Apple A1822

The Apple A1822 is a 2017 9.7 inch iPad that's only worth buying if you need a dirt cheap e-reader and nothing else. The processor is slow, storage is limited to 32GB, and battery life is mediocre. For 169 CAD used, it's passable for reading but frustrating for everything else.

Let's talk numbers. The CPU sits in the 35th percentile and the GPU in the 33rd. That's not "bad for the price" territory, that's just bad. Apps will open, but you'll feel every second of waiting. The 32GB of storage lands in the 30th percentile, and once iOS takes its cut you're looking at maybe 20GB of usable space. That fills up fast with a few games and some photos.

RAM is listed as 32GB in the spec sheet, which is clearly a data error on the seller's part, but the actual RAM situation doesn't matter much because the percentile ranking puts it in the 31st percentile. Whatever the real number is, it's not enough for comfortable multitasking. The battery is in the 32nd percentile too, so don't expect all day use. This is a tablet that feels its age in every interaction.

Stacked against the competition, the A1822 doesn't hold up well. The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro TB373FU and Xiaomi Pad 7 both have modern processors, better displays, and more storage. They're in a completely different league. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ is even further ahead, with a screen that makes the A1822 look like a relic. Even the Microsoft Surface Pro 8, which is a different category of device, shows how far tablets have come since 2017.

The BESTTAB T60 is the only competitor that might be in the same ballpark, and that's a budget Android tablet with its own compromises. But even it likely has a newer processor and more modern connectivity. The A1822's connectivity score is in the 9th percentile, which is one of the worst we've seen. No cellular, older WiFi standards, and no modern features like USB-C. If you need a tablet for anything beyond sitting on the couch reading, look elsewhere.

At 169 CAD on the used market, the A1822 is cheap, but cheap doesn't always mean good value. You're buying a tablet that struggles with anything beyond reading and light browsing. The affordability percentile is 63rd, so it's not even a standout deal compared to other budget tablets. For the same money or a bit more, you can find newer Android tablets with better screens, faster processors, and more storage. The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro and Xiaomi Pad 7 both offer dramatically better performance for not much more cash. If you're on a tight budget and only need an e-reader that happens to run iOS, this works. Otherwise, save your money.

The Apple A1822 is a 9.7 inch iPad that sits in that weird middle ground between "old reliable" and "why is this still being sold." It's the 2017 model, the one Apple quietly slipped into the lineup as a budget option. No cellular, no SIM slot, just WiFi and 32GB of storage. At 454 grams it's light enough to toss in a bag, and the portability score backs that up, landing in the 79th percentile. But portability is about the only thing this tablet has going for it in 2025.

People searching for a cheap iPad for reading or light browsing will find this one floating around used markets for about 169 CAD. And honestly, for reading, it's not terrible. The 9.7 inch screen is fine for ebooks and articles, and the 42.7 out of 100 reading score reflects that it's passable but nothing special. Students might be tempted by the price, but a 35 out of 100 student score tells you this thing will frustrate anyone trying to run modern apps or multitask.

The elephant in the room is the A9 processor at 1.65 GHz. That chip was mid-range when it launched, and now it's just slow. Our database puts the CPU in the 35th percentile, which means two thirds of tablets out there will run circles around it. If you're wondering whether the A1822 is good for anything beyond basic tasks, the answer is mostly no.

Skip the A1822 if you're a student, a creative professional, or anyone who wants to run modern apps. The productivity score of 13.2 out of 100 makes it useless for real work. Gamers should also look elsewhere, the GPU is in the 33rd percentile and won't handle anything beyond simple puzzle games. If you need cellular connectivity, this model doesn't have it at all. And if you're buying for a kid who wants to play games or watch videos, the entertainment score of 23.5 out of 100 tells you everything you need to know. Look at the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro or Xiaomi Pad 7 instead, both offer far better performance for not much more money.

Should you buy the Apple A1822 in 2025? Only if you find one for pocket change and your expectations are rock bottom. It's fine for reading ebooks, checking email, and maybe some light web browsing. But the moment you try to do anything more demanding, you'll hit a wall. The processor is slow, the storage is tiny, and the battery won't last a full day of heavy use.

For students or anyone thinking about productivity, this is a hard pass. The productivity score of 13.2 out of 100 is one of the weakest areas, and it shows. You can't comfortably run modern office apps, multitask, or even keep many browser tabs open. If you want an iPad specifically, look for a newer used model. If you just want a cheap tablet, there are better Android options at similar prices.