If you’re looking for an iPad that’s more affordable than cutting-edge, Amazon has the 2021 base model for only $199. Although that’s a generation behind the current version, this ninth-generation edition could be great for kids, seniors or those wanting a HomeKit-based smart home hub.
In our battery test, we found that it outperformed Apple’s 10-hour estimate, lasting about 14 hours of video streaming. This model runs iPadOS 17 and will support iPadOS 18 when it launches this fall.
It isn’t known how many annual updates it will be eligible for after that, but the upcoming 2024 software will still run on two hardware generations behind this model, hinting that it may not be approaching the end of the line just yet.
It’s also well-suited for video chat, and its 12MP ultrawide front-facing camera supports Center Stage. Apple’s machine learning-based feature tracks your and anyone else's faces in the shot, adjusting the call's framing accordingly through automatic pans and zooms.
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