Apple introduced the iPad as a revolutionary device in 2010. Over the years, the device has been lauded for bridging the gap between smartphones and laptops by bringing a larger display and touch interface.
The journey of the iPad started as a mere experiment and has continued to evolve as part of Apple's flagship product. The iPad is popular among professionals, students, and kids in today's digital age.
From its groundbreaking launch to its expansion with iPad Mini and iPad Pro, Apple's journey with this device is a testament to the company's continuous technological innovation.
Before the next-generation iPad is released, here is a brief history of this impressive device:
Original iPad Launch
Apple first introduced the iPad in 2010 and was considered a revolutionary move in the gadget industry. Consumers have been waiting for a product that blends the experience from iPhone to MacBook.
After a year, Apple introduced the iPad 2 which featured significant improvements over the original model. The iPad 2 also offered a thinner design and faster processors.
The company also introduced the front and rear-facing cameras which were lacking from the previous model. With only a year since the predecessor's launch, this pace set the company's annual plan to update the iPad lineup.
Introduction of iPad Mini
In 2012, Apple released a new variant called iPad mini. The launch came as a response to the growing popularity of smaller and handy tablets in the market. Moreover, Android tablets have been pretty popular at the time.
The iPad mini featured a 7.9-inch display contrary to the first iPads which had 9.7-inch screens. Despite its smaller size, the iPad mini retained the 4:3 aspect ratio from its larger counterparts so the apps remained compatible without any modification.
iPad Air, Retina Display Release
The base model iPads were refurbished in 2013 with the addition of Retina displays. The iPad 3rd and 4th generations boasted an improved screen resolution and clarity, resolving some display concerns with the mini.
In addition, Apple also introduced the iPad Air, a thinner and lighter variant that offers powerful performance. This new model quickly became the market favorite and was praised for its overall impressive performance.
Its slim profile managed to retain the same battery life as its predecessors and offered the same FaceTime HD camera. The iPad Air was also powered by the A7 chip and M7 motion coprocessor which both showed an impressive leap for the company.
iPad Pro
The iPad Pro was revealed in 2015 and is almost a decade old. The launch of the new variant became Apple's solution to the increasing popularity of convertible laptops in the market.
This new lineup boasted a 12.9-inch Retina display with an outstanding resolution of 2732x2048 pixels. It was powered by the A9x chip, which was Apple's most powerful chip at the time, making it the best handy gadget for video editing, graphic design, and 3D rendering.
iPad Redesign, Accessories
Over the years, Apple has been alternately refreshing its iPad models by adding new features and boosting its specs. The next-generation iPads are expected to feature OLED screens and M3 chips.
New and upgraded accessories like the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard are expected to debut as well, along with the new iPad lineup.
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