iPad 2020 (8th generation): complete technical sheet, price and reviews

On Tuesday, September 15, 2020, Apple organizes its usual end-of-year keynote but without announcing the highly anticipated iPhone 12. Instead, the public discovers a preview of new connected watches includingthe new Apple Watch Series 6. Alongside it are also presented two tablets including the one that interests us for this technical sheet: theeighth iPad.

This model renews a range which has enjoyed undeniable success for ten years now. The recipe is always the same, but it is interesting to look at the components integrated into this iPad to assess the extent of its update. The 2020 version notably brings improvements to iPadOS, the proprietary operating system that powers the device, but also to performance.

In this article, we will therefore explore in detail the advantages and disadvantages of the iPad 8, before concluding with our opinion on the product. You will also find its best price there.

Design: nothing new on the horizon

Let's start with the exterior appearance of the eighth generation iPad. The format is quite compact, which allows you to take it anywhere with you, even when traveling. However, the hull is inaluminium, so it is advisable to purchase an additional case to avoid scratching the chassis. In terms of numbers now, you should know that the iPad Wi-Fi only weighs 490g. The version that can access cellular data, on the other hand, reaches 495 g. So you will have no problem taking the iPad 8 with you on the plane. Especially since it is particularly thin, with only7,5 mm. Certainly, it is more thanthe fourth generation iPad Pro, but more than sufficient.

The width of the iPad 2020 reaches 174.1 mm. Its length is 250.6 mm. The size of the tablet is therefore smaller than an A4 sheet, which makes it compatible with most student bags, a profile that favors this product for this reason. If we compare to previous editions, now we see thatthe new iPad doesn't change much. The borders have certainly been reduced since the very first model, but that's about it. Let's finish by specifying that the home button is still there, installed under the screen and integrating biometric unlocking ofTouch ID.

A seriously improved operating system

The iPad 2020 is powered byiPadOS 14. This software was presented at the Worldwide Developer Conference held in June of the same year. The first notable improvement of this version is a redesigned layout of the widgets. Now more data is visible in a second, while it is now possible to choose between several different sizes for each widget. Very good mention also to theSmart batteries. Still on the interface side, the logo of the voice assistant Siri has also been redesigned and Apple's artificial intelligence no longer occupies the entire screen of the iPad.

The iPad's proprietary applications have also been completely revised. In Messages, for example, certain conversations can be pinned to the top of the platform so that you can contact your favorite recipients more easily. You can also respond to a specific SMS, which streamlines exchanges in groups. Even the@mentions, which were until now confined to Facebook or WhatsApp, are finally arriving. As long as you opt for the 4G compatible model, with a dedicated SIM card port, you can do without your iPhone and even make calls with the eighth generation iPad.

The Apple Maps mapping service, which aims to directly compete with Google Maps, is also entitled to its share of improvements. Travel by electric vehicle is now available, while travel bybikeare also finally compatible. In the iPad 2020, the developer has even imagined the Guides functionality, which, like TripAdvisor, advises you on the best spots to visit around you. Airbnb and NomadList have something to worry about! So, sure, you might not take the tablet with you on your sightseeing trips, but the iPad 8 will make it easier to plan them.

The browserSafari, too, changes a little. Particularly when it comes to privacy, a major selling point for Apple for its new iPad. So, the application now offers detailed reports on how developers are tracking you, and it is even possible to change your default browser. Safari, by comparing your identifiers to stolen databases, can also alert you if your password has been corrupted. According to Apple, Safari on iPad 8 is even the fastest tablet browser on the market, far ahead of Windows alternatives.

On the music side, theAirPodsare now compatible with “Spatial Audio” mode which could be compared to a kind of practical sound virtual reality when you listen to music with the iPad. But that's not all, since the iPad 2020 also offers notifications that inform you of the battery status of your wireless headphones. Another impressive tool: the one Apple calls “Automatic failover“. Imagine you start watching a series on your television with an Apple TV box while wearing your AirPods in your ears so as not to disturb your family. If you then want to change rooms and continue the episode on your iPad 8, simply launch the video on the tablet and the streaming continues without interruption on it.

iPadOS 14 is therefore the best that could happen to the eighth generation of the iPad, offering infinite advantages both for productivity and forentertainment. Most profiles will recognize themselves there; both the youngest and our less connected elders. The eighth generation iPad is also a very good gift to place under the tree while being sure to please every time.

Screen

The 2020 iPad's Retina touchscreen measures the same size as the previous model's:10.2 inchesdiagonally. The panel, designed with IPS technology, is backlit by LED. Its resolution offers 2,160 x 1,620 pixels or 264 ppi. This 2K standard is perfect for watching a movie on Netflix or playing video games with Apple Arcade. The luminance, for its part, reaches 500 nits, which will allow you to use the iPad 8 even in broad daylight. However, in full sun, you will need to look for a shaded area because this figure may not be enough.

The screen of the eighth generation iPad is protected by an oleophobic coating and Apple says it is fingerprint resistant. This is not officially specified, but we also know that the display is protected by a glass pane manufactured by Corning, publisher of the very renowned brand in the field.Gorilla Glass. True Tone technology, on the other hand, is not planned on the iPad 8. The refresh rate, for its part, remains average for similar tablets. Even with intensive use, the iPad 2020 screen broadcasts the majority of content without worry and offers premium quality viewing angles.

We nevertheless remain below the results offered by OLED panels like those found on the iPad Pro. The energy consumption of the iPad 8 screen is therefore quite significant, and this will need to be taken into account if you plan to stay away from a source of electricity for several hours.

iPad 8 performance

The big new thing about the iPad 2020 is its change in processor. In fact, the eighth model is now equipped with aA12 Bionic chip. If this name rings a bell, that's normal: it's the CPU that was integrated into the iPhone XS unveiled in 2018. Based on a 64-bit architecture, it is supported by the Neural artificial intelligence engine. Engine. The result is graphicstwice as efficient as the iPad 2019according to Apple, thanks in particular to a GPU divided into four cores. The SoC, for its part, is hexacore. What this means for you is that the eighth-generation iPad won't lag even when opening particularly energy-intensive programs.

Thus, the iPad 2020 obtains excellent scores in most benchmarks, even if it remains the least powerful of all iPads to date. In fact, apart from the iPad mini which is equipped with the same processor, all the other iPads actually do a little better, or even a lot. The component in question is engraved with a precision of seven nanometers by the Taiwanese subcontractor TSMC. This has already demonstrated its know-how on previous iPads, and continues to offer us a fast solution on the eighth generation.

Obviously, if your needs are more professional, you will once again have to turn to the iPad Pro. But for the rest, whether it concerns productivity or more family use, the A12 processor is completely up to the task.

Network and connectivity

The eighth generation iPad is unfortunately not compatible with 5G. As we saw above, there is nevertheless a variation of the tablet with a SIM card slot but only the4Gis offered with this model, Gigabit class on the other hand. Wi-Fi, for its part, is available under the 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards. For its part, Bluetooth is provided here in version 4.2. It's very surprising to see a device released with this version in 2020, and we wonder why Apple didn't offer Bluetooth 5.

The iPad 8 is also equipped with aprise jack3.5 mm, to which you can connect any headphones or wired headphones. For once, here is a positive point compared to the fourth generation iPad Air which was unveiled by Apple the same day. Indeed, the latter has simply abandoned this sheet, forcing most users to switch to USB or wireless headphones like the AirPod Pro. But let's get back to our subject. What else does the 2020 iPad offer? There is also theSmart Connector. This small socket is installed on the back of the iPad and this is where you plug keyboards into it. The ideal opportunity to focus on accessories that are compatible with the iPad 8.

What accessories are compatible with the iPad 2020?

To begin with, we have a whole range of third-party keyboards, but the most interesting is rather the one manufactured by Apple specifically for its eighth generation iPad. This is theSmart Keyboard. Quite thin and light, it offers a complete French-style key layout and therefore connects to the Smart Connector. It is attractive because it also serves as a protective shell to avoid damaging the iPad 8, and its flap closes on the tablet on demand. It costs 179 euros. The only downside: the backlight is not included.

The other accessory that will quickly become essential if you have an artistic soul is thestylet Apple Pencil. Only its first generation is compatible with the iPad 2020, but as it is the cheapest it is also a positive point that we must highlight in this technical sheet. With this tool, you can, pell-mell: scribble documents, annotate presentations, draw with graphics software... Its public price is 99 euros. Apple also provides replacement tips, which help avoid damaging the screen of the eighth generation iPad when the one installed as standard on the pencil begins to date. However, it is always recommended to add an additional layer of protection to the iPad 8 Retina panel with a dedicated tempered glass film.

Photo: just what it takes

The iPad 2020 is equipped with two cameras. First there is one at the front, which you will use to captureselfiesalone or with others. This FaceTime HD camera offers a definition of 1.2 megapixels. Its aperture is f/2.4. It is possible with this sensor to take photos even in low light thanks to the Retina Flash functionality. The concept is simple: the iPad 8 screen lights up in white to illuminate the subject to be immortalized. As for videos, they can be recorded with 720p resolution.

On the back, however, you can capture scenes in1080p up to 30 frames per second. In 720p, slow motion can even reach 120 frames per second: a few snowboard tricks will be the ideal example to demonstrate the capabilities of this back camera. Obviously, the iPad 8 is a tablet and therefore not really dedicated to imaging. However, its qualities in the field allow it to become a backup solution if your classic device ever breaks down. To finish with this part, let us specify that the technical sheet of the rear lens displayseight megapixelson the meter for an f/2.4 aperture.

iPad Colors, Availability, and Price

The eighth generation iPad is available in three different colors. It is aboutspace gray, gold and silver. When you have chosen the shade that suits you best, you must then select the capacity of the internal memory. Only 32 and 128 GB are offered at the moment.

In terms of price, this technical sheet translates into389 eurosfor the model with the least storage. To upgrade to 128 GB, however, you will have to pay 100 euros more. Add to this 140 euros and you can also be entitled to 4G connectivity. However, you will have to pay a monthly amount with a compatible operator to really benefit from it.

Our opinion on the eighth generation iPad

It's already the end of ourtechnical sheet on the iPad 2020. So, what can we conclude from this? First of all, we must remember that this tablet is clearly the best value for money that you can find among all the tablets sold by Apple at the moment. In fact, there is no other iPad under the four hundred euro mark. However, no compromise has been made on the software: iPadOS 14 is as efficient here as on the other iPads. So, of course, the camera and theperformancesof the iPad 8 leave something to be desired, but with such a low price we won't complain.

Buying an eighth generation iPad is therefore a good deal, especially if you can find the best price for the tablet. To do this, you can refer to our tablecomparativebelow, which takes into account the promotions and discounts in force at most French resellers today. Be careful not to confuse the iPad 2020 with the iPad 2019: the two have a fairly similar technical sheet. The real difference is above all the integration of the new Apple A12 Bionic processor.