iPad 10 (2022) Review: A Good iPad But Too Easily Replaceable

The iPad 10 (2022) brings some exciting optimizations like a new design, a USB-C port, and the A14 Bionic SoC. However, Apple is charging a lot for these new features. I tested the iPad 2022 for a week, and it kept pushing me toward the iPad Air 2022. I’ll tell you why in this full iPad 10 (2022) review.

Table of Contents

The iPad 10 (2022) In Brief

The 2022 iPad now starts at 589 euros, a considerable difference of 200 euros compared to the 2021 iPad. Like last year, Apple only offers two storage variants, 64 GB and 256 GB. The iPad 10 is available in Blue, Yellow, Silver, and Pink colors.

The iPad 2022 is available from October 26. Apple also introduced the new Magic Keyboard Folio, which attaches to the iPad 10. The latter cost 299 euros; surprisingly, it has a trackpad and full-size keys. The new iPad supports the 1st generation Apple Pencil. In the box, Apple provides a Lightning adapter for charging.

Design And Screen

With its new design, the iPad 2022 is finally in line with the entire range of iPads. The 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display is now borderless and has a peak brightness of 500 Nits. It has a resolution of 2360 x 1640 pixels and supports True Tone technology.

The big surprise is that Apple has finally replaced the Lightning port and headphone jack with USB-C. Another significant change is that Apple has repositioned the fingerprint scanner and removed the home button, resulting in thinner bezels.

I loved

Updated and modern design.
The front camera is positioned in landscape mode
We finally have the USB-C port instead of the Lightning port

I did not like

The screen refresh rate of 60 Hz
Support for the first generation of Apple Pencil (Lightning port)

As an iPad Air 5 fan, this design change is very welcome. Support for the Magic Keyboard Folio instead of the Smart Keyboard is also a plus for this generation, which aligns with the iPad Air and Pro range’s accessory designer. Besides the iPad weighing 477g, the magnetically attached protective cover on the back is excellent when it comes to consuming content.

What’s nice about the new keyboard is that keys like multitasking, spotlight, Siri, and DnD (Don’t Disturb) have been added as quick shortcuts. What’s disappointing is the fact that Apple has kept the 60Hz refresh rate. In other words, the 2022 iPad doesn’t have ProMotion mode.

However, that’s to be expected for an entry-level model, and, ultimately, the screen experience is still fantastic. Image quality remains good from different viewing angles, which is essential for a tablet that can be used as a second screen. The iPad 10’s screen displays vibrant colors, and even with a peak brightness of 500 Nits, you’ll have no problem recognizing screen content in direct sunlight.

Magic Keyboard Folio

Image quality remains good from different viewing angles, which is essential for a tablet that can be used as a second screen. The iPad 10’s screen displays vibrant colors, and even with a peak brightness of 500 Nits, you’ll have no problem recognizing screen content in direct sunlight. Like iOS 16, you can edit and delete messages in the Messages app.

Manage Shared Projects

But what’s more interesting for those working with an iPad is that Apple offers several collaboration features in Messages that make it quick and seamless to start and manage shared projects. There’s also a new productivity app built into iPadOS called Freeform, which lets you create collaborative notes with full Apple Pencil support.

In addition to this, Safari offers the option of having shared tab groups. These two features can be used in collaboration with other people. Also, the iPad 10 2022 incorporates two characteristics that make it ideal for professional use, Center Stage and Universal Control. Suppose the first allows the camera constantly to keep you well-framed during video calls.

The second will enable you to connect and control the tablet with other devices and peripherals. And since I know many NextPireaders are passionate about Weather apps, iPadOS 16 now features a revamped Weather app with an extensive list of critical weather information

On the other hand, the iPad 2022 does not offer a function that makes a difference when using the tablet as the primary device: the Stage Manager. This function, which depends on the hardware, offers the same user experience as a PC by providing the new window management as on macOS 13.

With Stage Manager, a window moves to the center of the screen, while all other applications move in batches to the left side of the screen. Unfortunately, only devices with at least the M1 SoC support this feature. To learn more about the features of the new iPad 10, I invite you to read our complete guide to iPadOS 16.

Apple iPad 10 (2022) – Performance

As expected, the 2022 iPad features the A14 Bionic SoC has two performance cores and four power-efficiency cores, coupled with a 4-core GPU and a 16-core neural engine. The 2022 iPad is only available with 64GB or 256GB of storage. In both cases, the RAM is 4 GB.

I loved

Stable performance
Excellent multitasking ability
5G compatibility

I did Not Like

The 64 GB variant is a joke in 2022

What’s new is 5G compatibility with physical SIM and eSIM. According to Apple, with wifi 6, connection speeds will be 30% faster on the new 2022 iPad than wifi five 802.11ac supported on the previous generation. The A14 Bionic SoC offers a smooth experience and excellent integration with Apple services. The same cannot be said for Google services, as the experience with apps like Google Drive and Google Meet has been relatively slow.

However, this is a tablet where the multitasking functions work perfectly, which makes the iPad 2022 excellent for use as a second remote working device. In the 3D Mark benchmark, for example, the iPad 10 2022 had a stability of 92.6%, with the best loop score of 7670 and the lowest loop score of 7103. I don’t use tablets as game consoles, but this result is encouraging.

Finally, the fact that the base variant only has 64GB of internal storage is a joke in 2022. Even iPhones last offered that storage in 2021. More than that, a device with the potential to be a “reliable companion” in everyday life should have at least 128 GB of storage, even with the 2 TB cloud storage subscription costing €9.99/month. Remember that the 256 GB variant of the 2022 iPad costs 200 euros without 5G.

Photo And Sound Quality Module

The 2022 iPad is the first tablet from Apple to have a selfie camera positioned in landscape mode. This allows for better viewing of FaceTime. The 12 MP sensor, with its 122° field of view, also supports Center Stage. An updated 12MP wide-angle lens on the back that can shoot 4K at 30fps.

I loved

It’s the first iPad to have a landscape-mode selfie lens

I did Not Like

The repositioning of the selfie camera is well-seen. However, Center Stage only works with some video applications, for example. I want to mention again the problem I had with third-party apps like Google Meet, which still need to support the function. While the selfie camera can automatically pan and zoom to keep you in focus as you move, currently, few apps support this option.

Finally, the camera on the back has evolved quite a bit. Indeed, one of the most significant flaws of the 2021 iPad was its 8 MP camera. In 2022, Apple opted for a lens with an f/1.8 aperture, smart HDR 3 for photos, and a digital zoom of up to x5. I’m not the type to walk around taking pictures with a tablet, but it’s good to know that you can count on the photo module of the iPad 2022 if necessary.

Regarding audio, the iPad 2022 features two microphones designed to work in unison with camera lenses, picking up sound from the lens in use and minimizing distracting background noise. And while I rarely use an iPad without headphones, I must admit that the new stereo speakers are very effective, especially for those who use the tablet in bed at night to follow streaming videos!

Autonomy

According to Apple, the 2022 iPad offers up to 10 hours of surfing the web on wifi or watching videos, and it has proven to be entirely accurate. The iPad has a battery of around 7627 mAh. In other words, the new iPad would be just as durable as the 2021 iPad Pro. Battery life is said to be up to two days with moderate use.

I Loved

The excellent autonomy
Charging via the USB-C port

I did Not Like

In my daily life, I use the iPad at my desk as a second screen, but mainly to consume content like streaming movies. When I’m not working with it, the iPad goes from the living room to the bedroom, from the bedroom to the kitchen, and even makes me use fewer devices like the Google Nest Hub or my Smart TV .
Another positive point is that recharging is now done via a USB-C port, allowing you to use your MacBook charger while traveling. The bottom iPad is thus at the iPad Air and iPad Pro level. Finally, Apple provides a 20 W charger in the iPad 2022 box. It charges the iPad in around 2h20min. However, using the MacBook charger, charging is faster because the iPad 2022 is compatible with 30W fast charging.

Conclusion

At first glance, the 2022 iPad is an excellent choice for those looking for a mid-range tablet. However, there are better iPad to choose from. As we said at the start of this review, the new iPad 2022 blades in comparison to other iPad models. Regarding the price, the iPad 9 is the best option, costing 439 euros.

Considering the data sheet, the iPad with the best value for money is the iPad Air 2022, which starts at 789 euros. Nevertheless, the iPad 2022 is a good tablet; it is just lost in an increasingly extensive catalog… and the price increase needs to be justified! Finally, if I had to invest in an iPad today, my choice would be the iPad Air 2022, equipped with the M1 SoC and 8 GB of RAM, which is much cheaper than an iPad Pro.