Buzz
Overall, the iPad 8 WiFi 128GB (2020) doesn't differ much in appearance from its predecessors. However, Apple has ingeniously incorporated key improvements to enhance user experience, making the device more rational and desirable for various purposes.
Enhanced Performance on iPad 8 WiFi 128GB (2020)
Equipped with a superior chip, the iPad 8 delivers overall better performance. The A12 Bionic chip on the device has more cores and slightly higher frequencies compared to the A10 chip in the 7th generation iPad. Moreover, this marks the first time Apple has introduced its Neural Engine to lower-tier iPads.
Although the predecessor of the iPad 8 was by no means slow, you'll easily notice that the iPad 8 is nearly twice as fast in standard benchmark tests.
Overall, the general sensation when using the device is much faster. The touchscreen is smooth and the Wi-Fi performance is stable, although it still features Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) technology.
The rear camera of the iPad 8 has an 8MP resolution. However, you can capture Panorama photos stitched together up to 43MP and record 1080p HD videos at 30FPS (frames per second).
The front-facing camera captures 1.2MP still photos and HD 720p videos. These specifications are generally good for video calls or online meetings.
Increased Battery Life on iPad 8 WiFi 128GB (2020)
In tests, the battery life of the iPad 8 is slightly longer than the 7th generation model.
Specifically, the device has an average usage time increased by 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the screen brightness is measured slightly higher than the 7th generation (498 nits compared to 467 nits).
Overall, the iPad 8 still provides users with a sense of typical solidity. However, it's unfortunate that the device hasn't transitioned to using USB-C ports yet. Therefore, you still need to use a Lightning cable to charge the device.
Charging time for the device is still relatively slow with the iPad 8. Nevertheless, it has improved compared to the previous model. It now takes only 2 hours and 40 minutes to charge to 80% compared to 3 hours and 25 minutes for the 7th generation model.
Diverse connectivity ports suitable for the mobile needs of the iPad 8
Similar to the previous model and the iPad Mini, the iPad 8 WiFi 128GB (2020) only has a Lightning port for charging and connecting to external devices.
However, you can use standard USB flash drives and portable SSDs, and even some portable hard drives. Combined with Apple's Lightning to USB 3 adapter, along with a wall charger or powered USB hub for enhancement.
This adapter provides you with a Lightning connector for the iPad, a USB 3 port for external devices, and a power input in the form of a Lightning connector to provide power through the connected Lightning cable to the USB wall charger.
You'll need this device to power your drives. For example, it could include some USB Flash drives or portable SSDs that consume too much power for the iPad's Lightning connector.
Users can even connect some portable hard drives via a powered USB hub.
However, please note that drives need to be formatted in 'Fat' format (Fat32 or ExFat) or Apple format (not NTFS).
Overall, the upgraded processor and lower price make the iPad 8 one of Apple's most worthwhile devices. So you can invest with confidence if the device meets your work requirements!
