IPad 9th Gen (2023): Still Worth It?

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iPad 9th Gen (2023) Review: Still Worth It?

So, you're thinking about getting an iPad, huh? And the 9th generation iPad has caught your eye? Well, let's dive deep and see if this trusty tablet is still worth your hard-earned cash in 2023. We're going to break down everything from its performance to its price, and help you decide if it's the right iPad for you. No fluff, just the real deal.

Who is This iPad For?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's talk about who the iPad 9th generation is really for. This isn't the iPad for power users or those who need the latest and greatest tech. This iPad is for everyday users who want a reliable and affordable tablet for basic tasks. Think students, families, or anyone who wants a simple device for browsing the web, watching videos, reading ebooks, and light productivity.

  • Students: The iPad 9th gen is a fantastic option for students. It's perfect for taking notes in class, reading textbooks, and doing research. Plus, with the Apple Pencil support (1st generation), students can handwrite notes and annotate documents with ease. It's a much more affordable option than the iPad Air or iPad Pro, making it a great choice for students on a budget.
  • Families: This iPad is also a great option for families. It's durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of daily use, and it's easy to use for everyone in the family. Kids can use it for playing games and watching videos, while adults can use it for browsing the web and checking email. With parental controls, you can easily manage what your kids can access, ensuring a safe and secure experience.
  • Casual Users: If you're just looking for a tablet to use around the house, the iPad 9th gen is a solid choice. It's perfect for browsing the web while you're watching TV, reading ebooks in bed, or catching up on social media. It's also great for video calls with friends and family. The long battery life means you can use it all day without having to worry about running out of power.

Design and Display: Classic iPad Vibes

The iPad 9th generation sports the classic iPad design that we all know and love. It's got the familiar home button with Touch ID, thick bezels around the display, and a sturdy aluminum build. While the design might feel a bit dated compared to the newer iPad models, it's still a functional and reliable design that gets the job done.

Display Quality

Let's be real, the display isn't going to blow you away with its vibrant colors or high refresh rate. It's a standard 10.2-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2160 x 1620 pixels. But for everyday use, it's perfectly fine. The colors are accurate, the text is sharp, and the brightness is adequate for most lighting conditions. Unless you're a professional photographer or videographer, you probably won't notice the difference between this display and the ones on the more expensive iPads.

  • Retina Display: The Retina display ensures that text and images look sharp and clear. This is especially important for reading ebooks and browsing the web.
  • True Tone: The display also features True Tone technology, which automatically adjusts the color temperature of the display to match the ambient lighting in your environment. This can help reduce eye strain and make the display more comfortable to look at for extended periods.
  • Brightness: The display has a maximum brightness of 500 nits, which is adequate for most indoor environments. However, it might be a bit difficult to see in direct sunlight.

Performance: Still Capable

Under the hood, the iPad 9th generation is powered by the A13 Bionic chip. While it's not the latest and greatest chip from Apple, it's still plenty powerful for most tasks. You can easily browse the web, watch videos, play games, and run most apps without any noticeable lag. However, if you're planning on doing heavy tasks like video editing or gaming, you might want to consider a more powerful iPad.

A13 Bionic Chip

The A13 Bionic chip is a six-core processor with a quad-core GPU. It's the same chip that powers the iPhone 11 series, so you know it's capable of handling a variety of tasks. It's also incredibly energy-efficient, which contributes to the iPad 9th gen's long battery life.

  • CPU Performance: The A13 Bionic chip offers a significant performance boost over the previous generation iPad. You'll notice faster app launch times and smoother multitasking.
  • GPU Performance: The quad-core GPU is powerful enough to handle most games and graphics-intensive apps. However, you might experience some slowdowns in more demanding games.
  • Neural Engine: The A13 Bionic chip also includes a Neural Engine, which accelerates machine learning tasks. This is used for features like Face ID and Siri.

Gaming Performance

Speaking of games, the iPad 9th generation can handle most mobile games without any issues. You can play popular titles like Call of Duty: Mobile, Fortnite, and PUBG Mobile with decent frame rates and graphics settings. However, if you're a serious gamer, you might want to consider a more powerful iPad with a faster chip and more RAM.

Battery Life: All-Day Power

One of the biggest strengths of the iPad 9th generation is its battery life. Apple claims that it can last up to 10 hours on a single charge, and in our testing, we found that to be pretty accurate. You can easily use this iPad for a full day of work or school without having to worry about running out of power. This is a huge advantage for students, travelers, and anyone who needs a reliable device that can last all day.

Real-World Usage

In real-world usage, the battery life will vary depending on what you're doing. If you're just browsing the web and checking email, you can easily get 10 hours of battery life. However, if you're watching videos or playing games, you'll likely get closer to 7 or 8 hours. Still, that's pretty impressive for a tablet in this price range.

  • Charging Time: The iPad 9th generation comes with a 20W USB-C power adapter, which can charge the device from 0% to 100% in about 2.5 hours.
  • Battery Health: Like all rechargeable batteries, the battery in the iPad 9th generation will degrade over time. However, with proper care, you can extend the life of your battery.

Software: iPadOS Magic

The iPad 9th generation runs on iPadOS, which is Apple's tablet-specific operating system. iPadOS is designed to take advantage of the iPad's larger display and offers a variety of features that are not available on iPhones. These include multitasking features like Split View and Slide Over, as well as support for the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard.

iPadOS Features

  • Multitasking: iPadOS makes it easy to work on multiple apps at the same time. With Split View, you can have two apps open side-by-side. With Slide Over, you can have one app floating on top of another.
  • Apple Pencil Support: The iPad 9th generation supports the 1st generation Apple Pencil. This allows you to handwrite notes, annotate documents, and create artwork with precision.
  • Smart Keyboard Support: The iPad 9th generation also supports the Smart Keyboard. This turns your iPad into a laptop-like device, making it easier to type long documents and emails.

Updates

Apple provides regular software updates for the iPad 9th generation, which include new features, bug fixes, and security improvements. This ensures that your iPad stays up-to-date and secure.

Camera: Surprisingly Decent

The iPad 9th generation has an 8MP rear camera and a 12MP front camera. While these cameras aren't going to rival the ones on the latest iPhones, they're still surprisingly decent for a tablet. The rear camera is fine for taking quick snapshots and scanning documents, while the front camera is great for video calls and selfies.

Camera Quality

  • Rear Camera: The 8MP rear camera can take decent photos in good lighting conditions. However, the image quality suffers in low light.
  • Front Camera: The 12MP front camera is a significant improvement over the previous generation iPad. It's great for video calls and selfies.
  • Video Recording: Both cameras can record video at up to 1080p resolution.

Price and Value: Bang for Your Buck

One of the biggest selling points of the iPad 9th generation is its price. It's the most affordable iPad in Apple's lineup, making it a great value for the money. You get a lot of features and performance for a relatively low price. If you're on a budget, this is definitely the iPad to get.

Storage Options

The iPad 9th generation comes in two storage options: 64GB and 256GB. If you're planning on storing a lot of photos, videos, and games, you'll want to get the 256GB model. However, if you're just planning on using it for basic tasks, the 64GB model should be sufficient.

The Verdict: Still a Solid Choice

So, is the iPad 9th generation still worth it in 2023? Absolutely! It's a reliable, affordable, and capable tablet that's perfect for everyday users. While it might not have all the bells and whistles of the newer iPad models, it still gets the job done. If you're looking for a budget-friendly iPad, the 9th generation is a solid choice.

Pros

  • Affordable price
  • Long battery life
  • Decent performance
  • iPadOS features
  • Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard support

Cons

  • Dated design
  • Thick bezels
  • Basic display
  • No USB-C port

Alternatives to Consider

If you're not sold on the iPad 9th generation, here are a few alternatives to consider:

  • iPad 10th Generation: The iPad 10th generation has a more modern design, a larger display, and a faster chip. However, it's also more expensive.
  • iPad Air: The iPad Air is a great option if you want a more powerful and portable tablet. It has a faster chip, a better display, and a more premium design.
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab A8: The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 is a great Android tablet that offers a similar experience to the iPad 9th generation at a similar price point.