Apple’s latest 7th gen iPad is now available in Malaysia. This is their entry-level iPad which has been updated with a slightly larger display and it now supports a Smart Keyboard for greater productivity.
The obvious change is the screen which now comes with a 10.2″ Retina Display that pushes 2160×1620 pixels resolution on an IPS panel. It shares the same footprint as the new iPad Air and it still retains the same thickness of 7.5mm. On the sides, you’ll find a smart connector that allows you to hook up an optional Smart Keyboard. This is the same accessory that supports the iPad Air as well as the 2nd gen iPad Pro.
Under the hood, it runs on the same Apple A10 chip as the previous model and you can configure it with either 32GB or 128GB of storage. In terms of camera, nothing has changed and you still get an 8MP rear shooter that supports 1080p video recording as well as a 1.2MP front camera that does FaceTime HD.
You still get a home button that has Touch ID and two speakers for audio playback. If you’re getting the LTE version, the new iPad supports more LTE bands with Gigabit support. In addition, it also supports eSIM which allows you to get connected to a mobile network without requiring a physical SIM card.
Like any iPad, it still boasts the same up to 10 hours of battery life and it charges via a lightning port. It is also worth noting that this is the first iPad to ship with the latest iPadOS out of the box.
The 7th gen iPad is an important device for Apple as they are positioning it as a viable computer replacement. Apart from supporting the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard, the new iPad has the potential to do more thanks to iPadOS which offers more desktop-like productivity features.
Even with all the updates, Apple has maintained the same price as the 6th gen model. Below is the full Malaysian pricing along with the optional accessories:
WiFi only
iPad 32GB Wi-Fi – RM1,449
iPad 128GB Wi-Fi – RM1,849WiFi+LTE
iPad 32GB LTE – RM1,999
iPad 128GB LTE – RM2,399Accessories
Apple Pencil – RM419
Smart Keyboard – RM649
Smart Cover – RM229
Lightning Digital AV Adapter – RM229
Lightning to SD Card reader – RM149
Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter – RM189
If you’re interested, you can get it from the official online store or via authorised resellers such as Machines and Switch.
