Apple 10.9-inch iPad 64GB Silver Review: The Everyday Powerhouse Re-examined

There’s a familiar tech predicament we all face. Your smartphone is brilliant for quick messages and on-the-go browsing, but its small screen makes long reading sessions or watching a film a strain. Your laptop is a powerhouse for serious work, but firing it up just to browse recipes in the kitchen or lounge on the sofa feels like overkill. This is the digital no-man’s-land where a great tablet should thrive. For years, my quest was for that perfect ‘in-between’ device: something powerful enough for smooth multitasking and immersive entertainment, yet light and intuitive enough for casual, everyday use. The wrong choice leads to a device that gathers dust, while the right one can genuinely transform how you work, play, and learn at home.

What to Consider Before Buying a Tablet

A tablet is more than just a gadget; it’s a key solution for bridging the gap between portability and productivity. It’s a portable cinema, a digital canvas, a video call hub, and a lightweight workstation all in one. The primary benefit is its versatility, offering a large, interactive screen in a package you can easily carry from room to room or toss in a bag. It simplifies tasks that are clumsy on a phone and liberates you from your desk in a way a laptop cannot.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the exact scenario I described: students needing a note-taking and research tool, families wanting a shared device for entertainment and learning, professionals seeking a secondary screen for presentations and emails, or anyone who simply loves a comfortable, high-quality media consumption experience. Conversely, it might not be suitable for those who require specialised, high-powered software for tasks like professional video editing or complex 3D rendering, where a dedicated high-end laptop or desktop is non-negotiable. For those on a very tight budget or who need a device primarily for a young child, more specialised, durable, and affordable options might be a better fit.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: The screen size dictates the entire experience. A 10-11 inch screen, like the one on this iPad, hits the sweet spot for most users, offering ample space for viewing content without being too bulky. Consider the overall weight and thinness; a lighter, slimmer tablet is more comfortable to hold for extended periods, whether you’re reading an e-book or following a workout video.
• Capacity/Performance: The processor (or chip) is the tablet’s brain. A powerful chip like Apple’s A14 Bionic ensures apps launch instantly, games run smoothly, and switching between tasks is seamless. For storage, 64GB is a decent starting point for casual use, but if you plan to download many large apps, games, or offline movies, you may want to consider a higher capacity or rely on cloud storage.
• Materials & Durability: Premium tablets often use materials like aluminium for their chassis, which provides a rigid, high-quality feel and excellent durability. The screen glass should be resistant to scratches and fingerprints. Build quality is paramount, as a tablet is a tactile device you’ll be handling constantly.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: The operating system is the soul of the tablet. An intuitive OS like iPadOS makes the device accessible to everyone, from tech novices to experts. Consider the ecosystem of apps and accessories available, as this greatly enhances the tablet’s functionality over its lifespan. Long-term software support and updates are also crucial for security and performance.

Keeping these factors in mind, the Apple 10.9-inch iPad 64GB Silver stands out in several areas. You can explore its detailed specifications and see the latest pricing here.

While the Apple 10.9-inch iPad 64GB Silver is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition, especially if you’re not tied to Apple’s ecosystem. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: A Familiar Icon, Refined

Unboxing an Apple product is an experience in itself, and the 10th generation iPad is no exception. The clean, minimalist box opens to reveal the tablet, its sleek silver finish catching the light. Holding it for the first time, the “iconic slab design” one user mentioned immediately comes to mind. It feels solid, premium, and meticulously crafted from a single piece of aluminium. The flat-sided design, which brings it in line with the iPad Air and Pro models, is a welcome change, making it feel modern and comfortable to hold.

Powering it on, the 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display comes to life with vibrant colours and sharp text. It’s an edge-to-edge screen with no Home button, a significant upgrade from the previous generation. The bezels are uniform and just thick enough to provide a comfortable place to rest your thumbs. Initial setup is a breeze, especially if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem. In hand, it feels perfectly balanced—substantial enough to feel durable, yet light enough for one-handed reading. It’s an immediate impression of quality and thoughtful design that sets the stage for the entire user experience.

A Deep Dive into the Apple 10.9-inch iPad 64GB Silver’s Performance

A tablet’s worth is measured not by its spec sheet, but by how seamlessly it integrates into your daily life. Over weeks of intensive testing—using it for work, entertainment, creativity, and communication—we explored every facet of this device. The Apple 10.9-inch iPad 64GB Silver isn’t just an incremental update; it’s a fundamental reimagining of the standard iPad, bringing premium features to a more accessible price point.

The A14 Bionic Chip: Effortless Everyday Power

At the heart of the Apple 10.9-inch iPad 64GB Silver is the A14 Bionic chip. While not the latest processor in Apple’s lineup, its performance in this tablet is nothing short of exceptional for its target audience. In our testing, this translated to a consistently fluid and responsive experience. Apps launch in an instant, and swiping through home screens and menus is buttery smooth. This was echoed by numerous users, one of whom noted, “it runs smoothly and everything.” We put it through its paces with a variety of tasks, from light photo editing in Pixelmator to sketching in Procreate and intense multitasking with Split View in iPadOS.

The 6-core CPU and 4-core GPU handle these tasks without breaking a sweat. We could have a dozen Safari tabs open, be streaming music in the background, and switch over to a game like Genshin Impact, and the iPad wouldn’t stutter. For students and professionals, this means you can have a research paper open on one side of the screen and your notes app on the other, all while a lecture plays in a picture-in-picture window, without any lag. This raw performance is what makes the iPad such a versatile tool. As another user confirmed, its “performance is incredible,” making it equally adept at productivity and entertainment. The A14 Bionic ensures that this tablet won’t feel slow or outdated for years to come, offering fantastic long-term value.

A Display and Audio Experience Built for Immersion

The screen is your primary window into a tablet, and the 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display on this model is a genuine highlight. With a resolution of 2360×1640 pixels, everything from text to high-resolution photos looks incredibly sharp and detailed. But it’s the colour and viewing experience that truly impressed us. Watching high-definition content on platforms like YouTube or Netflix, as one user specifically mentioned enjoying, is a fantastic experience. Colours are rich and vibrant without being oversaturated, and the brightness is ample for use in most indoor environments. The inclusion of True Tone technology, which automatically adjusts the screen’s white balance to match the ambient lighting, makes a noticeable difference, reducing eye strain during long reading or browsing sessions.

Complementing the excellent display is a surprisingly robust audio system. The landscape stereo speakers, with one on each side when held horizontally, create a wide and immersive soundstage. We found the “sound quality’s amazing,” a sentiment directly from a user review. Whether watching a movie, playing a game, or on a video call, the audio is clear, loud, and has a respectable amount of depth for a device this thin. This combination of a brilliant screen and powerful speakers makes the Apple 10.9-inch iPad 64GB Silver an outstanding media consumption device, perfect for that “chill on youtube or netflix” use case.

Redesigned for a Modern, Connected World

Two of the most significant upgrades in this 10th generation model are the move to a USB-C port and the repositioning of the front-facing camera. The switch from Lightning to USB-C is a game-changer for versatility. It means you can now use the same cable that charges your modern laptop and countless other accessories to charge your iPad. More importantly, it opens the door to a vast ecosystem of third-party peripherals, including external hard drives, cameras, and hubs, without needing a clumsy adapter. This modernises the standard iPad and brings it in line with its more expensive siblings.

Even more impactful for daily use is the new Landscape 12MP Ultra Wide front camera. For years, iPad users have had to awkwardly look off to the side during video calls. By moving the camera to the long edge, Apple has finally fixed this. In our testing on FaceTime and other video conferencing apps, the experience was transformed. Eye contact feels natural, and the Center Stage feature, which automatically pans and zooms to keep you perfectly framed, works brilliantly. It’s a thoughtful, user-focused improvement that makes the iPad an infinitely better tool for connecting with family, friends, and colleagues. While one user noted issues with a specific third-party app (WhatsApp) not supporting video calls on iPad, this is a limitation of the app’s developer, not the iPad’s excellent hardware, which excels on supported platforms.

iPadOS and the Question of Storage

The hardware is only half the story; iPadOS 17 is what unlocks the device’s true potential. The operating system is powerful, yet intuitive, offering features like Stage Manager for more advanced multitasking and a host of collaboration tools. We found it made tasks like research and writing genuinely more enjoyable and efficient. As one user aptly put it, “it makes studying so fun and productive.” The vast App Store means there is a high-quality application for almost anything you can imagine, from digital art to complex spreadsheets.

However, this is where we must address the 64GB base storage. As one detail-oriented user observed, the operating system itself can take up a significant chunk of this space—around 18GB in their case. For users who primarily stream media, browse the web, and use a handful of apps, 64GB is perfectly adequate. But if you’re a gamer, plan to download lots of content for offline viewing, or use it for creative work with large files, that storage can fill up quickly. For these power users, investing in the 256GB model or subscribing to an iCloud+ plan is a necessary consideration. While the 64GB model offers great value, it’s crucial to assess your needs before you make the final decision on which capacity is right for you.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, the sentiment from real-world users is overwhelmingly positive, confirming many of our own findings. Many, like one happy customer, praise the core experience, stating, “battery is great, performance is incredible and size is perfect! 100% recommend!” The combination of smooth operation, long battery life, and high-quality build is a recurring theme. Another user highlighted its value as a tool for learning and fun, noting, “it makes studying so fun and productive, the games run great.”

However, the feedback also highlights a few key considerations. The most common critique revolves around the base 64GB storage. One user pointed out that after the OS, only about 46GB is left, which can be limiting. This is a crucial piece of advice for prospective buyers. There were also isolated reports of minor software glitches that were resolved with a simple restart. It’s also important to note that some negative experiences were related to purchasing used or non-new items where packaging was damaged or chargers were missing, which underscores the importance of buying new from a reputable source to ensure you get the pristine experience Apple intends.

How Does the Apple 10.9-inch iPad 64GB Silver Compare to the Competition?

While the iPad is a formidable device, the tablet market is diverse. Depending on your budget and preferred operating system, there are several compelling alternatives worth considering.

1. DOOGEE U11 11 Inch Tablet 16GB+128GB 8580mAh Gaming Tablet

For the user who prioritises raw specifications and value over a specific ecosystem, the DOOGEE U11 presents a compelling case. Its primary advantages are the massive 16GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage (expandable up to 2TB), which dwarf the iPad’s base model. This makes it an excellent choice for Android power users who love to multitask heavily or store a vast media library locally. The larger 8580mAh battery and 90Hz screen also appeal to gamers and heavy media consumers. Someone might prefer this if they are on a tighter budget but refuse to compromise on storage and memory, and are comfortable within the Android 15 environment.

2. Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 Wifi 64GB Tablet

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 is the iPad’s most direct philosophical competitor from a major brand. It offers a reliable and familiar Android experience from a trusted manufacturer. While its performance won’t match the A14 Bionic chip, it’s more than capable for everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, and social media. The main reason to choose the Tab A9 over the iPad would be a deep integration with the Samsung ecosystem (if you already own a Galaxy phone or watch) or a strong preference for the customisability of Android. It’s a solid, no-frills budget option from a world-renowned brand.

3. BRILLAR Kids Tablet 7 inch Android 13

This tablet isn’t a direct competitor but serves an entirely different, important niche. The BRILLAR Kids Tablet is built from the ground up for children. Its main selling points are not raw power, but durability, parental controls, and kid-friendly software. It comes with a rugged, “kid-proof” case and runs on Android 13 with access to kid-safe content. A parent would choose this over the iPad for a young child due to its much lower price point, robust design that can withstand drops, and the peace of mind offered by its safety features. It’s a purpose-built first tablet for kids, whereas the iPad is a premium, all-purpose family device.

The Final Verdict: Is the Apple 10.9-inch iPad 64GB Silver Right for You?

After extensive hands-on testing, it’s clear that the Apple 10.9-inch iPad 64GB Silver is a phenomenal tablet that hits the sweet spot for a vast majority of users. It masterfully blends premium features—like the beautiful all-screen design, powerful A14 Bionic chip, and modern USB-C port—with the accessibility and ease-of-use that the standard iPad is known for. The landscape front camera is a transformative upgrade for our video-call-centric world, and the overall performance is so smooth that it feels like a much more expensive device.

Its main limitation is the 64GB of storage on the base model, which potential power users should carefully consider. However, for students, families, and anyone seeking a top-tier device for media consumption, browsing, light productivity, and staying connected, it is arguably the best all-around tablet on the market. It’s a reliable, powerful, and beautiful device that is a joy to use every single day.

If you’ve decided the Apple 10.9-inch iPad 64GB Silver is the right fit, you can check its current price and purchase it here.