Size

Due to the larger screen, the new iPad is actually now something of an oddball in terms of its dimensions. The width and height are now 6.8 inches and 9.8 inches, respectively, which are identical to the iPad Air, but it has the same 0.29 inch thickness as the sixth-generation iPad. This means that you’re unlikely to be able to use any older cases with it — cases for the iPad Air will be too thin, and cases for the prior iPad models will be too small.

By comparison, the iPad Air has the exact same dimensions of the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, meaning that there’s already a wealth of existing accessories for it — even things like Smart Connector keyboard cases designed for the 10.5 inch iPad Pro work fine with the iPad Air. Last year’s sixth-generation iPad also retained the same dimensions as the fifth-generation iPad that came before.