For the past five years, I have been using an old iPad 2 at work. It was a great device for a long time. It did the basic things I needed it to handle. But like all devices, it had started to show its age. It had started to take forever to load apps, and most of the apps weren’t able to be updated. I was pleasantly surprised this year when I was able to upgrade to the new 10.2-inch iPad.

I’ve been able to use the new iPad and I have to say that it is a great device. The additions make this a really great entry into the ecosystem.

Bigger Screen

One of the biggest differences between this new iPad comes down to the screen size. With the release of this 7th-generation iPad, Apple has finally killed the 9.7-inch screen size. In its place is a new normal, a 10.2-inch screen.

The larger screen does cause the device to grow slightly. It is the same size as the 11-inch iPad Pro in body size. However, this 7th generation model still has the chin and forehead bezels of the non-pro models.

The extra screen space is great for the new iPadOS that ships on all iPads now. That’s because iPadOS brings a new home screen with widgets and smaller icons. It also brings new importance to split-screen and Slide Over apps. With the additions to the iPadOS, the extra screen space makes things much more pleasure able to use.

10.2-inches isn’t that much more space for split-screen, but it is much better than the previous 9.7 inches. That extra half an inch adds in the extra space when you do have two apps side by side. There is more space to see the apps themselves. Of course, I was using split screened apps like that on a 9.7-inch iPad Pro before I got the 11-inch model. It is doable, but every extra inch of space you can get just gives you room to breathe.

The best part is that you get the extra screen space without much change in body size. The 10.2 inches isn’t much larger than the 9.7-inch it replaces. It feels very similar in the hand to my previous iPad Pro model. If you were to hold the two iPads next to each other, there wouldn’t be that much of a difference. Of course, if you want to go smaller, you can still get the previous iPad on sale in some places.

Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard

Last year, the baseline model iPad was a great entry device. If you wanted to use the Apple Pencil you could. If you wanted a hardware keyboard though, you were stuck to Bluetooth.

The new 2019 iPad retains the Apple Pencil ability and adds a Smart Connector which allows you to add a keyboard.

Unfortunately, this iPad doesn’t use the new 2nd generation Apple Pencil, but the first. You’ll still need to plug the pencil into the iPad via the lightning connector. I think that the 2nd generation is a much better device, but if you want to save some money and don’t mind the archaic charging style, the 1st-generation Apple Pencil is still great for drawing and writing.

The keyboard is also the same Smart Keyboard as found on the new iPad Air 10.5. If you like to have a physical keyboard with you wherever you take your iPad this a great option. I use the Smart Keyboard Folio on my iPad Pro and I used the Smart Keyboard cover on my previous iPad Pro 9.7-inch. The keyboard does a great job, is very responsive, and is actually pretty reliable. With Apple’s options, you don’t have to worry about charging your keyboard as it draws power from the Smart Connector and the iPad itself.

The Drawbacks of the new iPad

There are two drawbacks to the new 10.2-inch iPad processor and camera.

Processor

Apple increased the screen size and added the Smart Connector but they didn’t update the processor from last year. That’s right, the new iPad is rocking an Apple-designed A10 processor from a few years ago. This processor is the same processor that the previous 9.7-inch model and from the iPhone 7 generation.

Luckily, the A10 can still pack a punch. It still runs iPadOS 13 like a champ and I didn’t notice any slow down. Of course, I haven’t been trying to edit video or photos on it. For basic needs, like social media apps and internet surfing, the 10.2-inch iPad is perfect. If you want something a little more powerful, you might look to upgrade to the iPad Air. The iPad Air has an A12 bionic chip inside it. It is the chip that was in last year’s iPhone XS and iPhone XR. It has more power than any iPad other than the Pros models.

Will the slower processor hold you back? Not right now. It is plenty fast and I expect it to run well for a few more years. However, Apple will probably stop supporting it sooner than the A12 chip.

Camera

The camera is pretty far behind the other models as well. Of course, if you are using your iPad for video, I would hope that you are using FaceTime and not recording video or collecting photos.

Still, it can record videos and take photos though. The images are usable, but they will appear more grainy than something shot on a newer iPhone. Videos will top out at 1080p at 60 frames per second. Again that is fine for most people. It is HD video, but other phones and iPads are now shooting in 4K.

If you are just planning to use it to shoot things around the house or use it for FaceTime, there’s nothing wrong with it. In fact, with the larger screen, you now have a larger viewfinder. Your friends and family will appear larger than ever before since the screen is larger.

The Best Feature

So you get extra screen space, the ability to attach a keyboard, but you’re still rocking an older camera and processor, so why should anyone buy this?

The Price.

This iPad starts at $329 and is the cheapest way to get Apple’s tablet device. If you are thinking about getting your first iPad or if you have an older device this is a no brainer upgrade. For everything that you actually get for the price, this is a steal.

My Final Thoughts on the New iPad

In my Buyer’s guide last year, I recommended most people get the standard iPad. That hasn’t changed with this year’s upgrade. The 10.2-inch iPad is one of the best deals that Apple currently offers.

I think this one can make a great starter computer for younger children or those wondering if they can start to move towards a tablet device versus a laptop. Of course, if you are ready to make the change, I would highly recommend the Pro version.

But for the price, this device is hard to beat.