Get the Blisk app to test the cross-browser compatibility and responsive design on iPad Pro 12 (2021). You can inspect this tag in the head section of an HTML document on iPad Pro 12 (2021) right in the Blisk app. Landscape orientation is popular on iPad Pro 12 (2021) as well and should be seriously considered when you develop or test web applications on any mobile.
It is important to remember, that users may interact with multiple fingers (multi-touch) and gestures: single tap, multi-tap, swipe, pinch, stretch, zoom, etc.
The iPad’s Screen Resolution for Different Models
All iPads have multi-touch IPS displays with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Later models of the iPad also include an anti-reflective coating that makes viewing easier in sunlight. Every iPad since the seventh-generation has had an LED-backlit Multi-Touch display, which is larger than previous models. It supports the full size Smart Keyboard accessory, mice and trackpads, and the Apple Pencil.
This not only means the screen takes up more of the iPad, but it also allows a full-size keyboard to fit on the display. These models have 10.9-inch screens, making them closer to an iPad Pro than the original version.
This model has a True Tone Liquid Retina display, enhanced augmented reality (AR) functionality. Its A12Z Bionic chip allows for 4K video editing, 3D design, and AR.
A Retina Display, as defined by Apple, is a display in which the individual pixels are packed in with such density they can no longer be distinguished by the human eye when the device is held at normal viewing distance.
“Held at normal viewing distance” is a key component of that statement. The normal viewing distance of the iPhone is considered to be around 10 inches, while the normal viewing distance of the iPad is considered by Apple to be around 15 inches, which allows a slightly lower PPI to still register as a Retina Display. The True Tone Display on the newest iPad Pro models supports a process of altering the whiteness of the screen based on the ambient light.
A sheet of paper, for example, may look whiter with a little bit of shade and slightly more yellow when directly under the sun. The True Tone display on the iPad Pro is capable of a wide color gamut that matches the wider range of colors captured by some of the best cameras. In-plane switching (IPS) gives the iPad a larger viewing angle. The IPS display means more people can crowd around the iPad and still have a clear look at the screen.
Best iPad 2023: Which iPad to buy
There are four different varieties of iPad, listed below, and each is available with or without cellular (including 5G on certain models), which costs extra. We also reveal whether an updated version of each device is likely to be launched soon – answering the question of whether now is a good time to buy an iPad. The table below summarises the main features of the iPads Apple sells, and highlights the price for each.
Below we offer information about each model, but we also answer questions further down the article such as which iPad is best value for money, which size is best, how much storage you need, and whether to get cellular (you can jump to these sections from the table of contents above). If you just want an iPad for reading books, watching movies and TV shows, email and web browsing, then you don’t need all the bells and whistles. Finally, the decision of whether to get a cellular version, which invites the assessment of the minefield of network contracts, will no doubt be a factor for some. If you are happy to buy an older iPad model then there are plenty of discounts available while they are still in stock. Back in the day we would have suggested that if you wanted a powerful iPad you should steer clear of the cheapest model in the range.
But that’s not true any more: even the 10.2-inch iPad that launched in September 2021 offers a reasonably impressive package. The device’s low price, combined with some great tech, makes this budget iPad an attractive option.
The 10th generation iPad introduced in October 2022 has a bigger 10.9-inch screen, a 12MP rear-facing camera (rather than 8MP), an A14 rather than A13 processor, and 5G. The iPad mini more than justifies its slightly higher price tag of $499/£569 with it’s faster A15 processor, True Tone flash, and a fully laminated, better quality, display, among other things.
But you can also think of the tablets in terms of print publications: the mini is roughly the height and width of a paperback book; the mid-size iPads are closer to a hardback (albeit much slimmer); and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is like a magazine. Are you more set on getting maximum screen space, or are you willing to compromise on that front in order to get a lower price tag and improved portability? As well as its markedly lower weight the mini also has a smaller body, which slips easily into a rucksack or jacket pocket. The iPad has a similar length and width to the Air, but is thicker and heavier; the Pros are slimmer still. It’s better to spend an extra few pounds now than to buy an entire new iPad in six months’ time. If you want to keep lots of films or TV shows–or even a few, to be honest–then you need high storage: probably 128GB or higher for video fans.
(If you’re buying an iPad with the kids in mind, remember that you’ll want storage space for multiple episodes of their favorite show on a long car journey.) The same applies to large photo or music libraries, to a lesser extent, although iCloud Photos and iTunes Match make it possible to keep your stuff in the cloud and access it remotely (if you pay the fees for iCloud storage). The M2 and M1 chip has won widespread acclaim in the Mac range and produces outstanding performance in the iPads. But that doesn’t mean the A chips are sub-standard, or incapable of running modern apps; keep in mind that much of the software on the App Store was designed with A chips in mind, and even now most developers will want to make their software accessible for as many iPad owners as possible. There are also rumors that one day Apple may make a cutback version of macOS available on the iPad – but this will be probably be restricted to the M2 chip, if indeed it ever happens.. The most demanding graphic-design, video-editing and audio apps will see better performance on the M2 and even M1 processor, so if you’re looking at high-level workloads multiple years down the line the M2 and M1 would be a better option.
But for most users the A15 will be comfortably fast enough for the mid- and quite long term, and even the A14 (from 2020) and A13 Bionic (which arrived in 2019) perform perfectly well on today’s apps. Overall, we would advise those who want to use highly demanding apps, such as video and image editors and graphically advanced games, to choose an iPad Pro or Air.
For each iPad we record the essential information, its pros and cons, which buyer should pick it and whether now is a good time to buy.
For an extra $100 or so, you’ll be able to access the web and email, and use connected apps, away from a Wi-Fi network.
We think the best option, if you want to be able to get data on your iPad when you are out and about, is to create a hotspot and share it from your iPhone. Read about how to create an iPhone hotspot to share your mobile web connection to your iPad.
Just bear in mind that the cellular option also brings with it a GPS radio, meaning you’ll be able to input accurate location data when using your device on the go. It’s a sort of halfway house between new and second-hand: the devices are generally ones that have been returned within the 28-day period in which you are legally allowed to change your mind about a purchase, or they have been returned due to a fault that has been rectified, or they were ex-display or ex-demo units from Apple’s stores or marketing.
You can rest assured that Apple has checked all the refurbished iPads that it sells thoroughly, replaced any problematic components, and rated them as good as new (and you get a full one-year warranty to prove it). Our best advice is to only consider the current or previous generation iPads when looking at refurbished models, then you are less likely to be caught out by a sub-par tablet.
It’s too often the case that secondhand iPads sold that way end up as useless bricks because the person selling it didn’t properly log out of their account. We often see resellers significantly dropping the price on older iPad models that are usually just one generation out of date – just beware, they sell out quick!
Speaking of older iPads, even if functioning perfectly right now, older models will reach the end of their useful life sooner than the newest models and that is a good reason to avoid buying an iPad that is more than one or two generations old. But keep in mind that iPads tend to start slowing down at around two to three years of age; at the four- or five-year mark you should expect noticeable loss of performance and you won’t be able to get all the latest software updates. It’s an excellent little device, although the smaller screen makes it less immersive for games and entertainment options.
iPad (10th generation)
As with the iPad Air and Mini, the Touch ID sensor is located in the power button. Like the iPad Air, it has a 10.9-inch 2360×1640 Liquid Retina display; an increase from the previous 10.2-inch model, but it is not laminated. The tenth-generation iPad features a 12-megapixel rear-facing wide-angle camera with an ƒ/1.8 aperture and 4K video recording support. [8] The front-facing camera is now located on the right-hand side of the display, so that it is horizontally centered when the tablet is in a landscape orientation. The tenth-generation iPad supports the first-generation Apple Pencil; a USB-C to Lightning cable adapter must be used to pair and charge it. This adapter has been included with newer production runs of the first-generation Pencil since October 2022, and is sold separately for existing owners.
The tenth-generation iPad received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its new design, battery life, and performance, but criticism for removing the headphone jack, the lack of support for the second-generation Apple Pencil, and a higher price point than its predecessor. However, it was noted that its display was “starting to show its age” in comparison to the iPad Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro due to its lower resolution and refresh rate, and that “for the vast majority of people who just want a great tablet for streaming, sketching, gaming and some light productivity, the ninth-gen iPad is still the better value”.
The iPad’s Screen Resolution for Different Models
All iPads have multi-touch IPS displays with a 4:3 aspect ratio. Later models of the iPad also include an anti-reflective coating that makes viewing easier in sunlight. Every iPad since the seventh-generation has had an LED-backlit Multi-Touch display, which is larger than previous models. It supports the full size Smart Keyboard accessory, mice and trackpads, and the Apple Pencil.
This not only means the screen takes up more of the iPad, but it also allows a full-size keyboard to fit on the display. These models have 10.9-inch screens, making them closer to an iPad Pro than the original version.
This model has a True Tone Liquid Retina display, enhanced augmented reality (AR) functionality. Its A12Z Bionic chip allows for 4K video editing, 3D design, and AR.
A Retina Display, as defined by Apple, is a display in which the individual pixels are packed in with such density they can no longer be distinguished by the human eye when the device is held at normal viewing distance. “Held at normal viewing distance” is a key component of that statement. The normal viewing distance of the iPhone is considered to be around 10 inches, while the normal viewing distance of the iPad is considered by Apple to be around 15 inches, which allows a slightly lower PPI to still register as a Retina Display. The True Tone Display on the newest iPad Pro models supports a process of altering the whiteness of the screen based on the ambient light.
A sheet of paper, for example, may look whiter with a little bit of shade and slightly more yellow when directly under the sun. The True Tone display on the iPad Pro is capable of a wide color gamut that matches the wider range of colors captured by some of the best cameras. In-plane switching (IPS) gives the iPad a larger viewing angle. The IPS display means more people can crowd around the iPad and still have a clear look at the screen.
handy cheatsheet when designing for Apple
To help overcome this, we’ve created an interactive reference table containing screen information for every iOS mobile device so you can keep this data to hand. Don’t forget to bookmark this page, share on social media or forward the link to fellow designers, developers and project managers.
iPad Screen Size, Versions, Resolution & Generation
So today, we are going to take a look at all available iPad variants and compare them on the basis of their specifications, most importantly the screen size. Before we start with the various models Apple has to offer for an iPad, let us take a look at a few different versions so that you can shortlist your preferred options right now. In a lot of iPad mini models, you will find 3 GB of RAM, a powerful A-series proces
The iPad Mini is definitely the right choice for those who are looking for a handheld tablet that offers a similar form factor as a smartphone.
The most common use for an iPad Mini is web browsing, gaming, and watching up with work while you are traveling. A lot of buyers also get an iPad Mini just for its good display quality and use it as a handheld digital book reader.
These devices also offer similar functionality as an iPad Mini, granting you a portable secondary screen for mobile usage. It is also possible to pair a set of wireless keyboards and a mouse with an iPad Air to bring more functionality to the device.
The iPad Pro version, as the name suggests, is a series of iPads that are designed to replace a standard laptop by offering an efficient working station that takes less than half the space of a laptop and offers similarly powerful configurations, if not better. But, since most users tend to choose the right iPad for their application based on the screen size, we have decided to prepare a basic comparison table of all available options based on the display size and what type of display these iPads offer. Unlike most other brands, Apple focuses on the user’s experience rather than pushing technical specifications like display resolution on the product’s front page. While a lot of Apple consumers consider this as a sigh of relief, most would want to know the exact display resolution before buying an iPad.
As you have already observed so far, the most significant difference between various iPad models is on the basis of display size and resolution. However, you should also base your choice on the hardware specifications and the overall capabilities of the iPad you are picking up instead of just looking at the display size.
We hope that you can now easily differentiate between all of the iPad models released by Apple so far and make a choice based on their merits and limitations. For that, we have included a comprehensive list of all iPad models along with their key specifications and display size.
iPad 2021 Screen Sizes
The 2021 iPhone release included two updated iPad models. It still supports only the 1st generation Apple Pencil so it also keeps the lightning connector.
The physical dimensions of the device and the screen resolution are unchanged. The status bar is 20 points high which gives the following safe area insets:
Safe Area Insets (portrait): top: 20, bottom: 0, left: 0, right: 0 Safe Area Insets (landscape): top: 20, bottom: 0, left: 0, right: 0
The 2nd generation Apple Pencil is now supported which also means the connector has changed from lightning to USB-C. The screen resolution is slightly narrower and taller than the previous 1536 x 2048 of the 5th generation device.
The status bar is 24 points high which gives the following safe area insets:
Safe Area Insets (portrait): top: 24, bottom: 20, left: 0, right: 0 Safe Area Insets (landscape): top: 24, bottom: 20, left: 0, right: 0 I count 22 iPad models, with 8 different screen sizes, that support a minimum of iOS 13.
Those screenshots are both 2048 x 2732 pixels in portrait and are scaled down for smaller device sizes.
Resolution by iOS device — iOS Ref
All tables are ordered by release date, then logical resolution height, with some exceptions. Device Diagonal size Logical resolution Scale factor Actual resolution Aspect ratio PPI iPhone 15 Pro and 12 mini 5.4″ 375 × 812 @2.88–3x 1 1080 × 2340 476 iPhone 11 Pro Max 1 iPhone 13 mini and equivalently sized devices have a logical scale factor of 3x but a native scale factor of 2.88x. 2 iPhone 8 Plus and equivalently sized devices have a native resolution downsampled from 1242 × 2208 to actual pixel dimensions 1080 × 1920. Device Diagonal size Logical/actual resolution Aspect ratio PPI Apple Watch 49mm
SE (gen 2, 1), Series 6, 5, 4 1.73″ 368 × 448 326 Apple Watch 40mm SE (gen 2, 1), Series 6, 5, 4 1.57″ 324 × 394 Apple Watch 42mm size Logical resolution Scale factor Actual resolution Aspect ratio PPI iPod touch (gen 7)
Determining screen dimensions for content
If your content will be shown on different sizes of iPad, you can target CSS rules and images using media queries targeted at specific devices or create a fluid layout based on percentages rather than a specific fixed width. When Apple introduced Retina displays in iPads and iPhones, the pixel dimensions of these devices frequently were significantly larger than most existing full-size monitors while the physical screen sizes of these new devices were much smaller.
All fixed-width layouts should be based on the CSS pixel width of the device, which we have listed below for iPads currently supported by Kiosk Pro. Dividing 2388 by 2 (the device pixel ratio for any Retina screen) results in a standard CSS layout width of 1194 pixels to be used as the base width for any content designed to be shown on that device in landscape mode. For this reason, we generally recommend basing your layout on the standard CSS pixel width of the device if possible. While your layout should be based on CSS pixels, you can still use high-resolution images for Retina screens.
This works by using an image based on the hardware pixel size of the screen, then using inline HTML, CSS, JavaScript or media queries to resize the image to the proper CSS pixel dimensions using ‘width’ and ‘height’ attributes. To continue the 11-inch iPad example above, if you wanted to set a full-width header image, this would be defined in the CSS or inline HTML as having a width of 1194 pixels. If your design needs to account for the standard on-screen elements of Kiosk Pro, the height dimensions are as follows:
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