Apple Ipad Processor History

The iPad is a brand of iOS and iPadOS-based tablet computers that are developed by Apple Inc., first introduced on January 27, 2010. The iPhone’s iOS operating system (OS) was initially used for the iPad but in September 2019, its OS was switched to a fork of iOS called iPadOS that has better support for the device’s hardware and its user interface is customized for the tablets’ larger screens.

Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs said in a 1983 speech: “What we want to do is we want to put an incredibly great computer in a book that you can carry around with you and learn how to use in 20 minutes … and we really want to do it with a radio link in it so you don’t have to hook up to anything and you’re in communication with all of these larger databases and other computers”.

In 1993, Apple worked on the Newton MessagePad, a tablet-like personal digital assistant (PDA).

The MessagePad was poorly received for its indecipherable handwriting recognition feature and was discontinued at the direction of Jobs, who returned to Apple in 1998 after an internal power struggle. Apple also prototyped a PowerBook Duo–based tablet computer but decided not to release it to avoid hurting MessagePad sales. In May 2004, Apple filed a design trademark patent in Europe for a handheld computer, hypothetically referencing the iPad, beginning a new round of speculation that led to a 2003 report of Apple-affiliated manufacturer Quanta leaking Apple’s orders for wireless displays. In August 2008, Apple filed a 50-page patent application that includes an illustration of hands touching and gesturing on a tablet computer. [13][14] In 1991, Apple’s chief design officer Jonathan Ive devised an industrial design of a stylus-based tablet, the Macintosh Folio, which led to the development of a larger tablet prototype project codenamed K48 that Apple began in 2004.

Ive sought to develop the tablet first but came to an agreement with Jobs the iPhone was more important and should be prioritized.

[19] Initial reaction to the product name, which struck many women as a menstrual pun “indicative of a male-helmed team oblivious” to the connotations, mocked it. It is 33% thinner and 15% lighter than its predecessor, and uses a dual-core Apple A5 chip consisting of a twice-as-fast CPU and a nine-times-faster GPU.

It uses an Apple A9 chip with an accompanying M9 motion coprocessor, and its cameras can capture low-light and HD-quality shots. Despite using the same Apple A9 and M9 processors as the 2015 iPhone 6S, it lacks support of the always-on “Hey Siri” voice recognition, a feature advertised as being made possible by low-power processing in those chips.

It also had faster FaceTime HD, LTE connectivity, Touch ID, and multitask functionalities. The Apple A12 also included an embedded Neural Engine, and is capable of processing 5 trillion operations per second.

It uses an Apple A13 Bionic chip, which has a 20% faster CPU and GPU and an embedded, artificial intelligence–immersed Neural Engine. Its Retina Display added support for the True Tone technology, which automatically adjusts the screen color temperature according to the ambient lighting.

It uses the Apple A14 Bionic chip, has a larger 10.9-inch screen, and replaces the Lightning connector with USB-C. Unlike all previous models in the iPad range, as well as the sixth-generation iPad Pro announced the same day, this model’s front-facing camera is placed along the device’s long edge, making it more suitable for video calling applications.

[42] While lacking the Smart Connector of the Pro and Air lines, it is compatible with a new Magic Keyboard Folio announced alongside the device.

The first generation of the flagship, smaller iPad Mini was announced on October 23, 2012, and released on November 2. It uses an Apple A7 chip with an embedded M7 motion coprocessor, and its 7.9-inch Retina screen display has a resolution of 2048 by 1536 pixels. It features a Truetone-based Retina screen display with 25% wider Color and higher pixel density.

Its 12-megapixel Ultra Wide front camera featured Apple’s “Center Stage Mode” technology, while its 12-megapixel back camera had larger apertures, True Tone flash, and Smart HDR automatic shadow and highlight recovery. It includes a USB-C port, capable of transferring up to 5 gigabits per second of data; improved landscape stereo speakers; and a brighter Liquid Retina Display. It debuted the 802.11n-based MINO technology used in its Wi-Fi connectivity, and it had an extended range of LTE telecommunication.

Its front 7-megapixel Facetime Camera is of 1080p and 60 fps, while its 12-megapixel webcam featured 8 aperture, 4K, 60fps, and video stabilization. The first generation of the high-end and professional flagship iPad Pro was announced on September 9, 2015, and released on November 11, (12.9-inch version) and March 31 (9.7-inch).It used an Apple A9X chip, with a 2x higher memory bandwidth and a 1.8x faster CPU than its predecessor. Its ultra-low reflective Retina Display featured a 50% optimized True Tone technology (which automatically adjust the screen accordingly to its ambient color and brightness rates), Wide Color Integration, and up to 500 nit brightness rates.

It used a 7 nm Apple A12X Bionic chip, which comprised 11 billion transistors, an 8-core CPU, 7-core GPU and an embedded Neural Engine capable of processing 5 trillion operations per second. These cameras allow it to capture medias with wider visibility, and its audio system automatically detects and attracts any orientation nearby.

It debuted Apple’s “Center Stage mode” technology, which pinpoints the positions of the users and automatically tracks the camera view accordingly to perspectivally centralize them. Unlike the iPhone, the cellular variant did not support voice calls and text messages, but only data connectivity; it also had an additional micro-SIM circuit slot attached on the side.

The second generation of iPad introduced a third tier of CDMA support from Verizon, which is available separately from the AT&T-based version. [77] In addition to a camera connection kit which consists of two adapters for the iPad’s dock connector, one of USB Type A and one of SD card reader; these adapters can transfer photographs and videos and connect USB audio card and MIDI keyboard.

Since its introduction in 2010, the iPad runs on the iPhone’s iOS mobile operating system, but it was later replaced with an optimized derivation, iPadOS, in September 2019. iOS’ Control Center can be “pulled” down from the top right of the notch, giving access to various toggles to manage the device more quickly without having to open the Settings. Double-clicking the Home Button or swiping up from the bottom of the screen and pausing will display all currently active spaces. The size of the two apps in Split View can be adjusted by dragging a pill-shaped icon in the center of the vertical divider and dragging the divider all the way to one side of the screen closes the respective app.

The iPad does not employ digital rights management (DRM), but the OS prevents users from copying or transferring certain content outside of Apple’s platform without authorization, such as TV shows, movies, and apps. Critics argue Apple’s centralized app approval process and control of the platform itself could stifle software innovation.

Of particular concern to digital rights advocates is Apple’s ability to remotely disable or delete apps on any iPad at any time. Digital rights advocates, including the Free Software Foundation,[103] Electronic Frontier Foundation,[102] and computer engineer and activist Brewster Kahle,[104] have criticized the iPad for its digital rights restrictions. In April 2010, Paul Sweeting, an analyst with GigaOM, was quoted by NPR as saying, “With the iPad, you have the anti-Internet in your hands. Laura Sydell, the article’s author, concludes, “As more consumers have fears about security on the Internet, viruses, and malware, they may be happy to opt for Apple’s gated community.

Apple’s App Store, which provides iPhone and iPad applications, imposes censorship of content, which has become an issue for book publishers and magazines seeking to use the platform. The Guardian newspaper described the role of Apple as analogous to that of British magazine distributor WH Smith, which for many years imposed content restrictions.

Due to the exclusion of pornography from the App Store, YouPorn and others changed their video format from Flash to H.264 and HTML5 specifically for the iPad. [115] In an e-mail exchange[116] with Ryan Tate from Valleywag, Steve Jobs claimed that the iPad offers “freedom from porn”, leading to many upset replies including Adbustings in Berlin by artist Johannes P. Osterhoff[117] and in San Francisco during WWDC10.

The media noted the positive response from fans of the device, with thousands of people queued on the first day of sale in a number of these countries. Analysts have noted that while Apple’s previous iPod and iPhone launches took some time till taking off, the iPad was commercially popular from the beginning and faced little market competition during its first year.

Mossberg also called the price “modest” for a device of its capabilities, and praised the ten-hour battery life. [122] Others, including PC Advisor and the Sydney Morning Herald, wrote that the iPad would also compete with proliferating netbooks, most of which use Microsoft Windows. CNET also criticized the iPad for its apparent lack of wireless sync which other portable devices such as Microsoft’s Zune have had for a number of years. Walt Mossberg then, of The Wall Street Journal called it a “pretty close” laptop killer.

In the former section, he notes that a laptop offers more features for a cheaper price than the iPad.

[130] PC Magazine’s Tim Gideon wrote, “you have yourself a winner” that “will undoubtedly be a driving force in shaping the emerging tablet landscape. [139] The Independent criticized the iPad for not being as readable in bright light as paper but praised it for being able to store large quantities of books. [135] After its UK release, The Daily Telegraph said the iPad’s lack of Adobe Flash support was “annoying.

The original iPad was selected by Time magazine as one of the 50 Best Inventions of the Year 2010,[141] while Popular Science chose it as the top gadget[142] behind the overall “Best of What’s New 2010” winner Groasis Waterboxx. Examples of uses in the workplace include attorneys responding to clients, medical professionals accessing health records during patient exams, and managers approving employee requests.

Since March 2011, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the iPad for in-cockpit use to cut down on the paper consumption in several airlines. [161] The iPad has also been called a revolutionary tool to help children with autism learn how to communicate and socialize more easily.

For example, Novation, a healthcare contracting services company, developed VHA PriceLynx (based on the mobile application platform of business intelligence software vendor MicroStrategy), a business intelligence app to help health care organizations manage its purchasing procedures more efficiently and save money for hospitals. Guillermo Ramas of Novation states, “Doctors won’t walk around a hospital with a laptop.

[165] A study in 2014 found that the iPad 2 could cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) in implantable cardioverter defibrillators. In the United States, fans attending Super Bowl XLV, the first Super Bowl since the iPad was released, could use an official National Football League (NFL) app to navigate Cowboys Stadium.

These include sound samplers, guitar and voice effects processors, sequencers for synthesized sounds and sampled loops, virtual synthesizers and drum machines, theremin-style and other touch responsive instruments, drum pads and many more.

Gorillaz’s 2010 album, The Fall, was created almost exclusively using the iPad by Damon Albarn while on tour with the band.

Complete List of iPads, release year and …

iPad | Seventh | 10.2″ | A10 | 2019 | 17.2 | Lightning | First Generation Apple Pencil | Discontinued September 2020 iPad | Eighth | 10.2″ | A12 | 2020 | 17.2 | Lightning | First Generation Apple Pencil | Discontinued September 2021

iPad Mini | Fifth | 7.9″ | A12 | 2019 | 17.2 | Lightning | First Generation Apple Pencil | Discontinued September 2021 iPad Air | Third | 10.5″ | A12 | 2019 | 17.2 | Lightning | First Generation Apple Pencil | Discontinued September 2020

iPad Pro 12.9″ | Second | 12.9″ | A10X | 2017 | 17.2 | Lightning | First Generation Apple Pencil | Discontinued November 2018 iPad Pro 10.5″ | First / Only | 10.5″ | A10X | 2017 | 17.2 | Lightning | First Generation Apple Pencil | Discontinued November 2018

History Timeline of Apple iPad Generations from 2010 to 2023

iPads are popular for their portability, long battery life, and versatility. It has a market share of 34.6% and is used in the business, education, healthcare, and technology sectors.

iPad (1st generation)

The device features an Apple A4 SoC, a 9.7 in (250 mm) touchscreen display,[7] and, on certain variants, the capability of accessing cellular networks. Using the iOS operating system, the iPad can play music, send and receive email and browse the web. Other functions, which include the ability to play games and access references, GPS navigation software and social network services can be enabled by downloading apps. On May 28, 2010, it was released in Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Italy, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Reviewers praised the device for its wide range of capabilities and labeled it as a competitor to laptops and netbooks. Some aspects were criticized, including the closed nature of the operating system and the lack of support for the Adobe Flash multimedia format.

Apple also developed a prototype PowerBook Duo-based tablet, the PenLite, but decided not to sell it in order to avoid hurting MessagePad sales. Such speculation mostly talked about “Apple’s tablet”; specific names included iTablet and iSlate. [14] The actual name is reportedly an homage to the Star Trek PADD, a fictional device very similar in appearance to the iPad. The iPad was announced on January 27, 2010, by Jobs at an Apple press conference at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

Jobs later said that Apple began developing the iPad before the iPhone,[18][19] but temporarily shelved the effort upon realizing that its ideas would work just as well in a mobile phone. The iPad was launched in countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom on May 28.

[25] Apple released the iPad in Hong Kong, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore on July 23, 2010. [32][33][34] Israel briefly prohibited importation of the iPad because of concerns that its Wi-Fi might interfere with other devices. [42] The update was reported to contain hundreds of new features and tweaks, including Twitter integration, Notification Center and iMessage, which is a feature that allows users to send messages or multimedia files to other users on iOS or OS X, the operating system for Apple computers.

The lower portion of the iPad, showing the charging port and audio output grilles

The first-generation iPad features an Apple A4 SoC,[3] which comprises a 1 GHz processor, 256 MB of RAM and a PowerVR SGX535 GPU. [47] In the iOS 4.3 update, a setting was added to allow the user to specify whether the side switch was used for rotation lock or mute. Unlike the iPhone and iPod Touch’s built-in applications, which work in 3 orientations (portrait, landscape-left and landscape-right), the iPad’s built-in applications support screen rotation in all four orientations, including upside-down. Consequently, the device has no intrinsic “native” orientation; only the relative position of the home button changes. The media noted that thousands of people queued on the first day of sale in a number of countries with many of those who waited claiming that “it was worth it.

Mossberg also called the price “modest” for a device of its capabilities, and praised the ten-hour battery life. [56] Others, including PC Advisor and the Sydney Morning Herald, wrote that the iPad would also compete with proliferating netbooks, most of which use Microsoft Windows. [65] The Independent criticized the iPad for not being as readable in bright light as paper but praised it for being able to store large quantities of books.

[62] After its UK release, The Daily Telegraph said the iPad’s lack of Adobe Flash support was “annoying”. The iPad was selected by Time magazine as one of the 50 Best Inventions of the Year 2010,[67] while Popular Science chose it as the top gadget[68] behind the overall “Best of What’s New 2010” winner Groasis Waterboxx. [73] During the financial conference call on October 18, 2010, Steve Jobs announced that Apple had sold more iPads than Macs for the fiscal quarter. CNET criticized the iPad for its apparent lack of wireless sync, which other portable devices such as Microsoft’s Zune have had for a number of years.

[80] PC Magazine’s Tim Gideon wrote, “you have yourself a winner” that “will undoubtedly be a driving force in shaping the emerging tablet landscape.

The best iPad to buy

I’ve spent years using various iPads for both entertainment and work and have tested all of the current and recent models to know what they are best suited for. Out of the box, any iPad provides an excellent portable video or movie-watching experience; access to a wide array of apps and games through the App Store; the ability to read ebooks, documents, and web articles on a bright comfortably sized screen; and communicate via email, messaging services, or video calls.

Apple also has a strong track record of supporting the iPad for many years with software updates, so even older models can benefit from the majority of new features. That means you can often find excellent options on secondhand, open-box, and refurbished iPads that save a lot of money and still offer an up-to-date, performant experience.

The refurbished market changes too frequently for me to make specific recommendations in this guide, so everything here is based on the new, full retail cost. But I’ve personally bought multiple refurbished iPads over the years and have never regretted not having the latest and greatest model. Released in 2022, the fifth-generation iPad Air offers a bright 10.9-inch high-resolution display, extremely fast performance thanks to its M1 processor, a modern design with even bezels around the screen, and excellent speakers. It’s compatible with the same keyboard and stylus accessories as the iPad Pro, so it can work well as a small laptop-like device or digital notepad / drawing tablet. The Air comes in a variety of colors, including blue, pink, purple, gold (which Apple calls “Starlight”), and a dark gray. The iPad Air can be paired with Apple’s Magic Keyboard to turn it into a small laptop replacement for productivity work. It’s significantly larger than a phone and provides a better video-watching, reading, and multitasking experience, but it’s not nearly as large as a laptop display, so it’s easier to carry around or hold when lounging on the couch. The size makes it easy to transition from reading in portrait orientation to knocking out an email in landscape mode.

The jump to 256GB costs $150 (at Apple’s regular retail price), but it’s worthwhile if you plan to hang on to this iPad for multiple years. If you are a frequent traveler and plan to use an iPad outside of your home a lot, however, a built-in cellular connection is often faster, more reliable, and easier than using your phone’s hotspot. I’ve used an iPad Pro with built-in cellular during a long train commute for years, and it’s been worth the cost every time.

The Air’s design is the same as that of the iPad Pro, with a squared-off aluminum back and sides and evenly proportioned bezels around its whole display.

But when you’re holding the iPad Air in landscape orientation, the camera feels like it’s in the wrong spot, and Apple’s software tricks to correct it are not always the most convincing. (Apple has addressed this problem with its lower-tier 10th-gen iPad by moving the camera to the longer edge, but it has not yet done so for the rest of the lineup.)

The Air’s stereo speakers (one on the left and right side, when held in landscape orientation) are loud and clear and work great for movie or video watching. The Air also supports Apple’s latest Pencil ($129 retail, sometimes on sale for less) for writing and drawing, and it can magnetically snap to the side of the tablet for charging and storage. You, as a parent, will still want it to be updated to current software and security patches, so it’s important to avoid something that isn’t supported anymore.

The ninth-gen model has the traditional iPad look, with larger bezels around the screen and a home button (with Touch ID biometric authentication). It’s clear that even Apple realizes the 10th-gen iPad isn’t quite a direct replacement for the ninth-gen model due to its significantly higher price and different features. So as long as Apple continues to sell the ninth-gen model, that is our recommendation for budget shoppers and an iPad for kids.

It works fine as a stylus for writing and drawing on the screen, but there’s nowhere to store it when you’re not using it unless you buy a third-party case, and charging it requires plugging it into the iPad’s Lightning port, which is awkward and clumsy. In my testing, it never lagged or slowed down when I was using it, the screen is sharp and colorful, and it’s comfortable to hold for long stretches of time. The 12.9-inch Pro rewards you with a more expansive display for juggling multiple apps, especially if you use the new Stage Manager windowing feature. It also has the best screen on any iPad, with its Mini LED technology, providing searing brightness, deep blacks, and rich colors.

As a result, many iPad Pro 12.9 owners find they don’t end up taking it out of the Magic Keyboard case very often. A new feature introduced with the 2022 model allows you to preview line strokes or selections with the Apple Pencil before you put them onto the screen. Most people do not need all of the features of the latest iPad Pro, which makes buying an older version a compelling option. At full prices, the iPad Air is a better option than the 11-inch Pro, but if you’re able to find a prior-year model refurbished or on sale, then it might be the one to go with. The Mini provides access to many more reading sources than a Kindle, though it can’t match the battery life of Amazon’s e-reader. This is the only iPad that Apple doesn’t make a keyboard accessory for, and it’s obvious why: it’s just too small to really be comfortable to type anything of length on.

The best iPads of 2023: Expert tested and reviewed

iPad Pro (6th generation) specs: Display: 11-inch Liquid Retina display or 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion and True Tone | Processor: Apple Silicon M2 | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB | Biometrics: Face ID | Colors: Silver, space gray | Cameras: 12MP wide, 10MP ultrawide rear and 12MP TrueDepth FaceTime front | Weight: 11-inch: 1.03 pounds, 12.9-inch: 1.5 pounds | Dimensions: 11-inch: 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.23 inches, 12.9-inch: 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.25-inches| Connections: USB-C Thunderbolt/USB-4 | Battery life: 10 hours The design hasn’t changed much on the outside, but on the inside, you’ll find Apple’s M2 processor, which consists of 20 billion transistors — 25% more than the M1. “The combination of Stage Manager and external monitor support means you can have up to eight apps open and in use on the iPad Pro at the same time.

The Best iPad to Buy (and a Few to Avoid)

It’s not only durable (complete with a rigid bumper), but it has a magnetized cover that stays shut and a flap that allows you to position the screen at eight different angles. It connects via Apple’s Smart Connector, meaning you never need to tinker with Bluetooth or bother charging it. The keyboard is powered by AAA batteries, which lasted us around four months, so you don’t have to worry about carrying a charger around. You can mount it to the side of your bed, kitchen counter, or shelf (to view content comfortably and hands-free) or you can use the included stand at your desk.

Twelve South StayGo Mini USB-C Hub for $60: Regardless of the iPad model, ports are limited.

The evolution of the iPad

The iPad has since evolved into an unqualified success, carving out a space between laptop and smartphone, and providing a handy device for checking email, surfing the web, reading e-books, and — most importantly, perhaps — enabling the 21st-century obsession known as binge-watching. Reviewers hailed the device as a marvel of Information Age design, with its touchscreen interface, familiar iPhone OS, and that oddly useful three-axis accelerometer that could detect movement, tilting and flipping.

Double Secret Bonus Trivia: Before the official announcement, the smart money on the rumor circuit was that the new device would be named the iTablet or the iSlate. Most significantly, the iPad 2 included front and back cameras designed to support video recording and the trendy new FaceTime application.

Cultural Touchstone: A few months later, Amazon would release the $199 Kindle Fire tablet, running Google’s Android operating system. Double Secret Bonus Trivia: The iPad 2 came with an optional Smart Cover that protects the screen and flips, origami-style, into a display stand.

Cultural Touchstone: As you may recall, the world was supposed to end in December of 2012, calculated to be the end-date of a 5,126-year-long cycle in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. Thanks to the magic of screen-to-body ratios, the Mini was half the volume and weight of the iPad proper, yet provided two-thirds of the viewing area.

Cultural Touchstone: In 2013, Disney’s smash hit animated movie Frozen inflicted the highly contagious song “Let It Go” onto the global population. Double Secret Bonus Trivia: The iPad Air was the first to feature dual microphones working in conjunction to better facilitate FaceTime and video sound. Double Secret Bonus Trivia: The improved iSight forward-facing camera added support for burst mode and slow-motion video capture. With the big and muscular iPad Pro, Apple delivered a laptop-replacement tablet system powerful enough to run most serious workplace apps.

The next-generation stylus was aimed in part at those who do a lot of drawing and drafting, and more generally towards early adopters who would appreciate the technology on its own gee-whiz merits. Advanced pressure sensitivity and tilt detection complemented a bigger digital canvas, delivering a fast-forward futuristic experience, especially for graphic designers. Cultural Touchstone: A week before the iPad Pro hit shelves, Justin Pierre James Trudeau was sworn in as the 23rd and current Prime Minister of Canada. A week before the iPad Pro hit shelves, Justin Pierre James Trudeau was sworn in as the 23rd and current Prime Minister of Canada.

Double Secret Bonus Trivia: The iPad Pro’s four speakers put bass on the bottom and treble at the top, no matter what orientation you’re holding the tablet. With Apple now hawking three separate lines of iPads — the Mini, the Pro, and the original — the company hit a reset button of sorts with the sixth-generation 9.7-in. While hardware on the 2018 edition is essentially the same as the 2017 iPad, the new device added the speedier A10 processor and supported the Apple Pencil (a separate $100 purchase that pushed the actual price for the full-featured version to $429). Double Secret Bonus Trivia: Leveraging Pencil support, Apple tried like crazy to get the 2018 iPad into schools as the go-to note-taking and all-around learning device for future generations.

Apple’s 3rd-gen iPad Pro was completely revamped, offering a “Liquid Retina” display, narrower bezels and the same Face ID technology that first arrived on the iPhone X. New magnets built into the tablets’ edge allowed the Pencil to attach to the side of the iPad Pro, where it paired automatically and charged wirelessly.

New magnets built into the tablets’ edge allowed the Pencil to attach to the side of the iPad Pro, where it paired automatically and charged wirelessly. Double secret bonus trivia: For those who wanted their iPad Pro to be more like a laptop replacement, Apple has a new Smart Folio Keyboard.

Retina display, upgraded cameras, longer battery life, and – for the first time – support for the company’s Smart Keyboard. Cultural touchstone: It might not have all of Apple’s current design tweaks, but the iPad does offer one feature users might really care about: An old-fashioned headphone jack. Double secret bonus trivia: With iPad support for the Smart Keyboard, Apple is pushing even harder to pitch the entry-level model as a laptop replacement– especially for students.

iPad chip list: What’s powering each model?

But a big part of that is making its own SoC (system on chip) for its iPads (and iPhones) that are fine-tuned to work as powerfully and efficiently as possible with iPadOS and iOS. The tight integration between iPhone hardware and iOS made up more than an 8 GB memory difference. We’ve also got articles on iPhone/iPad RAM, chips, and battery mAh specs found in every model: A13 Bionic – 6 cores: 2 performance, 4 efficiency, 2.66 GHz iPad Air 4th gen chip?

A12 Bionic – 6 cores: 2 performance, 4 efficiency, 2.5 GHz iPad Pro 12.9″ 4th gen chip? A12Z Bionic – 8 cores: 4 performance, 4 efficiency, 2.5 GHz iPad Pro 11″ 2nd gen chip? A10 Fusion – 4 cores: 2 performance, 2 efficiency, 2.3 GHz iPad mini 5th gen chip? A12 Bionic – 6 cores: 2 performance, 4 efficiency, 2.5 GHz iPad Air 3rd gen chip? A12 Bionic – 6 cores: 2 performance, 4 efficiency, 2.5 GHz iPad Pro 12.9″ 3rd gen chip? A10 Fusion – 4 cores: 2 performance, 2 efficiency, 2.3 GHz iPad Pro 12.9″ 2nd gen chip?

A brief history of the iPad, Apple’s once and future tablet

April 3 marks the eighth anniversary of the iPad’s launch and first shipments — and that day brought a product that has revolutionized the definition of a tablet and seen great success. Its Newton MessagePad PDAs — dating back to 1993 — were arguably tablet-like, albeit crude by modern standards with limited apps, black-and-white displays, and total dependence on a stylus. Work on the iPad itself actually traces back to 2004, when designer Jonathan Ive and others crafted a new tablet prototype. Finally, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the iPad on Jan. 27, 2010 at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco — immediately setting off waves of both anticipation and skepticism.

The tablet’s signature achievement was bringing the iPhone’s multi-touch interface to a much larger display, allowing it behave more like a laptop. The product also heralded the arrival of iBooks and the iBookstore, with the anticipation that people would want to read books, magazines, and newspapers in the new format.

Apple’s collusion with publishers to fight Amazon’s dominance of e-books would eventually result in severe legal reprimands. Released March 11, 2011, the iPad 2 included a faster A5 processor, but was perhaps most significant for refining Apple’s design and concepts. The product was both lighter and thinner, and was the first model to support Smart Covers, adding magnets which not only kept cases attached but would wake an iPad when opened. The device stayed on sale for years, with a minor revision after the third-generation iPad was released, shrinking the size of the A5 and improving power consumption.

So, A fourth-generation iPad — released in October the same year — took the same overall design and upgraded it with an A6X chip, FaceTime HD, and wider LTE compatibility. In a bid to reinvigorate sales and cast the iPad as a serious tool, September 2015 saw the announcement of the first iPad Pro, a 12.9-inch, $799 tablet with an A9X processor, 4 gigabytes of DDR4 RAM, the first Smart Connector port and optional Smart Keyboard, plus support for the Apple Pencil — a low-latency stylus with pressure sensitity and angle detection.

While the Pencil was ultimately well-received, it has sometimes been criticized for its $99 pricetag and the placement of its Lightning connector, which causes it to jut out like a spike when plugged into an iPad. The company updated the budget iPad at the Chicago “Field Trip” press event, giving it an A10 chip and Pencil support while still holding back on things like a True Tone display and rear flash.

They’re expected to ditch physical home buttons at the same time, shrinking size and weight even further, though their displays probably won’t go completely edge-to-edge.

But, the iPad sells a bit more in volume now than the Mac does, at a lower average price in a so-called declining sales environment.

history, specs, pricing, features

Apple often refers to the iPad as the future of computing with its slim form factor and touch display. The company offers a wide variety iPads, from a budget-friendly model for students to a high-end powerhouse aimed at professionals. However, Apple later improved iPad performance and added accessories that transformed this simple tablet into a complex computing platform. Though the basic design is still a glass and aluminum slab, Apple’s iPad has grown thinner and lighter through the years, with shrinking bezels, bigger and better displays, and the home button removal.

Every iPad model today has a Retina Display, Apple’s marketing term indicating that human eyes won’t differentiate individual pixels from a standard viewing distance. True Tone, included on all but the 10.2-inch iPad in today’s lineup, uses ambient light sensors to adjust the screen’s white balance based on your environment. ProMotion technology, available only on iPad Pro models, supports up to a 120Hz refresh rate for “fluid scrolling, greater responsiveness, and smoother motion content.” It also provides more responsive Apple Pencil input and varies the iPad screen refresh rate to reduce power consumption. With iOS 9, the tablet software showed a significant shift from the iPhone with the added ability to have multiple apps on the same screen. With its improved split-screen, multi-window app states, and external storage support, Apple’s iPad took a significant leap forward as a laptop replacement. iPadOS 15 was released in 2021 with minor alterations to the multitasking system to help users understand how to initiate and switch apps more easily. A new ellipsis appears at the top of each active window with options to place the app into different positions.

Stage Manager was introduced in iPadOS 16, bringing the software to another level with a native app windowing system. Many apps draw from the same codebase as their iPhone counterpart, with the iPad version making better use of the larger display.

Developers often use multiple panels for iPad apps that wouldn’t fit on an iPhone’s screen. App updates are free, but developers may lock some features behind paywalls called in-app purchases or IAP.

Some apps charge a subscription fee instead of IAP, unlocking features once a user subscribes. Accessories like the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil can transform the tablet into a laptop-like device

When the first iPad Pro launched in late 2015, Apple began marketing the tablet as a new computing category that could replace a laptop for some customers. In early 2020, Apple launched the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro, which added Mac-style scissor-switch keys and a glass trackpad that took advantage of cursor support. The accessory has a stand that magnetically mounts the tablet, making it float above the keys while dynamically tilting at various angles. It is a two-piece system with a case and kickstand on the back and a keyboard attached via a magnetic base. For sketching, the Apple Pencil has low latency, pressure sensitivity, and support for tilting and shading. You can also use it as a pointer to edit text, navigate apps or web pages, or sign documents.

It pairs and charges through the iPad Lightning port, one of the limits of the original Apple Pencil. It leaves the iPad with a protruding stylus and simultaneously prevents users from charging the tablet and Apple Pencil. Rather than being fully rounded, the second-generation model is flat on one edge, making it more ergonomic in hand and preventing it from rolling off surfaces.

The Apple Pencil 2 also supports wireless charging, mounting magnetically to the side of a compatible iPad to draw power.

These customizable tap actions can include switching between tools and toggling the color palette. It lacks pressure sensitivity but works with hover on the latest iPad Pro models.

By developing its chipsets, Apple can customize its software to work directly with the hardware so that competitors cannot imitate it. While it’s older than the A14 found in the cheaper iPad Air 4, the A12X has eight dedicated GPU cores that should give it an edge in graphically-intensive tasks.

In late 2012, Apple switched to a Lightning port for charging and syncing, starting with the fourth-generation model and iPad mini. The following change arrived with the 2018 iPad Pro lineup, which shifted to USB-C for broader accessory compatibility.

Cellular models are sold unlocked at full price and subsidized through wireless carriers. The iPad Pro lineup also has a LiDAR sensor, supporting enhanced augmented reality (AR) content.

The company has slowly built an entire software ecosystem surrounding its ever-popular mobile devices. On the iPad, it acts as a user-facing assistant with deep app connections and controls, and it also serves as the background intelligence that powers everyday operations. Contacts, Calendar, Photos, and even the system keyboard rely on Siri Intelligence to manage information and surface what is most relevant to the user.

Siri also acts as the brains behind Shortcuts, which users can activate via the assistant, widgets, or in-app. Apple does not directly monetize Siri, but it does use the assistant as a primary selling point for its mobile devices and audio gear like HomePod and AirPods. iMessage is an Apple proprietary technology using end-to-end encryption to send messages via the web. Sending and receiving iMessages is exclusive to Apple products and has been cited as a significant consumer lock-in source. Originally called iBooks, Apple Books is the company’s combined digital bookstore, ebook-viewing app, and audiobook player.

The tablet screen size and form factor make it well-suited to reading, serving as an alternative to dedicated eReaders like the Amazon Kindle. The service lives within the Music app on Apple’s mobile devices, Mac, and the web. Though most support third-party controllers, the service has games from multiple genres and can be played with touch. The monthly subscription is $9.99, giving customers access to premium articles from newspapers and magazines.

The term “iCloud” is a catch-all for Apple’s syncing and storage service across devices and apps.

A List of iPad Generations and Models

With so many available products, it’s easy to lose track of everything Apple has to offer in the iPad department. Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of all the available iPad products to help clear up any confusion about your choices. You might be wondering why Apple keeps coming out with new iPad generations each year. Each new iPad generation model typically performs significantly better than its predecessor.

The company might add new colors or tweak the device’s size, but the overall design remains relatively constant. Each model gets new additions regularly, with new generations coming to the market every year. Although far behind the most powerful iPad chip, the A14 Bionic offers excellent performance and great value for the money. Apple added a True Tone feature that adjusts color balance based on the lighting conditions.

The front-facing camera also boasts significant improvements compared to previous iPad models. The iPad is a versatile entertainment device with many functions that offer excellent value compared to its price. This model outperforms the standard iPad in the CPU department with an A15 Bionic chip. The 2021 iPad mini features an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with a 2,266-by-1,488-pixel resolution.

Not only does the 2022 iPad Air contain this powerhouse chip, but it’s also the most affordable M1 device on the market. The iPad Pro is a professional tablet, offering superior processing power and screen quality. However, the iPad Pro offers a smoother screen with ProMotion technology and multiple rear-facing cameras. The only considerable difference between these two iPad Pro models is the size of the Liquid Retina display.

The smaller version is equipped with True Tone technology and Wide Color support. In addition to these features, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro also includes a mini-LED backlight system.

If you’re an artist, designer, or editor, the iPad Pro might be a worthwhile investment. This guide has also gone through the most prominent features of each iPad model to help you make an informed decision.