Apple iPad (2020) vs iPad (2021): what’s the difference?

The iPhone 13 isn’t the only Apple device launching on September 24 – and we’re not just talking about the 2021 iPad Mini. The company also announced a new entry-level iPad at its recent “California” event. Streaming ”, which is equipped with a new front camera, a faster processor and double the base storage. But are the improvements enough to warrant an upgrade over last year’s iPad, or even pick it over its predecessor if you find the 2020 model on sale?

To answer these questions, we ran a comparison outlining the similarities and differences between the 2020 iPad and the upcoming model, ahead of our official review.

Image: Apple

What has been improved on the iPad 2021?

• A 12MP ultra-wide front camera
• Larger storage capacity, with basic storage starting at 64 GB
• The A13 Bionic chip, replacing the 2018 A12 Bionic
• A True Tone screen that adjusts the color temperature according to your environment

iPad (2021, Wi-Fi)

Apple’s latest entry-level iPad is a slight update, with a new A13 Bionic chip and a 12MP front camera that supports Apple’s Center Stage feature.

Without a doubt, one of the main selling points of the new iPad is its front camera, which is of a higher resolution than the 1.2MP camera found on the 2020 model. On paper, this should translate to a best video quality, whether for video conferencing, live streaming or other activities. The new model also supports 1080p recording at 25 fps and 30 fps, while the 2020 version only supports 1080p at 30 fps. In addition, the new iPad can “follow” the subject as it moves through the frame thanks to Apple’s new Center Stage feature, formerly only available to the iPad Pro.

There are also notable improvements when it comes to display, storage capacity, and performance. Unlike last year’s model, the latest iPad sports twice the capacity with storage variants of 64 GB and 256 GB instead of 32 GB and 128 GB. In addition, thanks to Apple’s True Tone technology – something Apple introduced in 2016 with the first-generation iPad Pro – the new entry-level tablet’s screen can adjust its color temperature to suit your surroundings. If you’re outdoors, for example, the display will automatically adjust to be more pleasing to your eyes. Finally, the 2021 model features Apple’s A13 Bionic chip, which Apple claims is 20% faster than the A12 Bionic chip found in the eighth-generation model.

What is the same on both models?

• The 8MP rear camera with f / 2.4 aperture and digital zoom
• Slow motion video support for 720p at 120 fps
• The overall design – height, width, depth are the same
• Lightning connectivity (no USB-C)
• They both have a headphone jack
• List of compatible accessories
• Battery life, which Apple quotes between nine and 10 hours
• Wi-Fi 5 and optional LTE connectivity
• Both are running iPadOS 15

In many ways, the 2021 iPad is identical to its predecessor. The upgraded front camera should mean better video calls, but other than that the device sports the same wide 8 MP camera with f / 2.4 aperture on the back, HDR support, and zoom. digital. Both tablets also feature similar video recording capabilities, offering slow motion video support for 720p at 120fps.

Design-wise, they’re almost the same, which means the new tablet remains compatible with existing accessories like Apple’s smart keyboard and still has a 3.5mm headphone jack, a novelty. among Apple’s current line of devices and modern devices in general.

Unlike the all-new iPad Mini, however, the iPad 2021 still has a home button with a Touch ID sensor and a Lightning port instead of USB-C, a frustrating note that also applies to models. iPhone 13. Both are also only compatible with the first generation Apple Pencil, which is not as convenient to charge as the second generation model released in 2018. While the new model charges without wire while magnetically anchored to the side of the iPad Pro and latest iPad Air and iPad Mini, the latest generation pencil still sits on the tablet’s Lightning connector and awkwardly protrudes from the bottom of the device when charging.

Both iPads are available in space gray or silver – no gold colorway this time around – with a 10.2-inch screen and a resolution of 2160 x 1620. They even weigh about the same; only the Wi-Fi version of the new model weighs a little less: 1.07 pounds, up from 1.08.

Apple says battery life is the same on both devices as well, with the new iPad offering between nine and 10 hours of battery life, depending on whether you’re using a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. Meanwhile, the 2021 model offers twice the storage for the same price. The Wi-Fi-equipped iPad with 64GB of storage now starts at $ 329 – the same price as the last-gen model with 32GB of storage. The new model is also available in a 256GB configuration for an additional $ 150, while the 2020 model could only be purchased in 32GB or 128GB versions.

As for the operating system, both models are compatible with iPadOS 15. The only difference is that the 2021 iPad comes pre-installed – eighth-generation iPad owners will need to download it. This means that whichever model you choose, you’ll be able to make FaceTime calls with Android and Windows users in the blink of an eye, resize your widgets, filter notifications through Focus mode, and use a host of new iPadOS features. 15. With the final release of macOS Monterey later this fall, you’ll also be able to drag and drop content between devices using Universal Control.

Image: Apple

Why might you stick with the iPad 2020?

• It’s still a good tablet, probably with years of support ahead of it.
• You really like the gold color or the white glasses on the silver model

Unlike the upcoming iPad Mini, the latest entry-level iPad is more of a refinement than a notable overhaul. It doesn’t have a USB-C port or second-generation Apple Pencil compatibility, and it doesn’t ditch the home button in favor of an edge-to-edge display. It’s still the most budget-friendly tablet in the Apple lineup, however, and even the incremental upgrades are enough to make it even better value at $ 329 than before. The faster performance offered by the A13 Bionic is welcome, as is an improved 12MP camera at a time when we still go online virtually more often than we are in person. It even offers double the storage for the same price.

For some people, subtle upgrades will suffice. But for the most part? Probably not.

If you’re currently looking for a new tablet and not just for an upgrade, the choice becomes a bit easier when you consider availability. Apple officially ditched the 2020 iPad with the introduction of the ninth-generation model, and while we regularly saw last year’s model slashed to $ 300 last year, it hasn’t recently been available at almost all retailers. Even if you wanted to buy the 2020 model, you can’t, making the iPad 2021 the cheapest Apple tablet you can buy apart from a used or refurbished model.

If you regularly use your iPad for video calls or live streaming, the new front-facing camera may be reason enough to upgrade – or if you’re really struggling to find storage space. Other than that, however, you might be better off waiting for a more substantial refresh on Apple’s entry-level tablet, or spending the extra $ 200 or so on the iPad Air 2020, a tablet equipped with ‘an even faster processor, larger screen and USB-C port, plus a host of other improvements.