The only real physical difference between the two tablets is the iPad Air 5 (2022) coming in at 3g heavier, which you’ll be hard-pressed to ever notice. Both iPad Airs have a peak brightness of 500 nits and support Apple’s True Tone color temperature technology. These are massive gains, but the iPad Air 4 (2020) was already powerful enough for casual internet browsing, movie watching, and occasional gaming.
Lastly, the iPad Air 5 (2022) has 5G support and a twice-as-fast USB-C port, and that’s where the major differences between the two tablets come to an end.
They’ve got the same resolution, have the same peak brightness, and support the same display technologies, so while there are minor differences, in theory, the experience should be largely the same. During our testing of the iPad Air 5 (2022), we did notice it produced a slightly brighter, cleaner picture with punchier contrast with standard HDR and SDR scenes.
Apple’s known for displays with vibrant, detailed, and subtle image quality, and the iPad Air 4 (2020) still more than holds its own when pitched against the latest iteration. The iPad Air 5 (2022) has a wide, open sound thanks to its true stereo speakers, and watching movies is particularly atmospheric courtesy of the tablet’s robust soundstage. Plus, there’s plenty of detail on offer and a rich texture to the bass (by tablet standards) that rarely spills over into sounding muddy. You’ll be hard-pressed to hear a difference between the two tablets, but we’re confident enough to say you won’t be disappointed by the sound quality of either, regardless of the content you’re enjoying. If you already own the iPad Air 4th generation, then you’ll have to decide if more processing power, a better front-facing camera, and marginally better image quality is worth paying for.
iPad Air 4 vs iPad Air 5 Check out their differences
Flat edges with a 10.9″ edge-to-edge screen. The colours of the iPad Air 5 have been refreshed, now coming in Space Grey, Star White, Pink, Purple and Blue.
Look at the difference in the industry’s leading Geekbench test. Also read to learn more on different types of M1 chips, here. 12 megapixel ultra wide-angle front camera. Centre Stage function to focus on video calls even when moving around the room.
Features iPad Air 4 iPad Air 5 Screen 10.9″ 10.9″ Screen brightness 500 nits 500 nits Rear camera 12 Mpx 12 Mpx Touch ID Yes Yes Front camera 12 Mpx 12 Mpx with ultra-wide-angle camera Center Stage No Yes Processor A14 M1 Connectivity Wi-Fi + 4G Wi-Fi + 5G Colours Space Grey, Silver, Rose Gold, Blue and Green Space Grey, Star White, Pink, Purple and Blue.
List of iPad models
Display Screen Size 9.7 in (250 mm) (diagonal) Screen Area – Screen to Body ratio (Body Area) 291 cm2 – 72% Typical Max brightness ( cd ⁄ m2 ) 500 400
XDR Max brightness ( cd ⁄ m2 ) —
Motion Coprocessor Embedded in SoC Bus width 64-bit (Due to only one RAM module) 128-bit
Graphics Processor PowerVR 7XT Series 7800 (12-core) Storage Type NAND Flash driven by NVMe-based controller that communicates over a PCIe connection
Side Connector Side Smart connector for Smart Keyboard Apple Pencil Support First generation Assisted GPS (Cellular models only) Yes Secure Authentication Touch ID Second generation sensor in Home Button
Rear Camera Camera 12 MP Wide 8 MP Wide Extended Dynamic Range Video No
Optical Image Stabilization for Video No
Front Camera Camera 5 MP FaceTime HD 1.2 MP FaceTime HD
Retina Flash With True Tone No Extended Dynamic Range Video No
adjusting sound to device orientation Gold: White glass front
Space Gray: Black glass front
Space Gray: Space Gray anodized contoured aluminum back Wi-Fi + Cellular models also have a long, thin line of plastic for the cellular antenna on top. The color of the plastic is dependent on the device.
Wi-Fi + Cellular models also have a piece plastic for the cellular antenna on top. The color of the plastic is dependent on the device. Space Gray: Space Gray anodized contoured aluminum side
Wi-Fi + Cellular models also have a long, thin line of plastic for the cellular antenna on top. The color of the plastic is dependent on the device. The color of the plastic is dependent on the device.
Announced Date March 21, 2016 September 9, 2015
iPad – Compare Models
Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music
Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music
Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi‑Fi, watching video, or listening to music
Complete List of iPads, release year and …
So this user tip is aimed at maintaining a list divided by sub line, that includes screen size, CPU, release year, charge port type, Apple Pencil model it is compatible with if any, discontinuation date and iOS / iPad OS versions they can run now. Official Name | Generation | Screen Size | CPU | Release Date | Latest iOS/iPadOS version | Port Type | Pencil Compatibility | Status
iPad with Retina display | Fourth | 9.7″ | A6X | 2012 | 10.3.3/10.3.4(Cellular) | Lightning | None | Discontinued October 2014 iPad | Sixth | 9.7″ | A10 | 2018 | 17.2 | Lightning | First Generation Apple Pencil | Discontinued September 2019 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″ | First | 12.9″ | A9X | 2015 | 16.7.3 | Lightning | First Generation Apple Pencil | Discontinued June 2017
iPad Pro 9.7″ | First / Only | 9.7″ | A9X | 2016 | 16.7.3 | Lightning | First Generation Apple Pencil | Discontinued June 2017
List Of All The iPad Generations
Join us as we navigate through the evolution of the iPad, Apple’s ground-breaking tablet that has reshaped the landscape of mobile computing. The iPad 2 offered a thinner design, improved performance with the A5 chip, and introduced cameras for the first time. With an A6X chip and the introduction of the Lightning connector, the 4th gen iPad offered enhanced speed and convenience.
Apple launched the iPad Air series in 2013, with a lighter and thinner design compared to its predecessors. Introduced in 2015, the iPad Pro series cater to power users with robust specifications and features like ProMotion, Apple Pencil support, and Face ID. Match this model number with Apple’s official list to identify your iPad generation. Each iPad generation brings updates in design, performance, display quality, camera capabilities, and other features. Apple’s iPad has come a long way since its inception, with each generation furthering the boundary of what a tablet can do.
iPad models compatible with iPadOS 17
Note: Apps and services that send or receive data over a cellular network, or that answer incoming calls, may incur additional fees.
iPad generations: all iPad models in December 2023
At Creative Bloq we test and review tablets of all kinds, and we’ve made it simple by breaking it down into categories, listing the current models available for each one. Add to that lightning-fast upload and download speeds and you’ve got a potential laptop-replacing super-tablet. The camera is amazing, and the support for ProRes video capture means it’s like carrying a mini studio around with you.
It is also eye-wateringly expensive, which will be prohibitive to many – it’ll only be serious iPad users that make the leap into buying the new addition to the range.
It offered the most computing power available in an Apple tablet, the finest display, and the fastest user experience. It was the flagship model, the best of the best, and though it may no longer have the title, the 5th-generation iPad Pro is still a beast of a tablet.
It also comes in two sizes (an 11-inch model and a 12.9-inch version), giving you great options for screen real estate. With this launch, Apple made its mid-range tablet a whole lot more pro-like, giving it the same M1 processor as the 2021 iPad Pros.
When we reviewed the new tablet, we found that the chip combined with a superb 1640 x 2360 Liquid Retina IPS LCD screen means the iPad Air is now well and truly an iPad Pro-lite at a more affordable price – although only just, because the price difference is now really very close unless you find a discount.
The 64GB storage offered in the base device is rather small, so you’ll probably want to go for the 256GB version if you’re handling a lot of media. Despite the release of the 5th-generation iPad Air, the 4th-generation model from 2020 is still a fine tablet and might be more likely to come in for discounts now that it’s been superseded. When we reviewed this tablet, we were impressed by the level of power and performance on offer, and appreciated how the Magic Keyboard compatibility made using it feel so different compared to what had come before.
As we mentioned in our review, with this one you have to deal with artifacts of yesteryear such as compatibility with the first-generation Apple Pencil, rather than the much-improved second version. It has the same A14 Bionic chip, the same screen resolution and the same 12MP rear camera, making it feel remarkably familiar.
It works with a new Magic Keyboard Folio, offers 5G instead of 4G, and uses the 1st-generation Apple Pencil instead of the newer 2nd-generation version.
Our initial thoughts were that if you want to pay that much, why not look at 2020’s iPad Air and be able to use the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil? However, when going hands-on, our reviewer loved the tablet’s bigger, brighter screen and the amount of power available for complex tasks. The lack of 2nd-generation Apple Pencil support is annoying, but the tablet feels luxurious and runs Procreate like a dream.
While it looks almost identical to 2020’s iteration, the 2021 model boasts Apple’s TrueTone tech, allowing the screen to adjust to ambient lighting wherever you are. The camera is also upgraded, growing to 12MP with Apple’s Center Stage features, first seen on the 2020 iPad Pro.
Other than that, the 2021 model has the same 10.2in 1620×2160 LCD screen as the 8th-generation version, with a maximum 500 nits of brightness, which will be just fine for most users. It’s since been superseded by the 2021 and 2022 models, but this could be a good buy if you find it on sale since it still offers everything you need for the core iPad experience. To our eyes, it has started to look a little outdated with its chunky bezels and Home button, but there’s no doubting its capabilities. It comes with an A15 Bionic chip, a USB-C port (at last), and with 5G connectivity, we feel that it’s now more on par with the iPad Air.
Added to that, it now supports the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil, making it a good choice for creatives on the move. The front camera also maxes out at 12MP, but comes with an ultra-wide lens and the Centre Stage feature the higher-end iPads now sport. Apple iPad mini (2019, 5th Gen) The perfect size and price for an iPad to use on the move Our expert review: Average Amazon review: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Specifications Display size: 7.9in Processor: Apple A12 Bionic chip Storage options : 64GB, 256GB Apple Pencil compatibility: 1st generation Today’s Best Deals Check Amazon Reasons to buy + Small and light + Affordable price Reasons to avoid – Old design – No Smart Keyboard support
Think of this tablet as a more capable Kindle or Kobo for reading or watching content on the go, although it has Apple’s A12 Bionic chip so its performance is by no means weak. Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. This is the iPad generation that currently offers the best specs in terms of sheer power and capability. If you’re only looking for a tablet to use for general internet browsing, checking emails and docs, and watching entertainment, you really don’t need an iPad from the latest generation, and you might want to save money by going for an earlier model. Now you’re likely to be able to find the 2020 iPad Pro for around $800/£800 in a sale, but the latest model offers such a boost in performance that we’d generally recommend paying a couple hundred dollars more to get more longevity from your device.
Having said that, the previous iPads models are still great tablets, and many users won’t notice the small differences in loading times. The firm since released a second generation of the Apple Pencil with magnetic charging and tap controls. Since all iPads look pretty alike, it can be confusing to figure out which one you have, especially if you were gifted one second-hand. A reliable way to check is find your iPad’s model number – you can do this either by looking on the back, or by navigating to ‘Settings’, then ‘General’, then ‘About’.
Wikipedia
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.
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