First impression iPad 2020: the best iPad for most people

On September 15, Apple presented the new iPad 2020. We have this iPad 2020 now tested. What does he excel at? What could (maybe) be better? We are happy to share our first impression with you.

What is striking about the iPad 2020?

This eighth generation of the iPad excels because of its unobtrusiveness and resembles all its predecessors. Ask a kid to draw an iPad, and they’ll draw this iPad. A screen with sharp corners, a fairly wide border around it, a home button … And that while Apple with the iPad Pro and now also the iPad Air a completely different path has been taken. They increasingly resemble the latest iPhones: a large screen with rounded corners, a narrow edge and no home button.

If you have owned an iPad before, you might think: it is larger. And that’s right. The iPad 2020 has a 10.2-inch screen, while for years 9.7-inch was the common size. But this change was already started last year, when the iPad 2019 got a 10.2-inch screen. Nothing new under the sun.

What’s good about the iPad 2020?

It’s the most affordable iPad, and it does everything you’d expect from an iPad. It’s just a really solid tablet, at a really solid price. He gets the most out of it iPadOS 14 – just like the most expensive iPads. It is actually surprising that this is the cheapest entry-level model; he is so complete.

Compared to the previous iPad, little has actually changed except for one important point. The iPad 2019 had the A10 Fusion chip that was already in the iPad 2018, and that originally stems from the iPhone 7 Plus from 2016. That felt dated and Apple has now tackled that well. The iPad 2020 has an A12 Bionic chip, known from the iPhone XS and XR from 2018, and that makes a world of difference. Image editing, heavy games and multitasking: it all goes a lot faster and smoother.

In addition, this new iPad chip contains the ‘Neural Egine’. It is capable of machine learning: the iPad can learn independently and adapts completely to how you use the tablet. For example, by presenting you with the right apps at the right time, or better answers from Siri. You only notice how well your iPad is responding to you when you pick up another iPad.

What could be better?

The iPad 2020 is a great iPad… until you put it next to the iPad Air 2020 and iPad Pro 2020. Then it looks a bit dated, with the design that has been around for ten years. Anyway: what one person calls old-fashioned, another thinks classic.

Yet there are also some other points that no longer feel quite in 2020. For example, the amount of storage starts with a scant 32 GB. The iPad has a Lightning connector, while the other iPads from this year have USB-C. He also works with the first generation Apple Pencil (you still have to purchase it separately). You won’t notice any difference while drawing or writing, but the first Apple Pencil is a bit more difficult to store, link and charge. But let’s be honest: if you’re looking for ‘just an iPad’, these are irrelevant details.

When can you buy it?

The iPad 2020 has been on sale since September. The price depends on the amount of storage you choose and whether you go for a model with or without mobile data. These are the prices:

• iPad 2020, 32 GB storage, Wi-Fi only: € 389.
• iPad 2020, 32 GB storage, Wi-Fi + Cellular: € 529.
• iPad 2020, 128 GB storage, Wi-Fi only: € 489.
• iPad 2020, 128 GB storage, Wi-Fi + Cellular: € 629.

The iPad 2020 is for sale at Apple and stores like Bol.com of Coolblue.

Our conclusion so far

The iPad 2020 is practically the same as the iPad 2019, except it has a much faster processor. That may not sound very spectacular, but it does make a real difference, especially if you first had an old iPad. The fact that it is somewhat outdated in some areas, will not worry the majority of consumers. To make it concrete, if my parents asked me which iPad to buy, I would recommend this one. My college girl next door gets the same advice. Actually, this is the best iPad for most people.