Apple iPad (9th generation) vs Apple iPad (A16)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

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iPad (9th generation) compared with iPad (A16)

	AppleiPad (9th generation)	AppleiPad (A16)
Overview
Released
Released	September 2021	March 2025
Display
Screen size
Screen size	10.2″	10.86″
Resolution
Resolution	2160 × 1620	2360 × 1640 (better)
Sharpness
Sharpness	265 pixels per inch	265 pixels per inch
Panel
Panel	LCD	LCD
Refresh rate
Refresh rate	–	60 Hz
Brightness
Brightness	500 nits	500 nits
Display type
Display type	Retina; LED-backlit IPS LCD	Liquid Retina display, LED-backlit IPS LCD; sold as 11-inch, 10.86 inches measured diagonally as a rectangle
Pixel density
Pixel density	264 ppi	264 ppi
Display features
Display features	True Tone; oleophobic coating; non-laminated panel (Notebookcheck)	True Tone; fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
Performance
Chip
Chip	A13 Bionic	A16
Memory
Memory	3 GB	6 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	64 GB, 256 GB	128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	A13 Bionic; 3 GB RAM reported by Notebookcheck	5-core CPU
GPU
GPU	–	4-core GPU
AI engine
AI engine	Neural Engine	16-core Neural Engine
Cameras
Rear camera
Rear camera	8 MP	12 MP (better)
Ultra wide camera
Ultra wide camera	None	None
Front camera
Front camera	12 MP	12 MP
Rear camera
Rear camera	Wide; f/2.4 five-element lens; 5x digital zoom; HDR; 43MP panorama; automatic image stabilisation; burst	12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8, five-element lens, autofocus with Focus Pixels, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera
Front camera	Ultra Wide; f/2.4; 122-degree field of view; Centre Stage; HDR; Retina Flash; lens correction	Landscape 12MP Center Stage camera, ƒ/2.4
Video recording
Video recording	Rear 1080p at 25 or 30 fps; 720p slow motion at 120 fps; 3x video zoom; front 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps; stabilised time-lapse; HEVC and H.264	4K at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps; slo-mo 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; cinematic video stabilisation (1080p and 720p)
Battery and connections
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 10 hours	Up to 10 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	32.4 Wh (better)	28.93 Wh
Mobile data option
Mobile data option	Yes	Yes
Stylus
Stylus	Supported, sold separately	Supported, sold separately
Keyboard made for it
Keyboard made for it	Yes	Yes
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi browsing or video; nine hours cellular browsing	Up to 10 hours surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video; up to 9 hours surfing the web on mobile data
Charging
Charging	20 W USB-C Power Adapter included; USB computer charging supported	Via USB-C power adapter (not included) or computer
USB-C
USB-C	Lightning; 3.5 mm headphone jack; optional adapters support 1080p external video	USB-C with charging, DisplayPort and USB 2 (up to 480Mb/s); one external display up to 4K at 60Hz
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac); 2x2 MIMO; up to 866 Mb/s	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMO
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.2	Bluetooth 5.3
Mobile network
Mobile network	Gigabit-class LTE and UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA; nano-SIM and eSIM; cellular model weighs 498 g	5G (sub-6 GHz) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; eSIM only
Stylus support
Stylus support	Apple Pencil (1st generation), sold separately	Apple Pencil (USB-C); Apple Pencil (1st generation) with the USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter
Keyboards
Keyboards	Smart Keyboard through Smart Connector, sold separately	Magic Keyboard Folio
Design
Weight
Weight	487 g	477 g (better)
Thickness
Thickness	7.5 mm	7 mm (better)
Height × width
Height × width	250.6 × 174.1 mm	248.6 × 179.5 mm
Operating system
Operating system	iPadOS	iPadOS
Biometrics
Biometrics	Touch ID in Home button	Touch ID in the top button
Speakers
Speakers	Stereo speakers	Landscape stereo speakers
Microphones
Microphones	Dual microphones	Dual microphones
Sensors
Sensors	Gyroscope; accelerometer; barometer; ambient light; compass; iBeacon; GPS/GNSS on cellular model	Three-axis gyro, accelerometer, barometer, ambient light sensor
Materials
Materials	Enclosure made from 100% recycled aluminium	100% recycled aluminium in the enclosure and metal chassis; 40% recycled content overall
Colours
Colours	Silver, Space Grey	Silver, Blue, Pink, Yellow
Software at launch
Software at launch	iPadOS 15	iPadOS 18
In the box
In the box	iPad; Lightning to USB-C Cable; 20 W USB-C Power Adapter	iPad, USB-C Charge Cable (1 m)