Is a 2021 iPad enough for school?

What's new since 2021 and what applies to school use

Since the iPad 9, several new generations of the classic iPad have been released, and the technological progress is real. However, it largely falls into areas that are rarely relevant in daily school life: more processing power for image editing and video editing, window multitasking with an external monitor, and Apple's AI functions, which require a newer chip.

What the iPad 9 offers, on the other hand, has remained remarkably stable: an A13 Bionic chip, a 10.2-inch Retina display, Touch ID in the Home button, a 12-megapixel front camera with Center Stage for video calls, stereo speakers, and approximately ten hours of battery life according to the manufacturer. Additionally, it supports the first-generation Apple Pencil and the Smart Connector for keyboards.

What a school device really needs to do today

Before discussing the condition, here’s a quick overview. An iPad at school essentially does six things:

• Notes: handwritten with the Pencil or typed, in Apple Notes, GoodNotes, or Notability.
• PDFs: open worksheets and scripts, highlight, annotate, send back.
• Research: browser with multiple tabs, reference works, media libraries, online dictionaries.
• Videos: explanatory videos, recordings, streaming.
• Learning apps: vocabulary trainers, math apps, quiz tools, whatever the school requires.
• Office: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint or Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, plus Teams or Zoom and the school's cloud.

This is not an undemanding overview. It's an overview that requires endurance: a device that lasts from morning to afternoon and doesn't break immediately if a gesture to a desk neighbor was important.

Where the iPad 9 is effortlessly sufficient

In everything described above.

Handwritten notes flow smoothly, and the first-generation Pencil writes just as precisely as the second. The difference lies in charging and attachment, not in writing.

PDFs open without hesitation. Two apps side-by-side, i.e., Split View with a script on the left and notes on the right, work. And video calls often look better than on a notebook thanks to Center Stage, because the front camera follows your face as you move.

The weight is around 490 grams. Together with a keyboard case, the package remains lighter than any notebook, and Touch ID in the Home button unlocks faster than typing a password.

Where it's not enough, frankly

The iPad 9 cannot do three things. If one of them is on your list, it's the wrong device.

• Apple Pencil only first generation. It does not attach magnetically to the edge, it charges via the Lightning port (the Pencil sticks out of the iPad, which takes some getting used to) and has no double-tap gestures. Writing with it is just as good, but if you tend to lose your pen, you'll lose it more often here.
• No Stage Manager. Freely scalable windows and a usable external monitor require an iPad with an M-chip. Split View yes, Stage Manager no.
• No demanding image and video editing. Cropping and brightening a photo, shortening a video for a presentation: no problem. Multi-track 4K cuts, large photo catalogs or complex 3D apps require more.

If that's your case, the answer lies in the same deals: The iPad Air 5th Generation (2022) with 64 GB and Wi-Fi + Cellular is also reduced in August, from CHF 450.– to CHF 405.–. M1 chip, laminated display, second-generation Apple Pencil.

Plus two minor points for honesty's sake. It charges via Lightning, not USB-C. In a USB-C household, that means a second cable. And the display isn't fully laminated, so there's a thin layer of air between the glass and the panel, and an anti-reflective coating is missing. You rarely notice this in the classroom. At the window in the midday sun, however, you do.

And now the actual question: Which condition?

This is where it gets interesting, because almost no one consciously makes this decision. At Revendo, you choose the condition as well as the model, and the grades differ in appearance, not in function. Every device undergoes the same technical inspection, regardless of its grade.

• Bargain: clear signs of wear, visible scratches, possibly small dents on the frame. Tested and fully functional.
• Used: visible signs of use, recognizable at arm's length, not an issue in operation.
• Very Good: minor signs that you have to look for.
• Like New: practically no signs.
• New: as good as new and unused.

For a school device, "Very Good" or "Used" is the rational choice. The reason is unromantic: an iPad that lies daily between books, pencil cases, and calculators will look like an iPad that lies daily in a school bag after one school year. The extra cost for "like new" therefore buys a condition that may not survive the first week of school. The same money is better invested in a sturdy case and a screen protector, because these actually preserve the condition.

This is precisely why the iPad in the August deals is in "Very good" condition: slight signs that no one will notice in everyday use.

The battery in this version is separately rated as "Used," meaning it still has at least 80 percent of its original capacity.

Two exceptions where higher tiers make sense. First, if the iPad is a gift and the unboxing moment matters. Second, if it is to be passed on or sold later, because a better initial condition means a better residual value.

Is 64 GB enough? And is Wi-Fi sufficient?

The device in the deals has 64 GB of storage and Wi-Fi. Both sound like little, but usually aren't for school.

Storage

64 GB is enough because the heavy load is offloaded: worksheets, scripts, and assignments are stored in OneDrive, Google Drive, or iCloud, as are photos and videos. Only the system, apps, and documents that need to be available offline require local space. With normal school use, this remains within limits.

It gets tight in three cases: if many series and movies travel offline, if music is created in GarageBand, or if several people in the household share the iPad. If you recognize yourself in any of these, it's better to plan for more storage.

Connectivity

Cellular, meaning an iPad with its own SIM, sounds practical but is rarely necessary for a school device. Wi-Fi is available at school and at home, and a personal hotspot from an iPhone is sufficient for the gap in between. A cellular model costs more and also requires a subscription.

It becomes necessary in three situations: if the iPad is the primary device for internet access, if the commute to school is long and work is actually done there, or if a lot of activity takes place outside known networks. In this case, the iPad Air 5th Generation with Wi-Fi + Cellular is the suitable alternative in August.

How long will it realistically last?

Apple states around ten hours of video or web usage for the iPad 9 battery. A school day consumes less of this than you might think, because the device sleeps in the backpack between lessons and doesn't calculate. Even with at least 80 percent remaining capacity, you'll get through the day and charge at home in the evening. And if the capacity eventually isn't enough: We are an Apple Authorized Service Provider, the battery can be replaced, the entire device doesn't have to be replaced for that.

Regarding software support, Apple's known pattern applies: iPads receive new system versions for many years, followed by security updates. The iPad 9 has remained up-to-date with the major iPadOS versions in recent years. For one school year and the following one, this is not an open question, but a clear calculation.

The August deals run until August 31st.

The 9th generation iPad (2021) with 64 GB and Wi-Fi in Space Gray is priced at CHF 238.– and, with a 10 percent discount, comes to CHF 214.20. It is offered in "Very Good" condition with a "Used" battery, which is precisely the most sensible combination for a school device.

Included with every device: tested technology, at least 1 year warranty with the option of 3 years, 14-day return policy, service by an Apple Authorized Service Provider, and nine branches in Switzerland where you can hold the iPad in your hand before purchase. Shipping from CHF 50.– is free.

And if you're unsure whether a 2021 iPad is enough for you: the 14 days are exactly for that. Decide at your desk, not from the spec sheet.

To the iPad 9th Generation