Tech – Metro | Apple iPad 10.2-inch (2019) review: the ‘Everyman iPad’ gets a bigger screen

This is your best proposition if considering an iPad (Apple)

If you're planning to buy a new iPad or upgrade your older one then there's a lot to choose from.

So many, in fact, that we wrote this handy guide earlier this year that you may want to have a quick look over.

Nothing stays still for long, though. Apple has thrown a new iPad into the mix with the announcement of the 10.2 iPad for 2019.

At first glance, it seems to offer the best value – an up-to-date iPad that costs a mere £349 and works with Apple's first-party accessories. But there's a bit more to it than that.

For starters, it's more expensive than the iPad it replaces, the £319 9.7-inch iPad from 2018. And secondly, if you want to get the most from it, you're going to want to equip it with Apple's Smart Keyboard and the Apple Pencil, which cost £159 and £89 respectively. All told, if you want the 10.2-inch iPad with the cheapest configuration (32GB) and the two accessories, you're looking at £597.

It's either that, or you could buy the iPad Air or iPad Mini for £479 or £399 respectively – both of them have faster processors and twice the amount of internal storage for those prices.

But despite that fact, for the majority of people, this iPad 10.2-inch iPad (with a Smart Keyboard and Pencil) is probably the best option.

It gives you the full access to iPadOS and a way to be productive on the move. If you're already an iPhone user then you'll find the interlinking between the two – things like AirDrop and iCloud – to be invaluable.

Moreover, if you're wired in to a Spotify premium membership and have a Netflix account, the lack of space on this iPad (there is a 128GB version available for £449) won't be a problem. In fact, if you did buy this iPad, Apple will give you a year's subscription to Apple TV+ for free – which works out saving you £60 over the course of the year.

This is your best introduction to iPadOS for both productivity and entertainment (Metro)

But what is the new iPad actually like to use? Well, the answer is that it's almost exactly the same as last year's version. The 10.2-inch iPad has the same processor, camera, battery and Lightning connector as the 9.7-inch iPad. It's still got a Home button and chunky bezels – if you want FaceID and more screen real estate, you have to go for the iPad Pro. Similarly, you're still going to have to pair and charge the Apple Pencil by removing the cap and jabbing it into the Lightning port.

What's different is the slightly larger LCD screen (obviously) and the addition of the Smart Keyboard connector on one side. Also, this iPad is made from 100% recycled aluminium – further helping to boost Apple's green credentials.

That bigger screen means it's better for visual things like watching movies and playing games (check out Apple Arcade) but also for viewing full-fat websites and exciting things like spreadsheets.

The black band at the top of the iPad is the cellular antenna (Metro)

Performance is fast *enough* but bear in mind this device uses the same processor as the iPhone 7 from 2016. The difference between this and, say, last year's iPad Pro is obvious when you try something really intensive like editing 4K videos in iMovie.

Then again, the kinds of people that are going to want to frequently edit 4K movies on an iPad will be exactly the people who go and buy the Pro. This £350 iPad is more for those of us that want a light (it weighs 483g) to accomplish basic tasks on the move. The Smart Keyboard may cost a bit much, but it clips on seamlessly and doesn't require charging – which is a blessing. This iPad is for people that want to get ahead of emails on the train in to the office and watch Netflix on the way home. Or the person that wants to work on a blog post on the sofa each night while the flatmates commandeer the TV.

It also speaks to Apple's approach to tablets – which is to make some kind of iPad available for every kind of person at every kind of price point.

To get the most from this iPad, you're going to want an Apple Pencil and a Smart Keyboard (Apple)

And when you think about the tablet marketplace (with the possible exception of Microsoft's Surface range) at this point, it's quickly apparent that Apple's new 10.2-inch iPad is the best package for the most people. It's cheap(ish), works with all the Lightning cables you already own and is robustly made.

There's a big benefit because of iPadOS and, rumour has it, some people actually prefer having TouchID, a Home button and a headphone jack. Thank goodness there's a headphone jack.

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