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The new iPad for 2020 was launched at the September Apple event, and while it was overshadowed by the new iPad Air 4 2020, it’s still an intriguing new tablet which is likely what loads of people will end up buying if they need such a gadget.
Like last year’s entry-level iPad, the new iPad 10.2 for 2020 is, as the name suggests, 10.2 inches long in the screen department.. With an A12 Bionic processor, along with the Neural Engine, Apple claims this is the fastest standard iPad yet. It supports the Apple Pencil, too.
It’s the successor to the iPad 10.2 from 2019, sitting below the new iPad Air 4 and the iPad Pro 2020 in Apple’s tablet lineup. This is the eight in its line, though only the second with a screen this big.
To help you get an understanding of the new iPad 2020, we’ll run through its specs and features, as well as its price and availability.
Cut to the chase
What is it? Apple’s newest entry-level tablet
When is it out? Friday, September 18
How much will it cost? $329 / £329 / AU$499
iPad (2020) release date and price
The iPad (2020) starts at $329 / £329 / AU$499 for 32GB storage, but the prices go up quite a bit if you want 128GB storage, or an LTE connection, or both.
These are the cheapest prices you’ll see for a new tablet, though if you shop around for older models from third-party retailers you could pick up a cheaper slate, especially with Black Friday coming up.
Pre-orders for the new iPad are already open at Apple’s website, and you can buy the tablet itself on Friday, September 18.
iPad (2020) design and display
The new iPad (2020) isn’t too different in design from its predecessors with curved edges, fairly chunky bezels, and a physical home button for Touch ID.
The tablet weighs 490g for the Wi-Fi-only model and 495g if you want LTE too. The dimensions are the same for both those though at 250 x 174 x 7.5mm.
There’s a 3.5mm headphone jack and Lightning Port here, as well as a pad on the side for connecting to a keyboard.
The 10.2-inch LED Retina Display has a 2160 x 1620 resolution and a max brightness of 500nits. It has the ‘standard’ iPad aspect ratio of 4:3.
iPad (2020) specs
The big upgrade for the iPad (2020) is the A12 Bionic chipset, which Apple claims is 40% faster than its predecessor. This is paired with Apple’s Neural Engine, which is said to be capable of five trillion operations per second.
Apple claims this combo makes the new iPad 2x faster than comparable PCs, 3x faster than Android tablets, and 6x faster than Chromebooks.
As expected, the iPad (2020) comes with iPadOS 14 out of the box. It’s also compatible with Apple Pencil, allowing stylus control – including in the Scribble feature (new in iPadOS 14), which translates written words into text.
The new iPad only works with the first-generation Apple Pencil, not the second one, so you’ll be charging it by plugging the thing into the Lightning Port, which can be rather fiddly.
There’s an 8MP rear camera here for photos and videos, but only a 1.2MP front-facing one, so you might look a little low-res in your video calls.
Apple rarely confirms the battery size of its products, but the company states the 2020 iPad, like its predecessors, will last 10 hours of use before needing charging. Well, that’s for the Wi-Fi only version, and the estimate is an hour shorter for the LTE model.
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