But now, with the new 2022 iPad being offered alongside last year’s ninth-generation iPad, choosing which one to buy has become a tangled issue.

This iPad has a larger display, improved camera and a better processor. Frankly, it's confusing why Apple decided not to make this iPad compatible with the more useful Pencil 2, despite all the other improvements it has.

Camera: Yes, finally, it perfected the weirdly placed front camera on the

iPad now on the lateral edge. This is so good. Why is this great? Because I work on my iPad in landscape mode, cover, stand and keyboard mount. My face looks weird when I zoom on other iPads or FaceTime, my eyes look elsewhere. Fixed now. Combined with autozoom center stage technology, this iPad's video chat camera is absolutely perfect. This alone makes me want to use this iPad. However, Apple simply moved the camera position of this iPad. There are no other models, not even the new iPad Pro. Why? Obviously the future of camera placement, so if you buy this model you will be one step ahead.

design: mostly better, but not always so

This iPad finally takes all the design styles of other iPads, USB-C charging replaces Lightning, and the flat-side case has a larger curved angle of 10.9-inch display. The iPad has better speakers than the ninth-generation model and the display feels significantly larger. The display lacks the iPad Air's anti-reflective coating and additional color gamut.

It doesn't have a smooth scrolling 120Hz ProMotion on iPad Pro models, but it's basically more than enough for anything. Usually, it's hard for me to tell the difference between the iPad Air and this iPad in daily use.

This iPad is actually 2020 iPad Air minus some features. Air has the same A14 processor, but also supports Pencil 2. It also has a smart rear connector that supports Magic Keyboard case.

no longer has home page buttons, Touch ID moves to the small power button placed on the side, and iPad Mini and iPad Air also have it. Without a Face ID camera, which is good because I often wear a mask anyway and Touch ID is more convenient lately. The downside of the

design is that it's a little thicker than the current 11-inch iPad Pro and iPad Air, which means that this doesn't work for any of these situations. This means buying brand new accessories. Apple also created a smart connector in different locations on the side edge that works with keyboard fobs made by Apple’s iPad.

Apple Pencil: Why is it the first generation?

The best thing about this iPad is that it works with the Apple Pencil, which is almost a technical issue. Apple skipped support for the magnetically charged snap-on Pencil 2, so you'll need to use the Pencil 1 - it scrolls a lot, has a easily lost end cap, no extra side-knock control and charging via lightning.

In addition to not inserting the pencil into the side of the iPad for charging, you need a separate USB-C conversion head and charging cable to charge. Not only is this strange, but it is disappointing. When you need it, there is little chance of carrying all of this stuff with you. If you really want to create on your iPad with Apple Pencil, this weird move is bad enough to skip this model altogether.

Magic Keyboard Folio Box: Imperfect Solution

Apple has once again redesigned its keyboard-attached case for this new iPad, using a method that feels completely different from the Magic Keyboard Case. This case works with iPad Air and Pro, and is expensive and heavy, and cannot be used as a daily case due to its inflexible angle, but is perfect for working on small countertops or knees.

It is divided into two parts (a keyboard stuck on the side and a bracket back cover stuck on the back of the iPad), which can be used as a daily protective case and add a row of useful function keys to the top. But it is not knee-friendly and lacks keyboard backlighting.

has used Logichi and other companies' keyboard boxes, and Surface Pro also has a similar keyboard design.You can buy Logitech's case for less money, and they offer better protection: the Apple's case simply doesn't protect the sides of the iPad, and if you drop the iPad, it looks ready to pop up. This keyboard is slightly different from other Magic Keyboards or MacBook Air.

Also, there is no place to place Apple Pencil.

Performance: More than enough

A14 processor has been around for some time (it is on iPhone 12). Here, it comes with 4GB of RAM, similar to the iPhone 12 and 2020 iPad Air. The result is good: it's fast, but it's not as hot as the M1 in the air or the M2 in the new Pro.

Do you need the most advanced iPad performance? I don't think so. The boost is significant compared to last year's ninth-generation iPad, but no different from the 2020 iPad Air model. Apple's mobile processors are now very powerful, and iPad software needs to increase their potential.

Should you wait?

Apple's iPad lineup has been released recently: the basic model and Pro model will be available in the fall, and the Air model will be available in the spring. Last spring, the iPad Air was slightly improved over this iPad, equipped with M1 chip , a better display and Pencil 2 support. But it doesn't have this new fixed front-facing camera. The same thing happened last year, when the entry-level iPad added Center Stage zoom, and the iPad Air didn't have it.

Apple has not made this iPad lineup simple this year. It feels like the iPad is still a product in transition. Now, its perfect form does not exist.