If you are in the market for a new tablet, and that tablet has to be an Apple iPad, then you have options. Sure, you could pick up the latest and greatest 10.9-inch Apple iPad 10th Generation, or you could save a few dollars and still pick up a great tablet with solid features, perhaps just a tad better than its predecessor, but not as outmoded as the 7th Gen iPad. The 10.2-inch Apple iPad 8th and 9th generation tablets are viable options if you are looking for a new tablet, but not the newest tablet.
Apple 8th Gen iPad
The reason the 7th Gen iPad kind of left the conversation when the 8th Gen hit the market is because they are basically the exact same tablet. They both come in Space Grey, Silver, or Gold, but most importantly, every single feature save for one is exactly the same. That would be the processing chip, which changes with every new version of whatever device.
The chip found in the 7th Gen is the A10 Fusion chip, which was competent enough to get the job done. While the chipset in the 8th Gen is the A12 Bionic chip with a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU, and an 8-core Neural Engine. This was a smarter, faster chip that helped bring back a bit of performance relevance to the iPad, enabling it to truly be useful for work-related activities and not just watching Apple TV+.
Otherwise, everything is the same. There's a 10.2-inch Retina display, 8MP wide rear camera capable of 1080p video, a 1.2MP FaceTime HD camera, touch ID, Apple Pencil (1st generation) support, and 4G LTE connectivity. Though most people use their tablets on Wi-Fi, let's be honest. There's Smart Keyboard support and storage capacity at either 32GB or 128GB. From here you could either list out every single matching feature or just imagine that one meme where both pictures are the same.
Apple 9th Gen iPad
The story continues with Apple's 9th Gen iPad, also sporting a 10.2-inch Retina display and other similar features. In fact, finding the differences between the 9th Gen and its immediate predecessor requires a combing of the feature list. It's a bit of finding Waldo, and a bit of exhaustion at the slow progress of technology. There truly is such a small difference between the technical specifications of each iteration of iPad, it exposes the sheer marketing power of Apple.
That being said, we still like our new technology, and while the latest generation of iPad (10th Gen) is out, the 9th Gen does carry a few changes over the 8th Gen that make it a solid buy.
The first noticeable change in the display. While the size is the same, and it has a LED backlit Multi-Touch display with IPS technology and 2160 x 1620 resolution, it adds sRGB color and True Tone display tech to its fingerprint-resistant screen. This creates a brighter, more true-to-life video and picture experience, which is what we want from a tablet.
Apple also jammed more storage in the 9th Gen, with your options being 64GB or 256GB. Honestly, 256GB should be the base option going forward. Does anyone really need less storage?
There is a slight chipset change in the A13 (instead of A12) Bionic chip, but with the same features as the 8th Gen. Really, this is just a version naming upgrade.
The final obvious difference in the 9th Gen iPad versus the 8th Gen iPad is the front-facing camera. Instead of the meager 1.2MP FaceTime camera, the 9th Gen sports a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera with Centre Stage (which uses machine learning to adjust your video when using the front camera), 2x zoom out, and an extended dynamic range for video. So if you are a selfie taker, or need a bit more power to FaceTime with grandma, then the 9th Gen is your tablet.
Protecting your 7th, 8th, or 9th Gen iPad
In the end, no matter which tablet you choose, it's an investment. These things are prone to drops and breaks, and are a pain to repair. So you'll want some serious and reliable protection. And if you are using that front camera, you are probably going to want protection that offers ergonomic options as well.
Which is exactly what WingoCase offers. A protective case for your 8th or 9th Gen 10.2-inch iPad (or even 7th Gen) that has four folding wings for ergonomic hand-hold options. Plus, the wings serve as stands (or hooks), in landscape or portrait mode. Your iPad is your connection to grandma, but that doesn't mean you have to awkwardly hold it the entire time. You can prop it up and keep it protected with WingoCase.
