Alongside the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, Apple also introduced a new 10.2-inch entry-level iPad. The low-cost iPad has started shipping out.
Apple noted in a press release that coincided with the release of the iPadOS that the 10.2-inch iPad will also be available at Apple’s stores later this week.
Apple previously indicated a September 30th release date, so this is slightly earlier than expected. It is the same way the company moved-up the launch of iPadOS and iOS 13.1. The seventh-gen iPad starts at $329 (about 119,000) for Wi-Fi models or $499 (about 154,900) for those including cellular data. Education customers can get it for $299 (about 82,700).
Aside from increasing its screen size from the old, original 9.7-inch display, Apple’s new iPad includes a Smart Connector for compatibility with the same Smart Keyboard used by the iPad Air. It retains Apple Pencil support and the A10 Fusion chip powers it.
The display lacks Apple’s True Tone feature for optimizing white balance depending on your environment, however. And it’s still not laminated to the front glass like other more expensive iPads. Because of this, the air gap remains. But at $329 (about 119,000), it should nonetheless prove plenty good for many people. Apple says the entry-level iPad remains the most popular choice in the whole lineup.
The new iPad runs iPadOS, with improved multitasking capabilities, a new home screen that displays more apps, and “desktop-class” web browsing in Safari, among many other new features.