Checking out Apple’s 8th generation $329 iPad (unboxing + early hands-on video)

The recently refreshed eighth-generation iPad went on sale earlier today. Here’s our unboxing and initial hands-on video showcasing Apple’s $329 tablet.

The new iPad is here!

If early Geekbench scores are an indication, it’s a screamer – especially at that price. Thanks to the A12 Bionic chip paired with three gigabytes of RAM, Apple’s most affordable tablet won’t choke if you use all of the multitasking features in iPadOS.

In terms of the underlying hardware, it’s the full iPad experience without the bells and whistles of the iPad Pro, like advanced display technology, Face ID and more.

Unboxing + hands-on video

Our videographer Harris Craycraft has just received his 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model of the new iPad – check out his early impressions along with the unboxing experience in the hands-on video right ahead.

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The full iPad experience

Although it lacks a Smart Connector (so no compatibility with the Magic Keyboard) and doesn’t work with the original Apple Pencil (that’s why Apple has retained the Lightning port rather than switch to USB-C), this new iPad is in fact a very, very capable machine that will last you for years to come.

Want to learn more?

Want to learn more about Apple’s budget tablet? If so, we encourage you to check out the tablet’s technical specifications and watch Apple’s promotional video. For even more details, visit the new iPad’s micro-site at apple.com/ipad-10.2.

Last but certainly not least, Apple’s excellent Compare iPad webpage makes it easy to see the technical differences between up to three Apple tablet’s of your choice.

Pricing and availability

The new iPad is available starting today from $329 for the 32GB version and $429 for the 128GB edition. Add $130 to these prices if you need cellular connectivity.

Oh, and the new iPad starts at just $299 for educational customers.

Are you buying this new iPad?

Are you interested in this new iPad? If so, what are your favorite improvements there? And while we’re at it, can you comment on the price/value ratio? Feel free to chime in with your thoughts in the commenting section down below.