Apple iPad Apple 2022 iPad (10.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 64GB) - Pink Review

The 2022 iPad is a classic Apple move. It gives you a sharp 10.9-inch screen and the solid A14 Bionic chip, which lands in the 72nd percentile for CPU power. That's more than enough for streaming, browsing, and light gaming. But you're getting it at a price, and that price is 64GB of storage, which sits in the bottom quarter of all tablets. It's a very specific package: great core performance wrapped in a design that hasn't changed much in years.

Our scoring shows it's best suited for entertainment and reading, hitting scores in the low 40s out of 100 for those tasks. Where it falls flat is business use, scoring a 27.5. The lack of keyboard in the box, limited connectivity, and that small storage base hold it back from being a true laptop replacement. It's a media machine first.

Performance is where this iPad feels most modern. The A14 Bionic chip is no slouch, putting CPU and GPU performance in the low 70s percentile. That means it's faster than most tablets out there. Apps open quickly, and you can edit photos or play demanding mobile games without a hitch. The 12MP cameras are good, and Center Stage on the front camera is a nice touch for video calls.

But the other specs tell a different story. RAM is in the 26th percentile, which can mean more app reloads if you multitask heavily. Storage is even lower at the 23rd percentile. 64GB fills up fast with apps, photos, and a few downloaded movies. The screen, while nice, is only in the 59th percentile. It's good, but not class-leading.

At $249, this is one of the cheapest ways to get into the Apple tablet ecosystem. That's a compelling price for the A14 chip and the build quality. But value is a tricky thing here. You're paying for that Apple logo and software, but you're accepting major compromises in storage, RAM, and a dated port. Compared to Android tablets at this price, you might get more storage and features, but you lose the app optimization and resale value. It's a trade-off.

Let's put it next to some competitors. The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is a full Windows PC, so it destroys this iPad for business use, but it costs much more. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra has a stunning screen and DeX mode for better multitasking, again for a higher price. The more direct comparison is the iPad Air or older iPad Pro models. An older iPad Pro with an M1 chip and 128GB storage, if you can find one on sale, offers way better performance and more storage for a similar price. This 2022 iPad wins on entry cost but loses on future-proofing.

The 2022 iPad is a good tablet with a big asterisk. If your life is on iCloud and you just want a sleek screen for Netflix, web browsing, and light gaming, the $249 price and A14 performance make sense. But the 64GB storage is a serious constraint, and the old Lightning port is annoying. I'd only recommend it if you're budget-conscious and deeply invested in Apple's ecosystem. For anyone needing more flexibility or storage, spending a bit more on a model with 128GB or looking at refurbished iPad Airs is a smarter, data-backed move.