Apple iPad Apple iPad (10.2-inch, Wi-Fi, 128GB, 8th Review
The $208 iPad is a fantastic screen for a bargain price, but its aging A12 chip means it's only good for the basics. Perfect for kids or casual use, frustrating for anything else.
Overview
Look, this iPad is cheap for a reason. It's the tablet you buy for one person: someone who just needs a big, simple screen for watching videos and checking email. The one thing to know? It's slow. The A12 chip was great in 2018, but in today's world of demanding apps, it's showing its age. Think of it as a comfy couch of a tablet—perfect for lounging, but don't ask it to run a marathon.
Performance
The performance numbers don't lie, and they're not pretty. The CPU and GPU land in the 9th and 12th percentiles, respectively. That means it's slower than almost everything else out there. Scrolling through social media is fine, but try opening a few browser tabs or a heavier app and you'll feel the lag. It's not a deal-breaker for its intended use, but it's the main reason this isn't a 'do everything' device.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The price is seriously low for an iPad, especially at $208. 83th
- The 10.2-inch Retina display is still gorgeous for media. 76th
- Battery life is solid for all-day casual use. 69th
- iPadOS support means you get security updates for years. 67th
Cons
- The A12 Bionic chip is ancient and feels slow. 11th
- Still uses the outdated Lightning port. Come on, Apple. 16th
- Only works with the first-gen Apple Pencil, which charges awkwardly.
- Productivity score is abysmal (30/100). This is not a laptop replacement.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | 1.6 GHz |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 6 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB |
Display
| Size | 10.2" |
| Resolution | 2160 |
Physical
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.1 lbs |
| OS | iPadOS |
Value & Pricing
At $208, it's a fantastic value if your needs are basic. You're getting a premium Apple screen and build quality for budget Android tablet money. Just know exactly what you're paying for: a media consumption device, not a powerhouse.
vs Competition
Don't even compare it to an iPad Pro or a Surface Pro—those are in a different league. The real question is: this or a modern budget Android tablet? This iPad wins on software support and ecosystem. But if you need more speed or a modern USB-C port for the same money, look at something like the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+. The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro also offers a much bigger, sharper screen for productivity, though its software isn't as polished.
| Spec | Apple iPad Apple iPad (10.2-inch, Wi-Fi, 128GB, 8th | Apple iPad Pro Apple - 11-inch iPad Pro M5 chip Wi-Fi 256GB with | Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Samsung - Galaxy Tab S10+ - 12.4" 256GB - Wi-Fi - | Microsoft Surface Pro Microsoft - Surface Pro - Copilot+ PC - 13” - | Lenovo Lenovo - Idea Tab Pro - 12.7" 3K Tablet - 8GB RAM | GPD GPD Pocket 4: Mini Laptop with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 1.6 GHz | Apple M5 | Mediatek MT6989 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 | MediaTek Dimensity | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 |
| RAM (GB) | 6 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 8 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 256 | 256 | 256 | 512 | 256 | 2048 |
| Screen | 10.2" 2160x1620 | 11" 2420x1668 | 12.4" 2800x1752 | 13" 2880x1920 | 12.7" 2944x1840 | 8.8" 2560x1600 |
| OS | iPadOS | iPadOS | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home | Android 14 | Windows 11 Home |
| Stylus | false | true | true | false | true | false |
| Cellular | false | false | false | false | false | false |
Verdict
Buy this iPad for your kid, your parents, or as a dedicated Netflix machine for the kitchen. It does those simple jobs very well for the price. But if you need a tablet for anything more demanding than light web browsing and videos, or if you want to use it for note-taking and work, spend a bit more on something newer. This is a one-trick pony, but it's a very affordable and reliable one.