Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Apple iPad (2021) review: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

The iPad 2021 is a pretty great tablet for the budget concious.
Apple iPad (2021)
MSRP $329.00
“The iPad 10.2 (2021) is the best iPad you can buy today. There are few discernable upgrades over the previous two generations, but if you don't have one, this is the one to get. If you do, there's no point in upgrading.”
Pros
  • Great battery life
  • Powerful internals
  • Big upgrade to the front-facing camera
  • Amazing software support
  • Base storage more acceptable at 64GB
Cons
  • Display doesn't get bright enough
  • Lightning port in 2021
  • Slow Touch ID sensor

If you’re shopping for a tablet, statistically speaking, you’re probably shopping for an iPad — and not just any iPad, but the mainstay 10.2-inch iPad. After all, there’s a reason Android tablets have not made much of a dent in the mobile computing space.

In 2019, Apple started getting really serious about iPads by spinning off iOS into iOS and iPadOS. Around that same time, your average, base-model iPad stopped changing from generation to generation. Sure, they got tiny spec bumps here and there, but if I handed you an iPad from any of the last three years, you would be hard-pressed to tell me which one you have in your hand.

For the most part, that’s fine. The base model iPad is arguably the best tablet you can buy on a budget. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, as the saying goes. So you get the same size screen, same Touch ID sensor, same size battery, and even the same chassis. You can seriously take your iPad 10.2 (2019) out of its case and slide in an iPad 10.2 (2021), and it will fit perfectly fine. I know because that’s what I did.

So rather than walk you through all the same parts of the same tablet we talked about last year (and the year before), I’ll go over what’s different. This is our (mostly) full review of the iPad 10.2 (2021).

Processor and performance

The iPad 2021 looks exactly like the last two generations of iPad.
Adam Doud/Digital Trends

The key upgrade to any generation of iPad comes in the processor. The iPad 10.2 (2021) carries an Apple A13 Bionic processor, which is the same processor that ran the iPhone 11 series of phones. Apple is nothing if not efficient. The new iPad is theoretically faster than its predecessor, but I didn’t find any notable improvements in terms of app launch speeds, gameplay, or multitasking switching. There may have been a half-second shaved off here or there, but there’s nothing to write home about here.

Of course, a newer processor allows for some more longevity. Your iPad is generally not something you need to upgrade every year, nor even every other year. The iPad is capable of pushing games like Asphalt 9 and Call of Duty: Mobile with ease. I found myself able to multitask easily, switching between windows for research and even using Sidecar to set up the iPad as a second screen for my M1 MacBook Air.

Base storage

The iPad 10.2 is great for reading.
Adam Doud/Digital Trends / Digital Trends

One very welcome change to the iPad 10.2 is the fact that storage now starts at 64GB. Previous generations started at 32GB, which is paltry. To be perfectly honest, 64GB isn’t a whole lot better. But of course, Apple wants to entice you to upgrade to the next level of storage, which is 256GB. Depending on deals, and your use case, that might be a good decision. My typical configuration usually sits at around 35GB or so, but another game or two can suck away the storage faster than you can say “Epic Games.”

If you’re using the iPad mostly for productivity tasks, or video consumption, 64GB might be OK for you. You’ll have to limit the number of movies you load up for your road trip, and in that respect, 64GB is still too small. But if it weren’t, there’d be no temptation to kick in that extra hundred to go to 256GB, now would there? Again, Apple is nothing if not efficient. Still, I appreciate the upgrade.

Front-facing camera

The iPad 2021 is great for surfing the web.
Adam Doud/Digital Trends / Digital Trends

While the cameras on the back of this tablet remain the same, the front-facing camera gets a big upgrade. The camera is a 12-megapixel 1080p camera, up from (not a typo) 1.2MP from last year. That’s right, that’s one-point-two megapixels. The new camera is also an ultrawide camera with a 122-degree field of view, which is what enables auto framing.

Auto framing is pretty cool, following you around the room as you walk and talk, or as you shift your grip on the iPad. The only problem with auto framing is it ratchets down the resolution quite a bit. With auto framing enabled, your picture is quite grainy, but when it comes to just taking selfies, the resolution is just fine.

That’s everything

The TouchID sensor on the iPad 2021 is about the same.
Adam Doud/Digital Trends

Someone reading this review might look at this list of differences between generations of iPad and wonder, “What’s the point in upgrading?” If there’s anything I can communicate to you about this iPad, it is that there is no point in upgrading. Even if you’re rocking an iPad 10.2 (2019), there’s probably little reason to upgrade.

The singular exception to that is the battery. A two-year-old iPad may start to have some battery life issues after going through two years of charge cycles. That would be about the only reason to upgrade at this point. The only other reason to upgrade would be if you live on FaceTime and you use an iPad for it. In that case, this iPad will give you a considerable upgrade.

The base model iPad is arguably the best tablet you can buy on a budget. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, as the saying goes.

None of that is to say that this is a bad tablet. Far from it. The point is, if you already have an iPad from the previous two years, you basically already have this tablet. There’s no reason to upgrade. But if you do decide to upgrade, you’ll be able to use all the same accessories with it, including cases, keyboards, and even screen covers. Which is probably my favorite part about it. There are so many mobile devices that have accessories built for that one device and nothing else. I don’t know if Apple was motivated by environmental concerns, or just a simple abundance of spare parts, but for whatever reason, this progression of iPads has that really wonderful side effect.

Price and availability

The iPad 2021 is the base model available right now. You can buy it just about anywhere including Amazon , and . It currently retails for $329, which is the same price as its two immediate predecessors.

Our take

The 9t- generation iPad looks and feels exactly the same as the previous two generations.
Adam Doud/Digital Trends

Put simply, the iPad 10.2 from any of the last three years is the best value tablet you can buy. Apple supports the heck out of these things from a software standpoint, and they have the power to spare. The only issues I have with the iPad 10.2 (2021) are the same issues I had with previous generations. The screen is not bright enough, the TouchID sensor is slow, and it still uses a Lightning connector. But there’s still a robust app ecosystem, moving into a new iPad is ridiculously easy, and at the risk of using a cliché, the iPad usually just works.

For common, everyday tasks, the iPad 10.2 is our first, last, and only recommendation.

If you’re in the market for a tablet, you’re probably in the market for an iPad. More expensive iPads have more power and more Pro-level accessories like the second-generation Apple Pencil, Magic Keyboard, etc. If you’re the kind of customer that needs that, you know it. But for common, everyday tasks, the iPad 10.2 is our first, last, and only recommendation.

Is there a better alternative?

For the money? No. Now that my review period is over, I’ll be switching back to the iPad Mini, which is a great size and just as powerful. But it also costs almost $200 more. If you just want a content consumption machine and nothing else, the Amazon Fire HD 8 is a nice little tablet that costs a fraction of the iPad. But in terms of value and power for the money, this is the only game in town.

How long will it last?

Apple supports its hardware for a long, long time in terms of software updates. If you put a case on the iPad and protect the screen, it’ll last you a long, long time, too. Apple covers the iPad with a one-year limited warranty. AppleCare, available for an extra cost, will usually get you two years of “just about anything” coverage, though there may be additional charges for repairs.

Should I buy it?

Yes. Dollar for dollar, this is the best tablet you can buy, if you don’t need Pro-level stuff. With this iPad, you can watch content, do some light video/photo editing, get work done, and more. It’s a very versatile device that can find its way into your life somehow. It doesn’t cost a whole lot either. But, if you already have an iPad 10.2 from 2020, or 2019, there’s no real upgrade here. Stick with what you have.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Adam Doud
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Adam had been writing in the tech space for nearly a decade. When not hosting the Benefit of the Doud podcast, he can be…
iPhone Flip: what we know about Apple’s first foldable phone
Folding iPhone concept from iOS Beta News.

In the past few years, Samsung has become one of the leading manufacturers of foldable devices, including the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5. Though it's not the only brand making foldable devices, it offers the most mainstream and available options, especially in the U.S. That leads to the question of whether Apple will follow suit with a foldable iPhone — or even an iPad.

There have been long-standing rumors that Apple could be working on such a device, including a foldable iPhone, which we'll call "iPhone Flip" for now. Apple's a secretive company, so there may very well be at least some research and development taking place on such a device. But, of course, this continues to just be all speculation for now. From the latest news, rumors, and reports, here's everything we know so far about Apple's folding iPhone.
iPhone Flip: design and display

Read more
Nomad’s new iPhone accessory is unlike anything you’ve seen before
Personal taking iPhone 15 Pro out of pocket with Rustic Brown Nomad Magnetic Leather Back attached.

Well-known leather case maker Nomad has a pair of sleek and elegant iPhone cases ready to adorn your iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max in time for Valentine’s Day.

Known for its quality leather cases, Nomad has long been a favorite of those who want to dress up their iPhone with a bit of style, and its two latest accessories mark the return of a fan favorite — plus something entirely different and unquestionably cool. They're definitely the most stylish among the roster of the best iPhone 15 Pro cases. 
The Magnetic Leather Back is something else

Read more
Apple’s mythical folding iPhone might soon become a reality
Foldable iPhone in hand.

It looks like Apple is finally shifting its foldable iPhone project into the next gear. “Apple is building prototypes of at least two iPhones that fold widthwise like a clamshell,” according to a report by The Information that cites an unnamed internal source.
But before you get your hopes up, do keep in mind that a clamshell-style foldable iPhone won’t arrive until 2025 based on the earliest estimates. Meanwhile, three other insiders confided to the publication that there's a bit of a snag when it comes to the price tag and allure for potential buyers.
Apparently, a foldable iPhone would come with a heftier cost, and, in a plot twist, Apple is still scratching its head as it tries to figure out what magical features could possibly convince consumers to open their wallets for this expensive novelty.
iPhone 折叠全球首发!「科技美学」iPhoneV first iPhone foldable iPhone fold iPhone flip iPhone folding@KJMX
Maybe a foldable iPhone with two distinct halves on the screen will finally convince Apple to allow split-screen multitasking. But this is a project still in development, which means it could meet the same fate as the never-released AirPower charging mat. The insider source also hinted that Apple might just scrap the whole endeavor if it fails to live up to its sky-high quality standards.
The report suggests that Apple's industrial design squad aimed for the stars, envisioning a device so slim that it makes the current iPhone look almost chunky by comparison. They dreamt of a gadget that, even when folded, wouldn't feel like carrying a brick. They reportedly toyed with the idea of outward-facing screens for easy peeks without the hassle of opening the device.
Yet, the mundane reality of pesky components like batteries and screens has somewhat clipped the wings of these grand designs. On the positive side, Apple has reportedly approached at least one supply chain partner to source components for the foldable iPhone project.

Apple is apparently on a quest to conquer the infamous folding-screen crease, aspiring to a seamless display that doesn’t pucker up after a bit of bending. Apple is after that perfect, flat surface where users can scribble away with an Apple Pencil without navigating a mini valley in the middle of the screen.
Achieving that crease-free foldable screen nirvana won’t be an easy task. It took Samsung a few product generations before it could find a balance between durability and flexibility for the inner foldable panel thanks to its ultrathin glass (UTG) tech. Instead of plastic, this solution sides with a very thin layer of flexible glass and can now be found inside devices such as the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
In 2021, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that the foldable iPhone could have a roughly 8-inch screen, but that doesn’t seem to be particularly palm-friendly for a clamshell-style foldable. Kuo also had predicted that a foldable could arrive by 2023, but that didn’t happen, of course.

Read more