Apple iPad Apple iPad 10.2 Inch (2019) Wi-Fi + Cellular 32 GB Review

This 2019 iPad is a budget basic. It's fine for streaming and web browsing but slow and stuck with only 32GB of storage. At $144 renewed, it's a cheap iOS entry point, but know its limits.

Let's be real: this is an old iPad. The 2019 10.2-inch model with cellular is a basic tablet that's been around the block, but it's still kicking. It runs on the A10 Fusion chip, has a decent Retina screen, and supports the first-gen Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard.

For around $144 (renewed), you're getting Apple's ecosystem on a budget. It's fine for streaming, browsing, and light tasks, but don't expect it to keep up with modern apps or heavy workloads. It's a solid hand-me-down, not a powerhouse.

Performance is exactly what you'd expect from a 5-year-old tablet. The A10 Fusion chip and limited RAM land in the 42nd and 34th percentiles in our database, so it's slow by today's standards. It handles basic entertainment and reading okay (scoring 50.7 and 48.6 out of 100), but productivity is a real struggle at a 29.6 score. The battery life is middle-of-the-road at the 49th percentile, and the cellular connectivity is surprisingly weak, ranking in the bottom 12%.

At $144 for a renewed model, the value is a mixed bag. You're paying for the Apple logo and access to iOS apps, not for speed or future-proofing. If your needs are literally just watching videos, reading, and checking email, it's a cheap way to do that. But that tiny 32GB storage is a major anchor—you'll be managing space constantly. For the same money, you could get a newer Android tablet with more storage and better specs, but you'd lose the iOS simplicity.

Compared to its modern rivals, this iPad shows its age. The base Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 or Lenovo Tab M10 would run circles around it in performance and offer more storage for similar money, though their app ecosystems aren't as polished. The current 10th-gen iPad is a massive leap forward in speed and design (hello, USB-C), but it costs three times as much. This 2019 model sits in a weird spot: it's cheaper than a new iPad but often outperformed by cheaper Android tablets. It only wins if you're locked into Apple's walled garden on a shoestring budget.

Skip this if you need a primary device for work, school, or creativity. The weak productivity score and tiny storage make it a poor choice for anything serious. Also, avoid it if you hate dongles—the Lightning port is a relic. If you need performance or space, even a slightly more expensive used iPad from 2020 or a modern budget Android tablet is a much better investment.

Buy this if you need a super cheap, no-frills iPad for a kid, as a dedicated video streamer for the kitchen, or as a secondary device you won't cry over if it breaks. Its best scores are for entertainment and reading, and that's exactly what it should be used for. Think of it as a disposable tablet with a famous name.