After the launch of the 10th generation iPad, the most normal thing for Apple to do would have been to remove the 9th generation from the market, however this has not been the case, causing many users to doubt whether to buy one or the other. Well, in this post we are going to tell you all their differences, so that you can decide for yourself which one is more worth it.
Characteristic
Before starting to talk about the differences and similarities that these two iPad models have, we want you to know what their main characteristics are, since in this way you will be able to understand much better how each of them affects the experience that you could have with both devices. . For this we leave you the following table.
| Characteristic | iPad 10th generation | iPad 9th generation |
|---|---|---|
| Colors | -Silver -Yellow -Pink -Blue |
-Silver -Space gray |
| Dimensions | -Height: 24.86 cm -Width: 7″ -Thickness: 0.70 cm |
-Height: 25.06 cm -Width: 17.41 cm -Thickness: 0.75cm |
| Weight | -WiFi version: 477 grams -WiFi + Cellular version: 481 grams |
-WiFi version: 487 grams -WiFi + Cellular version: 498 grams |
| Screen | 10.9-inch Liquid Retina (IPS) | 10.2-inch IPS Retina with Anti-fingerprint coating and True Tone technology |
| Resolution | 2,360 x 1,640 at 264 pixels per inch | 2,160 x 1,620 at 264 pixels per inch and 500 nits brightness |
| Brightness | Up to 500 nits (typical) | Up to 500 nits (typical) |
| refresh rate | 60hz | 60hz |
| Speakers | 2 stereo speakers | two |
| Processor | A14 Bionic with 16-core Neural Engine | A13 Bionic with 8-core Neural Engine |
| RAM | 8GB | 3GB |
| Frontal camera | 12 Mpx ultra-wide-angle lens with f/2.4 aperture | 12MP ultra-wide angle lens with f/2.4 aperture |
| rear cameras | -12 Mpx wide angle with f/1.8 aperture | 8 Mpx wide angle with f/2.4 aperture |
| connectors | -USB-C -Smart Connector |
lightning |
| Biometric systems | Touch ID | Touch ID |
| SIM card | In WiFi + Cellular version: Nano SIM and eSIM | In WiFi + Cellular version: -Nano SIM -eSIM |
| Connectivity in all versions | -Wifi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax); 2.4 and 5GHz; simultaneous dual band; speeds up to 1.2 Gb/s -MIME -Bluetooth 5.0 -GSM/EDGE -UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA -5G (sub-6GHz) -Gigabit LTE (up to 32 bands) -GPS/GNSS integrated -Calls via Wi-Fi |
-Bluetooth 4.2 -WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac; 2.4 and 5 GHz with speeds up to 866 Mb/s -WiFi + Cellular versions with Gigabit class LTE up to 27 bands. |
| Official Accessories Compatibility | -Magic Keyboard Folio -Apple Pencil (2nd gen.) |
-Apple Pencil (1st gen.) -Smart Keyboard |
Main differences
Once you know what are the main characteristics of both the 10th generation iPad and the 9th generation iPad, it is time to fully enter into the differences that separate them since these will be the ones that mark the decision of users to buy. , so if you are hesitating between these two models, take good note.
Design
The first thing that stands out when putting these two iPads face to face is the design. The 9th generation iPad has been the last in Apple’s history to have the traditional Apple design that it has used for its devices for so many years. It is mainly characterized by two reasons, very pronounced black or white frames, and the presence of Touch ID at the bottom.
For its part, the 10th generation iPad already adopts the design of other models such as the iPad mini, iPad Air and iPad Pro. An all-screen front, where it is true that the frames are not as thin as those of the model Pro, but where the screen is used much more to get more screen size in the same body. Without a doubt, it is a really attractive design that delights all users.
Obviously, the design itself is something aesthetic and if we talk about the image that these two models have, we also have to talk about the different finishes in which they are available, since there is also a big difference here. While the 9th generation iPad is only available in two different colors, the 10th generation has as many as 4 options. We leave them below.
- iPad 9th generation
- space grey.
- Silver.
- iPad 10th generation
- Silver.
- Pink.
- Blue.
- Yellow.
Screen
One of the consequences caused by the change in design is also the change in the screen of the 10th generation iPad compared to the 9th generation. It goes from having a 10.2-inch screen to having a size of 10.9 inches , that is, the same as the one with the iPad Air. However, this is not the only difference as the technology is also slightly modified. The iPad 9 has a Retina True Tone display while the iPad 10 is a Liquid Retina True Tone.
Obviously, neither of them is the best screen that you will find on an iPad , in fact, they have a common characteristic and that is that when writing with the Apple Pencil, which we will also talk about later, the user can appreciate how Between the glass and what is really the screen there is a small gap. However, it is a very suitable panel for the type of users this iPad is aimed at, as well as for consuming multimedia content and enjoying it a lot.
Accessories
In order to get the most out of an iPad, you always have to surround it with the best possible accessories, and without a doubt, this is a point that can make the difference when choosing between one device or another. Let’s start by talking about the different official Apple accessories. The first, and surely the most controversial of all, is the Apple Pencil , and that is that those from Cupertino have kept the 1st generation in this model, with an added problem, and that is that this 10th generation iPad has USB-C, while both the Apple Pencil and the iPad 9 feature Lightning. Therefore, while in the 9th generation you will be able to directly connect the pen to its port, to charge it and connect it to the 10th generation you will have to use an adapter and a cable.
Focusing now on the keyboard, we must highlight the presence of the new Magic Keyboard Folio in the iPad 10, while the iPad 9 is compatible with the Smart Keyboard. There are two big differences between these two keyboards, one the mechanism they use, and two, the presence of the trackpad in the Magic Keyboard Folio, making the iPad practically “like a computer”, something that many users will have to value positively. .
We have left the most important thing for last, and that is that as we have advanced a few lines above, the 10th generation iPad finally incorporates the USB-C port , which opens up a huge range of possibilities for this device. In this way, users will have the possibility of connecting practically all the accessories they want to this iPad, either through the port itself or using a USB-C Hub.
Frontal camera
This is one of the most curious differences between these two iPads, and it is that although the camera that both devices have is really the same, a 12 Mpx wide angle with f/2.4 aperture and centered framing , there is a substantial difference when it comes to locating it on the iPad itself. While in the iPad 9 it is located at the top of the device , if we put it vertically, in the iPad 10 it is on the side .
This movement by the Cupertino company responds to the use that users usually make of this iPad when making video calls, and the truth is that the most normal thing is to put the iPad horizontally, which is then when the camera on the iPad 10 It is on the top and not on the side as it would be on the iPad 9 and other models. In short, if you want to have the camera in the center, you have to put the iPad 9 vertically while the iPad 10 horizontally.
How are they alike?
Well, we have already told you about the differences between these two iPad models, however, the user experience that you will have with both not only affects the differential points, but also the similarities found between them. This is exactly what we want to talk about in this part of the post.
Power
Neither of the two iPads shines because of the power they have inside, now at no time will you notice that the iPad is slow in carrying out the daily tasks that it is called upon to perform. The iPad 9 has the A13 Bionic chip , while the iPad 10 has its evolution, the A14 Bionic chip , and both are far from the M1 or M2 found in the iPad Air or iPad Pro, and that’s because they are really designed for different users.
The fact that they do not have the latest Apple processors does not mean that these iPads cannot carry out the vast majority of actions for which the iPads are designed. You will be able to create documents without any problem, edit photos or even edit a small video clip. Of course, if what you want is an iPad to carry out professional work with apps that require a lot of power, these two may not be the most suitable for it.
Size
The size is another point in which these two iPad models are very similar, and that is that despite the fact that they have screens with different sizes, the design change that the iPad 10 has undergone means that in proportions it can be very similar to this iPad 9, in fact the dimensions are really similar.
For two iPad models that are designed for students and their use on the move, they have the ideal size , since they are really comfortable to transport, whether in a bag, backpack or suitcase. In addition, when using them both with a keyboard and with the Apple Pencil, the size is also very nice.
unlock method
Surely some users who first see these two iPad models may think that the way to unlock the device has changed, however this is not the case, since what has changed is the location of the Touch ID , which is the method that both iPad use to unlock, in addition to the traditional security code, of course.
The iPad 9 keeps it, as is tradition, in the start button located on the front of it, however, the iPad 10, by adopting an all-screen design, has had to relocate the Touch ID to the lock button located at the top of the device, being very accessible both for those who use it vertically and horizontally.
Price
We have reached a key point in the comparison and it is the price that users will have to pay to be able to acquire both models. And it is that the iPad 10 is no longer so much the cheap iPad as the iPad 9 was sold before. For all those who want to buy the 9th generation iPad, they have to know that its basic version, that is, the 64 GB version, is 429 euro .
On the other hand, the 10th generation iPad has made a jump in price, as it has also done in performance, now starting at 579 euros in its basic version, that is, the 64 GB version. Therefore, when purchasing one or the other, each user will have to assess what their needs are, what they are going to want to do with their new iPad and if it is really worth paying for one or the other.
Which is more worth it?
Whenever we carry out this type of comparison, at the end we like to tell you what is the point of view of the ITIGIC writing team. Of course, you have to take into account that this is our opinion, and as we have commented before, to finish making a decision, we recommend that you take into account your needs and what each of the models offers.
For all those users who want an iPad to browse the internet and view multimedia content without having to invest a lot of money, without a doubt the most suitable iPad for them is the 9th generation iPad , since otherwise they would not take advantage of the aspects that the iPad 10 has improved with respect to this.
Now, if what you want is an iPad to work but you have a limited budget, without a doubt the best one is the 10th generation iPad for all the advantages it has over the iPad 9, and that it has gone up in price. But it is that the inclusion of the USB-C port and the possibility of using the Magic Keyboard fill this iPad with possibilities.