Introduction

I think you can more or less imagine what is coming in the next few paragraphs. As Pedro mentioned in his review of the fourth generation iPad Air, describing what an iPad is at this point does not make much sense, and that is something I find quite curious, because the same cannot always be said of Android tablets. .

But the answer is quite simple, because regardless of the iPad you buy, there will always be one constant: they are reliable and practically foolproof devices.

Today, our protagonist corresponds to the ninth generation of the iPad to dry, which is the most affordable model of this family of tablets, and which, like every year, comes with a little cat's hand to catch up with its specifications and the functionalities it offers.

Let's start with the review:

Design

When I tried out the seventh-generation iPad, I mentioned how much I disliked the fact that it still used the same design that these devices have used for, well, forever, since back then we already had the iPad Pro completely updated.

Apple has since applied that new design to the iPad Mini and iPad Air, but sadly, the most basic model still uses that classic look with wide bezels, rounded edges, and the home button that doubles as Touch ID.

I understand that this change hasn't been made yet to keep production costs down, but I think this urges you not only for aesthetic reasons, but also for technological reasons: it's time for the Lightning connector to be replaced by USB -C, and I think it could use the second-generation Apple Pencil as well.

Now, this doesn't take away from the fact that the iPad is a fairly well-built device overall. It feels premium to the touch, and the ergonomics are good, except for the position of the volume and lock/unlock buttons, which I think should also be on the sides of the device.

Screen and multimedia

Where we don't have much new in this ninth generation of the iPad either, is in the screen section. It continues to maintain the same 10.2-inch panel that we have been seeing for a couple of years, which has a resolution of 2160 x 1620 pixels, and a refresh rate of 60 hertz.

The only new thing is that it now has True Tone, which means that this device is capable of adjusting the tones of the screen according to the conditions of the room where we are. If you've used any new iPhone or Macbook, you'll know full well how great this works, and on the most basic iPad, thankfully, it's the same story.

Although the screen has not received major changes, it is still an excellent panel for watching movies, series, videos or photos. Everything looks good sharp, and maximum brightness is quite good. I think the only weak point is the colors, which I think could be a bit more vivid.

In terms of audio, the ninth-generation iPad includes a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, and also includes a pair of speakers located at the bottom, which are heard quite well, although for this type of device it may be one misses a set of speakers like those found on the iPad Air or Pro, to further enhance the viewing experience.

Software and performance

One of the upgrades that this new iPad received is found in the processor section, since it now includes the A13 Bionic.

Although it is a chip that is old — let's remember that it was introduced with the iPhone 11 — it continues to work wonderfully. The device can easily run demanding games — such as Call of Duty Mobile — at high graphics, and for much heavier tasks (photo or video editing) it does quite decently.

Obviously not the same performance that we can find in the Pro models that mount the Apple M1, or even in the previous versions that used more powerful variants of the A-series processors, but this iPad holds up pretty well for almost all kinds of tasks that we can demand, which is the most important thing after all.

This is complemented by the excellent optimization work that Apple has always done with its operating systems. In this case, iPadOS behaves excellent. Everything flows within the interface, and any existing lag is pretty minimal.

By the way, iPadOS is increasingly closing the gap between a laptop and a tablet. It is an OS that has been maturing quite quickly, and offers a great variety of functionalities for multitasking, which make you forget about your computer a bit.

For everything that involves browsing the web, putting together documents, answering emails, and that kind of thing, one is very fond of one of these. Obviously for heavier issues, such as video or photo editing, it is much more advisable to go for an iPad Pro or a MacBook right away.

Personally, I've been using an iPad as my hub for college for almost four years — mainly for file management, and above all, as a notebook — and except for more specific issues in my career, I hardly ever I have seen the need to carry my laptop (at least prior to the pandemic).

Accessories

This iPad supports two main accessories: the Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard.

This time I don't have the keyboard in my hands — but you can read my experience of using it in the review of the seventh generation iPad —, but I do have the Apple Pencil, which, I think, is an essential accessory for take full advantage of all that this device offers.

This peripheral works like a charm, and while mine is almost four years old, the battery still lasts around 4-5 days, depending on how much you use it, obviously. In general, the first generation Apple Pencil has aged quite well, but perhaps it would be nice if the next generation supports the second version.

If you are a student, and you like to take your notes or pass the subject with pencil and paper, maybe this is a very good option for you, because you can replace all your notebooks in one place. If you add the Smart Keyboard — or any other Bluetooth keyboard —, you will have a computer with which you can do all kinds of administrative or file tasks.

Battery

In terms of autonomy, this device has an 8557 mAh battery, which according to Apple is enough to perform up to 10 hours of use.

My experience tends to agree with that number, averaging between 8 to 10 hours of duration, depending on the intensity of use. This more or less means that you will have to charge it every two or three days, but again, depending on how you use it.

For example, in my case, in the middle of the class period — and therefore, using it as a notebook — the battery lasts for two full days. I don't use it as much on vacations, so I can easily reach four or even five days of use without major problems.

Front camera

I am of the idea that it does not make sense to talk about the cameras of a tablet, but I think that in this case there is an exception, since another of the improvements that the ninth generation brings of the iPad is the front camera.

The leap is relatively big: we went from a 1.2-megapixel camera that only records in HD resolution (720p), to a 12-megapixel sensor, capable of recording in 1080p, and that also works as an ultra-wide angle (already that its field of vision is 122°).

It is noticeable that this change is designed for the new times, where classes, work and meetings are being carried out remotely, through platforms such as Zoom, Meet, and why not, Facetime.

In fact, it also includes Center Stage mode, which allows the camera to follow the person as they move around the frame. The truth is that it works quite well, a demonstration is attached below:

This tablet is the obvious choice for those who want to play it safe with a device that is relatively affordable, reliable, and packed with features. In addition, it is not only good for taking notes and stuff, but also for consuming multimedia content, thanks to its very good screen and speakers.

The truth is that it is very difficult to find a problem with this device, but I insist on the design issue: it is time for a change. In addition, it would also be good if Apple is leaving aside the Lightning connector and the first generation Pencil, and why not, add FaceID.

Now, if you're still using an iPad from the last two or three generations, I don't think it's worth making the switch. In fact, I think the natural leap in that case is to go for an Air or a Pro. But if you come from an Android tablet (one of those super basic ones), or you don't really have any, I think this is the best option you can find .

If the price is still high —because, to be honest, considering the effects of the pandemic (and others) on prices and costs, this device arrived relatively expensive in our country—, the last generation iPad, and even the from two years ago, they are still excellent options to enter this world of tablets.

Availability

The ninth-generation iPad is already on sale in our country in various retail stores, as well as in official Apple distributors in Chile, such as MacOnline or Aufbau.

The base price is CLP $369,990 for the 64 GB model with WiFi, while the fully equipped version (256 GB of storage, with WiFi + Cellular) reaches an exorbitant $659,990.