With its larger display, support for Apple's Smart Keyboard, and iPadOS, the least-expensive iPad is a terrific tablet and potentially even a laptop replacement.

Larger display for better multitasking; Smart Connector lets you use Apple's keyboard cover or third-party option; iPadOS brings many software improvements.

Mediocre cameras; Large bezels.

Is the iPad 7 2019 fun to use? In our opinion, yes, but a large part of that is because of the new iPadOS, rather than any significant hardware changes that Apple has made this year. In short, the new iPad is a slightly larger version of the iPad 6 that supports the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard.

good battery life; high-quality aluminium chassis; decent cameras; Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard support; bright and colour accurate display; decent performance

thick display bezels; pricier than its predecessor; comparatively slow Wi-Fi

You probably won't be surprised to discover that the price has risen in line with the iPad's new-found capabilities. It's only gone up by 20, though, from 329 to 349 for the 32GB model, with the 128GB model costing 449.

Great battery life; iPadOS is outstanding for work; Great value

Official Smart Keyboard is expensive; No True Tone display; Uninspiring performance

There is very little surprise or mystery left when it comes to Apple's iPad lineup. The tablets are a staple of Apple's hardware range -- an experience that's similar to your iPhone, only bigger, and in many ways more versatile.

Battery life; Apple ecosystem and App Store; iPadOS; Affordably priced

USB-C would have been nice; 32GB of base storage

With its slightly larger screen and the introduction of the new iPadOS 13 operating system, the 2019 iPad is the safe, familiar and affordable iPad option. It lacks some of the speed and design points of the higher-end models, but that's why this is the perfect iPad option for many – as there's...

Affordable price point; Apple Pencil support (1st Gen); IPad OS great for multi-tasking apps; Smart Connector means keyboard and accessories support; Ideal performance for media consumption and apps

Bezels a bit chunky; Processor is fairly old in Apple terms; No FaceID; Not an anti-reflective screen; No True Tone screen technology

Apple iPad 10.2: ... but only if you don’t spend £160 on Apple’s Smart Keyboard

Thin and light; IPadOS is a huge improvement; Powerful enough

Has the same chip as an iPhone 7; Smart Keyboard is way too expensive

“The iPad with iPadOS is a great 2-in-1 at a great price.”

Good performance; iPadOS greatly improves productivity; Solid battery life; Large screen; 100% recycled aluminum enclosure

Same design; same 32GB base storage; Smart Keyboard is expensive

And yet we can't help but be disappointed. Perhaps it's because Apple has no serious competition in affordable tablets that the last few years of iPad updates have felt so...uninspired. This is still the best low-cost tablet on the market, and we're disappointed that it isn't better.

Great value for the price; Smart connector and Apple Pencil support; A12 offers a big performance boost

No improvement over last year's model beyond A12

The 2020 iPad is basically the same solid tablet we got last year, except it runs and charges a little faster. That may not sound thrilling (because it isn’t) but this is an extremely competent device made more flexible by design changes and Pencil improvements in iPadOS 14.

It’s cheap! Improved performance; Battery life is still great; Includes a fast new charger

Base model only has 32GB of storage; Front-facing camera isn’t great

The Apple iPad (2020) carries over design elements from its predecessor, but upgrades the processor to the Apple A12 Bionic....

Excellent hardware Good display Good battery life Decent camera Touch ID Affordable

Unsightly bezels Some apps still not optimized No Face ID Lightning port Apple Pencil not included Paltry entry-level storage