Apple iPad Tablet Review

Best Tablet for the Visually Impaired

For overall great design, the Apple iPad is one of tech’s most useful and well-loved tablets for seniors, as well as almost everyone else. Its intuitive user interface and accessibility features like display settings and magnifying glass applications for the vision-impaired make it senior-friendly in a way many tablets are not.

The Apple iPad is a powerful yet easy-to-use tablet that appeals to many seniors who want to stay connected but also enjoy high-resolution images and video. The iPad has accessibility features and a famously high-quality user interface, and the Apple iPadOS opens up a world of fun and useful applications for download.

The latest edition of the iPad (the 10.2) begins at $429. At this price point, you get 64 gigabytes of storage, a 10.5-inch Retina Display, a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack and Bluetooth 4.2 for wireless listening. Accessories like the Apple Pencil, the Smart Keyboard, extended warranty and additional storage and memory can cost hundreds of dollars extra, but they’re not essential for a great tablet experience with the iPad. Furthermore, accessibility features that support vision, hearing, mobility and cognitive needs are standard, so this is a good tablet for seniors.

Apple offers financing and trade-in bonuses, and it’s not difficult to find certified Apple retailers that sell refurbished models. So while the iPad may be near the top of the price range for tablets, that price shouldn’t really be too much of a barrier. There are also many earlier iterations of the iPad that could work almost as well. These tend to have ever-falling prices that make them more affordable.

Powerful and packed with digital tools for connecting, consuming culture and organizing information, the iPad may be too much tablet for some seniors. Others will be delighted by its speed, intuitive user interface and accessibility features. Although pricier than some tablets, most reviews agree that the iPad is pretty much worth it.

Design

The iPad is a beautiful machine with a 2160 X 1620-resolution back-lit Retina screen. In appearance, it’s very similar to previous versions of the iPad and comes in a choice of colors, including silver and space gray (the popular rose gold option has been discontinued). In terms of ports, consumers should note that this model hasn’t been upgraded to the increasingly ubiquitous USB-C, but Apple includes Lightning-to-USB-C cable and 20-watt USB-C power adapters as standard. Some seniors will love that it still has an old-school 3.5-millimeter jack for wired headphones.

Accessibility Features

• Magnifier tool
• Display settings font enlarger
• VoiceOver screen reader
• Braille display option via Bluetooth
• Motion minimizer for a less distracting desktop
• Siri voice assistant
• Log in with fingerprint

Specifications

• Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Dimensions: 9.8 inches X 6.8 inches
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), dual band (2.4 gigahertz and 5 gigahertz), Bluetooth 4.2
• Storage and memory: Comes with 64 gigabytes of internal storage capacity, upgradable to 128 gigabytes
• Camera: 8-megapixel back camera, 12-megapixel ultra-wide front camera, 1080p HD video recording

Battery Life

Apple boasts all-day battery life for its iPad, which means 9 to 11 hours. These figures have been verified by several independent reviewers.

Pricing

The basic iPad (in its newest iteration) starts at $429. Extras are pricey, ranging from $150 for the Apple Pencil to $160 for a Smart Keyboard.

Customer Support

Mixed reviews for effective support abound, but generally, you can speak to or chat with a customer or technical support representative 24/7. Extended care is advisable, and a 2-year plan costs about $100. Increasingly, certified Apple technicians can do repairs locally.

Seniors With Impaired Vision

The iPad has a raft of accessibility features for people with low vision. From Retina Display and Dark Mode, which are easier on the eyes, to tools such as Magnifier and VoiceOver, a screen reader that describes what is happening on the screen, iPad designers have given a lot of thought to how someone with impaired vision uses a computer or tablet. There’s even a Braille display that can be accessed with Bluetooth.

Users Who Want Multimedia Functionality

iPad comes with a great camera, high-resolution Retina screen and enough juice that users can game, watch videos, surf and stay connected with ease. It may be too much for some seniors, but basic features and functionality are excellent, whether you tap into the bells and whistles or not.

Apple products are well-designed and well-loved by loyal users, and the iPad in its current iteration is no exception. Reviewers love its sleek good looks, its power and speed and the reliability of the user interface. One user with no computer experience found she could handle the basics on her iPad with some help from a family member who set up some accessibility features for her.

However, it’s clear in reviews that iPad buyers have had frustrations with security features like activation lock, Apple IDs and passwords. That suggests that buying one for a senior should be undertaken with caution. Other frustrations that could be especially challenging for seniors are the need for the iPadOS and software to be updated frequently and ongoing random problems with the touchscreen.