The best tablets of 2023: Expert tested and reviewed

Apple iPad tech specs: Display: 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone | Processor: A14 Bionic chip with 16-core Neural Engine | Storage: 64GB or 256GB | Biometrics: Touch ID | Colors: Silver, Pink, Blue, Yellow  | Cameras: 12MP f/1.8 wide, 12MP Landscape f/2.4 front | Weight: 1.05 pounds | Dimensions: 9.79 x 7.07 x .28 inches | Connections: USB-C, Smart Connector | Battery life: Up to 10 hours of video playback with USB-C charging

Apple’s tried-and-true tablet, the base model iPad, is arguably the best value out of Apple’s tablet lineup, and experts agree. Avi Greengart, a consumer tech analyst at Techsponential, said the iPad is the most versatile tablet on the market today. 

“There’s an endless array of accessories, there’s a lot of iPad-specific software, and you can use it for watching content, for browsing the internet, for games, for education, etc.,” he said. “For productivity, you can add keyboard or pencil to it. It’s also powerful enough for light computing tasks that consumers think of when they’re looking for a tablet.”

You get all of the same features as the more expensive iPad Pro and iPad Air models but in a lightweight form factor and a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display that has True Tone and thinner bezels than the older generation.

ZDNET’s June Wan reviewed the 10th-generation iPad and determined that, if you’re shopping on a budget, last year’s iPad should “make the most sense.” It has the A14 Bionic processor, USB-C support, 5G support for on-the-go tasks, and a new 12MP ultra-wide camera. It also has support for the Magic Keyboard Folio made specifically for this iPad. It includes an adjustable kickstand with a 14-key function row for shortcuts. 

Review: iPad 2022 (10th Gen) review: Better than the Pro in two ways

Finally, the 10th-generation iPad comes in new and fun colors that break out of the standard space gray and silver we have seen for so long. The new colors include pink, blue, yellow, and of course the expected silver. 

One major downside of the new iPad is that it doesn’t support the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil. Instead, you’ll have to connect your 2nd-gen Apple Pencil to a dongle in order to use it, making it an unnecessary hassle.