iPad IPad 9, interesting observation.

[nph]

I was recently at Best Buy, wondering if I made the right choice upgrading my Air 2 to iPad 9.
Looking at a video on Air 5 and the iPad 9 next to each other I felt picture was richer/ more warm and intense in colors on the iPad 9. The air was more subdued and blue toned. I tried same video on mini as well and same result. The Best Buy guy said it is because iPad 9 has more blue light which is worse to look at. LOL, yeah right.

I am getting more and more happy with my iPad 9 and only concern is the processor is A13 same as in iPhone 11. But it seems reasonably fast and has great battery life. Plus now I prefer video on it as well. I am keeping my 9, was thinking of returning it and go for the Air but doesn’t make sense now.

Am I the only one who prefer the picture on the iPad 9 watching video?

 

[rui no onna]

A13 is fast. I’d be more concerned about the 3GB RAM than the chipset.

That said, if your primary use case is streaming video, then the hardware is more than capable enough.

 

[JPack]

The iPad Air display is objectively better in every way, from contrast to color accuracy.

Agree with 3GB being a big limitation. But hey, it's a $329 device so it's the right choice for many people.

 

[nph]

Well, subjectively the iPad 9 had more intense colors sitting next to a mini and Air model.
The Best Buy employee agreed with me but stated it is bad for the eyes... LOL
Agree on the memory can be a future limitation.

But am I the only one who like the iPad 9 display colors more?
Maybe it was an outlier of an individual iPad and not consistent across the product line.

 

[BeatCrazy]

True Tone setting for each was ?

 

[nph]

Set to Automatic

 

[BeatCrazy]

Set to Automatic

True Tone is an On/Off setting, not automatic

I'm pretty sure the True Tone setting is responsible for the differences you saw.

 

[nph]

Well in my iPad you can slide it from low to high or turn on "automatic. Or I am missing something.
But that would explain why all other iPads except the 9 had a much bluer tone probably due to the lighting in the room.

 

[JPack]

Well in my iPad you can slide it from low to high or turn on "automatic. Or I am missing something.
But that would explain why all other iPads except the 9 had a much bluer tone probably due to the lighting in the room.

That’s the brightness slider.

 

[nph]

I need to check then next I see it.

 

[klasma]

I was recently at Best Buy, wondering if I made the right choice upgrading my Air 2 to iPad 9.
Looking at a video on Air 5 and the iPad 9 next to each other I felt picture was richer/ more warm and intense in colors on the iPad 9. The air was more subdued and blue toned. I tried same video on mini as well and same result. The Best Buy guy said it is because iPad 9 has more blue light which is worse to look at. LOL, yeah right.

I am getting more and more happy with my iPad 9 and only concern is the processor is A13 same as in iPhone 11. But it seems reasonably fast and has great battery life. Plus now I prefer video on it as well. I am keeping my 9, was thinking of returning it and go for the Air but doesn’t make sense now.

Am I the only one who prefer the picture on the iPad 9 watching video?

Screens aren’t identical for the same model, there’s quite a range of variation. Look at the threads every year comparing iPhone screen tint on the new models. While the lack of anti-reflective coating potentially makes the iPad 9 appear to have “richer” colors, it could also just happen to be a feature of the particular devices you were comparing. I myself had multiple specimen of iPads and of iPhones where some had noticeably duller screens for the exact same model.

 

[nph]

Ok I went BA k to Best Nuy and tested Air 5, Mini and the 10.2 again. I turned off True Tone on all three. Same results see pictures here and also note settings were exactly the same!
First is Air 5 vs 10.2 and then the Mini. Compared to a MacBook Pro running same video and iPhone 13 and both were really close to the 10.2 iPad. I was considering returning my 10.2 for the Air to get faster processor and more memory but I think I will keep it now.
Thoughts?

 

[Healthy27]

If you can, go for the Air. I've never been sorry for paying a little more and getting a more powerful device. But I have been sorry when I tried to be practical and get the version I can live with at the time.

 

[nph]

That is my thought as well but the screen it has is the worst of the ones I have tried, see picture. What about battery life on the Air 5, is that good? Speed and battery are my key attributes on the iPad I want.

 

[Mr. Skeleton]

I love love deep red cheeks. Go for color accuracy

 

[Richard8655]

Go for the iPad 9 if you see very little difference or even prefer it, and save the cost difference for the next upgrade. This was a similar decision I made a few years ago when I had the original iPad Pro 10.5 and the regular iPad at the time, and returned the Pro.

 

[nph]

So I compared with my wife’s mini 6 last night and it was also more pale. Any idea what is going on? How can the cheapest iPad have he “best” colors on its screen?

 

[rui no onna]

So I compared with my wife’s mini 6 last night and it was also more pale. Any idea what is going on? How can the cheapest iPad have he “best” colors on its screen?

Have you tried comparing to OLED iPhones?

The iPad 9 only has sRGB range while the other iPads you compared to have wide color P3 display. The iPad 9’s rendering might be more pleasing to the eye but perhaps the other iPads are actually more accurate.

 

[nph]

Tested something else as well. I used safari for a few minutes followed by updating 5 apps. My iPad 9 gets warm on the back for either activity. While my wife’s mini 6 did the same but updated 20 apps and lost 1% while my iPad 9 lost 3 percent. Is this a sign of the A13 processor having to work harder and being less energy efficient?
Right now the mini is cool to the touch while my iPad 9 is warm on the back while only using Safari to write this post…

 

[nph]

Have you tried comparing to OLED iPhones?

The iPad 9 only has sRGB range while the other iPads you compared to have wide color P3 display. The iPad 9’s rendering might be more pleasing to the eye but perhaps the other iPads are actually more accurate.

I compared to iPhone 13 max and it was closer to the iPad 9 then the Air/mini. Same for the PowerBook 13.

 

[scupking]

Keep the 9. It’s still a very powerful tablet. Then when the next air comes out or iPad 10 trade it in!

 

[nph]

So even doing nothing my iPad is using more energy than the mini, lost 6 vs 3 percent battery last 15minutes.

 

[nph]

Keep the 9. It’s still a very powerful tablet. Then when the next air comes out or iPad 10 trade it in!

Good advice and probably what I end up doing.

 

[slplss]

Yeah I’d probably keep the 9, it’s the best of all bucks.

 

[dms_91]

I just got the 9th gen and really considering on just keeping it or returning it and waiting for the 10th gen to see what it provides…or return and get the pro but it’s not a need. What you guys think?