Design and Build

The new iPad 10th Gen (2022) is designed with a combination of an aluminum housing and straight sides, measuring 9.79 x 7.07 x 0.28 inches (248.6 x 179.5 x 7.0 mm) and weighing 1.05 pounds (477g Wi-Fi, 481g Cellular). In addition to Silver, the device comes in Blue, Pink, and Yellow and is equipped with a power button that integrates Touch ID and a compatible Magic Keyboard Folio, but no Home button. Although the device is not rated with the IP standard, it is neither water-resistant nor dust-proof. Instead of Lightning, the USB-C port facilitates charging, and the front camera in landscape mode is preferred for smoother video calls by the users. The user experience is very positive and upbeat about the modern and elegant product design, however, they are still unhappy with its greater bezels and the non-availability of second-generation Pencil support.

• Aluminum chassis, flat edges
• Top-mounted Touch ID, no Home button
• USB-C port
• Supports 1st-gen Apple Pencil (adapter), Magic Keyboard Folio
• No water/dust resistance

iPad 10th Gen Display

The iPad 10th Gen has a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD that delivers 2360 x 1640 (264 PPI) resolution, True Tone, and sRGB color (no P3). Such a large daylight contrast of 500 nits is ok for ordinary circumstances, and only the most dimly lit. The 60Hz refresh rate offers a smooth user experience overall,l and yet, due to the absence of laminate, the display is still parallactic to some extent, unlike the Air 5. Users go for the brothy brilliance for media presentations, but the gap [of air] is a negative point when it comes to pencil accuracy.

• 10.9-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD
• 2360 x 1640 resolution, 264 PPI
• 500 nits brightness
• True Tone, sRGB color
• 60Hz refresh rate
• Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating

Performance and Software

The iPad 10th Gen is powered by Apple A14 Bionic chip (6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) coupled with 4GB RAM and offering two different storage options of 64GB that can't be expanded. With iPadOS 16 (up to the iPadOS 18), it misses full Apple Intelligence support caused by insufficient RAM but is eligible for updates until ~2028. The device performs well in gaming and regular use but falters in comparison to Air 5’s M1 in multitasking. Some consumers may find it good enough for their needs, still, others complain about the unjustified raise in the price from the 9th Gen.

• Apple A14 Bionic chip, 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU
• 4GB RAM
• Storage: 64GB, 256GB
• iPadOS 16 (up to iPadOS 18)
• Limited Apple Intelligence support

The A14 Bionic is solid for casual users, but 4GB RAM and no P3 color limit its appeal for creators compared to the Air 5. It’s a good value for basic tasks.

Camera System

The iPad 10th Gen sports a 12MP camera (f/1.8, 5x digital zoom) at the rear with no flash and a 12MP ultra-wide front (f/2.4, 122° FOV) camera with Center Stage technology, respectively, that is located on the long side enabling better video call and is useful when taking photos. The device is capable of not only recording 4K video at 60fps for the rear camera but also 1080p at 60fps for the front camera. Picture quality is satisfying, while the low-light images are just normal. The Center Stage feature is the most advanced and innovative technology which is even beyond the 9th Gen’s front camera.

• Rear: 12MP (f/1.8, 5x digital zoom)
• Front: 12MP Ultra-wide (f/2.4, 122° FOV)
• Video: 4K 60fps (rear), 1080p 60fps (front)
• Features: Center Stage, Smart HDR 3

Battery and Charging

The iPad 10th Gen has a 7606mAh battery and gives a playback time of about 11 hours or a real usage time of 9-11 hours. The device has a 20W charger to restore up to 50% charge within ~45 minutes, and the USB-C connection is used for fast charging. What a pity, we cannot use wireless charging! The battery capacity is quite sufficient here, and it is a performance between the 9th Gen which is a little bit better and Air 5’s 12 hours which is a little bit worse. Streaming and browsing are the two tasks where good battery maintenance is essential, as reported by customers.

• 7606mAh battery
• ~11 hours video playback, 9–11 hours real-world
• 20W wired charging (50% in ~45 min)
• No wireless charging
• 20W USB-C charger included

Connectivity

The iPad 10th Gen functions with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.2. 5G is optional on cellular models ($599+) and is also powered by sub-6GHz technology. Moreover, it comes with a nano-SIM, eSIM, and GPS (A-GPS, GLONASS on cellular) but does not give support for mmWave. Connectivity is not an issue, and 5G technology can improve the speed of the iPad but people still are satisfied with the work of 4G LTE of the 4th Gen Air. User comments commonly refer to their satisfaction of the Wi-Fi and cellular the connections of their iPads.

• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
• Bluetooth 5.2
• 5G (sub-6GHz, cellular models)
• Nano-SIM, eSIM
• GPS: A-GPS, GLONASS (cellular)
• No mmWave