STUFF SAYS Pointing to the ipad’s future rather than its past, this is a meaningful, impressive, powerful Air update

OS

Cameras Dimensions

Remember Apple’s 7th-gen standard ipad, released last year? This 8th-gen model is exactly the same, only with an

A12 Bionic chip inside rather than a little old

A10 Fusion.

This single change turns Apple’s cheapest tab into a powerhouse. It’s capable of running even the most ambitious apps and games, and casually asserts dominance over anything Android at this price point.

Elsewhere, it’s business as usual. Time’s moved on since 2019, but this ipad hasn’t. The bezels are chunky, the screen is reflective, the speakers are easy to muffle, and the default 32GB storage reeks of upsell. The rear camera’s best described as adequate and the front one only manages 1.2MP snaps, so you won’t be shooting any fancy selfies. Still, at least there’s still a headphone port.

The thing is, at this price, none of this ipad’s flaws are deal-breakers and you still get an awful lot for your cash. The rich accessories ecosystem can further enhance your investment too. So this isn’t the best ipad by a long shot, but a quality affordable tablet that should last for years? Most definitely.

Stuff says HHHH✩

The 2019 ipad Air was all about power, with not much luxury; this year, though, it’s a Pro-lite. Sure, there are compromises, but none are critical. So if you were considering an ipad Pro but don’t care about audio apps in portrait, a 12.9in display or more advanced cameras, save yourself a couple of hundred quid and buy the new Air instead.