iPad 9 vs. iPad 8: Should You Upgrade?

Apple’s new iPad 9 (2021) is out, and it looks (physically) a lot like the iPad 8 (2020), which Apple released just last year. But, before you declare the iPad to be trapped in a rut, keep in mind that an iPad 9 vs. iPad 8 comparison reveals some interesting under-the-hood differences.

Specifications compared

Design

While there are a lot of distinctions between the two iPads, one of them is the design. They appear to be nearly similar. The iPad 9 keeps the solid bezel, aluminum frame, and physical Home button from the iPad 8.

There are no new color options, either, with Space Grey and silver still the only alternatives. Isn’t it a little boring? Perhaps, however, if you’re doing a direct upgrade, your existing accessories will still work. And the colors aren’t going to clash.

Screen

Both tablets have the same screen: it’s the 10.2-inch retina display with a 2160 x 1620-pixel resolution, the brightness of 500 nits, and pixel density of 264ppi that we’ve come to expect from Apple. However, the iPad 9 boasts True Tone technology, which is a significant change.

This update adjusts the screen’s tone based on your surroundings to make it more aesthetically pleasing. In a dark setting, the screen will switch to warmer tones to avoid burning your retinas. It accomplishes this with the use of an ambient light sensor. It’s not brand-new technology; it’s been utilized in higher-end iPads for a long time.

However, seeing it make its way down to the ordinary iPad is quite pleasant. Its presence also ensures the iPad 9’s victory in this category.

Power

In terms of computing power, the iPad 2021 (9th Gen) is also a step up. The A13 Bionic chipset, more advanced than the A12 Bionic featured in the iPad 8, is included. The A13 Bionic is used in the iPad SE as well (2020).

According to Apple, the iPad 9 is 20% faster than the iPad 8 in terms of GPU and CPU speed, so everything you’re doing on the new iPad should be faster. It should also increase the performance of Live Text, which will come in handy if you want to use the new iPad function that analyzes text in photographs.

Performance

The A13 Bionic will indeed outperform the A12 Bionic in last year’s iPad 8 on paper and in benchmarks, but it isn’t such a significant leap that you’ll notice much of a difference in day-to-day use.

You can still use my iPad 8 regularly and never experience a speed issue. You can use your iPad for various things, including gaming, painting, word processing, browsing the web, watching Netflix, and more, and it will run smoothly and responsively.

Price and storage

The iPad 9 features the same $329 price tag as the iPad 8 and the same $299 education discount. The only difference is that Apple now gives you 64GB of storage instead of 32GB. That’s a victory.

Apple used to charge $100 for a 32GB to 128GB upgrade, but now it charges $150 for a 64GB to 256GB upgrade. That equates to more money, but it also means more space.

Refurbished 32GB iPad 8 models are now out of stock, but when they become available, they’ll cost $269, making them a good alternative if you don’t think the iPad 9 is worth the extra $60.

Camera

Apple claims that the A13 Bionic will boost photography, so performance isn’t simply restricted to benchmark scores. The SoC has an upgraded image signal processor, allowing better autofocus in low light for selfies.

The front-facing camera on the iPad 9 has been updated from a 1.2MP sensor to a 12MP ultra-wide lens, which is the big camera news. This update is beneficial since it recognizes that we now live in a period where many more video calls are required. The front-facing camera is superior for video recording, filming at up to 60 frames per second in 1080p (the iPad 8 capped out at 720p). For wider shots, the new camera offers a 2x zoom-out feature.

One of Apple’s most recent innovative additions, Center Stage, has also been brought to iPad 9. When you’re on a video conference, the camera will slightly zoom in to follow your face as you move, keeping you in the central of the frame. It also supports Zoom, BlueJeans, and WebEx, in addition to FaceTime. It even works with videos you record and later shares on other apps.

Battery life

In terms of battery life, the iPad 9 lasts as long as the iPad 8. The iPad’s appearance has remained unchanged, and both tablets have the same “up to 10 hours” battery life while surfing the web via Wi-Fi or streaming local video files.

However, according to our web-surfing-based battery test, the iPad 9 may last much longer. We say this since it took 12 hours and 57 minutes to deplete the iPad 8.

Accessories

The iPad Smart Keyboard cover and the first-generation Apple Pencil are compatible with the old iPad 8 and the new iPad 9. We wish they’d included compatibility for the second-generation Apple Pencil, but that would necessitate a design identical to the iPad mini 6.

The Apple Pencil 1 will remain the only Apple-made stylus for the iPad without the flat-edge design, which we hope to see on the regular iPad sometime.

Final verdict

If you already have an iPad 8, you won’t be missing out on anything if you don’t upgrade yet. However, the iPad 9 will consistently outperform the iPad 8 in terms of overall performance. It’s not a “must-have,” but if you use your iPad for many video calls, the new front camera will be a tremendous help.

If you’re upgrading from an iPad 7 or earlier or considering purchasing your first iPad, we believe the iPad 9 is well worth it. It offers incredible value and usability for a low price, and it’s the best iPad ever yet.