The Apple iPad has always been the gateway to the tablet world, but with every release, we ask ourselves the same burning questions: What has changed? Why should I care? How much should this really cost me? Rumors are swirling around with talk of the rumored iPad 11th Generation release this October and the world’s beginning to buzz about it. Will it become a game changer or just another minor upgrade on an already hyped-up platform?.
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We start this journey to find out if the iPad 11th Generation is worth your time, or if you should still invest in the good old iPad 10th Generation. After all, you might end up wondering if you really need that upgrade or if that was magic of the old kind.
Design and Size: Familiar Territory or Sneaky Surprise?
What can we expect in design? Apple has not been biased and always loves keeping things stable, and from what we are seeing the iPad 11th Generation would bear resemblance with the form and size of the iPad 10th Generation. The 10th Generation could have anything from that sleek no home button design debuting that generation. That’s good for people who already have accessories, like the Magic Keyboard Folio. So you don’t need to splurge on a new one, because compatibility seems to be a given.
However, there is a but: What if Apple slips in a small change? The difference in millimeters between us could have us scrambling for new cases. For Apple may be stirring a twist to its classical design.
Display: No Laminated Screen? Say It Ain’t So
The iPad’s Achilles’ heel was its display. For the iPad 10th Generation, users made do with a non-lamination 60Hz LCD screen. It supports True Tone and Night Shift but the fight against fingerprints and light glare? Not its strong suit.
Will the curse of this be broken by iPad 11th Generation? It would seem unfortunate. It looks like Apple is going to keep doing what they are doing. We may go on and on with our dream of a laminated screen, and 120Hz refresh rate, but we have to admit that budget iPads just won’t get that love.
Certainly, it will continue to support the Apple Pencil, but really, to what extent are you using the screen as a normal part of your everyday use? The iPad 10th Generation’s display is still good for note takers and casual artists.
Performance: A Modest Leap Forward
Apple A14 Bionic chip: introduced as the iPad 10th Generation, a hand-me down from the iPhone 12. At least at the time of writing, this processor is not quite going to dazzle in 2024, but it’s filled with enough power to see us through our everyday tasks without much of a pang.
So, if the jump to a whole new dimension sounds good, then the new iPad 11th Generation is rumored to come with an A15 Bionic chip: Yep, an upgrade, for sure, but a big leap all the same? Hardly. It does make things a little faster, but the A14 was not exactly struggling, as far as most will be concerned.
Most users will not feel the difference except for those who want to squeeze the most out of their tablet by using it for video editing or heavy multitasking or gaming. And let’s be real: Do you ever really stress test your iPad?
Camera: Slight Tweaks or Copy-Paste?
The cameras on the iPad 10th Generation do their job: they pass the camera muster, and nothing more, nothing less. The 12MP front and rear cameras are perfect for video call, scanning a document or shooting a few snaps once and a while.
The iPad 11th Generation will deliver more of the same. Even though we might be dreaming about an upgraded sensor or advanced computational photography, the truth is that this kind of features is usually relegated to the base iPad lineup. Apple knows that tablets are not your go-to cameras.
A couple of good things might be snuck in, but do not hold your breath for pioneering photography. Which one of these two absurdities is true: who actually bothers to buy an iPad for their camera?
Audio: More of the Same
Since the iPad 10th Generation, landscape stereo speakers have been a part of offering a decent sound experience. You will not find yourself left underwhelmed if you are expecting booming bass and crisp mids that will rival a concert hall.
Continuing down the road it is already on, the price/performance proposition will be solid if not spectacular, including sound. If all you are looking to do is watch a video, listen to music or grab a Zoom call, it is fine, but audiophiles should be cautious about their expectations.
Battery: No Surprises Here
Battery life has always been one of the things that remains impressively consistent about the iPad lineup. The iPad 10th Generation will deliver around 10 hours of use, and we expect the iPad 11th Generation to slap down right around that sweet spot too. Apple has gotten the formula right here (just enough juice that will get you through a day at work or school without needing to hunt for a charger).
But where is the innovation? A faster charging option? Longer battery life? For power users, this might not feel like enough, but Apple is sticking with what works.
Upgraded, Unchanged, Unnecessary?
In the end, whether you go for the new iPad 11th Generation or stick with the iPad 10th Generation boils down to this: How much do you really want to pay for incremental upgrades? The A15 chip adds a tiny boost, sure, but it is like replacing a reliable car with a slightly glossier car that will get you somewhere at the same speed limit. The design is still the same, the displays still would not laminate (sigh), the cameras, the speakers. They are well, just like before.
If you are clutching your iPad 10th Generation and wondering if you need that next-gen magic, it is okay to breathe easy. Apple’s latest gambit feels like a stitch rather than a trick. Unless you are dying for that extra sliver of processor speed that you’ll never notice using it, stick with what you’ve got.
