Apple’s Let Loose event focused primarily on the iPad Air and iPad Pro. While we can’t ignore the significant upgrades these two tablets bring, it’s a different announcement on the iPad that will likely prove to be the most important. Towards the end of the event, Apple announced that it was reducing the price of the 10th generation iPad by $100. Now, with a base price of just $349, the 10th generation iPad has arguably become Apple’s most budget-friendly product and is expected to be the model for the next iPhone SE.
A difficult start
When Apple launched the 10th generation iPad in late 2022, it was a good device with a bad price: a whopping $449. At the time, we explicitly advised people not to buy it. At $449, it was poorly positioned between the $329 9th generation iPad and the $499 6th generation iPad mini, with an even more confusing list of pros and cons.
It made more sense for those on a budget to pay $120 less and opt for the 9th generation model. After all, despite its outdated chassis, it was a perfectly functional tablet supporting most iPadOS features and apps. Naturally, you’d be giving up a lot in terms of design and performance compared to higher-end models, but for the price, you’d be getting a very capable iPad without leaving a hole in your pocket.
Otherwise, those who were willing to pay $449 for an entry-level iPad should just pay $50 more and get the iPad Mini. For a little extra, customers would get the new A15 Bionic chip, a sharper screen with anti-glare coating, support for the superior Apple Pencil 2, and True Tone flash. Perhaps the only significant downside to choosing the Mini variant was the smaller 8.3-inch screen, which might limit some users’ workflows, but is ideal for traveling, reading, and taking notes.
Whichever solution you choose, for $449 – especially considering the other options that came with it – the 10th generation iPad just wasn’t worth it at the time.
The 10th generation looks like a device that costs twice as much.
The 10th generation looks like a device that costs twice as much.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The 10th generation looks like a device that costs twice as much.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Change the equation
Until last week, that was the 10th generation iPad’s biggest flaw: the price. That changed overnight, and now, for many, it’s suddenly the best budget tablet on the market. For the first time, an SE price gives you a futuristic-looking iPad with modern features.
Compared to the discontinued 9th generation model, the 10th generation iPad packs a faster A14 Bionic SoC, a larger 10.9-inch display, a more advanced 12 MP rear camera with video recording support 4K, optional 5G, a USB-C port. , and much more. Not to mention its compatibility with the less expensive Apple Pencil (USB-C), allowing budget-conscious customers to save even more. And that’s only $20 more than Apple charged for the 9th generation.
The iPad 10 is finally an aggressively priced tablet that features a balanced set of technical specifications. Compare that to the iPhone SE, which costs more at $429 and still has Apple’s old Home button design, an outdated single camera, and a Lightning port.
Superior Edition
For a few years now, Apple has been selling SE products aimed at limited budgets. Typically, these devices pack decent power into outdated outer shells and lack many features of newer devices. The Apple Watch SE, for example, costs $249, compared to $399 and up for the Apple Watch Series 9. For an extra $150, you get a larger screen and a range of features: a faster chip, a display permanent, dual display. – tap gesture, ECG sensor, temperature detection and a newer heart rate sensor, the list goes on.
Meanwhile, the latest iPhone SE costs $429 and, aside from the A15 Bionic (which is showing its age) and proper support for 5G cellular connectivity, it’s quite inferior to the other iPhones Apple sells at all perspectives. It looks like it’s escaped from a bygone era, lacks the latest camera features including night mode, and lacks Face ID, and starts with just 64GB of storage.
The iPhone SE may be cheap, but it also feels cheap.
The iPhone SE may be cheap, but it also feels cheap.
IDG
The iPhone SE may be cheap, but it also feels cheap.
IDG
IDG
With both SE models, you get older designs, hardware, and features at a reduced price. They feel cheap because they are cheap. This is not the case for the 10th generation iPad. You can browse the web, read e-books, watch movies, make video calls, play games, and even run Logic Pro. It is just as efficient as a device that costs three times as much.
With the 10th generation iPad, you don’t sacrifice aesthetics for a low price. You have your cake And eat it. Despite its $349 price tag, this model manages to follow the same modern design language adopted by flagship iPads. Sure, its screen bezels might not be as thin and the tech isn’t as high, but, otherwise, it looks and feels pretty similar. And its chip offers enough power to meet the typical tablet needs of casual users.
A little bit of everything
The iPad 10 manages to deliver reliable entertainment and basic computing experiences. Through this tablet, users have access to a wide range of well-optimized iPadOS applications, including games, productivity suites, streaming services, social networks, and educational platforms. You don’t have to sacrifice anything: the screen is the same size as the Air, the chip is very fast, the charging port is USB-C and you can even use it with an Apple Pencil.
While the iPad 10 certainly won’t replace your smartphone or computer, it will certainly complement them. Features like Sidecar make it one of the best all-around wireless monitors you can pair with your Mac. Likewise, transmitting a document from your iPhone to sign on your iPad using an Apple Pencil is the kind of high-end ecosystem magic that this budget tablet doesn’t lack. It’s everything an SE should be, without the name.
At $349, the iPad 10 has arguably become one of the best buys you can buy on the Apple Store. And the rest of Apple’s SE products should start taking notes.
