iOS 27 GPS Issues

There have been some reports of issues with GPS positioning with iPad9 - but yours is the first report of similar issues with an iPad A16. Similarly, I am unaware of any GPS-related issues being reported for iPhone.

Perhaps you have a WiFi Only model iPad - and not a WiFi+Cellular model?

Only WiFi+Cellular models of iPad have GNSS/GPS capabilities - this being a function of the iPad Cellular chipset. WiFi Only models of iPad have no GPS capabilities with which iPad Location Services can derive location. This fundamental difference may significantly impact your ability to use mapping or other Apps that require accurate/precise location data - in particular if real-time positioning (e.g., a moving map) is required. An iPhone, by contrast, does have GNSS/GPS capabilities with which to accurately determine its location.

WiFi Only iPad models can only “infer” their location from a database lookup of neighbouring WiFi networks for which the geographic location is known, or the geographic location of your public IP address. For static applications in urban locations, where the location of IP public IP addresses and WiFi networks are known, an “inferred” location can be relatively accurate. However, in rural locations, or when using a Cellular/Satellite/VPN connection, location accuracy of an inferred location [if it works at all] may be very inaccurate.

When using Satellite internet systems, such as Starlink, the public IP Address of the internet gateway through which your internet traffic is routed may be in a completely different country/region to your actual location. Where your iPad is using this location to infer its location, you will observe an incorrect derived location.

If you have a WiFi Only model of iPad, your available options are:

• Substitute your WiFi Only iPad for a WiFi+Cellular model; this does not commit you to provisioning Cellular service for your iPad, but does provide the GNSS/GPS functionality required for accurate determination of your location.
• Add an external GPS receiver to your WiFi Only iPad. These are often used in marine, aviation and vehicular applications - and can be either directly connected via Lightning or via Bluetooth. There are various third-party manufacturers, of which two are BadElf and Garmin GLO.

However, if you do have a WiFi+Cellular model iPad - and the iPad is not operating as expected - try a forced-restart. This restart will often clear an isolated or post-update software issue:

Force restart iPad - Apple Support

If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings

If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively and perhaps easier, you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to test and assess your iPad - and you can explore your available options:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Continued...

If you have a WiFi+Cellular model iPad or an iPhone that isn't able to maintain GNSS-based location - or the reported position is consistently off by a considerable distance - your geographic location might be relevant.

GNSS and ISM radio systems may be unreliable is some circumstances, in particular due to jamming - this becoming increasingly commonplace throughout mid/eastern Europe, Baltic States, the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East.  If you are located in one of these regions, you might reasonably anticipate seeing regular issues with satellite-based navigation. In affected regions land or network-based geolocation services might be similarly blocked by your local authorities.

In addition to nation-states and combatants routinely employing signal jamming, many national-agencies periodically test their own regional denial of service capabilities - in particular in periods of heightened international tensions.

Same issue here with an iPhone 15 in France.