At 389 euros, the iPad (2019) is the cheapest iPad you can buy. Do you do well with that or are you better off with a more expensive tablet? We find out in this iPad 2019 review.
iPad (2019)
Price From € 389,-Colors silver, gray, gold
Screen 10.2 inch LCD (2160x1620)
Processor 2.34GHz Hex Core (Apple A10)
Random access memory 3GB
Storage 32GB or 128GB
Battery 8827 mAh
Camera 8 megapixels
Dimensions 25 x 17.4 x 0.75 cm
Weight 483 (Wi-Fi version) or 493 (4G version) grams
Website www.apple.com 7 Score 70
- Pros
- Solid housing
- Smooth hardware
- Long battery life
- iPad OS and Update Policy
- Negatives
- Outdated design with lightning port
- Screen quality not improved
- Entry-level model has little storage space
- Charging battery takes a long time
Apple presented and launched the iPad (2019) in September for 389 euros. For that money you get the WiFi version with 32GB storage memory. The 128GB model costs 489 euros. A 32GB 4G version is sold for 529 euros, the 128GB version is another hundred euros more expensive. Apple sent us the latter model with two separately available accessories, the Smart Keyboard (179 euros) and the first generation Apple Pencil (99 euros).
Last year's 32GB WiFi model, the iPad (2018), came out for 359 euros and is now for sale from 329 euros. In this review we take a closer look at the 2019 model and compare it with its predecessor, among other things.
Familiar but old-fashioned design
Place the iPad 2019 next to the one from 2018 and only one thing really stands out: the size. With its 10.2-inch screen, the 2019 model is larger than last year's 9.7-inch version. The extra screen space is nice when you use the tablet, but it also makes it slightly larger and fourteen grams heavier. In all other respects, the exterior of the latest iPad is the same as its predecessor. The edges around the screen are large, the bottom edge has a good fingerprint scanner and there are reasonable cameras on the front and back. The tablet still has a lightning port and no USB-C like the iPad Pro. At the bottom are still nice-sounding stereo speakers and on the top you will find the 3.5mm headphone jack. The metal housing is well finished and feels sturdy. In other words, the iPad (2019) is a typical iPad. There is nothing wrong with that, but the design now looks dated, especially compared to other tablets.
Screen is not improved
More disturbing is that the larger screen has not been improved compared to the (cheaper) iPad (2018). The display looks sharp enough (2160 x 1620 pixels), but the maximum brightness is still quite low at 500 cd/m2. The screen is therefore more difficult to read in brighter (sun)light. In addition, the display is again not laminated, so you notice that there is a layer of air between the touch-sensitive layer and the actual screen. The screen attracts a lot of fingerprints and lacks an anti-reflective layer, which makes the image more reflective. Unlike the iPad (2018), the 2019 model cannot display the full sRGB standard. This affects the color rendering, although it is still good enough. ProMotion and TrueTone, two fine screen technologies of more expensive iPads, are understandably not present on the iPad (2019). All in all, the screen is fine, but clearly a part that Apple has cut back on. If you want a better display, you can buy the iPad Air (3rd generation) for 525 euros.
Smart Keyboard
Following the iPad Pro series and iPad Air (3rd generation), the iPad (2019) has been given a Smart Connector connection. This is on the left side and is intended to connect Apple's own Smart Keyboard. The keyboard costs 179 euros and also works with the iPad Air (3rd generation) because the tablets have the same dimensions.
The accessory is attached to the tablet via a small magnetic closure. That's fine with normal use, but if you apply some force, the cover will come off quickly. Folded closed, the keyboard cover only protects the screen of the iPad. The rest of the housing is therefore vulnerable to scratch and fall damage. It is nice that the screen turns off automatically when you close the cover, and turns on again when you unfold the cover. It is also handy that the keyboard receives power via the Smart Connector. So you never have to charge the battery.
When typing, the iPad is tilted upwards against the keyboard via a magnetic closure. The viewing angle is nice and the keyboard taps better than I thought beforehand. The keys have quite a bit of travel; so you can push them pretty far. The keyboard does bounce up and down while typing and if you have longer nails, they scratch the keys. Remarkably enough, the keyboard has no additional function keys in addition to a full row of numbers. A number of competing keyboard covers (for other iPads) do have such keys, allowing you to directly control things like screen brightness, volume and search function. Apple's Smart Keyboard also lacks backlighting. The keys are therefore barely visible in a dark room.
I think the Smart Keyboard has quite a few drawbacks and therefore do not understand the high price of 179 euros. Competitive keyboard covers from Logitech, for example, have a better price-quality ratio.
Apple Pencil
Like the iPad (2018), the 2019 version iPad works with the separately available first-generation Apple Pencil from 2015. This stylus pen costs 99 euros and is also compatible with the more expensive iPad Air (3rd generation). The second-generation Pencil only works with the iPad Pro.
With the pressure-sensitive, Bluetooth pen you can draw and write accurately and with a small input delay in all kinds of creativity and productivity apps from Apple, Adobe and Microsoft, among others. That works well, but less than the second-generation Pencil with the iPad Pro. Also note that you cannot attach the stylus pen to the iPad (or the Smart Keyboard). You have to take it with you separately or buy a cover with storage function.
The battery of the Pencil lasts about eleven hours, which is nice and long. You charge the stylus pen by removing the cap on the back and inserting it into the lightning port of the iPad. That sounds convenient, but it isn't. You can hardly use the tablet and have to be careful not to damage or break the pen. Fortunately, the Pencil box also contains a lightning adapter that you click on the back of the pen. For example, you can charge the battery via a regular lightning cable and that only takes half an hour.
Hardware
Not only the design of the iPad (2019) is reminiscent of its predecessor. The specifications are also familiar. The tablet has the same A10 Fusion processor and the battery capacity is also identical with 8827 mAh. The latter is special because the screen has grown from 9.7 to 10.2 inches, but Apple claims the same battery life of ten hours. Over two days I was able to use the iPad (2019) for about 8.5 hours before it was empty. Like its predecessor, the tablet comes with a fairly slow 10W charger that takes about four hours to charge the battery. As mentioned before, this still goes through the well-known lightning connection. The entry-level model also still has 32GB of storage space that you can't expand. There is also a more expensive 128GB model for sale. Both versions are also available as a WiFi+4G version.
Is there anything else at all? Yes, iFixit discovered after opening the iPad. The new model has 3GB of RAM, compared to 2GB in the 2018 model. The extra RAM should benefit performance, especially when switching between recently used apps and games. I haven't been able to make a direct comparison with last year's iPad, but the 2019 version is running smoothly. Apps launch quickly, web pages load without significant delay, and you can quickly switch between recent apps and games. Heavy games run less smoothly, you notice that the iPad (2019) is less powerful than more expensive models.
iPad OS
In September, Apple released iPadOS 13, the latest software version for its tablets. The iPad (2018) received iPadOS via an update, the 2019 version comes standard with iPadOS. In principle, it will receive software support for a year longer than the 2018 model.
iPadOS is based on iOS 13 – from the iPhone – and optimized for the iPad's larger screen and optional keyboard. Anyone familiar with iOS can get used to iPadOS 13 after five minutes. If the iPad (2019) is your first (Apple) tablet, you may need half an hour. The software is very user-friendly, offers plenty of options and the App Store contains all the apps and games you need. Read all about iPadOS here. One thing that bothers me personally is that Apple puts dozens of its own apps on the iPad that not everyone uses. Some apps also take up a lot of space. Think GarageBand (1.71GB), iMovie (700MB) and Keynote (600MB). Fortunately, you can remove these apps if desired via the settings of the tablet.
Free Apple TV+
A nice extra is that when you buy the iPad (2019), you get free access to Apple TV+ for a year. This video streaming service will be available from November 1 and normally costs 4.99 euros per month. By the way, you also get an annual subscription as a gift when you purchase any other iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Apple TV or Mac.
Conclusion: buy iPad 2019?
The Apple iPad (2019) has a solid design, excellent screen, good battery life and smooth hardware. With iPadOS you are also assured of fine software and years of updates. You can't go wrong with this iPad. Still, we secretly expected more from the tablet. It is tens of euros more expensive than its predecessor, but offers hardly any improvements. A little more RAM, support for a keyboard and a slightly larger screen, then you've got it. Unfortunately, the screen quality has not improved, the design has not been updated and the well-known A10 processor is now three years old. In addition, the entry-level model – despite the price increase – still only has 32GB of storage space.
The iPad Air (3rd generation) has a newer processor, twice the storage memory, and a better screen. The improvements are reflected in the price: the iPad (2019) is available from 389 euros, while the cheapest iPad Air (3rd generation) changes hands for 549 euros. With an eye on the screen and the future, I would personally save for the Air. If you don't want that, it's good to know that the iPad (2019) is an affordable and 'just good' tablet.
