It's the best portable Web surfing device. The initial Wi-Fi version sort of limits where you can use it, though. You can wait for the 3G version and its $15-per-month AT&T 3G service, or get a MiFi from Sprint or Verizon (which also can be used with your laptop).

No manual necessary; Access to nearly all iPhone apps; 10-hour-plus battery life; Bright 9.7-inch IPS LCD screen; Three external buttons; Multi-directional accelerometer

Highly reflective screen; Slippery; No multi-tasking (yet; "Only" a few thousand iPad-specific apps (so far

Apple's newest iPad is a budget model that samples the best parts from past hits. We've got the original iPad Air's body stuffed with the iPhone 6s's A9 chipset and paired with a brighter version of the iPad Air 2's display. We have no complaints about performance, and battery life is excellent.

Conclusion One other thing to point out is that the new iPad does not include the Smart Connecter found on Apple's two current iPad Pro models. As such, it is incompatible with the company's Smart Keyboard attachment.

Affordable price (for an Apple product; Fast and capable A9 system-on-a-chip; 1.3 million apps specifically designed for the iPad

Non wide-gamut display that isn't fully laminated; Dated camera technology; Not compatible with Smart Keyboard or Apple Pencil

Here's what you need to know about the new iPad: it is an iPad, and it is good. Apple has named it simply iPad but we have to refer to it as "iPad (2017)" or "iPad (5th generation)" or "new iPad 9.7" because the world is a broken place. I am just going to call it the iPad.

It is an iPad; The price is reasonable; It's fast

Screen could be nicer; No smart connector for keyboards; Speakers only on one side

I've focused a lot in this review on what the new Apple iPad (2017) doesn't have and, although the existence of the iPad Pro series makes that inevitable, it isn't a particularly fair way to view it.

What is an iPad for We think it's for web browsing, second-screen video watching, gaming, and reading. And for all of those uses, the 2017 iPad is excellent. Its A9 processor is even capable of video conferencing and low-key Microsoft Office work without a problem.

Great value; Fast processor and Wi-Fi; Easy to use; Unrivaled app experience

No strong reason for most earlier iPad owners to upgrade

Old wine in new bottles – we hear this quite often when a manufacturer refreshes a supposedly old product. Especially when it is equipped with dated technology. This is also the case for Apple's latest iPad. The iOS tablet from 2017 is just that: recycled, dated hardware in an even older chassis.

bright display; accurate colors; precise touchscreen; excellent build quality; long battery runtime; high browser performance

outdated SoC; very glossy screen; old LTE standard; slightly increased black value; no support for Apple pencil

The 2017 9.7-inch iPad isn't intended to revolutionize Apple's tablet offerings, but it does go a long way to unifying the product line, and paving the way for the future of the platform -all starting at just $329.

Here's an interesting fact for you: if you take the iPad mini out of the equation, Apple's sales of larger iPads actually rose last quarter. The release of the iPad Pro 9.7 coupled with the enduring popularity of the iPad Air 2 meant that, far from being in decline, the iPad was on the up.

Apple's iPads typically offer high quality at hefty prices, but the company's latest tablet flips the script. Replacing the $499 iPad Air 2 , the newly released (and simply titled) $329 iPad packs a speedy processor, vibrant display and phenomenal battery life.