It has been eight long years since Apple unveiled the first iPad. Since then, the Cupertino-based company has cycled through 15 models of classic, air, mini, and pro iPads, each one of which had its own sets of pros and cons. On March 27, 2018, Apple once again revealed the latest iteration of the beloved tablet, one whose very affordable price point got a lot of Apple fans really excited. Among them were parents of young children, a demographic that has always been among of the most loyal supporters of the iPad way of life. Why exactly do parents love the new iPad and iPads in general? This article will explain why.
The 2018 iPad
It’s Relatively Affordable
Unlike the iPad Pro, which starts with a premium price tag, the 2018 Apple iPad starts at less than PHP21,000. It’s significantly cheaper than how new iPads used to sell, so if you’re looking for a family tablet that won’t break the bank and is the best bang for your hard-earned buck, then the new iPad is definitely the device for you.
It’s Just the Right Size
Do you know how evolution in nature works? One of its main principles is the preservation of the best characteristics that help a species survive and become successful. In the engineering-mediated evolution of the iPad, the tablet’s 9.7-inch form factor is what has survived through the years, and it’s not that hard to see why. 9.7 inches is in the Goldilocks zone as far as tablet display sizes go—not as large as the 12.9-inch and the 10.5-inch second generation iPad Pros, and not as small as the 7.9-inch iPad Mini 4. It’s just the perfect for the whole family!
It Supports iPencil
Another reason why you might one to buy the latest iPad is that it now supports Apple Pencil, which only used to work on the iPad Pro. It’s a very handy tool for parents whose kids love drawing and painting, since even young doodlers can use the digital stylus pen to make their own masterpieces. There are also many great art apps available from the App Store, and these include the drawing app Tayasui Sketches and the coloring app Pigment.
iPads in General
Unlike the TV, the iPad Can Be Made Super Kid-Friendly
This next point is about iPads in general, and it has something to do with the fact that, unlike a television, an iPad can be exceptionally age-appropriate depending on how parents choose to configure it. The Apple App Store can be protected by Touch ID, which requires a parent’s fingerprint to work, and the iPad itself has a Restrictions feature that allows parents to apply parental control options like restricting certain apps, restricting content based on type and rating, and restricting device commands like downloading or deleting applications. With the television, there’s a big chance for children to gain access to programming that is meant for teens or adults.
The iPad Supports Numerous Educational Apps
For the most part, iPads are interactive and encourages learning and curiosity through its wide variety of educational applications, many of which are not available in other systems like Android. These apps come in many forms, including those that deal with mathematics, sciences, language, memory, and ingenuity and problem solving (puzzles). Through these learning and educational applications, children have the opportunity to discover their own passions and interests instead of being influenced by general TV programming that romanticizes violence, vapid thinking, and celebrity culture.
iPads Help Keep Children Preoccupied
Some people say iPads are the new nanny, and this is because these devices tend to be very good when it comes to keeping kids preoccupied. This is very helpful when parents need to do some chores or to run some errands, as well as when the family is traveling and there’s nothing else to do while on the road or while you’re all waiting in places like airports or bus stations. Aside from the educational apps previously mentioned above, children also use iPads to watch their favorite shows and play their favorite games—just for fun.
Today is probably the best time to buy an iPad since many of its features have matured enough to be regarded as decent or even very good—even on entry level models. And with its versatility as an educational and as an entertainment device, it’s certainly a product that families will want to have in their homes.
Join the Conversation