You’ve seen it at the back of the shelf or listed as a "budget pick" for the last five years. The iPad 2021 9th generation is basically the "old reliable" of the tech world. It’s the device that shouldn't still be relevant in 2026, yet here we are.
Honestly, it feels like a relic. It has that chunky forehead and chin. There’s a physical home button that actually clicks. It even has a headphone jack—remember those? While the rest of the world moved to sleek bezels and USB-C, this 10.2-inch slab stayed behind.
But here’s the thing: it’s still one of the most practical pieces of hardware Apple ever made.
The A13 Bionic isn't dead yet
Most people assume a chip from 2019 (the A13 Bionic) would be a stuttering mess by now. It’s not. I’ve seen these things handle iPadOS 26 with surprisingly few complaints.
Sure, you aren’t going to be editing 4K ProRes video on this thing. That’s not what it’s for. But for jumping between Slack, Safari, and Netflix? It’s snappy. The A13 was way ahead of its time when it launched in the iPhone 11, and that overhead is exactly why the iPad 2021 9th generation is still breathing.
There is a catch, though.
Ram is the real bottleneck. With only 3GB of RAM, this iPad starts to sweat if you have thirty tabs open in Chrome or try to run high-end games like Genshin Impact on max settings. You’ll notice apps refreshing more often than they do on an iPad Air. It’s a trade-off.
That weirdly great front camera
It’s ironic. The cheapest iPad of its era had a better front-facing camera than the expensive iPad Air for a while. Apple threw a 12MP Ultra Wide lens on this model, specifically to enable Center Stage.
If you’re on a FaceTime call and you move around the room to grab a coffee, the camera digitally pans and zooms to keep you in the frame. It’s knda creepy the first time you see it, but for Zoom-heavy remote work or calling grandma, it’s a lifesaver.
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What about the screen?
- Retina Display: 10.2 inches, 2160-by-1620 resolution.
- True Tone: This was the first base iPad to get it. It adjusts the color temperature based on the lighting in your room.
- Non-laminated: This is the big one. There is a tiny air gap between the glass and the actual display.
If you’re an artist, that air gap matters. When you use the 1st-gen Apple Pencil, it feels like you're drawing on a piece of glass above the screen rather than directly on it. For note-taking? You’ll get used to it in five minutes. For pro-level illustration? It’s sorta annoying.
The Lightning Port: A blessing and a curse
We live in a USB-C world now. Even the iPhone finally gave in. Carrying a separate Lightning cable just for your iPad feels like a step backward in 2026.
However, there is a massive ecosystem of cheap accessories that still use Lightning. If you have an old stash of cables, docks, or the original Apple Pencil, this iPad is the only modern-ish way to use them. Speaking of the Pencil, charging it by plugging it into the bottom of the iPad still looks like a bizarre tech lollipop. It’s a design choice that will never not be funny.
Why students are still buying it
Price is the obvious driver, but durability is the secret. The iPad 2021 9th generation uses a design that Apple perfected over a decade. It’s a tank.
I’ve seen these things survive being tossed into backpacks by middle schoolers for three years straight without a case. The aluminum unibody is rigid. Unlike the newer, thinner models that can occasionally bend if you sit on them, this chassis is stubborn.
Battery Life Reality Check
Apple always claims "10 hours of battery life." In the real world, after a few years of use, you’re likely looking at 6 to 7 hours of screen-on time.
If you find a refurbished model, check the cycle count if you can. Lithium-ion batteries in these units are rated for about 1,000 full charge cycles before they hit 80% health. Because this model lacks the "Battery Health" percentage in Settings that iPhones have, you might need a third-party tool like CoconutBattery on a Mac to see the real truth.
The iPad 2021 9th Generation vs. The World
Most people compare this to the 10th-gen iPad. The 10th gen has the "modern" look, USB-C, and the A14 chip. But it also killed the headphone jack.
If you’re someone who still uses wired earbuds to avoid Bluetooth latency or just hates charging one more thing, the 9th gen wins by default. It’s the "End of an Era" iPad.
Is it future-proof? Kinda. It’s expected to get security patches through 2027 or 2028. You won’t get "Apple Intelligence" features (those require M-series chips), but for reading PDFs or watching Disney+, who cares?
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re looking to pick one up now, don't buy it at the original retail price. You should be looking at the used or refurbished market where these often go for under $200.
Check the storage specifically. The 64GB base model fills up fast if you download movies. If you can find the 256GB version, grab it. It turns this from a "disposable" tablet into a long-term media vault. Also, grab a cheap 3rd-party folio case; you don't need the expensive Apple ones to keep this thing safe.
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Basically, if you need a "screen" that just works and doesn't cost a paycheck, this is still the play. It’s not fancy, but it’s enough.
Ensure you verify the serial number on Apple’s coverage page before buying used to make sure it isn't managed by a school district or company (MDM locked), which is a common issue with these specific "education" models.