Apple iPad 9: Specs and All You Need to Know

Apple’s iPad 9 is the company’s most affordable tablet, thanks to its small 10.2-inch screen and somewhat outdated hardware. Despite that, it still competes directly with high-end Android tablets as far as raw performance goes, making it a great-value choice for gaming and users who prioritize performance over other features.

Here’s everything you need to know about Apple’s iPad 9, including its specs, pricing, and closest competitors.

Highlights

• 10.2-inch Retina IPS LCD
• 4:3 aspect ratio
• Apple A13 Bionic CPU
• 3GB of RAM with 64GB or 256GB of storage
• Available in WiFi-only and LTE versions
• Fingerprint unlock
• Lightning (USB 2.0) connector
• Supports Apple Pencil 1
• 8557 mAh battery

Full Specifications

Apple iPad 9: The Overview

The Apple iPad 9 is the entry-level model in Apple’s current tablet stack, and the specs reflect this. It has a non-laminated, 10.2-inch 4:3 display that runs at 2160 x 1620 pixels with a 60Hz refresh rate. Powering this display is Apple’s old six-core A13 Bionic CPU, which still runs newer apps well despite its age. Apple pairs the A13 Bionic with 3GB of RAM and either 64GB or 256GB of storage. An 8557mAh lithium-ion battery keeps the iPad 9 going, which lasts 6 hours in our standardized battery life tests.

Apple sells WiFi-only and WiFi + LTE versions of the Apple iPad 9. The two versions are almost identical, save for the GPS support in the latter model. The LTE version is also slightly heavier, although not overly so.

Software-wise, the iPad 9 shipped with iPadOS 15 but currently runs iPadOS 17.3.1 at the time of writing. The iPad 9 came out in 2021, so it’s likely nearing the end of its update cycle. However, we expect Apple to continue offering OS updates for another year or two.

The Apple iPad 9 supports the Apple Pencil 1 and Apple Smart Keyboard.

Read: Apple iPad 9 review

Pricing and Availability

You can buy Apple’s iPad 9 almost anywhere you buy electronics. It’s available from online retailers like Amazon or directly from Apple, with prices starting from $329 (in the US), roughly €430 (in Europe), and £369 (in the UK).

Apple iPad 9 Alternatives

If you’re an Apple fan, the closest alternative to the iPad 9 is its successor, the iPad 10. It has a larger 10.9-inch screen and a newer CPU at the cost of a $120 higher MSRP. As far as Android tablets go, Xiaomi’s Pad 6 is a compelling alternative that boasts iPad-like styling and a similar price (with more RAM and storage). The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 2022 is also an option if you want a similarly-sized tablet to the iPad 9, although it is much slower.

9

Apple iPad 9

Read now: Our Apple iPad 9 Review

The value of the Apple iPad 9 is fantastic. Because of its Apple A13 processor it is faster than every premium tablet running Android right now. We also get a great built quality, a solid screen, up-to-date software, Apple Pencil support, and the TouchID fingerprint scanner. Sadly, the design looks a bit outdated and the display continues to be not laminated.

Positive

• High-end built quality
• Very powerful
• Good screen
• Optional keyboard
• Stylus support
• Up-to-date software
• Fingerprint scanner

Negative

• Old design
• Display not laminated

Buy on* Amazon

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