iPad (2019): Cheapest Now Bigger [REVIEW]

Apple has continued to reinvent the iPad to keep it up to date in sales and especially because Tim Cook (Apple CEO) said back in 2015 that the iPad would eventually end up being the replacement for the PC, something that remains to be seen. Meanwhile, it continues to adjust the PC formula to offer a more rounded and, above all, more versatile product with one main characteristic: The price. Far from the Pro range and the Air range, the traditional iPad continues to offer a quality/price ratio that makes it very attractive. Discover with our in-depth analysis the 2019-inch iPad (10,2), the iPad is cheaper and it is also bigger.

Design: Made in Apple

The Cupertino company has only slightly tweaked this iPad since its launch at the design level. We have the classic frames, with a complete aluminum back where only the company logo, a camera and the review "iPad" shine. Meanwhile, on the front we have the Touch ID button, a selfie camera and absolutely nothing. The arrangement of the volume buttons on the right side and the "power" button in the upper area remain unchanged with the passage of time. All this leaves us with proportions of 250 x 174,5 x 7,5 millimeters.

• Weight: 483 grams
• Size: 250 x 174,5 x 7,5 millimeters

As for the front panel we are 10,2 inches, we have grown from the 9,7 inches that the iPad has been dragging since its launch. So Apple takes the opportunity to unify the screen with respect to its older brother the iPad Air, which has almost identical proportions. Regarding the weight, we find 483 grams, which does not make it a particularly light product, but it feels solid and comfortable to regular use. We do have a 3,5mm Jack connector at the top, not so with USB-C at the bottom, where Apple's proprietary Lightning connector continues to command.

Technical characteristics

This iPad boasts 3GB of RAM, a 32GB base storage that can only be exchanged for the 128GB version (without the possibility of expansion) and mounts the Apple A10 Fusion processor, an improved version of the A10 that the iPhone 7 Plus mounted at the time and that matches the processor of its predecessor, the sixth generation iPad (2018). This however is not necessarily a fault, although Apple could have stretched more, the power has proven to be sufficient.

They have decided to bet on other improvements such as the size of the screen. As for security, we stay with Touch ID, nothing about the popular Face ID that remains restricted for Pro products and iPhones. In our tests the iPad has been light even running iPadOS 13.4, the latest version available, with no limitations in demanding applications like Pixelmator and the Logitech Crayon smart pen.

An outstanding multimedia section

This iPad costs relatively little, however, that is not the feeling we perceive from its 10,2 ″ screen with 2160 x 1620 resolution (264 dpi). Despite being an LCD panel, we know Apple's track record in adjusting it, outstanding in all aspects. The sound stands out for its stereo system from the bottom, powerful and clear. Another pair of speakers is missing on the other side, but that is once again restricted to the 'Pro' range.

We also find weak points, the first is that we do not have a laminated panel, that is, we have a small air chamber between the glass and the LCD panel, the iPad Air 2 was the last iPad with this feature and the "cheap versions of the iPad" no longer have this system. It is cheaper to repair but with this absence and that of the «True Tone» we lose some integer. However, once again we find an excellent quality-price tandem. We take the opportunity to talk about the cameras now, a 5MP front with 720p resolution and an 8MP rear with 1080p resolution that will simply get us out of the way for videoconferences, the Measurement application or document scanning, without any more fanfare.

Connectivity and autonomy: The Ying and Yang

It stands out that now the cheapest iPad also includes Smart Connector on its side, which allows us to add external devices such as the Smart Keyboard or the new Logitech keyboard cover that also includes a trackpad. This opens the range of possibilities of the iPad especially in this regard.

Where we find the "negative" point is in the absence of USB-C, while in the iPad Pro it is present in this iPad (2019) we feel tied to the Lightning connector again that continues to offer us a 12W max load (with the included adapter). This limits the possibilities when it comes to connecting external devices as storage sources and thus take advantage of the powerful Files application that iPadOS includes. We do not forget that this iPad is fully compatible with the first generation Apple Pencil (not so with the second one).

User experience

The enormous battery of the iPad and the management that iPadOS 13.4 makes of it allows us working days. We must continue to consider this iPad as the main tool to consume content, it is comfortable with Netflix, Disney + and other platforms, but it does not get down on Word, Pixelmator and other applications dedicated entirely to content creation. We must remember that this iPad thanks to iPadOS 13.4 allows us to connect external devices through Bluetooth such as keyboards and mice.

It is still one of the best products in relation to quality / price that Apple maintains in its catalog, we can get it from 356 euros on websites like Amazon, despite the fact that the unit tested has cost us 233 euros in a specific temporary offer. Remember that this product is available in both space gray and silver and pink, in two basic storage sizes of 32GB and 128GB and in a version only with WiFi and another that also includes LTE connectivity via eSIM. This iPad has grown and is appreciated in these times, the experience has been quite satisfactory and it is especially recommended to consume content at home, to accompany students thanks to its alternatives with keyboard and mouse and for those who require a plus of mobility on a reduced budget.