The tech world moves fast. Seriously fast. But sometimes, a piece of hardware just sticks. The iPad 10th generation wifi model is exactly that kind of device. When Apple first dropped this in late 2022, people were actually pretty annoyed. Why? Because the price went up and they kept the first-gen Apple Pencil support. It felt messy. But looking at it now, through the lens of 2026, it’s arguably the most sensible purchase for about 80% of people who just want a screen that works.
It’s the "everyman" tablet.
You aren't buying this to edit 8K ProRes video. You're buying it because your kid needs something for school, or you want to read the news without squinting at a phone, or maybe you just need a dedicated machine for Netflix in bed. It’s got that specific "it just works" energy that Apple used to talk about all the time before things got complicated with "Pro" and "Air" and "Ultra" branding.
The WiFi Reality: Who Is This For?
Let's talk about the iPad 10th generation wifi specifically. Most people default to the WiFi-only model because, honestly, who wants another monthly data plan? Unless you're a digital nomad working from a park bench in Berlin, you’re almost always near a hotspot or can just tether to your iPhone. Paying the "cellular tax"—which is usually an extra $150 plus the service fee—feels like throwing money into a black hole for the average user.
The WiFi 6 support here is the unsung hero. While it isn't WiFi 6E or the newer WiFi 7 standards we're seeing in the high-end M4 iPads, it's plenty fast. We’re talking about real-world speeds that handle 4K streaming and Zoom calls without that annoying stutter. If your home router is even remotely modern, this tablet will max out your bandwidth long before the hardware becomes a bottleneck.
That Design Shift Was Everything
Remember the home button? It’s gone. Good riddance. By moving the Touch ID sensor to the top power button, Apple finally gave the entry-level iPad the "all-screen" look. It’s symmetrical. It’s colorful. It looks like a modern piece of tech rather than a relic from 2017.
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The 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display is bright—about 500 nits. Is it an OLED? No. Will you notice? Probably not, unless you’re sitting next to someone with an iPad Pro. The colors are punchy, and the resolution hits that "Retina" sweet spot where you can’t see the pixels from a normal reading distance.
One thing that still catches people off guard: the camera.
Apple did something weirdly smart here. They put the front-facing camera on the long edge. Finally! It took them forever to realize that when we use tablets for video calls, we usually have them in landscape mode. It’s the only iPad in the lineup for a long time that actually made you look like you were looking at the person you were talking to, instead of staring off into space.
The A14 Bionic: Aged Like Fine Wine?
Inside this slab of aluminum is the A14 Bionic chip. This is the same silicon that powered the iPhone 12. In 2026, you might think that’s "old," but tablet apps haven't actually evolved as fast as the processors.
Apps like Procreate, Notability, and even LumaFusion run remarkably well. You might wait an extra three seconds for a heavy file to export compared to an M2 or M4 chip, but is that three seconds worth an extra $400? For most people, the answer is a hard no. The 4GB of RAM is the real limiting factor, not the CPU. If you try to open 50 tabs in Safari while running a picture-in-picture video and a heavy drawing app, you’ll see some refreshing. But for "normal" use? It’s snappy.
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The Apple Pencil Drama
We have to address the elephant in the room. The iPad 10th generation wifi supports the 1st-gen Apple Pencil (the one with the lightning connector) and the USB-C Apple Pencil. It does not support the 2nd-gen Pencil or the Pencil Pro.
This was a bizarre choice. If you have the 1st-gen Pencil, you need a weird little dongle to charge it because the iPad has a USB-C port but the Pencil has a Lightning plug. It’s clunky. It’s very "un-Apple." However, if you just want a stylus for basic note-taking, the cheaper USB-C Apple Pencil is the way to go. It magnetically attaches to the side (though it doesn't charge there), and it solves the dongle nightmare.
Real-World Battery Life
Apple always claims "10 hours of web surfing or video." In reality, it’s more like 8 to 9 hours if you have the brightness cranked up. If you’re just using it for light tasks—emailing, Kindle reading, light browsing—you can easily go three or four days without reaching for a cable.
The move to USB-C was the best thing to happen to this device. You can use the same charger for your MacBook, your iPad, and now your iPhone. One cable to rule them all. It also means you can plug in external SSDs or cameras to offload photos, which makes this a decent little travel companion for photographers on a budget.
What Most People Get Wrong
A big misconception is that the "Air" is a better value. The iPad Air (5th or 6th gen) has a laminated display, meaning there’s no tiny air gap between the glass and the pixels. The 10th gen does have that gap.
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Does it matter?
If you’re a professional digital artist, yes. It feels a bit like you’re drawing "on" the glass rather than "in" the screen. But for everyone else? You won't even notice it's there after five minutes of use. The non-laminated screen actually has one secret benefit: if you crack the glass, it's significantly cheaper and easier to repair than the fused displays on the more expensive models.
Longevity and Software Support
Apple is the king of long-term support. The A14 chip will likely get iPadOS updates until at least 2027 or 2028. Even after the official OS updates stop, the App Store usually supports older versions for years. This isn't a "disposable" tablet. This is a five-year device.
Pricing and the Used Market
Since we're in 2026, the retail price has likely dropped or you’re seeing incredible deals on the used/refurbished market. At its original $449, it was a tough sell. At $349 or less? It’s a steal.
There are competitors, sure. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE is a solid alternative with an included pen, but the app ecosystem on Android tablets still feels like a stretched-out phone experience compared to iPadOS. The "tablet-first" apps on iPad are just higher quality. Period.
Actionable Buying Advice
If you are looking at the iPad 10th generation wifi today, here is how you should handle the purchase to get the most out of it:
- Check the Storage: The base 64GB model is tiny. If you plan on downloading movies for flights or installing large games like Genshin Impact, look for the 256GB version. Cloud storage helps, but it doesn't solve everything.
- Skip the Magic Keyboard Folio: Apple’s official keyboard for this model is great but ridiculously expensive. You can find high-quality Bluetooth keyboard cases from Logitech (like the Combo Touch) for half the price that offer better drop protection.
- Choose the USB-C Pencil: Do not buy the 1st-gen Apple Pencil with the cap. It’s an ergonomic disaster for this specific iPad. The USB-C version is cheaper and more reliable.
- Education Discounts: If you're a student or have a teacher's email, always check the Apple Education Store. You can often snag a gift card or a discount that brings the price down to "no-brainer" territory.
- Refurbished is King: Check Apple’s Official Refurbished store. They replace the outer shell and the battery, so it’s basically a brand-new device with a full warranty for a fraction of the cost.
The iPad 10th gen isn't the flashiest tablet Apple makes, but it’s the one that makes the most financial sense for the vast majority of users. It handles the basics with zero friction, looks modern, and has the battery life to get you through a cross-country flight or a full day of classes without breaking a sweat. It’s the reliable workhorse that proved you don't need a "Pro" label to have a pro-level experience.