Apple iPad review: 10th-gen tablet finally gets modern design

The 10th-generation iPad costs from £499 ($449/A$749). Apple is still selling the old ninth-generation iPad for £369, while the similarly sized iPad Air costs £669 after price increases due to weak currency rates.

The price is certainly less tempting than previous models, but this is the first time in roughly seven years that Apple has updated the design of its low-end tablet. It looks like a clone of the current iPad Air, and inherits the sleeker, flatter body used by other iPad models since 2018.

The home button and large bezels are gone, allowing a larger 10.9in screen to fit in a body that is about the same size as its predecessor. Small and light enough to easily slip into a bag, it is a great improvement.

The battery lasts a good 10 hours of general light use for browsing and watching video. I could reliably get more than eight hours of work done using it as a laptop replacement, which is similar to other iPad models. Doing so is a bit cramped on the 10.9in screen, though.

Apple does not provide an expected lifespan for the battery, but it should last in excess of 500 full charge cycles with at least 80% of its original capacity and can be replaced for £129. The tablet is generally repairable, with the out-of-warranty service cost being £329, which includes the screen.

But the base model iPad does not gain some of the more advanced features within iPadOS 16.1 that are designed to turn the tablet into a computer replacement, including the new Stage Manager window multitasking system, which is limited to the iPad Pro line and the M1 iPad Air.

The 10th-gen iPad starts at £499 ($449/A$749) with 64GB of storage. 5G-capable models cost an extra £179 ($150/A$250).

For comparison, the ninth-gen iPad costs £369, the iPad mini costs £569, the iPad Air costs £669, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 costs £249 and Amazon Fire HD 10 Plus costs £180.

The 10th-gen iPad is a great tablet, but one that is a little too expensive for what it is, particularly in the UK.