After a nearly three - class hold , Appleunveiled its late entry - level iPad this week , boasting a faster A16 chip and the same great $ 349 start price that its predecessor stop up at .
The new iPad was n’t all cheer and roses , though . We were surprised not only by how minuscule has changed in Apple ’s former budget tablet but also by the fact that it ’s the first gadget released since belated 2023 that lack support forApple Intelligence , the retinue of AI sport the company has been tout recently .
It ’s clear-cut that Apple feels create the most affordable pad potential is more important than add together AI to the commixture . consider the target audience of younger users and educational institution , it ’s probably good . Still , the latest 2025 iPad begs the interrogation of how it compared to the previousiPad ( 2022)model that ’s been on the grocery since September 2022 . Is this an upgrade that was worth waiting for , or are you good off sticking with the current exemplar ? Let ’s dig in and find out .
Apple iPad (2025) vs iPad (2022): specs
Apple iPad (2025) vs iPad (2022): design
The iPad ( 2022 ) was the first to receive a makeover into the modern iPad coevals , abandoning the screen bezel , front - facing home button , and Lightning port that had become the mainstay of Apple ’s tab . Apple ’s ledger entry - stage tablet was the last to accommodate onto that legacy design , with the2021 9th - generation modelstill skylark it even after the2018 iPad Pro,2020 iPad Air , and2021 iPad minihave moved to abut - to - border screens and side buttons .
Nevertheless , it was the moment that the entire iPad kinsperson last borrow a consistent design speech and , more significantly , USB - C port wine . The iPad ( 2022 ) also broke new ground by moving the front - facing camera to the farsighted boundary , make it more suitable for enjoyment in landscape orientation . TheM2 iPad AirandM4 iPad Profollowed suit when their next updates arrived in 2024 .
So , it ’s probably not surprising that the iPad ( 2025 ) does n’t change that design . After all , why debate with success ? However , those similarity are more than trivial . The iPad ( 2025 ) is visually selfsame to its precursor in well-nigh every way . We say “ nearly , ” as there is one insidious difference : this year ’s framework has eliminated the physical SIM visiting card one-armed bandit , so now it’seSIMor nothing .
We ’ll have to hold back to get our hands on the unexampled iPad to see if there are other underage change , but the specification sheet of paper show very height , width , depth , and free weight , and Apple has n’t even changed up the coloration . The iPad ( 2025 ) is useable in the same blue , pink , yellow , and silver shades as the iPad ( 2022 ) .
Apple has never offered IP military rating for its tablet , nor does it say much about the front ice . The newfangled iPad is no exception , so do n’t look it to withstand water and be sure to put it in a protective casing if you plan to take it out . The effective news program is that you wo n’t require to wait for new grammatical case to show up ; since the dimensions are monovular to those of its predecessor , any ofthe best iPad ( 2022 ) caseswill also work with the latest model .
Apple iPad (2025) vs iPad (2022): display
The outer purpose of Apple ’s recent iPad ( 2025 ) is n’t the only thing that remains unchanged . If you were hoping for a display acclivity , you ’ll be let down , as the specs are selfsame . As far as we can tell , it has the same screen .
Technically , Apple now lists it as an 11 - in Liquid Retina Display rather than the 10.9 inches of the iPad ( 2022 ) . However , do n’t be fooled by this as it ’s purely a merchandising number — Apple is simply rounding up even more than it did for the last model .
Thefine print on Apple ’s specs pageconfirms that the screen is still 10.86 inches “ when measured diagonally as a rectangle , ” adding that the “ actual viewable country is less . ” This is the same note that appear on theiPad ( 2022 ) spectacles Thomas Nelson Page .
Of of course , it ’s still a great screen for everyday habit . The display is similar to the one used in the more expensive iPad Air , with the same 2360 x 1640 resoluteness , 264 pixels per inch ( ppi ) density , 500 nits max brightness , and True Tone adaptive color support . However , it lacks a in full laminate pattern and anti - reflective coating , and only supports sRGB rather than a P3 wide color gamut .
Apple iPad (2025) vs iPad (2022): performance
The most pregnant change in the iPad ( 2025 ) is the micro chip . While we were surprised that Apple did n’t go all the manner to an A17 Pro or M - series chip for Apple Intelligence , it ’s still given it a healthy gibbousness over its predecessor with a Modern A16 chip that ’s based on the one used in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 Pro .
By comparison , the iPad ( 2022 ) used an A14 Bionic chip from theiPhone 12era . Apple order the new A16 chip makes the new iPad 30 percent faster than the 2022 poser and 50 percent quicker than the 2021 ninth - generation iPad , which boast an A13 Bionic chip .
However , it ’s worth noting that while the A14 Bionic in the iPad ( 2022 ) was identical to the iPhone version , the iPad ( 2025 ) get an peculiarly scaled - back cow chip . Apple has dropped the “ Bionic ” suffix for this A16 , which features one less mainframe core and one less GPU core than the original A16 Bionic .
That leaves it with a 5 - heart CPU and 4 - core GPU , one less C.P.U. core group than the A14 Bionic used in the iPad ( 2022 ) . Of course , the individual cores are faster , which make up the difference . On the top side , it does mob in the same 6 GB of RAM as the A16 Bionic , which is a squeamish boost from the 4 GB of the iPad ( 2022 ) .
The bottom line is that you should n’t expect the iPad ( 2025 ) to be a powerhouse , but it will be more than adequate for casual use . The iPad ( 2022 ) was no slouch . Aswe compose in early 2023 , it can handle play with aplomb and most people ’s video redaction needs . The A16 in the iPad ( 2025 ) is an upgrade from that , which mean that most family line will have a hard time pushing it to its limits . It ’s certainly more than powerful enough for surfing the web and find out Netflix .
The iPad ( 2025 ) offers another advantage in its more naturalistic selection of memory board choice . The iPad ( 2022 ) came in two capacity : a 64 GB interpretation that was a spot derisory even back then , and a 256 GB model that was a bigger leap than most kinfolk call for . The iPad ( 2025 ) adjusts that pop content to 128 GB , which makes much more signified , and also add a 512 GB version on the top for those who need a ton of storage ( although it ’s worth note that you ’ll be in iPad Air pricing territorial dominion if you ’re regard that model ) .
Apple iPad (2025) vs iPad (2022): software and features
The iPad ( 2025 ) will ship with iPadOS 18.3 out of the box seat , while the iPad ( 2022 ) can already run that reading . While Apple does n’t make update promises like Android manufacturing business do , based on its data track disc we can expect both of these iPads to make it to at least iPadOS 22 in a few years , although the iPad ( 2025 ) should get another two or three years beyond that .
As of today , both iPads are whole on par for software features . Apple by design take to forget the iPad ( 2025 ) out of Apple Intelligence , so unlike recent iPhone models it does n’t even get a leg up in that area . The entry - level iPad has also never sustain advanced feature like Apple ’s Stage Manager , and we do n’t wait that to change with this model .
In other words , put iPadOS 18.3 on an iPad ( 2022 ) and you ’ll have a hard time secernate the difference between that and the Modern iPad ( 2025 ) .
Apple also has n’t made any modification to Apple Pencil support , leaving the landscape as complicated as it ’s been for the past few years . The Apple Pencil Pro stay on the exclusive domain of the iPad mini , iPad Air , and iPad Pro , while the Apple Pencil ( USB - C ) is the stylus most tribe should buy for the iPad ( 2025 ) . It ’s more than adequate for taking note and basic sketching .
However , since that one lacks pressure sensitivity , budding creative person may still desire to opt for the Apple Pencil ( 1st Generation ) . That ’s upright for drawing , but you ’ll be stuck with an awkward Lightning connecter for agitate and lack out on magnetic fastening to the side of the iPad .
Apple iPad (2025) vs iPad (2022): cameras
At endangerment of starting to sound extra , the iPad ( 2025 ) also mirror most of its forerunner ’s camera specs . Apple has never been big on pose cameras on its iPads . Even the newM3 iPad Airand the most expensive M4 iPad Pro have the same rear 12 - megapixel photographic camera as the iPad ( 2025 ) ; the iPad Pro sum an adaptative True Tone jiffy and a LiDAR Scanner , but the television camera sensor is the same .
The same deem for the front camera , which also has a 12MP sensor on the long edge with Center Stage support . The iPad ( 2022 ) and iPad ( 2025 ) both have an f/2.4 aperture , slightly low-down than the f/2.0 of the iPad Air , but not far off .
Although the camera computer hardware is the same , the iPad ( 2025 ) gets a small upgrade by take on Smart HDR 4 instead of the Smart HDR 3 of the iPad ( 2022 ) . This likely comes from the newer chip , as Smart HDR 4 was introduced on the iPhone 13 batting order , which featured the A15 chip .
Apple iPad (2025) vs iPad (2022): battery life and charging
The iPad ( 2022 ) features a 28.6 - watt - time of day rechargeable battery , tantamount to around 7,600mAh . We expect the inevitable teardown to find the same cell in the iPad ( 2025 ) .
Apple claims this should bring home the bacon up to 10 hours of web surfing and video recording playback on a individual charge . Our examination showed those numbers were reasonably accurate , and should get most folks through two days of assorted enjoyment without a trouble .
buck is deal via the USB - C port on the bottom , and Apple still includes a one - metre USB - C tear cable and 20W USB - C power adaptor in the box . We ’ve see to it reports that the iPad ( 2022 ) can charge at speeds of up to 30W if you supply your own arranger , and the iPad ( 2025 ) will likely be the same . However , the long electric battery life sentence stand for that nightlong institutionalise should n’t be a problem as long as you remember to plug it in every two or three day .
Apple iPad (2025) vs iPad (2022): price and availability
The iPad ( 2025 ) was declare on March 4 , 2025 , and is now usable for preorder on the Apple Store in 29 countries and regions . The base manakin , now with 128 GB of storage , start at the same $ 349 as its forerunner , while 256 Gi and 512 GB versions can be purchased for $ 449 and $ 649 , severally . A Wi - Fi + Cellular version with sub-6GHz 5 G support is also useable for an additional $ 150 .
The iPad ( 2022 ) ab initio launched at $ 449 for its theme 64 GB framework , with a 256 GB variant price at $ 599 . In May 2024 , Apple drop those price to $ 349 and $ 499 when it launched the M2 iPad Air and M4 iPad Pro and discontinued the legacy ninth - generation iPad .
Apple iPad (2025) vs iPad (2022): should you upgrade?
There ’s almost nothing compelling about the iPad ( 2025 ) that should obligate owners of Apple ’s last 2022 manakin to advance . For all intents and intention , it ’s the same iPad , with the only significant change being a new chip .
While most folks wo n’t notice any meaningful performance differences between the A14 Bionic and Modern A16 chip any more than when actuate from an iPhone 12 to an iPhone 14 Pro , the iPad ( 2025 ) offers one subtle change that might make it worth regard .
If you bought the 64 GB iPad only to let out that store capacity was a bit tight , the iPad ( 2025 ) doubles your warehousing without bounce for a substantially more expensive model . It also offers a 512 GB option if you really conceive you necessitate the extra capacity , although as we articulate earlier you might have a operose time make up one’s mind between that and a 128 GB or 256 GB M3 iPad Air , which range the most expensive iPad ’s cost tag .
Most multitude with a 256 GB iPad ( 2022 ) should n’t have any reason to elevate to this latest model . However , if you ’re still rocking an old - school iPad with a nursing home release on the front , this could be the year to make a move . The iPad ( 2025 ) delivers unbelievable value;we mean it ’s the best iPad for most mass . The iPad Air may offer more bell and tin whistle , including Apple Intelligence , but it ’s overkill for folks who just desire to represent a few game , keep an eye on videos , channel-surf the web , and even scribble a few notes . For those thing , the iPad ( 2025 ) is still the seraphic smirch in the lineup .
