Apple's New Low-Cost 10.2-Inch iPad Starts Shipping to Customers Tomorrow, In-Store Availability Coming Later This Week - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple's New Low-Cost 10.2-Inch iPad Starts Shipping to Customers Tomorrow, In-Store Availability Coming Later This Week

Alongside new iPhones, Apple at its September event also unveiled a new 10.2-inch iPad, which became available for pre-order on September 10 and is set to start shipping out tomorrow.

The updated ‌iPad‌, which continues to be Apple's most affordable at $329, is similar to the sixth-generation ‌iPad‌ but comes equipped with a larger 10.2-inch screen, an upgrade over the previous model.

ipad7keyboard
It features the same A10 Fusion chip that was used in the sixth-generation, along with Apple Pencil support, but new this year is a Smart Connector that allows it to work with a Smart Keyboard, which is sold separately for $159.

The new ‌iPad‌ continues to feature a 7-megapixel rear camera, a one-pound body, Touch ID, and thicker bezels than some of Apple's other more expensive iPads, but it's price can't be beat.

ipad7colors
Apple today released iPadOS, which is the version of iOS 13 that runs on the ‌iPad‌. New ‌iPad‌ models will come equipped with iPadOS, which includes improved multitasking features, a redesigned Home screen, ‌Apple Pencil‌ improvements, Apple Arcade, Dark Mode, and tons more.

ipad7
The new ‌iPad‌ begins shipping out to customers on Wednesday, September 25, and Apple says it will be in stores later this week with launch dates in retail locations varying by country and region.

Apple originally said the new ‌iPad‌ would be in stores on September 30, so it appears to be rolling out a bit earlier now that iPadOS has had an early release.

Pricing on the seventh-generation ‌iPad‌ starts at $329 for 32GB of storage, with 128GB of storage available as well as LTE options. Pricing for schools and educational customers is even lower, starting at $299.

Customers who purchase an ‌iPad‌ will get a free year of Apple TV+ when ‌Apple TV‌+ comes out this November.

Related Roundup: iPad
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro: Pre-Orders and Release Date

Thursday August 20, 2026 8:00 am PDT by
Apple has yet to reveal when the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra will be announced and released, but the dates usually follow a familiar pattern. As usual, the iPhone event is expected to take place in the first half of September. Labor Day falls on September 7 this year. The last time the holiday was on that day was in 2020, but the iPhone event that year was delayed until October due to...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature 1

Gurman: iPhone Ultra Wows Early Testers, Except for Its Camera

Sunday August 23, 2026 11:19 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone Ultra is winning over the few people who have had hands-on time with the device, though the camera setup may leave some users wanting, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says people who have used the device – which is reportedly referred to internally as the iPhone Ultra – like how it fits in your...
macOS 27 next to MacBook Pro Running macOS 27

macOS Golden Gate Marks the End of an Era

Thursday August 20, 2026 2:19 pm PDT by
macOS 27 Golden Gate is not compatible with any Macs with Intel processors, marking the end of an era. The update, which is currently in beta ahead of a release later this year, is limited to Apple silicon Macs with an M1 chip or newer. Last year, Apple said that macOS 26 Tahoe would be the final macOS release compatible with Intel-based Macs, so this was an expected development. Intel...

Top Rated Comments

Spock Avatar
90 months ago
I think pencil support, better processor, slightly bigger screen and a fresh battery, I can deal without the laminated display and finally replace my iPad Air 2. I just don’t use the iPad enough to justify spending anymore than this so it’s perfect for me.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Zdigital2015 Avatar
90 months ago

Sorry to hear that. You should consider buying a proper TV...
Define a "proper" TV...between this and a "proper" computer when referring to the iPad or a "proper" camera when referring to the iPhone Pro, I hear a lot of self-appointed gatekeepers who need to stretch outside their comfort zone and realize that that sort of nomenclature means absolutely nothing in this day and age. It does however keep the salespeople at the Best Buy or Dixon's employed and off the streets, so there's that, I guess.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
90 months ago

Sorry to hear that. You should consider buying a proper TV...
Can't take a TV with me to the backyard, to bed, on a trip, or to the bathroom.Don't want that big clunky thing in my house.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iapplelove Avatar
90 months ago
These new iPads are going to sell amazingly well. At that price point you can’t go wrong.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jlc1978 Avatar
90 months ago

Confusing? Possibly.

But I think *most* consumers will consider price as the biggest consideration:
True. For most users even the least expensive iPad is more than sufficient.

I bet most people will never consider an $800+ tablet. Perhaps even $500 is a stretch.

Suddenly... the lineup becomes a lot smaller... :p
It is a special use case. I have 12.9 PRO and it is worth every penny as I can use it as a large second screen, docs are roughly A4 sized, it’s great for note taking with the pencil, and it can replace my MBP in some instances. For me it’s worth 1K but for most it’s overkill.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michael Scrip Avatar
90 months ago
But even using the modern / official naming scheme, things don't improve much:

* 10.2" iPad (7th Generation)
* 7.9" iPad mini (5th Generation)
* 10.5" iPad Air (3rd Generation)
* 11" iPad Pro (3rd Generation)
* 12.9" iPad Pro (3rd Generation)

Confusing? Possibly.

But I think *most* consumers will consider price as the biggest consideration:

iPad Mini
The smallest iPad... at $400

10.2" and 10.5"
Two similarly sized iPads... but one is only $330 and the other jumps up to $500

11" and 12.9"
Two "Pro" models at $800 and $1,000

What you call a "fragmented" lineup... I call a "complete" lineup. There's something for everyone and every budget.

I bet most people will never consider an $800+ tablet. Perhaps even $500 is a stretch.

Suddenly... the lineup becomes a lot smaller... :p
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)