I feel like 2022 has been a big year for Apple, in terms of the sheer number of devices they’ve released. Starting off with green versions of last year’s iPhones, there’s been a steady flow of new apple devices throughout - from AirPods to Watches to Macs and yes, obviously more phones.

You’d think this would have kept the Apple acolytes, the ever-faithful, surprised and delighted all year long. And yet, some fans - and especially the critics - have been quick to point out which devices are not really new, but mere iterative upgrades.

Historically I’ve been no great fan of Apple products over any other, yet I’ve felt obliged, time and time again, to point out the fact most consumers do not consume every single generation of every single device - certainly not like we privileged few in the tech media. When you actually do get to trial every update as it’s updated, often there’s a certain speed-blur to the process that can make one gadget merge into another.

But it’s always important to remember how that gadget will appear to a “normal” person - perhaps someone upgrading after three or four years of trusty service or even a total newbie to the brand.

To those people, I can’t deny almost every Apple thing that comes along is a pretty cool thing indeed - even if it still looks and feels a bit like last year’s thing.

However, I’m writing this review on a thing that has evolved in many, many ways.

 

The good old iPad, surely still the leader, the no-brainer go-to when it comes to tablets. The 2022 (or 10th generation) iPad arrived on the scene with little fanfare. It didn’t get a dedicated, Tim Cook-hosted launch event - just a few social media posts, lumped in with its high-performance, bigger sibling; the iPad Pro.

And yet, of all the Apple devices to come out in 2022, the humble iPad might be the most upgraded of them all.

Let’s start with the eye-popping range of colours; blue, pink, yellow and silver - all of a candy-like, metallic finish that really brings some fun to the often staid world of tech. I’ve been sent a yellow iPad for review and it’s proved devisive - some insist it’s actually gold, some have vowed they won’t even touch it because of the colour. While not my first choice (why isn’t there a red one???) I don’t mind a touch of sun on the back of my computer.

Calling it a computer wasn’t a slip, by the way. This is the first “entry-level” iPad I’ve used that’s passed my ultimate tablet test; can I use it like a laptop? As I’ve already said, I’m typing this review on it right now. I edited (and even filmed some of) the video at the bottom of this article using this iPad. I uploaded all the photos from my cloud storage into this piece, on this iPad. There’s no doubt, the 10th generation marks a definite coming of age here.

There are a lot of little reasons the iPad has suddenly made this giant leap - starting with a very little one indeed; the charging port. With the change from the Apple-only lightning to the much more universal (and in some parts of the world, legally obligated) USB-C connection, suddenly that’s one less cable I need. Battery life has always been a standout feature for the iPad over its competitors, now charging and connectivity has become so much more straight-forward. In days gone by, Apple hasn’t had a great rep when it comes to playing with non-Apple devices. That little USB-C port now means things like thumb drives and external monitors are only a plug-and-play away.

Another major breakthrough is the disappearance of the home button. The fingerprint sensor is now under the edge-mounted power button and the bezels are now uniformly narrow all the way around the Liquid Retina display - which means a significant increase in size from 10.2 to 10.9-inches without having to make the iPad itself any larger.

The changes just keep coming with the 12MP front-facing selfie-cam moving from the short edge to the long edge. That’s right team, Apple has finally conceded most people video conference in landscape, so having the camera way over on the side makes no sense at all. This means you can now look your boss straight in the eye when you tell her how much you really hate meetings.

But perhaps the single most laptoppy thing about the 10th-gen iPad is the Smart Connector on the opposite (bottom) edge. Sure, you can still opt for a Smart Folio case if you like - perhaps in matching yellow (or blue or pink or silver). But thanks to those magnetic Smart Connector terminals, you now have the option of the Magic Keyboard Folio; the first time the basic iPad has had a keyboard case with a trackpad.

Not only is the keyboard on this accessory rock solid, boasting wonderfully clicky keys with definitive travel, there are function keys, just like on a Mac, for things like controlling media and adjusting brightness. The trackpad is equally responsive and accurate but essentially, the back half of the Magic Keyboard Folio (yes, it literally comes in two halves) folds out as a supporting stand (much like a certain competitor tablet is famous for). This is truly what lets you use this iPad as a laptop - either on a desk, on the couch or sitting up in bed. If you’re just watching video - or perhaps gaming with a controller - whip the keyboard off and use the iPad as a standalone display.

This is a truly revolutionary accessory - especially for Apple - but it does come at a cost. Is paying NZ$529.00 to convert your NZ$899.00 iPad into a laptop worth it? You can buy an M1 MacBook Air for NZ$1,749.00. And just to confuse things further, the iPad I’m reviewing is the 256GB, 5G version - that retails at $1499.00.

Did I mention the iPad Pro? Oh, that’s the next review.

While we’re talking add-ons, let’s add on an Apple Pencil. This is where things get super confusing. The iPad (10th generation) is still only compatible with the FIRST GENERATION Apple Pencil. This is the stylus that used to charge directly from previous iPads by plugging into their lightning ports. See the issue? Enter the lightning-to-USB-C adapter. This means you can use the USB-C charging cable for the Apple Pencil too. Told you it was confusing. At least it means you’re not wandering around with a long, pointy pencil sticking out of the bottom of your iPad anymore.

The final major iPad upgrade is its brain. the A14 Bionic chip boasts a 6-core CPU, 4-core graphics and a 16-core Neural Engine. Don’t worry, I don’t really know what any of those things are either. What it means is more power and silky smooth operation - whether editing video or gaming. Although the A14 is not even close to being Apple’s latest and most advanced processor, it still outperforms most of what the competition has to offer, especially in a specifically optimised device like the iPad. Editing, gaming, sketching, streaming, multi-window and multi-tasking all happens instantly with no issues at all. This is an extremely reliable and responsive device.

Oh, by the way; this iPad even sounds great - the landscape stereo speakers do a pretty convincing job of separating out home-theatre effects while I’m watching my latest episode of Severance on Apple TV+.

I could go on… and I will, when I review the new iPad Pro in a week or so. Meanwhile, rest assured the 2022 iPad has definitely evolved - it’s now almost a different beast entirely.

 

(Please note: the USB-C to Apple Pencil accessory is not included with the iPad - it was in the box with the other accessories)

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the Apple iPad.