Mac Format - UK (2019-12)

APPLE CHOICE iPadOS hardware

The larger display is the only

noticeable difference when

you first look at the new iPad.

The iPad now has a larger screen but retains the same pixel density as it’s predecessor so it’s bright and colourful.

80 | MACFORMAT | DECEMBER 2019 macformat.com @macformat

iPad 10.2-inch

From £349 FROM Apple, apple.com/uk FEATURES 10.2-inch Retina Display,

Apple Pencil (first-gen) support, smart connector, A10 Fusion Chip

The entry-level iPad gets a new screen size and

processor boost, along with Apple Pencil support

T

he iPad is Apple’s most

affordable tablet. Starting at

£349, the latest seventh-gen

model has been given a bigger screen

and extra memory for 2019.

At first glance, there’s little to differentiate

the 2019 iPad from last year’s model. Apple

has bumped up the overall body size; it’s

marginal so it’s quite hard to spot but it’s just

over 10mm taller and a little over 4mm wider.

The case is now made from 100% recycled

aluminum, and the weight has also increased

slightly at 483g for the Wi-Fi model.

As before, you get an 8MP rear camera,

1.2MP FaceTime camera, 3.5 mm headphone

jack and a Touch ID sensor.

What is noticeable, though, is the

extra real estate from the 10.2-inch screen,

especially given the brilliant multitasking

features in iPadOS. As per the 2018 model,

there’s support for Apple Pencil here, albeit

the first-gen model, and the 2019 model now

boasts a smart connector so that the tablet can

be used with Apple’s Smart Keyboard – or

other accessories, such as Logitech’s Slim

Combo Keyboard Case.

Obviously, buying an Apple Pencil and a

Smart Keyboard affects the ‘value’ element of

buying the entry-level tablet but if you really

want to get the most out of it – and out of

iPadOS – we think you’re better off investing.

The first-gen Apple Pencil (£89) pairs and

charges through the Lightning port, which

is awkward, but the responsive stylus is

useful for jotting down notes and marking up

documents. The Smart Keyboard (£159) lacks

a backlight, but it’s full size, lightweight and

easy to use. We’re fans of the one-piece

laser-etched fabric keys; they’re water- and

stain-resistant, and impervious to debris.

With an extra outlay of almost £250,

these ‘add-ons’ obviously aren’t cheap – and

you can use the iPad perfectly well without

them – but they do combine for a better

overall iPad experience.

The seventh-gen iPad’s Retina display

retains the same pixel density (264ppi) as the

previous model, so it still looks great at the

bigger screen size. The screen is bright and

colourful; viewing in bright conditions is fine,

and Dark Mode looks stunning. You won’t be

able to stream 4K HDR films in all their

3,840x2,160 pixel glory, but for HD movie

viewing on the go, the iPad performs well.

Unfortunately, the new iPad only comes

in 32GB and 128GB options. 32GB is okay if

you just like to surf the web and check for

emails but it’s not ideal if you want to do much

more. We’re suprised that Apple is still

offering this low level of storage – though

obviously it helps to keep the price down.

Battery and cameras

Apple promises the same 10-hour battery life

as the previous model, and that certainly

seemed the case in our tests. The iPad does

The extra real

estate from

the 10.2-in

screen is

great for

multitasking

in iPadOS