the 'word' tablet, many people will think of an iPad, with its rounded edges and the iconic round fingerprint scanner under the screen. The biggest cosmetic difference with the larger iPad Pro models can be found at the back. The 8 megapixel camera does not protrude from the housing and that ensures a nice sleek whole.
Razor sharp and a bit old-fashioned
Just like the previous iPad, the screen is razor sharp thanks to the high resolution of 2048 x 1536. As we are used to from Retina, the colors splash off the screen. True Tone is also this time not present with the regular iPad, that function remains reserved for the iPad Pro. Unfortunately, this iPad – just like the previous one – is also not equipped with a laminated screen. Strangely enough, the iPad Air 2 did have a laminated screen, where the display is glued to the glass.
The absence of a laminated screen is particularly noticeable when using the Apple Pencil, which during use clearly 'floats' above the display due to the space between the display and the glass. After a few days you get used to it, but especially if you are used to it, it is not a pleasant first impression.
The iPads from the iPad Pro line are currently the only models with a laminated screen. Unfortunately, the cheapest iPad Pro with a price tag of $737.91 is more than twice as expensive as the new 9.7-inch iPad. What I also miss compared to the 10.5-inch iPad Pro are the thinner screen bezels. I understand that Apple wants to reduce costs, but the new iPad does feel a bit outdated in 2018 because of those wide strips at the edges of the screen.
Affordable Horsepower
The new 9.7-inch iPad is equipped with the A10 Fusion chip, which we also find in the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. It is a somewhat older chip, but we have to say that this processor is strong enough for most tasks. Everything works smoothly and the iPad can even handle 4K material editing. There is only a delay when opening dozens of tabs and applications. Those are the moments when you notice that the iPad only contains 2 GB of RAM. As efficient as iOS is, when running multiple heavy programs, 4 GB that the iPad Pro has is not a superfluous luxury.
Of course it depends on what you use the iPad for, but many users will be fine with the standard storage capacity of 32 GB. Prefer a little more space around your hands? The upgrade to a model with 128 GB will cost you only 90 euros. Fortunately, Apple has finally been charging reasonable prices for memory upgrades in recent years. At the time of the iPhone 6, you paid 100 euros more for a model with 64 GB instead of 16 GB.
Conclusion
When testing the new iPad of 2018, it is clear that Apple has been saving a lot. The result? No Smart Connector, no laminated screen and the thick screen bezels feel almost retro. On the other hand, because of this you now have an iPad from 359 euros. With such a price tag, the new 9.7-inch iPad is instantly the most affordable iPad you can buy and also the best value for money in terms of features and processing power. The iPad Pro twice as expensive is nowhere near twice as good, and the 128GB iPad mini 4 – with a smaller screen and much older processor – is only a tenner cheaper than the new iPad with the same memory configuration. Is the new iPad so bizarrely cheap, or is the iPad mini in 2018 laughably expensive?
The iPad is actually the only product that has delivered on the promise of the tablet as a laptop replacement for many consumers, especially with the arrival of iOS 11. Android tablets are mainly used in the hands of children and are mainly used for entertainment and entertainment. games. Chrome OS has only recently been optimized by Google to be fully touch-operated, so we'll have to wait and see how productive that platform becomes. Are you currently looking for a productive tablet? The new 9.7-inch iPad is a blind buy, both in terms of value for money and lack of competition.
