Apple releases 10.2″ iPad to replace 9.7″ entry-level model

Apple is upgrading its entry-level iPad. The new model has a larger 10.2″ screen, but retains the A10 Fusion soc that is also in the 9.7″ iPad. There is support for the Apple Pencil and it is possible to connect a keyboard via the Smart Connector.

Apple will release the new iPad on September 30 for 389 euros. This makes the price higher than that of the current entry-level model, which came out last year for 359 euros. In addition to the larger screen, Smart Connector is new. That connection is also on the iPad Air from 2019, for example, and can be used to connect an external keyboard.

Like the 9.7″ version of the iPad, the new 10.2″ model still has fairly large screen bezels. On the side is a sensor for Touch ID. The hardware is probably not changed. Apple speaks of the same A10 Fusion-soc, a quad-core with two fast cores and two economical cores, which is also in the 9.7″ version of the iPad.

According to Apple, the housing is made of recycled aluminum. The new tablet has dimensions of 250.6×174.1×7.5mm and the Wi-Fi version weighs 483 grams. The cellular variant weighs 493 grams. Apple sells versions with 32 or 128 GB of flash storage.

iPadOS 13 will be released along with the new iPad. The updated software includes the option to detach and reduce the virtual keyboard, in order to make more space for displaying apps. iPad buyers get one year of free access to Apple TV+.