iPad (2018) review: The best mainstream tablet

Note: This article was first published on 3rd April 2018.

Why a new iPad now?

The short answer is that sales of iPads, and tablets in general, have been declining and a new product is always a good way to drum up excitement and boost sales.

The longer answer is that this new iPad was designed to go up against the Chromebook in the education market. Apple used to have a dominance in the education market but it is under serious threat from Google’s Chromebook, which are easier for schools and teachers to administer and manage, and are often times cheaper.

What’s new?

Not much really, but the improvements do have a profound impact on the iPad. Let’s go through the changes now.

Processor: One of the big changes is the processor. The new iPad gets Apple’s more powerful A10 Fusion processor, which was also used in the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Last year’s iPad was powered by the Apple A9 processor. Apple says the A10 Fusion will provide up to 40% faster CPU performance and 50% better graphics performance. We shall see when we put them through our benchmarks.

Apple Pencil support: Previously, you could only use the Apple Pencil with one of Apple’s much pricier (and more powerful) iPad Pro tablets. Now, you get Apple Pencil support with Apple’s entry-level tablet. This new addition was obviously done with the education market in mind, but still very much welcomed.

LTE - Apple didn’t really talk about this but the new iPad supports considerably faster 4G LTE speeds of up to 300Mbps. In comparison, last year’s model supports 4G LTE speeds of up to 150Mbps. If you rely on cellular connectivity a lot, this is good news.

Here's a table to sum up the key differences:

No Smart Connector?

It seems like Apple decided to save the Smart Connector for the iPad Pro tablets. This isn’t a big deal since you can easily get a Bluetooth keyboard to pair with the iPad. Furthermore, a Bluetooth wireless keyboard is often a lot cheaper than Apple’s Smart Keyboard, which starts at S$248. Take, for instance, the Logitech K480 Multi-Device Bluetooth keyboard. It works with Mac, iOS, Windows, and Android, and is just S$65 (and it can be had for less during special offers).

Everything else is the same?

Yup, pretty much everything else is unchanged. Dimensions, weight, camera, display, battery capacity are all the same.

Any complaints about that?

By today’s standards, the iPad’s bezels are a bit of an eyesore. Would I have preferred thinner bezels? Of course. But if that meant paying more, then I would rather have the thicker bezels. I’m practical like that. Besides, slightly thicker bezels aren’t the end of the world. #firstworldproblems #maihiamlah

If it’s any consolation, the display itself is pretty awesome. It is a Retina display and that means sharp and crisp visuals and vivid colors. The iPad can’t match the 10.5-inch iPad Pro’s gorgeous True Tone display with wider color gamut, ProMotion technology, and anti-reflective coating, but it is still one of the best in the business.

Apple Pencil, should I get it?

First and foremost, one thing to note is that without the ProMotion technology displays of the iPad Pro tablets, Apple Pencil does not feel quite as fluid on the new iPad. That isn’t to say that the Apple Pencil stutters, it is still mighty smooth and responsive. Rather, it is a testament to the brilliance of the ProMotion technology displays found on Apple’s flagship iPad Pro tablets.

Back to the question: If you love drawing and doodling or if you intend to take notes on your iPad, then the answer is yes. The Apple Pencil might be pricey, but provides one of the best writing experiences you will find anywhere on a tablet. If these things don’t appeal to you, save the money and spend it on a better case or maybe a Bluetooth keyboard.

So how does the new iPad perform?

Thanks to the A10 Fusion processor, the new iPad is markedly faster than last year’s model. Take a look at the graphs below. It was about 15% faster on SunSpider and scored over 27% more on 3DMark.

Even so, the new iPad is outclassed by last year's 10.5-inch iPad Pro and its A10X Fusion processor. However, an interesting observation is that the new iPad offers just about the same level of performance as the very first generation iPad Pro, which is powered by the A9X processor. That's progress for you.

 

How’s the battery life?

Pretty good. In our tests, we found that the new iPad has a battery life of 332 minutes or 5 hours and 32 minutes, which is over 45 minutes more than last year’s model. And mind you, our test is pretty intensive. We played a 720p video on repeat with screen brightness and volume turned up to 100%, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, and email constantly being refreshed in the background.

Can it replace my desktop?

Play

That’s a question we get asked a lot. And the answer is, it depends.

Apple has been keen to push the idea of the iPad as a replacement for your traditional desktop system (see the video above), but the reality is that if you are used to a Mac, it is unlikely you can give it all up for just an iPad. Believe me, I have tried. There are some things that are just better on a Mac and there are some things that a Mac has that an iPad doesn't, like USB and Thunderbolt ports.

That said, some people can do it because they don’t need all the stuff the Mac offers and are perfectly happy with the apps and features that an iPad provides. Like I said, it really depends. Nevertheless, the idea of using an iPad for all your computing needs remains very attractive. After all, it is much more portable and affordable compared to any Mac.

Is this the best tablet?

On technical merits alone, the iPad Pro is the best tablet money can buy. It is wickedly powerful, thin, light, and it has a super gorgeous display. This iPad, on the other hand, is the best, for lack of a matter word, mainstream tablet. I don’t like to call something ‘mainstream’ because I find this label slightly derogatory, but what I’m trying to say is that, for most people, this is the tablet to buy. With prices beginning at S$498 for the Wi-Fi model with 32GB of storage, it is a very attractive proposition.

Here's a summary of the different prices and configurations of the new iPad:

Alternatives?

To be honest, the only decent alternatives are from Apple, which means only the pricier and more powerful iPad Pro tablets or the smaller iPad Mini 4. We don’t recommend the iPad Mini 4 only because it is old (it was released in 2015!) and in dire need of a refresh. Or, if you want to save money and don’t mind used goods, you could get a second-hand iPad from our forums.

Android tablets are a mess. The hardware may very well be decent, but it simply cannot compete with Apple in terms of app selection nor the quality of the app. And when there is a tablet version of a popular Android app, it is often not well optimized. If you really need a tablet device, stick to iOS and iPads or consider a detachable Windows notebook.

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