Alongside the new iPad Air that seemed to take a lot of design cues from the modern iPad Pro, Apple also announced a newer eighth-generation 10.2-inch iPad at its September 15, 2020 Time Flies event.
In what can only be described as perhaps Apple’s most budget-friendly full-size iPad, the eighth-generation iPad is a serious contender for students and everyday couch potatoes who simply can’t stay off of Facebook. In this piece, we’ll outline the technical specifications of Apple’s new budget tablet.
iPad (8th generation) tech specs
Finish options
Aluminum body in the following color choices:
- Silver
- Space gray
- Gold
Size and weight
Wi-Fi-only models
- Length: 9.8 inches (250.6 mm)
- Width: 6.8 inches (174.1 mm)
- Depth: 0.29 inch (7.5 mm)
- Weight: 1.08 pounds (490 grams)
Wi-Fi and cellular models
- Length: 9.8 inches (250.6 mm)
- Width: 6.8 inches (174.1 mm)
- Depth: 0.29 inch (7.5 mm)
- Weight: 1.09 pounds (495 grams)
Storage capacity
- 32GB or 128GB
Buttons, connectors, and more
- Home Button/Touch ID sensor
- On/off, sleep/wake button
- Volume up button
- Volume down button
- Lightning connector
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Nano SIM card tray (Wi-Fi and cellular model only)
- Smart connector
- Stereo speakers
- Dual microphones
Display
- Retina display
- 10.2-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
- 2160-by-1620-pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi)
- 500 nits brightness
- Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
- Supports Apple Pencil (1st generation)
Chip
- A12 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture
- Neural Engine
Rear camera
- 8MP camera
- ƒ/2.4 aperture
- Five-element lens
- Hybrid IR filter
- Backside illumination
- Live Photos
- Autofocus
- Panorama (up to 43MP)
- HDR for photos
- Exposure control
- Burst mode
- Tap to focus
- Timer mode
- Auto image stabilization
- Body and face detection
- Photo geotagging
Video recording
- 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps
- Slo‑mo video support for 720p at 120 fps
- Time‑lapse video with stabilization
- Video image stabilization
- Body and face detection
- 3x video zoom
- Video geotagging
Front FaceTime HD camera
- 1.2MP photos
- ƒ/2.4 aperture
- Retina Flash
- Backside illumination
- Live Photos
- 720p HD video recording
- HDR for photos
- Body and face detection
- Burst mode
- Exposure control
- Timer mode
Video and audio calling
- FaceTime video and audio
- iPad to any FaceTime-enabled device over Wi-Fi or cellular
Cellular and wireless
All models
- Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac); dual band (2.4GHz and 5GHz); HT80 with MIMO
- Bluetooth 4.2 technology
Wi-Fi and cellular models
- UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
- Gigabit-class LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71)
- Data only
- Wi-Fi calling
- eSIM
Location
All models
- Digital compass
- Wi-Fi
- iBeacon microlocation
Wi-Fi and cellular models
- Built-in GPS/GNSS
- Cellular
Sensors
- Touch ID
- Three‐axis gyro
- Accelerometer
- Barometer
- Ambient light sensor
Power and battery
All models
- Built‐in 32.4‐watt‐hour rechargeable lithium‑polymer battery
- Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‐Fi or watching video
- Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system
Wi-Fi and cellular models
- Up to 9 hours of surfing the web using cellular data network
In the box
Conclusion
Anyone looking for an iPad that won’t break the bank will be happy to know that the eighth-generation 10.2-inch iPad starts at just $329. It comes equipped with good hardware at a great value, making it an ideal choice for students or casual tablet users. Obviously, those who demand more from their hardware and user experience would be better off with the iPad Air or iPad Pro, but these also cost substantially more.
Do you have any plans to invest in Apple’s 2020 budget iPad? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.