Apple has kickstarted its ‘California Streaming’ iPhone 13 launch event by unveiling the 9th gen iPad. The company tends to update its cheapest iPad every year with faster internals and minor design refresh.

The 9th gen iPad retains the same design as previous years, with Apple focusing primarily on internal upgrades. This also means the new iPad retains the same chunky bezels with the Touch ID scanner integrated into the Home button. The display size remains the same at 10.2-inch, but it now supports True Tone.

Internally, Apple is now using its more powerful A13 Bionic chipset on the new iPad. This chip brings a 20 percent boost in CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine performance. Apple claims the new iPad is 3x faster than the best-selling Chromebook and up to 6x faster than Android tablets out there.

Thanks to the improved ISP of the A13 Bionic chip, the new iPad can take better photos. The front camera gets an upgrade, and it now features a 12MP 122-degree ultra-wide camera. This also allows Apple to bring the Center Stage feature first seen on the 2021 iPad Pro on the new 9th gen iPad. This feature will ensure that you are always in the frame while on a video call.

Apple is also bundling a 20W USB-C power adapter with the new iPad for a faster charging experience.

9th Gen iPad Price and Availability

Pricing for the 9th gen iPad remains the same as before. The base model with 64GB storage starts from $329, though students can get it for $299. The new iPad will go on pre-order through Apple’s online store later today, and it will hit the store next week.