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.

There’s only one major change over last year’s iPad, but it’s one that really matters: the A12 ensures this iPad will last.

The A12 is a powerhouse at this price-point; The screen is big and bright; App ambition Android can only dream of; Strong accessories ecosystem

Reflective screen and no True Tone; Entry level 32GB storage is miserly; Dated bezel-heavy design; Speaker positioning remains irksome

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 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

I like the color plus clear

I find the iPad very flimsy

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

The eighth-generation iPad for 2020 isn’t a radical upgrade from the previous few versions of Apple’s cheapest tablet. But the company has done enough with new chips and software to keep it head and shoulders above the competition at a price point of about £300.

good performance; good battery life; good screen; iPadOS; plenty of apps; good speakers; long support; recycled aluminium.

older design; no USB-C; fairly slow charging; no Fornite or cloud game streaming; no multi-user support; low storage on the starting model with no way to add more.