Apple iPad tablets. Apple iPad tablets iPad 1 9.7 tablet from apple

Is the most affordable Apple tablet you can buy today. Let's see how it stacks up against the iPad Pro 9.7, which has several advantages over its lower-end counterpart.

Apple's latest iPad came out without the fanfare that usually accompanies the company's lineup updates, but that doesn't mean it's a completely unexpected tablet. While recently, Apple's new tablet, simply called iPad, displaces the 9.7-inch iPad Air 2 and positions itself as an affordable alternative.

Costing from 25,000 rubles for a 32 GB model, the new iPad is Apple. Its price is lower than the 7.9-inch, which was previously considered the most budget offering in the Apple tablet line. It also saves you about RUB 20,000 over the starting iPad Pro configuration, making it a better choice if you're on a budget. But before you rush to the store, there are some compromises that allowed Apple to knock down the price of the new tablet. Read on to see how the tablets compare.

NewiPad vsiPadPro 9.7: Design and Display

From a design perspective, you're looking at two similar and very attractive tablets. Both feature high-quality aluminum in Apple's unibody construction, a Touch ID fingerprint scanner on the front, and a traditional array of buttons and ports on the sides. However, there is a difference in size. Measuring 240 x 169.5 x 7.5 mm (H x W x D) and weighing 469 grams, the new iPad is slightly thicker and heavier than its Pro counterpart (240 x 168 x 6.1 mm, 437 grams), but most people , probably won't notice the difference.

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The main compromise is the display. And while both tablets have a 9.7-inch Retina display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels at 264 pixels per inch, you'll notice that the iPad's display looks different. This is because it is not laminated, does not have an anti-reflective coating, and does not support an extended color gamut. There is also no True Tone technology, meaning the screen will not use a light sensor to dynamically adjust white balance to make text more readable.

What does this mean in practice? Compared to the iPad Pro's screen, the new iPad's display will perform less well outdoors, likely to wash out in direct sunlight, and generally show less vibrant colors. If working outdoors is an important factor for you, you should choose Pro.

NewiPad vsiPadPro 9.7: Processor, battery and camera

Under the hood of the iPad is a 64-bit A9 processor and an integrated M9 coprocessor, making it faster than the A8 on the iPad Mini 4, but not as powerful as the A9X chipset on the Pro. From a practical point of view, the performance difference shouldn't be too big. The A9 offers quite passable performance, and this chipset powers the iPhone 6S smartphones. In our experience, it still works great with iOS 10, without any issues, stuttering, lag, or performance dips. However, if you are buying a tablet with an eye to the future, you should again choose the A9X iPad Pro 9.7.

The new iPad is expected to offer 10 hours of battery life when watching videos over Wi-Fi, but we're not ready to draw conclusions until the tablet is fully reviewed and tested. For reference, the iPad Pro lasts 5 hours and 38 minutes while streaming video over Wi-Fi at maximum brightness. The older iPad Air 2 could only offer 5 hours and 15 minutes. We expect the new iPad to offer times in this range.

The iPad is equipped with a main camera with an 8-megapixel sensor that can record video in 1080p resolution. The image it captures probably won't be as sharp or colorful as the Pro's 12MP camera, which also supports Live Photos, add True Tone flash, and 4K video recording. The Pro's front sensor is better too. The tablet boasts a 5-megapixel front-facing camera compared to the new iPad's 1.2-megapixel sensor, hence the Pro's better selfies and video chatting.

NewiPad vsiPadPro 9.7: Software

Both tablets run iOS 10, so you won't notice much of a difference. The difference comes with the additional accessories you can install on your iPad Pro, including and. The new iPad is not compatible with them, so if performance is your requirement, you should choose the iPad Pro. It has the best features available, but will cost you more. Of course, the iPad will work with any standard one, and at RUB 25,000, it's a significantly more affordable option, making it a great choice for the budget user.

The situation may change with the release.

Everything you need to know about the new iPad 9.7 (2017): It's the same iPad and it's good. Apple has decided to call the new tablet simply “iPad”, but we users will have to give it a more precise name in order not to get lost in generations: iPad (2017), the fifth iPad or the new iPad 9.7. For this review, we'll just call it iPad. Read the translation of the review from The Verge on Trashbox.

iPad colors (2017): gold, silver and space gray

This is truly the most important thing you need to know about the iPad (2017). Next, we will go through all the features of the new model. However, in the end we will still come to these three points, so at the beginning of the material you know everything about the 2017 iPad.

Characteristics

• Screen: 9.7 inches, IPS, 2048×1536 pixels, 264 ppi, oleophobic coating.
• Operating system: iOS 10.
• Processor: Apple A9, dual-core, 64 bit, 14 nm, M9 sensor coprocessor.
• GPU: PowerVR GT7600.
• RAM: unknown (most likely 2 GB).
• Storage: 32 / 128 GB.
• Main camera: 8 megapixels, autofocus, f/2.4 aperture, video recording up to 1080p.
• Front camera: 1.2 megapixels, f/2.2 aperture, video recording up to 720p.
• Battery: 32.4 Wh, up to 10 hours of work via Wi-Fi when surfing the web, watching videos and listening to music, up to 9 hours of work on the mobile Internet.
• Dimensions: 240×169.5×7.5 mm.
• Weight: 469 grams (478 in LTE version).
• SIM slots: one nanoSIM in Cellular version.
• Communication: dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac) at 5 and 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 4.2, LTE (bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41), 3G (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz), GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800 , 1900 MHz), Lightning connector.
• Sensors: Touch ID fingerprint scanner, three-axis gyroscope, accelerometer, barometer, ambient light sensor.
• Available colors: silver, gold and space grey.
• Prices (in rubles): from 24,990 for 32 GB and from 31,990 for 128 GB.

It's just an iPad

The iPad is a device for consuming content and the new model is specifically designed for regular users of Apple tablets. It is also perfect for those who want a not-so-expensive tablet with good value for money. But for avid geeks, the iPad (2017) is not so interesting, because its characteristics are old. For them it is one step forward and two steps back.

Comparison of iPad 2017 (left, bottom) and iPad Air 2 (right, top)

In fact, the new product replaces the iPad Air 2, but the dimensions of their cases are almost identical. The 2017 model is slightly thicker, but in real life it is not noticeable. The iPad (2017) has the same wide bezels around the screen, the usual aluminum panel on the back, and also has magnets for Smart Covers. Tablet does not support the original Apple Pencil stylus and does not come with a connector for connecting a keyboard. Apple left these “chips” for its iPad Pro.

The highlight of every iPad model is its screen. The new generation display is very good. This is the one Retina with a resolution of 2048x1536 pixels. But the matrix cannot boast of the True Tone function, which adjusts the picture to lighting conditions. There's also no laminated or anti-glare layer from the iPad Air 2. If you look closely at the display, you'll notice that it sits a little deeper under the protective glass than usual. All because air gap. Therefore, the body became thicker. This is good for repairs, but bad for the overall quality of the screen.

However, Apple claims that the panels on the 2017 iPad are brighter than those on the iPad Air 2. In reality, it's hard to notice.

Another improvement over older iPads is Apple A9 processor. Apple's new tablet is quite fast, but not as powerful as the iPad Air 2 and is nowhere near the iPad Pro. But the performance reserve is enough for fast and comfortable web surfing, games with normal graphics like mobile ports of GTA and movies in good quality. Overall, the Apple A9 is enough for daily consumption of content in various forms.

Unfortunately, the iPad 9.7 (2017) did not receive the cool stereo speakers from the iPad Pro, where they are located on two edges. There are also standard two speakers on the bottom side of the case.

Summarizing all of the above, we again come to the point that “it’s just an iPad.” These are tablets you can trust - they offer standard quality, speed and features.

Best price/quality ratio

Apple has set a good price for this tablet. The company understands that no one needs expensive innovations in this product category anymore. Nobody wants to pay big bucks for an iPad Pro unless they're professionals (though they'd rather buy a Wacom tablet). Most people don't mind spending a reasonable amount on a work machine like the iPad 9.7 2017 to watch TV shows and browse their favorite sites.

Therefore, the tablet will probably sell well. The same Samsung now has nothing to offer buyers in this price category. The Koreans definitely missed the mark with the Galaxy Tab S3, which is priced at $599 - not a solution for the mass market at all. It is very strange to release such a model in conditions of stagnation of tablets. But we will definitely see cheaper versions of the Galaxy Tab S3.

Is it worth buying?

Left - iPad with LTE, right - Wi-Fi only

Now let’s divide the current iPad models according to buyers’ tasks:

1. Buy the iPad 9.7 (2017) if you want a simple device for entertainment and browsing.
2. Buy an iPad Pro to draw and sometimes use it as a laptop.
3. Buy the iPad Air 2 if you're a microscope person and screen quality is your top priority.

Fine:

• This is an iPad.
• Great price.
• Works fast.

• The screen could have been better.
• No keyboard connector.
• The speakers are only on one side.

Live photos

Specifications

• iOS 11.3 (at the start of sales)
• Display 9.7 inches, IPS, 2048x1536 pixels, 264 ppi, oleophobic coating, Apple Pencil support
• A10 Fusion processor, 4 cores, integrated M10 coprocessor
• 2 GB RAM
• Models with 32 or 128 GB of internal memory
• Li-Pol battery, capacity 32.4 Wh, up to 10 hours of watching videos or surfing the Internet
• Main camera 8 megapixels, front camera 1.2 megapixels
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, HT80 MIMO, Bluetooth 4.2
• For the LTE version, support for the following frequencies (no voice communication) – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 , 38, 39, 40, 41 – nanoSIM
• Digital compass
• GPS/GLONASS (LTE version only)
• First generation fingerprint sensor integrated into a mechanical button
• Three-axis gyroscope, accelerometer, barometer, ambient light sensor
• Apple Pay
• Case colors – silver, gold and space gray
• Dimensions – 240x169.5x7.5 mm, weight – 469/478 grams (Wi-Fi/LTE)

Contents of delivery

• Tablet
• Lightning cable
• Charger
• Tray eject tool (in LTE version)
• Brief instructions

Positioning

It is impossible to consider that the tablet market is dead, but it also looks alive only to those who have slept in a lethargic sleep for the last few years and missed the previous reincarnations of the iPad. The speed with which tablets disappeared from widespread sale and were replaced by large-screen smartphones shows that the entire category was the caliph for an hour. On the other hand, for many tasks the large screen of a tablet is much more convenient, for me these are games and occasionally watching movies. Moreover, the tablet has long turned exclusively into a home device; I don’t take it with me on trips, because I don’t see any point, the same games run on phones, and these are not iPhones, but Android smartphones with a large diagonal.

Somehow, unnoticed by the mass consumer, the need for tablets disappeared; they did not become a vital device. It is desirable, sometimes they want it, but you can easily live without it. As a result, all manufacturers have curbed their ambitions, and the development of this segment is very slow. Apple certainly sets the tone here, since the iPad is, on the one hand, the most expensive device, regardless of the specific model, but also the most widespread. It so happened that in fact the iPad today has no direct competitors and is becoming the preferred choice for buyers. Samsung offers a large selection of tablets, but they clearly lose in terms of price/quality ratio, as they are produced less frequently. As a result, these are simply quite old models, although their software is updated.

Somehow it didn’t work out for me with Android tablets; initially I use different versions of the iPad and I think that in terms of price/quality ratio this is the best device that can be purchased in 2018 or the year before. Since tablets are bought for a long time, it’s worth assessing what exactly you need and what you’re willing to fork out for. If you don't beat your tablet, it can last five years or more, you won't have any problems with it. Evaluate these devices within this time frame.

For those who not only consume information, but also create, for example, draw, iPad 9.7 now includes stylus support, which can be considered a good addition to the basic functionality. But the sixth generation iPad 9.7 is a budget model, that is, it is a device for minimal money, just like its predecessor was positioned a year ago. This is a basic model with all the attendant disadvantages compared to the same Pro line. As a user of the iPad Pro 10.5, I will involuntarily compare these tablets to give you a feel for what exactly you get in the older model. Let's get started.

Design, dimensions, control elements

The design of the iPad 9.7 does not change from year to year, it is still the same metal body, standard arrangement of elements (no, they did not refuse the 3.5 mm jack for headphones or headsets; Apple is not very consistent in this, and this is good for us). Look at the picture, it describes all the connectors.

What Apple says about the stereo speakers on the bottom is true, but it won't make things any easier for you. The iPad Pro has four speakers, and they create very clear, loud sound. On a budget iPad, at maximum volume the speakers wheeze and sound rough, there’s no comparison. In games, I turn up the speaker of this iPad to 20 percent, otherwise the lack of clear sound is annoying. But again, for those who have not heard Pro, everything will be fine.

The Home button, unlike the Pro version, is mechanical and can be pressed. This is a potential weak point of the tablet, since it is usually the buttons that break. On my Air 2, the button began to jam after 1.5 years, but it should be noted that the tablet was used by children and it was used mercilessly.

The fingerprint sensor is the first generation, but this does not matter; fingerprint recognition occurs quickly and without any difficulties.

The tablet is traditionally available in three colors.

I like the ergonomics of the device, and most importantly, the body is metal, which is a big plus. My experience with different versions of the iPad says that their case is practically indestructible, but for several years they have been installing glass that easily becomes cracked when dropped. And it doesn’t matter whether you have a case or not. This kind of compensation to shorten the lifespan of the tablet and force people to upgrade is a completely deliberate step. In the first month, I dropped the iPad Pro from the bed onto the floor, the height is minimal, there is a soft mat underneath, but cracks spread across the entire screen, several of them across the entire display - they do not interfere with work, and my finger does not touch them. Replacing a screen is an extremely expensive pleasure; it’s easier to buy a new tablet when something interesting appears, but for now I use it like that.

Compared to the Pro, the body of the budget iPad is slightly thicker, which makes it less comfortable, although the weight is exactly the same. But it feels different in your hands. But if you don’t make a direct comparison, you won’t find any flaws. Tablet dimensions – 240x169.5x7.5 mm, weight – 469/478 grams (Wi-Fi/LTE).

In terms of dimensions, the tablet was made identical to the previous model in order to achieve compatibility with all old accessories. There are no differences here, and the same cases are perfect for the updated model.

You shouldn't look for a smart magnetic connector on the case for an external keyboard case; it was left only for the Pro line models. Therefore, if you want to type something on this tablet, then take care of buying a wireless keyboard; it is less convenient, as it requires a connection, consumes power, and you also need to remember to charge the keyboard itself. In a word, this decision is not the most logical and pleasant.

The delivery package has not changed, even the box is exactly the same as a year ago.

Please note that the LTE version has a black insert at the top; it somewhat spoils the impression of the design.

Buying an LTE tablet seems to me to be a wasteful and even harmful exercise for the vast majority; it’s easier to distribute the Internet from a mobile device while traveling, and why is it on a tablet? As I said above, most people only use tablets at home, so choosing the Wi-Fi version is justified.

Among the little things that determine the design, I would like to note the absence of lamination for the screen, that is, the frames around the display are clearly visible. This is a penny saving, and Apple could have decided something about this, but, apparently, they wanted to emphasize the budget component of this particular device.

Display

Let me briefly list the screen characteristics: 9.7 inches, IPS, 2048x1536 pixels, 264 ppi, oleophobic coating, Apple Pencil support. Now let's look into the details, what's here and how. Let me start with the fact that the oleophobic coating is another saving point in the budget iPad; it is there, but the screen gets dirty almost instantly, unlike the Pro, where things are noticeably better.

The budget iPad has a very simple light sensor, there is no support for True Tone, screen color temperature control and other modern things. This is frankly frustrating, as is the fact that they did not add support for the P3 color profile (increased color gamut of the screen). The same iPad Pro has an RGB light sensor, there is a P3 profile, True Tone. But the main difference that a person will constantly see is the absence of ProMotion technology, it increases the frame rate from 60 to 120 per second, and all movements on the screen become fast and smooth, the animation is very good. This is the first thing I noticed about the budget model; it is somewhat slow compared to the Pro. For those who are accustomed to paying attention to microlags and definitely notice them, this moment will be painful.

What else did you save on? The answer is obvious, there is no anti-glare layer, like in Pro, the manufacturer does not expect you to work in the sun, or outdoors, or in rooms with many light sources. In a word, keep in mind that the screen has a lot of glare.

The bottom line is that for a budget tablet (by Apple standards) the screen is quite good, it has not changed compared to the previous year. Colorful colors, good to watch videos, but don’t expect a natural picture, the color gamut is far from the best devices on the market. But the display is excellent in its class, and that says it all. The brightness reserve is sufficient, I usually set it to 70 percent, since it’s no longer needed, my eyesight gets tired. Automatic brightness adjustment works fine, there are no complaints here.

Support for Apple Pencil or third-party styluses (there is one from Logitech) is the main change in the screen compared to the previous generation. Working with the stylus is not difficult, the only problem is carrying it separately, since it is impossible to attach it to the body.

Battery

Li-Pol battery, capacity 32.4 Wh, up to 10 hours of watching videos or surfing the Internet. Typical parameters for iPad, they are equal for different models, the manufacturer focuses on the same time. I didn't notice any changes, everything was as usual. The full charging time for the tablet is about 4-4.5 hours; there was no fast charging. This is a shame, because after all, progress has gone forward a long time ago, but it was not brought here. On the other hand, for a home device this is not so important; you will not carry it with you everywhere.

Communication capabilities

The big plus is that Wi-Fi is dual-band, it makes life easier, Bluetooth version 4.2, which is not important in this kind of device. The LTE version does not have voice communication, only data transmission. Also, both versions of the tablet support Apple Pay, but I doubt that many people will pay from such a device, it’s inconvenient. Have you ever seen people paying using a tablet? It's possible that I was unlucky, but I haven't met anyone like that yet.

Performance

There is a 4-core A10 processor, which is enough for the capabilities of a tablet, 2 GB of RAM, which is not bad by Apple standards. Overall, I have no complaints about the way the tablet works, everything is smooth, especially without comparison with the Pro. Quite fast for its class, the main thing is to remember that with the release of new versions of iOS, the device can become slow and it is better to avoid updates, if possible (Air 2 turned into a slow machine after updates, although here everyone can determine by eye which is better).

View the results of synthetic tests.

Camera

There is so much written on the Apple website about the main camera that you even get the feeling that it is good and modern, let’s read it together.

Unfortunately, the list of characteristics hides the fact that for 2018 the camera is, to put it mildly, mediocre. On the other hand, it is not particularly needed in a tablet. Look at the example pictures, you will understand everything yourself.

But the fact that the front camera is 1.2 megapixels and gives a very blurry picture is much worse. After all, this camera is used for video calls, and it is much more important in such a device, but they saved money here.

Impression

The perception of a product always depends on your expectations, for me they were not too high, and I think that the budget iPad 2018 (6th generation) turned out well. Yes, it is much inferior in everything to the iPad Pro 10.5, which will also receive an update before the end of the year, and the gap will become even greater. But for its price segment this iPad is appropriate and still has no direct competitors.

The price in Russia is 24,990 rubles for the basic 32 GB version ($329 plus taxes in the USA, the gray market and asking friends to bring it become relevant), for the 128 GB version they are already asking 31,990 rubles. Buying a 128 GB version for such a device does not make much sense, especially if you use it at home. But if you still buy it for travel, then yes, you should focus on a larger amount of memory, it will definitely be more comfortable. It’s not worth buying the LTE version, for most people it’s a waste of money, however, judge for yourself how much you need it.

If you are ready to fork out for good sound, a screen that is head and shoulders above the picture quality, then you should take a closer look at the iPad Pro 10.5, but wait until the fall when it is updated. But the price will be noticeably higher; these are products of different classes.

I have nothing to say about the Apple Pencil; it is an expensive accessory that most users of the Pro model do not need; it will be of little use at all on a budget iPad. It'll be hard to find people who can't buy an iPad Pro but are willing to fork out $100 for an Apple Pencil or spend half as much for a Logitech equivalent.

The 2018 iPad has virtually no direct competitors. In the Samsung line we see the more expensive and older Tab S3, although they are comparable in many characteristics, this tablet is outdated. The updated A-series line will compete with the iPad, but we just have to wait for the announcement to compare them in detail. When this will happen is unknown.

There is a lull in the Android tablet market, and the only real alternative is models from Huawei, for example, Huawei m5 (in regular and Pro versions). Unfortunately, prices for Russia are still unknown, and therefore it is impossible to discuss how adequate they are as a direct competitor.

So it turns out that, against the background of the inaction of others, a minimal cosmetic update to last year’s model, which comes out at exactly the same cost, is quite successful. For a budget tablet where you need a large screen that will last for years and at a relatively modest price, this 2018 iPad looks like a good deal.

We study Apple's cheapest tablet

Unexpectedly for everyone, Apple released a new iPad - without loud presentations or other fanfare. True, it can be a stretch to call it new: there are no technical innovations here, and most of the characteristics correspond to the iPad and iPhone of previous generations. Therefore, perhaps the most interesting feature of the model is its price. In the Russian Apple online store, the new iPad is sold for 25 thousand rubles for the minimum configuration. For comparison, the younger version of the iPad Pro with a 9.7-inch display costs 45 thousand rubles. So is it worth overpaying 20 thousand? We decided to figure it out.

It's no secret that the tablet market has been in decline in recent years. Moreover, although Apple remains the undisputed leader, this also concerns it. Perhaps that's why the company began to seriously revise the iPad lineup, first releasing the iPad Pro with a 12.9-inch display, then supplementing it with the iPad Pro with a 9.7-inch screen, and now introducing a budget version - just an iPad, which replaced the iPad Air 2 . And it is important that the price for the iPad was set to a minimum, making it even lower than that of the iPad mini 4.

True, there is an important nuance here: Apple has removed the iPad mini 4 from its range with a memory capacity of less than 128 GB. Of course, there are still plenty of them in “white” retail, including options with 32 GB, like the new iPad, but they still cost more than the new iPad. In turn, if you buy a new iPad with 128 GB of memory, it will be 2 thousand more expensive than the iPad mini 4 with the same capacity.

Let's face it: there is a fair amount of confusion. But, apparently, Apple was guided by the desire to make a truly affordable tablet, without giving rise to “cannibalism” within the line. But for this, we had to “kill” the iPad Air 2 and at the same time abandon the iPad mini 4 options with a small amount of memory. At the same time, for the iPad Pro 9.7, the new product still poses a significant threat - precisely because of the price. Thus, today the lineup of Apple tablets is as follows: the flagship is the iPad Pro 12.9″, the middle version is the iPad Pro 9.7″, and the most affordable models are the iPad mini 4 and iPad with a diagonal of 9.7″. We decided to study the 2017 iPad in detail and figure out in which cases it is worth purchasing, and in which cases it is still better to choose the iPad Pro 9.7″ or iPad mini 4.

Let's look at the technical characteristics of the new product.

Specifications of the Apple iPad 2017

• Apple A9 1.85 GHz SoC (2x 64-bit cores, Twister architecture based on ARMv8-A)
• GPU PowerVR GT7600
• Apple M9 motion coprocessor including barometer, accelerometer, gyroscope
• RAM 2 GB
• Flash memory 32/128 GB
• No memory card support
• Operating system iOS 10.0
• Touch display IPS, 9.7″, 2048×1536 (264 ppi), capacitive, multi-touch
• Cameras: front (1.2 MP, 720p video via FaceTime) and rear (8 MP, 1080p video)
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz; MIMO support)
• Cellular Internet (optional): UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900 MHz), LTE (bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 38 , 39, 40, 41)
• A2DP LE, GPS / A-GPS (in version with cellular module), Glonass
• Touch ID fingerprint scanner
• 3.5mm stereo headset jack, Lightning dock connector
• Lithium polymer battery 32.9 Wh
• Dimensions 240×170×7.5 mm
• Weight 478 g (version with cellular module)

For clarity, let’s compare the characteristics of the new product with the iPad Pro 9.7″ and iPad Air 2.

*according to manufacturer information
** version with cellular module, our measurement
*** for the version with a minimum of flash memory and communication capabilities

So what should you pay attention to? First of all, on the Apple A9 SoC: other iPads use a chip with an X on the end (A8X, A9X), which are more productive than their “iPhone” brothers - A8 and A9. However, the A8 is used in the iPad mini. So in this respect, the new iPad is closer to the iPad mini line.

The second point: the maximum amount of internal memory in the new iPad is limited to 128 GB, while the iPad Pro has a 256 GB option. And third: the new product is heavier and thicker than both predecessors - in this parameter it is closer to the first generation iPad Air. But the battery capacity is a little larger. But what this gives can only be understood through real testing. As well as evaluate the performance of the Apple A9 at this screen resolution in comparison with the Apple A9X, Apple A8X and Apple A8. So let's get started!

Packaging and accessories

The packaging of the new iPad is traditional for Apple tablets and is practically no different from the packaging of previous generations of tablets. The photo below, next to the box, shows the packaging with the only accessory for the iPad - Smart Cover.

The contents of the iPad itself do not promise any surprises: leaflets, a charger, a Lightning cable, stickers and a key for removing the SIM card cradle. The charger has the same power as the iPad Pro 9.7″: 10 W (2.1 A, 5.1 V).

In general, it doesn’t matter whether the iPad costs 25 thousand rubles or 83 thousand (the most expensive version of the iPad Pro 12.9″) - the packaging and equipment will be identical. For those who buy an inexpensive device, this should warm their souls :)

Design and accessories

Externally, the new iPad is similar to its predecessors, but when we take it in our hands, we understand that it is still worth comparing it not with the latest generation models (iPad Pro and iPad Air 2), but with the first generation iPad Air. The device is a little thicker and heavier, and doesn't have that expensive, modern design feel that you usually get from new Apple products. However, you can’t blame the iPad for being cheap and calling its appearance outdated either. It's just an iPad. No more and no less. Despite all the controversy of this decision, Apple marketers gave it a surprisingly accurate name.

Like all the latest iPads, it has an all-metal aluminum body, a Home button with a fingerprint scanner, front and rear cameras, and two volume buttons on the right side. But if you compare it with the iPad Pro 9.7″, there are some differences.

Firstly, the speakers are located only at the bottom, right and left of the Lightning connector. Therefore, there is no stereo sound here. Secondly, the camera does not have a flash, and the camera itself does not protrude above the back surface. Thirdly, there is no keyboard connector on the left side. Finally, fourthly, the top panel in the version with the LTE module is made entirely of plastic, while on the iPad Pro it is made in the form of a thin plastic strip.

In fact, Apple simply took the body of the first generation iPad Air. We didn't have a copy of the iPad Air to compare the two devices to be sure of this assumption, but the matching dimensions, coupled with photos of the iPad Air, leave little doubt about this. In principle, this decision is quite logical: why reinvent the wheel if you can take an existing design and simply replace the components?

At the same time, the key technologies of recent years - a fingerprint scanner and a virtual SIM card - are present in the new iPad. But, unfortunately, there is no compatibility with the Smart Keyboard and the Pencil stylus. The first is due to the lack of a dock connector, as mentioned above, the second is due to a different type of screen and glass (this will be discussed in the corresponding section).

Speaking of accessories, it's worth noting that the only accessory currently available is the Apple Smart Cover. It is available in five colors (white, navy, charcoal, red and pink sand). We received a dark blue version for testing. He is pleasant and handsome, although nothing new can be said here. Unfortunately, there is no case for the iPad, but if you happen to have a case for the first generation iPad Air lying around, it should fit without any problems.

To summarize the above, we note that Apple used the design of the first generation iPad Air in the new iPad - with all the ensuing consequences in terms of functionality and weight and size parameters. But unlike the 2013 tablet, the new product has a fingerprint scanner, and that's the main thing.

Screen

The new iPad has a 9.7-inch screen with a resolution of 2048x1536 - in general, exactly the same parameters as the iPad Air 2. With the latest iOS update, the Night Shift function appeared, designed to correct the image in an optimal way (from a physiological point of view ) for working with the tablet before bed.

Detailed testing of the screen was carried out by the editor of the “Monitors” and “Projectors and TV” sections, Alexey Kudryavtsev. Below is his conclusion.

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are worse than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photograph in which a white surface is reflected when the screens are turned off (on the left - Nexus 7, on the right - Apple iPad (A1823), then in all comparative photographs they can be distinguished by size):

The screen of the Apple iPad (A1823) is slightly lighter (brightness according to photographs is 127 versus 114 for the Nexus 7). This is due to the fact that there is an air gap between the outer glass and the surface of the LCD matrix. Due to the presence of glass/air and air/matrix boundaries with very different refractive indices, such screens do not look good in conditions of intense external illumination. But their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much cheaper, since only the glass itself needs to be replaced. In this case, the situation is partially corrected by an effective anti-reflective coating on the screen. The outer surface of the screen also has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (effective, but still worse than that of the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much more easily and appear at a slower rate than with regular glass.

With manual brightness control and when the white field was displayed in full screen, the maximum brightness value was about 500 cd/m², the minimum was 3.9 cd/m². The maximum brightness is very high, and given the good anti-glare properties, readability even on a sunny day outdoors will be at an acceptable level. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. There is automatic brightness adjustment based on the light sensor (it is located to the left of the front camera eye). Automatic brightness adjustment works in the old Apple style (think 2012) - brightness can only increase as ambient light levels increase. However, if you put the tablet into sleep mode and turn it on again, the brightness will be set in accordance with the external light level, that is, it will decrease in the dark. The operation of this feature depends on the position of the brightness adjustment slider at the current level of ambient light, so the user may try to influence the operation of this function. Having adjusted the brightness in complete darkness and in an office environment, we found that in complete darkness, the automatic brightness adjustment function reduces the brightness to 18 cd/m²; in an office illuminated by artificial light (about 550 lux), the brightness increases to 200 cd/m², in very in a bright environment (corresponding to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or slightly more) is set to 500 cd/m². We were pleased with the result. It turns out that the auto-brightness function works more or less adequately and, to some extent, allows the user to customize their work to individual requirements. At any brightness level, there is no significant backlight modulation, so there is no screen flicker.

This tablet uses an IPS matrix. The microphotographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

The screen has good viewing angles without significant color shift even with large viewing deviations from perpendicular to the screen and without inverting shades. For comparison, here are photographs in which the same images are displayed on the screens of an Apple iPad (A1823) and Nexus 7, while the screen brightness is initially set to approximately 200 cd/m² (across the white field in full screen), and the color balance on the camera is forcibly switched to 6500 K.

There is a white field perpendicular to the screens:

Note the good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field.

And a test picture:

Color balance varies slightly, color saturation is normal.

Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen:

It can be seen that the colors did not change much on both screens and the contrast remained at a high level.

And a white field:

The brightness at an angle of the screens decreased (by at least 4 times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but in the case of the Apple iPad (A1823) the drop in brightness is less. When deviated diagonally, the black field is lightened weakly and acquires a violet or red-violet hue. The photographs below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is approximately the same!):

And from another angle:

When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is excellent:

The contrast (approximately in the center of the screen) is normal - about 800:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 18 ms (10 ms on + 8 ms off). The transition between halftones of gray 25% and 75% (based on the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 25 ms. The gamma curve, constructed using 32 points with equal intervals based on the numerical value of the shade of gray, did not reveal any blockage in either the highlights or the shadows. The exponent of the approximating power function is 2.05, which is slightly lower than the standard value of 2.2. In this case, the real gamma curve deviates little from the power-law dependence:

Color gamut is almost equal to sRGB:

The spectra show that the matrix filters moderately mix the components with each other:

As a result, visually the colors have a natural saturation. The balance of shades on the gray scale is good, since the color temperature is slightly higher than the standard 6500 K, and the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is less than 10, which is considered an acceptable indicator for a consumer device. At the same time, color temperature and ΔE change little from hue to hue - this has a positive effect on the visual assessment of color balance. (The darkest areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

Work in LTE networks

The tablet will work on almost all LTE networks, and also supports a virtual SIM card Apple SIM (more details about what this is and how to use it are described).

LTE reception is reliable. Speed ​​measurements using the iOS application Speedtest.net (Beeline SIM card was used) showed normal results for both data receiving and downloading. However, the results may greatly depend on the operator, testing location, network load at a particular moment, etc.

iPad supports hot insertion and SIM card swapping (without rebooting), as well as all the latest LTE and Wi-Fi standards (LTE-Advanced, Wi-Fi 5 GHz 802.11ac). We didn't notice any differences from the iPad Pro here.

Camera

Camera capabilities and specifications are another aspect in which the new iPad is inferior to the iPad Pro, but matches the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4. 4K video is not supported, nor is slo-mo 240 fps (120 fps only) . The resolution of the main module is 8 megapixels. Here are examples of the pictures he takes.

	The camera handles macro photography well, but not perfectly. The iPad Pro did better with this.
	It is impossible to distinguish the license plates of the cars (although they were visible to the naked eye during the shooting). However, we cannot call the image fuzzy.
	Sharping on the wires is practically absent.
	When you enlarge the image to its original size, some blurring is noticeable, but the tree branches are worked out quite well.
	For distant shots, the sharpness drops a little.

Overall, although the camera is worse than that of the iPad Pro, strictly speaking, it is more than enough for typical tablet use. The pictures come out good, quite clear, so for taking documents or a random photo on the street, when for some reason your phone is not at hand, the iPad will do without any problems.

We were also pleased with video shooting - an example is possible (1920x1080, 64.4 MB). Yes, unlike the iPad Pro, there is no 4K support, but, again, how often do you need to shoot 4K on a tablet? Perhaps, if a manufacturer’s goal is to make a budget tablet, then the first thing you should save on is the camera. But Apple did not save radically and found a fine balance between quality and price. The same, however, applies to the new iPad as a whole.

conclusions

Apple has released a device not for geeks, demanding professionals or fans of design features, but for ordinary people. For those who do not need 4K video shooting, top performance, or work with expensive accessories, but need just a tablet. Surf the Internet, read email and books, watch movies, play games... In general, do everything that the vast majority of tablet buyers do.

At the same time, what is important, owners of the new iPad will not have the constant feeling that this is a budget device - they say, they saved money on this and that... Performance is more than sufficient for everyday use, the screen is excellent, there is even a fingerprint scanner - today it is no longer a luxury or entertainment for geeks, but an essential technology that significantly increases the comfort and safety of using a tablet. Plus, excellent battery life. Yes, the screen here has an air gap, and not OGS, as in more expensive iPads, however, again, for ordinary users this is even a plus: it is no secret that the most common breakdown of tablets is associated with a broken screen. So, replacing a display whose glass is separated from the matrix costs several times less.

As a matter of fact, if you (or the person you are helping to choose a tablet) do not have a clear understanding of why he needs an iPad Pro, then you can safely buy a new iPad, thus saving almost twice. Children pester you and ask you to buy “an iPad like everyone else” - buy an iPad. A friend asks me to recommend a tablet “so that my wife can read books on the subway and my child can play educational games” - we confidently recommend the iPad. With this new product, Apple dealt a severe blow to its competitors, most of whom play on the field “almost like Apple, but cheaper,” but retained the highest level of quality. Well, we will expect innovations and technological breakthroughs from the future iPad Pro.

To be honest, I was quite skeptical about the older iPad Pro: too big, different resolution, high price, heavy weight. Therefore, I did not expect much from using the iPad Pro 9.7, given that I am not a designer and the product is clearly not designed for me. Whether my fears were justified or not, you will find out in this review.

Characteristics

Equipment

• Tablet
• Charger
• PC cable (also part of the charger)

Appearance, materials, control elements, assembly

Apple has always been able to make beautiful things, just remember... anything: MacBook Pro, iPod Classic, iPhone 4/4s, etc. Of course, this statement is also true for the company’s tablets. The first Air featured a major redesign of the iPad, but now the new versions only get cosmetic changes. However, this does not make them any worse. The new iPad Pro 9.7 looks about the same as the same Air/Air 2, but with a number of caveats.

In this review, I decided not to once again list the location of the connectors and control elements; fortunately, there is a wonderful and visual picture dedicated to them on the Apple website, so let’s focus on the differences between the Pro 9.7 and the Air.

Firstly, of course, color. A “rose gold” version appeared, and that’s what I tested. What can I say, it looks beautiful, but not tacky, however, it is clear that such a color is still more suitable for girls.

The back part with the antennas is no longer plastic, but also aluminum, only the white rim remains. To be honest, I liked the previous version better.

An additional pair of stereo speakers has appeared, now there are not two, but four. And this seriously affects the sound quality. I'm not an audiophile, but even I can hear a significant difference in sound between Pro 9.7 and the same Air/Air 2. In Pro, the sound is deeper, the volume range is better, and the separation of low and high frequencies is heard in more detail. This tablet can perfectly replace your small portable speaker.

And on the right are the same volume rocker and nanoSIM tray.

As for Touch ID, Pro 9.7 did not receive a new version of the technology, however, in my impressions, even the first generation of the sensor works great.

This is where the external differences, in general, end, but the matter, naturally, is not limited to them.

Dimensions

As you can see, the dimensions of the Pro 9.7 are completely the same as the Air 2, but it’s still worth talking about them in a little more detail. When I first picked up the iPad Air, I was surprised by how light it was. Back then you couldn’t even believe that in your hand you had a functional tablet computer, and not an ordinary “tablet” on which you attach paper. I chose the comparison not by chance, because in my hand, both the Air 2 and the Pro 9.7 feel about the same as that very “tablet”. However, let's not forget that competitors are also not lagging behind in this parameter; pay attention to the dimensions of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 in the table, they are even a little smaller than those of the Pro 9.7.

Compared to iPad mini 4

Screen

Speaking from the point of view of the average person, you are unlikely to notice much of a difference between the screens of the Air 2 and Pro 9.7, unless you put them next to each other. But this does not change the fact that the display in this tablet is wonderful: a high level of maximum brightness, natural color reproduction, no air gap, ultra-high resolution and many applications optimized for this screen.

Pro 9.7 has a new TrueTone feature; it analyzes the lighting around the tablet and, based on it, changes the white balance in the screen itself. A FaceTime camera is used for analysis. I saw a lot of enthusiastic reviews about this technology on the Internet, but it immediately began to irritate me because of the screen turning yellow. It’s interesting that when you turn it off, you immediately notice how cold the display’s white color rendering is.

You can't see the difference in the screenshots

The NightShift setting automatically turns on a warm color scheme in the late afternoon, so that when viewing information from it at night your eyes won’t get so tired.

Another advantage of the new display is support for the extended DCI color spectrum standard instead of the traditional sRGB. In theory, the number of colors displayed increases by as much as 25%, but in practice you don't really notice it. An interesting article about the difference between sRGB and DCI was given to me by a Mac maker I know, I recommend reading it (it’s in English).

By the way, this tablet does not have 3D Touch, which is a little surprising.

operating system

The tablet runs iOS 9.3. We had a separate material dedicated to all the features of version 9.x; if you haven’t read it, I recommend that you read it.

Performance

Traditionally for Apple, all of their new tablets and smartphones work just fine and very quickly in the first year, and Pro 9.7 was no exception. Some may, of course, be upset by the lack of 4 GB of RAM, but for most even design tasks they are simply not needed. If you upgrade from the first Air or earlier versions to Pro 9.7, you will definitely notice a difference in speed.

During productive tasks, the right central part of the back cover begins to heat up, but this has virtually no effect on the comfort of use.

Autonomous operation

The battery capacity is 7306 mAh, it is almost the same as the Air 2, but the Pro 9.7 still lasts a little longer, I would estimate this difference at 10%. I suspect that this is due to a more energy-efficient processor. If we talk about everyday use, then you can safely charge the tablet once a week with an average screen activity of one and a half to two hours. Charging time is about four hours.

Camera

To be honest, I don’t understand people who shoot on tablets at all, it looks terribly stupid from the outside, and it’s just inconvenient, but since there is such a trend, then let’s talk about the camera in Pro 9.7 in a little more detail.

It uses the same camera module as the iPhone 6S, only without optical stabilization. In fact, you can take pictures of similar quality to the 6s with one “but”. Instead of the small display of the 6s, the Pro 9.7 has a huge high-resolution screen that acts as a viewfinder, so when shooting in artificial light, all the flaws in the picture will be immediately noticeable, especially grain or any blurriness.

The Pro 9.7 takes great photos in natural light, but it doesn't perform as well indoors, so keep that in mind. I didn’t have an iPhone 6s at hand, so the comparison involved the usual “six”.

iPad Pro 9.7	iPhone 6

The resolution of the front camera has increased to 5 MP; if we talk about selfies, their quality did not particularly impress me.

However, I cannot help but note that on any iPad, including this one, the quality of video calls in Skype is simply wonderful. I don’t know whether to praise only Apple or the more optimized Skype for iOS, but the fact remains that making Skype video calls from the iPad is much more pleasant than from other devices.

Video recording is carried out in a maximum resolution of 4k, it is possible to record slow-mo at a frequency of 120 fps FHD or 240 fps HD.

Wireless interfaces

There are no special changes in the wireless interfaces - a full set, but with NFC cut off.

Apple Pencil

The iPad Pro 9.7 came to me for testing along with the Apple Pencil. We already had a review of this “pencil” from Eldar Murtazin, be sure to read it if you want to learn more about the accessory.

I tried the pencil out of pure curiosity; I became really curious as to why some reviewers praise it so much. When you first take Pencil in your hand, you immediately want to draw something with it, honestly, I, for example, have never been an artist, so I wasn’t lazy, bought the Procreate application and started “creating.”

Any art begins with imitation, so as a test, I took two photographs of cats and began making sketches. I used a “gel pen” for the first time, and it didn’t turn out very well, to put it mildly.

And this was the original picture

For the second sketch I decided to use a pencil, and guess what? Even beginning artists will do much better in pencil, I don’t know why this is related, to be honest.

The original picture was found on the Internet

In general, I got great pleasure from the Pencil, but I would hardly buy it for 8,000 rubles.

Apple Keyboard

Another accessory addition to the iPad Pro. Firstly, allow me to be sincerely indignant at the lack of a Russian layout on the keyboard, I understand that this is due to the small supply of the cover in principle, but this does not make it any easier for me as an end user!

But I really liked the keyboard itself, despite the short travel, the buttons are very convenient to use, largely due to the large distance between the keys. Erroneous clicks are minimal (if you master the blind input method).

And everything would be great if in iOS 9.3 they had not changed the switching of languages ​​from the usual CMD+Spacebar to Control+Spacebar. Insanely inconvenient and completely unclear why this was done. To hang a Spotlight challenge on a previous combination? But personally, I switch languages ​​more often than I use Spotlight. In general, the accessory is very niche, in my opinion.

Hint, if you are used to the Windows layout, you can switch to it in the settings

Oh yes, I’ll also note that the angle of inclination in the case is not optimal for me, and unlike laptops, it’s also impossible to change it.

Conclusion

First, let's look at retail prices in the official Apple online store:

Looks invigorating, doesn't it? But before you get indignant, let's remember how much Apple is now asking for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro:

And compared to the older model, the iPad Pro 9.7 looks much more accessible. At the same time, in my opinion, this tablet is much more versatile than the huge Pro 12.9. It almost completely replicates the popular Air, has the same display resolution, so there will be no problems with compatibility, its small dimensions will make it easy to carry it with you anywhere, and with the 20,000 rubles saved you can either take an older version or buy the same Pencil and keyboard .

Key differences between Pro 9.7 and Air 2: improved processor, TrueTone screen mode and support for the DCI standard, four stereo speakers, a 10% increase in battery life and new, higher-quality cameras. But, to be honest, I would not recommend changing Air 2 to Pro 9.7, these are products of the same level, it is not worth spending money on a cosmetic upgrade.

For designers looking for a Pencil and tablet replacement, the Pro 9.7 is a good option. Everyone is now talking about what a good product this is for creative people, but let’s not forget that this is, in principle, a very good tablet. Yes, due to its professional features, it costs more, so it won’t have big sales, but that doesn’t make it bad, rather niche.

The mass consumer can always get an Apple iPad Air 2 or a Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 if they prefer Android tablets.

Speaking about me personally, after using the Pro 9.7 I was once again convinced that I prefer compact eight-inch tablets. I wonder if a Pro version will eventually appear for the iPad mini, and is it even needed?