Choosing between the "cheap" iPads used to be simple. You just bought the one that was on sale. But now, looking at the difference between ipad 9th and 10th, things have gotten weirdly complicated. It’s not just a spec bump. Apple basically ripped up the blueprint and started over with the 10th generation, leaving the 9th as this weird, charming relic of a bygone era.
Honestly, if you're staring at both on a shelf in 2026, you're looking at two different philosophies of what a "budget" tablet should be. One has a button. The other doesn't. One uses a cable from 2012. The other uses the same port as your laptop.
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The Big Design Pivot
The most obvious difference between ipad 9th and 10th is the way they look. The 9th generation is the "Classic" iPad. It’s got those big, chunky forehead and chin bezels and the physical Home button. It feels nostalgic, like a comfortable pair of old sneakers.
The 10th generation? It looks like an iPad Air. It’s all-screen, with flat edges and no Home button. Apple moved the Touch ID sensor to the power button on the top.
- iPad 9th Gen: 10.2-inch Retina display.
- iPad 10th Gen: 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display.
You’re getting more screen real estate on the 10th gen without the device actually feeling much bigger in your hand. It’s thinner, too. But there's a catch that most people miss: neither of these screens is laminated. This means there's a tiny air gap between the glass you touch and the actual display panel. If you’re an artist, you’ll notice it. It sounds hollow when you tap it with a pencil.
The Camera Flip That Actually Matters
For years, everyone complained about iPad cameras. Not because they were bad, but because they were in the wrong spot. If you hold an iPad horizontally for a Zoom call—which is how most people use them with a keyboard—the camera on the 9th gen is off to the side. You always look like you're staring into space.
Apple finally fixed this. The 10th gen has a landscape-oriented front camera. It’s on the long edge. This is a massive difference between ipad 9th and 10th if you actually use your tablet for work or school calls.
Performance: A13 vs. A14 Bionic
Under the hood, we’re talking about the A13 Bionic (9th gen) versus the A14 Bionic (10th gen).
Is the 10th gen faster? Yeah, technically. Will you notice it while scrolling TikTok or watching Netflix? Probably not. The A13 is still surprisingly snappy for basic tasks. However, the 10th gen comes with 4GB of RAM, while the 9th gen only has 3GB.
That extra gigabyte is the real MVP. It keeps apps from closing in the background. If you’re the type of person who keeps 47 Safari tabs open, the 9th gen is going to start "refreshing" those pages a lot sooner than the 10th will.
Charging and Connectivity Headaches
We have to talk about the ports. The 9th gen uses Lightning. The 10th gen uses USB-C.
This sounds like a win for the 10th gen, and it is—unless you use an Apple Pencil. See, both of these iPads use the 1st Generation Apple Pencil. That’s the one with the Lightning plug on the end.
- On the 9th gen: You just plug the pencil into the bottom of the iPad. It looks stupid, like a lollipop, but it works.
- On the 10th gen: You can't plug it in. You need a $9 dongle (an adapter) to charge your pencil from the USB-C port.
It’s an ergonomic nightmare. If you’re a heavy note-taker, this single difference between ipad 9th and 10th might actually make you prefer the older model, or force you to look at the Apple Pencil (USB-C) which lacks pressure sensitivity.
Real World Usage: Which One Wins?
I’ve spent time with both. If you’re buying a tablet for a toddler to watch Bluey, get the 9th gen. It’s cheaper, the Home button is easier for tiny hands to understand, and it still has a headphone jack. Yes, the 10th gen killed the 3.5mm jack.
But if you want to use this for "real work," the 10th gen is the clear winner. It supports the Magic Keyboard Folio, which has a function row and a trackpad. The 9th gen is stuck with the old Smart Keyboard, which feels like typing on a piece of cardboard.
Expert Tip: Don't buy the 64GB version of either if you plan on downloading movies or large games. iPadOS 26 and its apps are bloated. You'll run out of space in a week.
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Price Comparison (Approximate 2026 Market)
The 9th gen is increasingly hard to find new, but it's the king of the refurbished market.
- iPad 9th Gen: Usually found around $180–$220 (Refurbished/Clearance).
- iPad 10th Gen: Often sits around $299–$349 on sale.
The Longevity Factor
Apple is usually great with updates, but the clock is ticking for the A13 chip. The 9th gen will likely see its last major iPadOS update sooner than the 10th. If you want a device that will still be "current" in 2028, the 10th gen is the safer bet.
The 10th gen also supports 5G (on cellular models) and Wi-Fi 6. The 9th gen is capped at 4G and Wi-Fi 5. If your home router is modern, the 10th gen is going to feel significantly faster when downloading large files.
Actionable Advice for Buyers
Go for the iPad 9th Gen if:
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- You are on a strict budget under $250.
- You absolutely need a headphone jack for wired earbuds.
- You prefer a physical Home button for accessibility.
- It's a "secondary" device just for reading or light browsing.
Go for the iPad 10th Gen if:
- You do a lot of video calls (the landscape camera is a game-changer).
- You want to use your iPad as a mini-laptop with a trackpad keyboard.
- You've already switched all your other cables to USB-C.
- You want brighter, more modern color options like Blue, Pink, or Yellow.
The difference between ipad 9th and 10th ultimately comes down to whether you're okay with living in the past to save a hundred bucks. The 9th is a great tool, but the 10th is a better investment for the long haul.
Check your local retailers for "Open Box" deals on the 10th gen. Often, people buy them and return them because they realize they wanted the iPad Air instead, allowing you to snag the 10th gen for nearly the price of a 9th. Ensure any 10th gen purchase includes the USB-C to Apple Pencil adapter if you plan on using the stylus, as older stock may not include it in the box.