This article is about the line of tablet computers by Apple.
For the first-generation iPad, see iPad (1st generation). For the type of
mobile computer, see Tablet computer. For the different types of iPads and other uses, see iPad (disambiguation). For the eye-
protector, see Eyepad.
Not to be confused with iPod or iPAQ.
iPad
iPad Pro (6th generation)
Developer Apple
Manufacturer Foxconn (on contract)[1][2]
Pegatron[3][4]
Type Tablet computer
Release date April 3, 2010; 14 years ago (1st generation)
Units sold 677.7 million as of 2022[5]
Operating system iOS (2010–2019)[6]
iPadOS (2019–present)[6]
Connectivity WiFi, cellular, 30-pin dock connector, Lightning
connector, USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack, 3-pin "Smart
connector"
Online services iTunes Store
App Store
iCloud
Apple Books
Podcasts
Apple Music
Apple Wallet[7]
Related iPhone, iPod Touch (comparison)
Website apple.com/ipad
This article is part of a series on the
iPad
1st
2
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
Air
o 1st
o 2
o 3rd
o 4th
o 5th
o 6th
Mini
o 1st
o 2
o 3
o 4
o 5th
o 6th
Pro
o 1st
o 2nd
o 3rd
o 4th
o 5th
o 6th
o 7th
List of iPad models
v
t
e
The iPad is a brand of iOS and iPadOS-based tablet computers that are developed by Apple, first introduced on January 27,
2010. The iPad range consists of the original iPad lineup and the flagship products iPad Mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.
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. The iPad's App Store is subject to application and content approval. Many older devices are susceptible to jailbreaking,
which circumvents these restrictions. The original iPad was well-received for its software and was recognized as one of the
most-influential inventions of 2010. As of the third quarter of 2021, iPad had a market share of 34.6%; beside personal use, the
iPad is used in the business, education, healthcare, and technology sectors. There are two connectivity variants of iPad; one
has only Wi-Fi and one has support for cellular networks. Accessories for the iPad include the Apple Pencil, Smart Case, Smart
Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio, Magic Keyboard, and several adapters.
History
Background
The Newton MessagePad, 1993
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 com-
puter 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 com-
puters".[8]
In 1993, Apple worked on the Newton MessagePad, a tablet-like personal digital assistant (PDA). John Sculley, Apple's chief
executive officer, led the development. The MessagePad was poorly received for its indecipherable handwriting recognition fea-
ture 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.[9][10][11]
In May 2004, Apple filed a design trademark patent in Europe for a handheld computer, hypothetically referencing the iPad, be-
ginning a new round of speculation that led to a 2003 report of Apple-affiliated manufacturer Quanta leaking Apple's orders for
wireless displays. In May 2005, Apple filed US Design Patent No. D504,889 that included an illustration depicting a man touch-
ing and using a tablet device. In August 2008, Apple filed a 50-page patent application that includes an illustration of hands
touching and gesturing on a tablet computer. In September 2009, Taiwan Economic News, citing "industry sources", reported
the tablet computer Apple was working on would be announced in February 2010, although the announcement was made in that
year's January.[12]
The iPad's concept predates that of the iPhone, although the iPhone was developed and released before the iPad.[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.[15][16][17]
iPad
Steve Jobs announcing the first generation of iPad, 2010
The first generation of iPad was announced on January 27, 2010,[18] and pre-ordering began on March 12.[19] Initial reaction to the
product name, which supposedly struck some women as a menstrual pun "indicative of a male-helmed team oblivious" to the
connotations, was negative.[20][21]
A Wi-Fi-capable version was released in the United States on April 3 and a 3G-capable version was released on April 30.[22] Ap-
ple released iPad models internationally on May 28, July 23, and September 17. The first iPad has a 1 GHz Apple A4 central
processing unit (CPU) with 256 megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM) and a PowerVR SGX535 graphics
processing unit (GPU). It has four buttons; a home button that directs the user to its homepage, a wake-and-sleep button, and
two volume-control buttons. Its multi-touch-based display has a resolution of 1,024 by 768 pixels.[23]
The second generation of iPad was announced on March 2, 2011, and released on March 11. 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 has
one camera each on the front and the back, both of which support Apple's video-telephony service, FaceTime. Apple slimmed
the iPad by eliminating the display's stamped-sheet-metal frame, using thinner glass for the screen overlay, and eliminating
some space between the display and battery.[24][25][26]
The third generation of iPad was announced on March 7, 2012, and released on March 16.[27] It uses a dual-core Apple A5X chip
embedded with quad-core graphics. Its Retina Display is 2,048 by 1,536 pixels and its pixels are 50% denser than those of stan-
dard displays. Unlike the iPhone and iPod Touch's built-in applications, which work in portrait, landscape-left and landscape-
right orientations, the iPad's built-in applications support the upside-down orientation of the device. Consequently, the device
has no "native" orientation; only the relative position of the home button changes.[28][29]
The fourth generation of iPad was announced on October 23, 2012, and released on November 2. It has an Apple A6X chip, im-
proved LTE and WiFi connectivity, a five-megapixel, rear-facing camera that is capable of recording 1080p videos, and a 720p
front-facing FaceTime HD camera. Its display has a resolution of 2,048 by 1,536 pixels.[30][31][32]
The fifth generation of iPad was announced on March 21, 20
