iPad 10th generation: what year it came out, how big it is and is it still worth it in 2026?

Photo: Captainmorlypogi1959 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Quick answers about the iPad 10th generation: release date, age, size, specs, how to spot one, and whether a used one is a good buy today.

At a glance

What year did the iPad 10th generation come out?

Apple announced the iPad 10th generation on October 18, 2022, and it went on sale on October 26, 2022. So in 2026 it is close to four years old.

It stayed on sale for a long time. Apple dropped the price from $449 to $349 in May 2024, and then replaced it in March 2025 with the iPad with the A16 chip, sometimes called the iPad 11th generation.

How big is the iPad 10th generation?

It has a 10.9-inch screen. The body is 248.6 mm tall, 179.5 mm wide and 7 mm thick, or about 9.8 by 7.1 inches. The Wi-Fi model weighs 477 g, a little over one pound.

That is the same size as the iPad Air 4 and 5. It is a bit bigger than the 10.2-inch iPad 9th generation, because the screen now runs almost to the edges.

Cases made for the 10th generation also fit the newer A16 iPad, since they share the same body. Cases for the iPad Air do not always fit, because the camera and buttons sit in different places.

How to tell if you have one

Open Settings, then General, then About. The model name is listed at the top. You can also check the model number on the back in small print.

On the outside, look for flat edges, a USB-C port, and a Touch ID sensor in the top button instead of a home button. The front camera sits on the long edge, so it is centred when you hold the iPad sideways. It came in blue, pink, yellow and silver.

The newer A16 iPad looks almost the same. The easy way to tell them apart is the About screen.

Specs in plain words

The A14 Bionic chip is the same one used in the iPhone 12. It still handles web browsing, YouTube, Netflix, schoolwork and light games with no trouble. It slows down with heavy games and big video projects.

The screen is sharp and bright enough, but it is not laminated. That means there is a small air gap under the glass, so the Apple Pencil tip looks a tiny bit above the drawing. Artists notice this. Most other people do not.

It works with the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the first generation Apple Pencil with an adapter. It also works with the Magic Keyboard Folio, which adds a row of function keys.

Battery life is rated at up to 10 hours of web or video, and it still gets close to that on a healthy battery.

Does it still get updates?

Yes. The iPad 10th generation runs iPadOS 26, the current version. It does not support Apple Intelligence, because Apple’s AI features need an A17 Pro or M-series chip with more memory.

Apple usually supports iPads for many years, but this model will be one of the older ones on the list. Do not expect it to get every future feature.

Is it still worth buying in 2026?

Only at the right price. The newer A16 iPad costs about the same new, is faster, and starts with 128GB of storage instead of 64GB. If the prices are close, buy the new one.

A used or refurbished 10th generation makes sense if it is clearly cheaper. It is a great first iPad for a child, a kitchen or bedside tablet, or a simple device for reading, video and notes.

Avoid the 64GB model if you can. Apps, photos and offline videos fill it up fast.

Who it’s for

Buy it if you find it used or refurbished for well under the price of the new A16 iPad, and you mainly browse, stream and take notes.

Skip it if you draw a lot, want Apple Intelligence, or the new model costs almost the same.

Alternatives worth a look

• iPad (A16), the same design with a faster chip and more storage.
• iPad Air (M2), a laminated screen, better Pencil support and Apple Intelligence.

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The verdict: A good basic iPad that came out in October 2022. Still useful in 2026, but only worth buying when it is cheap.