Apple's latest iPad may be boring, but it's the perfect tablet for most people (AAPL)

iPad 2018

There's one word that sums up Apple's latest iPad: safe.

The new 9.7-inch device debuted earlier this month at an education-focused event in Chicago. Apple seemed to bill the device as the perfect option for schools, but as a sensible consumer product, too.

The new iPad has a more powerful A10 chip built in and has support for Apple's $100 stylus, called Apple Pencil. But the new iPad lacks a certain freshness. It's not a design risk like the iPhone X, nor is it a true low-cost, kid-friendly-ish option like the iPhone 5c. The new iPad's design has been recycled, its guts have been — nearly — duplicated, and even its cost remains the same (unless you're a school, teacher, or student, in which case, the price is now 10% cheaper).

This isn't necessarily a bad move on Apple's part, though.

For anyone who's actively shopping for a tablet for the first time, someone looking for a lower-cost MacBook replacement, or for an iPad fan in desperate need of an upgrade, the new iPad is the perfect choice.

In fact, I've spent the last week using the newest iPad with an Apple Pencil, and it's already filled a technology gap I didn't even know I had.

First things first: this is not a device for kids.

Let's get one thing out of the way right off the bat: It's absurd that Apple is marketing this iPad as a practical option for schools.

There's nothing about the new iPad's design that differentiates it from other models or makes it well-suited to kids. It doesn't come with a protective case and it isn't any more durable than other iPads. It has a large glass screen, and if it breaks, it's really not easy to repair. If adults are prone to breaking their expensive devices, why does anyone at Apple think children will fare any better?

It's also odd that the new iPad is being presented as a reasonably priced option. At $330, it costs the same as last year's model — even the $30 education discount is identical. Plus, in order to for schools to give their students the best iPad experience, they'll need to buy accessories like a case, and an Apple Pencil ($90 for schools) or Logitech Crayon ($50).

While I'm sure kids would be thrilled to have an iPad to use in their classrooms, it just doesn't make a lot of sense from a financial standpoint — especially when there are more affordable, less vulnerable computers out there.

Apple Pencil doesn't seem like a great tool for children, either.

One of the few new things about the iPad is that it supports Apple Pencil, a feature previously reserved for the iPad Pro.

I honestly loved using the Pencil, and it quickly became one of my favorite Apple products I've ever used (more on that later). But over the course of testing the iPad and the Pencil, it became increasingly obvious that this is not a product I would ever give to a child.

For one, in order to charge up or pair Apple Pencil with your iPad, you have to plug it into the Lightning port at the bottom of the iPad. The Apple Pencil sticks straight out of the tablet like a weapon, which doesn't seem all that kid-friendly.

The Apple Pencil is also both very expensive and very easy to lose. It doesn't attach to the iPad in any way (unless you're charging it — but again, that makes it a weapon), and I frequently faced the issue of where to store it so I didn't lose it. The Pencil is slippery and rounded, and kept rolling off my desk or any table I set it on. It also has removable cap, which isn't attached to the Pencil at all. Not only is the cap a choking hazard, but it seems laughably easy to lose as well.

I'm a 26-year-old person who rarely every loses things, and even I was constantly concerned about misplacing or dropping the Apple Pencil — I can't imagine how a child would keep track of it.

From a consumer standpoint, though, there's a lot to love about the iPad.

One knock against the iPad is that Apple didn't really change its design from previous models. It's a safe choice, and it's hard to get excited about a product that looks exactly like last year's version.

I don't think this is the greatest decision on Apple's part, but I am starting to see the merits after a week of using the device. By prioritizing function and cost-effectiveness over cutting-edge design, Apple made an iPad that's reasonably priced for consumers and remains easy to use for most people.

If Apple had released an iPad with an iPhone X-like design — which it still might do! — it would have been going too far in the other direction. I feel like I was able to get more use out of the iPad because it was somewhat basic and boring — I wasn't wasting time fiddling with Face ID or trying to figure out which iPad apps worked well with the notch.

If the iPad is a truly being positioned as a productivity tool, keeping the old design is the best choice — at least for now.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider