Let's be honest about the iPad 10th generation purple. When Apple dropped this thing back in late 2022, the tech world basically had a collective meltdown over the price hike and that goofy Apple Pencil adapter situation. But here we are years later, and this specific purple slab—which Apple officially calls "Pink" but everyone with eyes knows is a dusty, metallic violet—has become the sleeper hit of the lineup. It’s the "middle child" that finally found its voice.
You’ve probably seen it in coffee shops. It’s that muted, sophisticated shade that looks lilac in the sun and almost grey in a dim room.
The iPad 10th generation purple represented a massive shift. It was the moment the base-model iPad finally killed the home button, embraced USB-C, and decided to stop looking like a relic from 2017. It’s not just a color choice; it’s a marker of when the "cheap" iPad started feeling like a pro device, even if the screen isn't laminated and the accessory logic still makes people scratch their heads.
Why the Purple iPad 10th Generation Isn't Actually Pink
Apple’s naming conventions are genuinely chaotic. If you look at the box, it says "Pink." If you look at the tablet, it’s undeniably purple. Specifically, it’s a saturated, fruity mauve that sits somewhere between the iPad Air’s pastel purple and the deep, moody "Deep Purple" of the iPhone 14 Pro era.
It’s bold.
Most people buying this tablet are looking for a personality piece. The Silver and Blue models are fine, but the purple/pink variant has this weirdly high resale value because it’s distinct. It’s the color that looks best with the White Magic Keyboard Folio. The contrast is sharp.
But why did Apple do this? Historically, the entry-level iPad was boring. It was Space Gray or Silver. Boring. By introducing this vibrant palette, Apple signaled that the 10th gen wasn't for enterprise deployments or school districts alone; it was for the "Zillennial" creator who wants a digital scrapbook that matches their aesthetic.
The Screen and the Air Gap: Does It Actually Matter?
If you read any professional review from The Verge or Engadget when this launched, they all complained about the non-laminated display. Basically, there’s a tiny air gap between the glass you touch and the pixels underneath. On the iPad Air or Pro, the image looks like it’s painted on the glass. On the iPad 10th generation purple, it looks like it’s sitting just a millimeter below.
Does it matter? Honestly, for 90% of people, no.
If you’re a professional illustrator like James Jean, yeah, you’ll notice the parallax. You’ll feel the slight "hollow" tap of the Pencil. But if you’re just marking up PDFs, binging The Bear on Hulu, or scrolling through Reddit, your brain tunes it out in about four minutes. The 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display is still plenty bright at 500 nits. It’s vibrant. The colors pop, especially when you’re looking at photos you took on an iPhone.
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The bigger deal is the move to the 10.9-inch footprint with thinner bezels. You get way more screen real estate than the old 10.2-inch model without the chassis getting much bigger. It feels modern. It feels like the future of the "basic" iPad.
The Landscape Camera: The One Thing This Does Better Than the Pro
This is the hill I will die on. The iPad 10th generation purple has a better front-facing camera placement than the $1,000+ iPad Pros from the same era.
Apple finally put the 12MP FaceTime camera on the long edge.
Finally.
When you’re on a Zoom call with your iPad in a keyboard case, you’re actually looking at the person. You don’t have that awkward "side-eye" look that happens on the iPad Air or the older M2 Pros where the camera is on the top (short) edge. This one change makes the 10th gen the superior machine for students and remote workers who live on video calls.
Plus, it has Center Stage. The camera follows you around if you’re cooking or pacing in your room while talking to your mom. It’s creepy and cool at the same time. It’s a feature that works remarkably well for a "budget" device.
The A14 Bionic in 2026: Still Kicking?
You might worry that the chip inside—the A14 Bionic—is getting long in the tooth. It first appeared in the iPhone 12.
But here’s the thing about Apple Silicon: it’s ridiculously over-engineered.
- Gaming: You can play Genshin Impact or Death Stranding (with some settings dialed back) and it stays smooth.
- Multitasking: It handles split-screen multitasking with ease. You can have Safari on one side and Notes on the other without the system stuttering.
- Longevity: This chip will likely receive iPadOS updates until at least 2027 or 2028.
The A14 isn't as fast as the M1 or M2 chips found in the Air or Pro. It doesn't support "Stage Manager," which is Apple’s fancy window management system. If you want to plug your iPad into a monitor and have it act like a desktop, this isn't the one. But if you’re using an iPad as an iPad, the A14 is plenty. It’s snappy. Apps open fast. It doesn’t feel slow, even by today’s standards.
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The Accessory Drama (The Pencil and the Plug)
We have to talk about the Apple Pencil. It’s the elephant in the room.
The iPad 10th generation purple uses the first-generation Apple Pencil. You know, the one with the cap and the Lightning connector. But the iPad itself has a USB-C port.
To charge the Pencil, you need a $9 USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter. It’s clunky. It’s easy to lose. It’s arguably the most "un-Apple" design choice of the last decade.
However, there’s a workaround now. Apple eventually released the "Apple Pencil (USB-C)" which is cheaper and pairs via a cable. It doesn’t have pressure sensitivity, though, so artists hate it.
If you’re buying this for a kid or for basic note-taking, just get a third-party stylus for $20 on Amazon. They work great, charge via USB-C, and you won’t care if it gets lost under the couch. Don’t let the Pencil drama scare you off the tablet itself; just be smart about which stylus you pair with it.
Real World Usage: Why This is the "Traveler’s iPad"
I’ve taken the iPad 10th generation purple on cross-country flights and it’s the perfect size. It fits on the tray table even when the person in front of you reclines their seat all the way back.
The battery life is the classic "iPad 10 hours." In reality, that means about 8 hours of heavy video streaming or 12 hours of writing. It’s reliable. You can charge it with the same cable you use for your MacBook or your Nintendo Switch. That’s the real win. No more hunting for a Lightning cable while everyone else has moved on to USB-C.
The speakers are also surprisingly loud. They’re "landscape stereo," meaning when you hold it horizontally to watch a movie, you actually get left and right audio channels. The older 9th gen iPad had both speakers on the bottom, so everything sounded like it was coming from one side. This is a massive upgrade for Netflix bingers.
Comparing the Tiers: 64GB vs 256GB
This is where Apple gets you.
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The base model starts at 64GB. In 2026, that’s tight. If you download a few high-res movies for a trip and a couple of big games like Call of Duty: Warzone, you’re basically full.
But the jump to 256GB is expensive.
Most people should stick to the 64GB and use iCloud.
Honestly.
If you’re mostly using Google Docs, streaming music, and browsing the web, you don't need to pay the "storage tax." Just offload your photos to the cloud. If you plan on editing 4K video or storing your entire 1,000-book PDF library locally, then yeah, spend the extra money. But for the average user? The 64GB iPad 10th generation purple is the sweet spot of value.
Is It Still Worth Buying Today?
Yes, but with a caveat.
Don't pay full retail price.
The iPad 10th generation is frequently on sale at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. When it’s discounted, it’s the best value-for-money tablet on the market. It smokes every Android tablet in its price range when it comes to app quality and resale value.
The purple color is specifically the one to look for because it hides fingerprints better than the darker colors and it doesn't look as "clinical" as the silver. It feels like a piece of tech that was actually designed for a human being to use in a living room, not just a tool for a cubicle.
Actionable Next Steps for Potential Buyers
If you’re leaning toward the iPad 10th generation purple, here is exactly how you should set it up for the best experience:
- Skip the official Apple Pencil: Unless you are a serious artist who needs pressure sensitivity, buy the Apple Pencil (USB-C) or a reputable third-party "palm rejection" stylus. It saves you money and eliminates the adapter headache.
- Look for the Magic Keyboard Folio on sale: The two-piece design is brilliant. You can kickstand the iPad to watch movies and rip the keyboard off when you just want to read. It’s better than the Pro’s keyboard for versatility.
- Invest in a matte screen protector: If you find the "air gap" or the glass feel annoying for writing, a Paperlike or similar matte protector makes the writing experience feel 10x more natural.
- Check the "Pink" listing: Remember, if you’re shopping online, search for "Pink." Apple doesn't list it as purple, but the photos will show you that gorgeous violet hue you’re actually looking for.
- Audit your storage: Before buying, check your current phone’s storage. If you use less than 50GB on your phone, the 64GB iPad will be perfectly fine for you.
The iPad 10th generation purple is a transition device. It represents Apple moving away from the old-school tablet design into something more vibrant and functional. It’s not perfect—the Pencil situation is still a bit silly—but it’s a joyful piece of tech. It’s the iPad most people should buy, even if it’s not the one Apple’s marketing team wants you to spend $1,000 on. It’s more than enough, and it looks better on a coffee table than any other tablet they’ve made in years.