Apple’s baseline iPad is getting a big upgrade this year for its 10th generation. The 2022 iPad has a new design, a bigger screen, a faster chip, and bold new color options. It also starts at $449, so it got a price bump over last year’s model. It’s available to preorder now (see it on Amazon), and it ships October 26. Let’s dive into the specifics.
Preorder the New 10th Generation 10.9-inch iPad
The new iPad looks quite different from the previous baseline iPads — its design is more in line with the iPad Air. It has a bigger 10.9-inch screen (last year’s was 10.2 inches). That’s because the home button is gone, so swiping up from the bottom is how you close apps now. The Touch ID sensor is now located in the power button on the side of the device.
Another obvious change is the color options. The 2022 iPad is available in four great-looking colors: silver, blue, pink, and yellow. Makes you want to live dangerously and not put it in a case. You can get it in 64GB or 256GB configurations, and with Wi-Fi only, or Wi-Fi + cellular capabilities.
A less obvious — but very welcome — change is that Apple has finally ditched the proprietary Lighting port in favor of a more, uh, universal USB-C port. That means you can charge it with the same cable you use to charge most of your other modern devices.
Powering the new iPad is Apple’s A14 Bionic chip, a step up over last year’s model. It’s not nearly as fast as the chip in the also-just-announced 2022 iPad Pro, which runs on the super-beefy M2. But it’ll suit you just fine for typical tablet needs for years to come.
The FaceTime camera has shifted from the narrower side of the bezel to the wider side. That way you can have more natural video calls while the device is horizontal, as it usually is when watching a video or making video calls.
2022 iPad Accessories
Apple has also ditched the headphone jack. This isn’t a surprise, as the company got rid of it long ago on the iPhone. It’s also not surprising because Apple would very much like to sell you a pair of AirPods. As for other accessories, the 2022 iPad works with the first-generation Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard Folio.
Normally when Apple does the annual update thing on its devices, it gets rid of the previous model. That’s not the case this time. Presumably to keep an iPad with a lower price point on the market, last year’s model will remain in production. It also just so happens to be on sale at Amazon for the all-time low price of $269, making it a much more affordable alternative for those who want a great tablet but don’t want to drop $449 on it.
Also announced alongside the new iPad is the new 2022 Apple TV 4K, a device that has more features and is actually less expensive than the previous model.
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed.