iPad 10 vs 9 vs iPad Air: Which is the best pick?

While the 10th-gen iPad comes with a slew of great updates, the 9th-gen iPad remains in the lineup and there’s also the 2022 iPad Air to consider. However, the iPad 10 may offer a sweet spot for modern features at an affordable price. Below we’ll break down all the similarities and differences between the iPad 10 vs 9 vs iPad Air to help you decide which is the best choice.

The 2022 iPad Air blurred the line between the more affordable iPads and the Pro models, giving many people the incentive to skip the 11-inch iPad Pro. But the entry-level iPad 9 carried on the old design with large bezels and Home button.

However, the iPad 10 with Apple’s modern slim-bezel design and a price below the iPad Air with many of the same features, it’s likely to pull customers away from both the iPad Pro and Air.

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Let’s dig into what you get with the iPad 10 vs 9 vs iPad Air. For all the charts below, the iPad 10 is in the middle row with iPad 9 on the left and iPad Air on the right.

iPad 10 vs 9 vs iPad Air

Performance

In its announcement, Apple focused on the improvement from the iPad 9 to 10. With the upgrade from the A13 to A14 Bionic, the company touts 20% faster CPU speed and an 80% faster neural engine.

Meanwhile, the 2022 iPad Air is powered by the M1 chip. That includes a more powerful eight-core CPU and eight-core GPU. But, unless you’re running your iPad hard with pro-level workflows like video editing, graphic design, etc., you probably don’t need or might not even notice the M1 chip upgrade.

Display

iPad 10 gets almost the same display as the more expensive iPad Air. That’s a 10.9″ Liquid Retina panel with a 2360 x 1640 resolution. Other specs include 500 nits brightness, True Tone, and slim bezels.

The three main features you don’t get with iPad 10 found on iPad Air are P3 wide color, anti-reflective coating, and a laminated display.

But for most people, the iPad 10’s upgraded display will be great 😁.

Connectivity and accessories

The iPad 10 gets an all-new Magic Keyboard Folio that has some neat features beyond the more expensive Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro/Air.

However, a downside is the iPad 10 is still limited to the first-gen Apple Pencil. And that means a USB-C to Lightning adapter comes in the box for a clunky charging experience.

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iPad Air works with all the same Apple accessories as the iPad Pro. That includes the second-gen Apple Pencil, Magic Keyboard, and Smart Keyboard Folio.

The iPad 10 and iPad Air continue to use Touch ID but instead of it being located in the Home button, it’s found within the top button.

Another upgrade with iPad 10 is the switch to USB-C. Apple hasn’t detailed in its tech specs whether it’s USB 3.1 Gen 2 for the iPad 10 like iPad Air uses, we’ll have to wait and see.

Like the iPhone SE 3, the iPad 10 and iPad Air don’t have mmWave 5G support with the cellular models. But as mmWave is the rarest version of 5G coverage to find, that’s probably not an issue for most people.

Splash of color

If the color of your next iPad is important, you’ve got more choices with the iPad 10 and iPad Air.

iPad 10 comes in silver, pink, blue, and yellow. iPad Air comes in space gray, starlight, pink, purple, and blue.

The iPad 9 only comes in space gray and silver.

iPad 10 vs 9 vs Air battery life

The iPad 10 has the same battery life as the iPad 9 and iPad Air:

• 10 hours of web or video use on WiFi
• 9 hours of web use with cellular

Storage and price

Here’s a breakdown of the price differences (MSRP) between these three iPads. However, with the iPad Air being on the market for a while, it can sometimes be found at a discount.

Cameras

You get the same rear camera with iPad 10 that’s on the Air which uses a 12MP wide lens. With the iPad 9, you get an 8MP rear wide camera that’s a bit less capable.

Another neat change coming for the first time in an iPad – the 10th gen model gets a landscape front camera that makes it more convenient for video calls.

And when it comes to speakers, you’re getting the same landscape two-speaker system on the iPad 10 and Air while the iPad 9 has a more basic two-speaker system.

iPad 10 vs 9 vs iPad Air conclusion

Why buy iPad 10?

When you consider all the similarities and differences, the iPad 10 is likely going to be a great choice for most people. At regular pricing, it’s $150 less than the iPad Air while including almost all of the best features.

The iPad 10 is available from Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, and more.

Why buy iPad 9 or iPad Air?

If you want to pick up the most affordable iPad with a 10″ screen for basic use and don’t mind the older design, the iPad 9 is a good fit.

If you know you’ll be pushing your tablet to the limit regularly, the iPad Air may be more tempting with the M1 chip. But really, if you are – or may become a power user, an iPad Pro may be better with up to 16GB RAM, up to 2TB storage, 120Hz ProMotion display, and Thunderbolt support.

However, if you can find iPad Air on sale, that could make it more compelling. Likewise, sometimes you may be able to find a 2018 or 2020 iPad Pro on sale or refurbished. This may be compelling for some, but keep in mind if you’re buying a 3-5 year old iPad, you’ll see fewer years of software updates.

Read more 9to5Mac in-depth comparisons:

• iPhone 14 vs iPhone 14 Pro: Which should you buy?
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• AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro, AirPods 2/3: How the lineup compares

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