If you're looking for an iPad that's more affordable than the latest generation, amazon has the amazon;elmt:;cpos:1;pos:1″ href=”https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tLzIwMjEtQXBwbGUtMTAtMi1pbmNoLWlQYWQtV2ktRmkvZHAvQjA5RzlGUEhZNj90YWc9Z2RndDBjLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiI3YmQzOGY3Yy1kMmU1LTQ5YzEtOWFiOS1kNWUyNWE3MmYxNzAiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFtYXpvbi5jb20vMjAyMS1BcHBsZS0xMC0yLWluY2gtaVBhZC1XaS1GaS9kcC9CMDlHOUZQSFk2IiwiZHluYW1pY0NlbnRyYWxUcmFja2luZ0lkIjp0cnVlLCJzaXRlSWQiOiJ1cy1lbmdhZGdldCIsInBhZ2VJZCI6IjFwLWF1dG9saW5rIiwiZmVhdHVyZUlkIjoidGV4dC1saW5rIn0&signature=AQAAAZ5qAYQ1oE8BjchyM6w6epO7TrXQ3Eqjo_Nih3etM1zK&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2F2021-Apple-10-2-inch-iPad-Wi-Fi%2Fdp%2FB09G9FPHY6″ class=”link rapid-with-clickid etailiffa-link” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:2021 base model;elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:amazon;elmt:;cpos:1;pos:1;itc:0;sec:content-canvas”>Base model 2021 for just $199. Although it's a generation older than the current version, this ninth-generation edition could be ideal for kids, seniors, or those who want a HomeKit-based smart home hub.
![](https://technicalterrence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Apple39s-ninth-generation-iPad-hits-an-all-time-low-price-of-199.png)
Apple
The three-year-old model remains a capable tablet for anyone content to forgo the latest and greatest hardware. amazon;elmt:;cpos:2;pos:1″ href=”https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tLzIwMjEtQXBwbGUtMTAtMi1pbmNoLWlQYWQtV2ktRmkvZHAvQjA5RzlGUEhZNj90YWc9Z2RndDBjLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiI3YmQzOGY3Yy1kMmU1LTQ5YzEtOWFiOS1kNWUyNWE3MmYxNzAiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFtYXpvbi5jb20vMjAyMS1BcHBsZS0xMC0yLWluY2gtaVBhZC1XaS1GaS9kcC9CMDlHOUZQSFk2IiwiZHluYW1pY0NlbnRyYWxUcmFja2luZ0lkIjp0cnVlLCJzaXRlSWQiOiJ1cy1lbmdhZGdldCIsInBhZ2VJZCI6IjFwLWF1dG9saW5rIiwiZmVhdHVyZUlkIjoidGV4dC1saW5rIn0&signature=AQAAAZ5qAYQ1oE8BjchyM6w6epO7TrXQ3Eqjo_Nih3etM1zK&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2F2021-Apple-10-2-inch-iPad-Wi-Fi%2Fdp%2FB09G9FPHY6″ class=”link rapid-with-clickid etailiffa-link” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:ninth-gen iPad;elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:amazon;elmt:;cpos:2;pos:1;itc:0;sec:content-canvas”>iPad 9th generation It has a 10.2-inch Retina display and Apple’s old Home button-based Touch ID sensor. It’s powered by the A13 Bionic chip, which has a six-core processor, a quad-core GPU, and an eight-core Neural Engine. This isn’t the model to buy if you want blazing-fast speeds, the flashiest display, or the next Apple Intelligence, but it’s hard to fault any of that too much when you look at the price.
Engadget's 2021 review found this model to be “a modest upgrade” over the previous version. Nathan Ingraham described it as “a fast, light tablet with a nice display and tons of apps, without breaking the bank.” In our battery test, we found it beat Apple's 10-hour estimate, lasting for about 14 hours of video streaming.
This model runs iPadOS 17 and will support iPadOS 18 when it launches this fall. It’s not known how many annual updates it’ll be able to access after that, but the 2024 software will still be running on two hardware generations behind this model, suggesting it may not be nearing the end of the line just yet.
It’s also great for video calls, and its 12MP Ultra Wide front camera supports Center Stage. Apple’s machine learning-powered feature tracks your face and that of anyone else in the shot, adjusting the framing of the call accordingly through automatic panning and zooming.
If you want to add accessories for a more laptop-like experience, the 9th generation iPad supports the amazon;elmt:;cpos:8;pos:1″ href=”https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0FwcGxlLVBlbmNpbC0xc3QtR2VuZXJhdGlvbi1BZGFwdGVyL2RwL0IwQkpMRzY5UVI_dGFnPWdkZ3QwYy0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiN2JkMzhmN2MtZDJlNS00OWMxLTlhYjktZDVlMjVhNzJmMTcwIiwib3JpZ2luYWxVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0FwcGxlLVBlbmNpbC0xc3QtR2VuZXJhdGlvbi1BZGFwdGVyL2RwL0IwQkpMRzY5UVIiLCJkeW5hbWljQ2VudHJhbFRyYWNraW5nSWQiOnRydWUsInNpdGVJZCI6InVzLWVuZ2FkZ2V0IiwicGFnZUlkIjoiMXAtYXV0b2xpbmsiLCJmZWF0dXJlSWQiOiJ0ZXh0LWxpbmsifQ&signature=AQAAAc-4MjYcI5Wps56qc_ZRpsUL7K9xu7GbQc3UH34ADwWi&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FApple-Pencil-1st-Generation-Adapter%2Fdp%2FB0BJLG69QR” class=”link rapid-with-clickid etailiffa-link” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:first-generation Apple Pencil;elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:amazon;elmt:;cpos:8;pos:1;itc:0;sec:content-canvas”>First generation Apple Pencil and amazon;elmt:;cpos:9;pos:1″ href=”https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=amazon&custData=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&signature=AQAAAfqoKnZ2_0qgrOkrzf0SHfsWMH_lT7DGtlqrY9AbgKPb&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FApple-Smart-Keyboard-iPad-Generation%2Fdp%2FB08HJXBQ33″ class=”link rapid-with-clickid etailiffa-link” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:Apple Smart Keyboard;elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:amazon;elmt:;cpos:9;pos:1;itc:0;sec:content-canvas”>Apple Smart Keyboard.
![The ninth-generation iPad on a desk with the keyboard attached.](https://technicalterrence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Apple39s-ninth-generation-iPad-hits-an-all-time-low-price-of-199.jpeg)
![The ninth-generation iPad on a desk with the keyboard attached.](https://technicalterrence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Apple39s-ninth-generation-iPad-hits-an-all-time-low-price-of-199.jpeg)
It's worth noting that this model uses a Lightning connector rather than the USB-C that Apple has adapted its product line to. It does include a charger in the box, but you might want to consider that if you've already gotten rid of all your old Lightning cables. On the other hand, some might consider it a plus that it still includes Apple's now-obsolete headphone jack.