If you’re looking for a more affordable iPad than a cutting-edge one, Amazon has the base 2021 model for just $199. While it’s a generation behind the current version, this ninth-generation edition could be ideal for kids, seniors, or those who want a HomeKit-based smart home hub.
Apple
The three-year-old model remains a solid tablet for anyone who’s happy to forgo the latest and greatest hardware. The ninth-generation iPad features a 10.2-inch Retina display and Apple’s old Home button-based Touch ID sensor. It runs on the A13 Bionic chip, which has a six-core CPU, quad-core GPU, and eight-core Neural Engine. This isn’t the model to choose if you want blazing-fast speeds, the most stunning display, or the next Apple Intelligence, but it’s hard to fault any of that too much when you look at the price.
According to Engadget’s 2021 review, this model is a “modest update” over the previous version. Nathan Ingraham described it as “a fast, lightweight tablet with a beautiful display and tons of apps, without having to spend too much money.” In our battery test, we found that it exceeded Apple’s 10-hour estimate, with about 14 hours of video streaming.
This model runs iPadOS 17 and will support iPadOS 18 when it launches this fall. It’s unclear how many annual updates it will get after that, but the upcoming 2024 software will still run on two generations of hardware behind this model, suggesting it may not be end of life yet.
It’s also well-suited for video chat, and its 12MP ultra-wide front camera supports Center Stage. Apple’s machine learning feature tracks your face and that of anyone else in the shot, adjusting the framing of the call accordingly with automatic pans and zooms.
If you want to add accessories for a more laptop-like experience, the ninth-generation iPad is compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil and the Apple Smart Keyboard.
It’s worth keeping in mind that this model uses a Lightning connector rather than the USB-C that Apple has been moving its product line toward. It includes a charger in the box, but you might want to consider it if you’ve already thrown out all your old Lightning cables. On the other hand, some might consider it a bonus that it still includes Apple’s now-defunct headphone jack.
