iPad 9 vs iPad 10: Which One’s for You?

The newest iPad 10 is released. Learn all the differences between the iPad 9 and iPad 10 so you can know which one is better for you.

By @Lena Last Updated September 5, 2024

The iPad 10 - an upgrade to the iPad 9 - is finally available. The tenth-generation iPad now starts at $449 while the ninth-generation iPad starts at $329. Well, the $120 price difference between them is justified because there are substantial differences between the 9th and 10th-generation iPads.

Despite the many upgrades, there are some similarities between iPad Air 9 and iPad Air 10, which brings you to the question: should I buy the latest iPad 10 or spend less money on the iPad 9? This iPad 9 vs iPad 10 article will tell you all the similarities and differences between these two devices to help you make a decision.

iPad 9 vs iPad 10: every info you concern

Here are the main specs of iPad 9 and iPad 10.

 

iPad 9

iPad 10

Starting price

$329, $479

$449, $599

Size

250.6 x 174.1 x 7.5 mm

248.6 x 179.5 x 7 mm

Weight

Wi-Fi: 487 grams

Wi-Fi + Cellular: 498 grams

Wi-Fi: 477 grams

Wi-Fi + Cellular: 481 grams

Display

10.2-inch Liquid Retina Display

10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display

Biometrics

‌Touch ID‌ home button

Touch ID‌ top button

Screen resolution

2160-by-1620 resolution at 264 ppi

2360‑by‑1640 resolution at 264 ppi

Storage

64GB, 256GB

64GB, 256GB

Processor

A13 Bionic

A14 Bionic

Operating system

iPadOS 16

iPadOS 16

RAM

3GB

4GB

Camera

8MP Wide camera

Ultra Wide front camera

12MP Wide camera

Landscape Ultra Wide front camera

Connectivity

LTE only, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2

5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2

Ports

Lightning connector

USB-C connector

Battery and charging

10 hours on Wi-Fi, 9 hours on cellular

10 hours on Wi-Fi, 9 hours on cellular

iPad 9 vs iPad 10 - Design

The design of the 10th generation iPad is very different from the previous model. The iPad 10 bezel has been minimized and Touch ID has been moved to the power button. It offers four vibrant colors - silver, pink blue, and yellow, for you to choose from. The 9th generation iPad looks outdated and has large bezels on the front with a curved edge design. It has a Touch ID home button on the front and is only available in silver and space gray color options.

iPad 9 vs iPad 10 - Performance

Compared to the 9th generation iPad, the new model offers great performance. CPU performance is 20% better and graphics performance is 10% better thanks to the newer A14 Bionic chip - the same chipset as the iPhone 12. In addition, the 10th gen iPad offers faster connectivity. Apple says that iPad 10 offers a 30 percent faster download speed than the 802.11ac Wi-Fi supported in the previous generation.

iPad 9 vs iPad 10 - Camera

iPad 10 has upgraded rear and front cameras. The rear camera has gone from 8 megapixels to 12 megapixels and offers 4K video recording. The front camera of iPad 9 is located on the side bezel while iPad 10 is equipped with a landscape front-facing camera, making it ideal for FaceTime and video calling. Like iPad 9, iPad 10 also supports Center Stage. However, due to the different camera positions, iPad 10 can give you a better experience.

iPad 9 vs iPad 10 - Display

iPad 9 has just a simple Retina Display while the new iPad 10 has a more modern Liquid Retina Display, which means that the screen can handle a high enough pixel density. iPad 9 has a smaller 10.2-inch display with a 2160×1620 resolution while iPad 10 has a bigger 10.9-inch display with a 2360×1604 resolution that can show color as pure and precise as possible. Both displays maintain the same 264ppi density and both support the first-generation Apple Pencil.

Conclusion

The 9th generation iPad offers the most basic iPad features. It is in an older design and slightly less technical. But for people who want to buy an iPad at a low price, it is not a bad choice. The 10th generation iPad has a larger display and better performance. For most people, iPad 10 is a better choice. Upgrading to a newer model is worth it - especially if you plan to use your iPad heavily in the next few years. You'll get most of the benefits of iPad Air for almost $150 less.

Bonus tip: How to transfer data to new iPad easily

Have you decided yet? Whatever the final decision is, you can first learn the method to transfer old iPad to new iPad, transfer data from iPhone to iPad and transfer data from PC to iPad so that you can enjoy your new device as soon as possible after you take it out of the box.

AOMEI FoneBackup, one professional iPhone & iPad data management tool for Windows PC users can help you easily transfer data in the way you want.

  • It can help you transfer all data from iPhone/iPad to new iPad in one click.
  • It can help you transfer selected contacts, photos, videos from iPhone/iPad to new iPad.
  • It can help you transfer files from computer to new iPad as well as export files to computer.

With the user-friendly interface, you can easily complete the transfer. Below is an example to transfer all data to new iPad.

1. Run AOMEI FoneBackup > Connect old iPad and new iPad to computer.

2. Click Phone Transfer > Go to iPhone to iPhone and click Start Transfer.

3. Enable backup encryption > Click Start Transfer.

If you want to clear iPad to sell, you can use the Data Erase function of AOMEI FoneBackup to deeply erase your iPad to ensure data is 100% unrecoverably. For more features, you can download the tool and explorer it by yourself.

Download FreewareWin 11/10/8.1/8/7
Secure Download

Final words

Hope this iPad 9 vs iPad 10 guide can help you make a decision. If you want an affordable iPad for basic use and don’t mind the older design, then iPad 9 is a good choice. If you have some extra budget and need more power, then iPad 10 is a better choice. It has a lovely design and packs almost all the best features of the pricier iPad Air.