Brand Apple

Compare Apple Tablets

Last updated: January 2021

This page features an Apple tablet comparison chart and tracks the iPad evolution via an iPad timeline and a brief history of the iPad range.

Apple Tablets Compared

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Apple Tablets Chronology

The Apple iPad represents the culmination of Apple’s attempts to provide all the power and functionality of a personal computer in a convenient, portable size. Now in its seventh generation, the iPad has seen a continual increase in functionality and computing power, but while these incremental improvements have satisfied users, Apple hasn’t been able to recreate the wow factor and buzz of the early launches.

Naming convention

Rather than the naming conventions used with the iPhone, Apple has opted for descriptiveness. While the third-generation iPad was known as “the new iPad,” the fourth-generation was known as the “iPad with Retina display.”

Throughout this site, we named these two models iPad 3 and iPad 4.

Apple iPad Mini 2019

2019’s Apple iPad Mini left the brand’s fans speechless. After a waiting time of nearly four years, Apple has finally decided to upgrade this tab, too. The results are impressive in the sense that this mini-tablet is not incredibly powerful, has a different design; it is classy, runs a large number of AR apps, and has an A12 Bionic processor. Just like most products that were released last year, it is compatible with the Apple Pencil. Improvements have been brought to the screen, too, as everyone expected. This time it is equipped with a 7.9-inch Retina Display, surrounded by nice bezels. It reproduces 135% of the sRGB color gamut, 35.2% more than the iPad Mini 4.

Having the same processor as iPhone XS, the iPad Mini is fast, responsive, and extremely enjoyable. Its A12 Bionic Chip that includes Apple’s Neural Engine, makes it faster than ever. Video game enthusiasts will sense a huge difference when comparing this tablet to other models on the market. Its qualities and benefits go way beyond the technical specs, the quality of the display, and its compatibility with the Pencil. There are other perks that Apple has prepared for its users. For instance, its pre-installed app, Flow by Moleskine, makes it easier than ever to create drawings, notes and art. Do you want to know all about the new and impressive iPad Mini, including information about its camera, battery life, and more? Read the entire article to know more.

Apple iPad 9.7 inch 2019

The 9.7 inch iPad is designed to fulfill the entertainment, social and basic business needs of users and although it isn’t as powerful as the iPad Pro, it comes with great features that Apple fans love. If you are one of those people who enjoy using their laptop or desktop for daily tasks but need a high-quality, superior tablet from a premium manufacturer that can satisfy your other needs, then the iPad 9.7 is great for you. What most tech consumers love the most about it is the fact that it has Apple Pencil compatibility. Also, it is equipped with an A10 chipset that ensures the tab’s smooth and quick operation.

There are many things that are worth paying for when it comes to the iPad 9.7. It has good screen quality comparing to the competition, it is powerful, it offers value for money, it supports the Apple Pencil and it is great for multitasking. Like most Apple products, this tablet integrates AR tech, so that AR apps can be enjoyed fully. The only thing that could have been improved and still hasn’t is the design. It looks exactly like its previous version on the outside. This versatile product is ideal for someone who doesn’t need a large screen, but still wants incredible performance and superior quality. Dive deeper into the specifications by continuing to read the article about the iPad 9.7 inch.

Apple iPad Air (2019 model)

Did you like last year’s iPad Air? Then this new model will simply blow your mind. It has a beautiful, laminated screen that everyone is talking about, powerful specs and it uses the Smart Keyboard that leads to even more productivity. The iPad Air isn’t as powerful and performant as the iPad Pro, which is only natural, but it is definitely the best tablet in its class. With its 10.5 inch display, its thin bezels, and a fast chipset, it is ideal for those who think that the iPad 9.7 inch simply isn’t enough for their needs. 2019’s model is twice as powerful.

A tablet such as this one, with 2-in-1 functionality, an OS, and power that make it very similar to iPhone X from a technical perspective, is exactly what you need if you want to work on the go using a larger screen. Although some users would say that it is only another tab in Apple’s series, the truth is that it has a lot to offer. Its design is superb, as always, and its front camera finally has a higher resolution. There are a lot of interesting things about this iPad Air released in 2019, so if you are curious to know what it can offer, continue reading the entire article.

Apple iPad Pro 11 inches

It has become custom for Apple fans to see top-notch tablets being released every year. The iPad Pro, both the 12.9 and 11-inch models, are proof of that perseverance that we love so much. The two models are very similar as far as specifications go. The latter is simply smaller, which means that a few modifications have been brought to it so that it can continue to be practical and enjoyable at all times. Except for the price, which is obviously lower than the larger version’s, the differences only concern the tablet’s design. For instance, Apple renounced the Home button in the 11-inch iPad Pro, so that users can get more screen.

Do you truly care about the quality and performance of the devices that you are usually buying? If that is the case, you should know that this tab is capable of satisfying all of your needs, whether you are planning to use it for leisure or business. This model’s main advantage is its size and weight. Being more lightweight, it can be carried easier and your wrists suffer less when doing so. It is, therefore, easier to maneuver, transport and store during travels. Also, it is more affordable than its bigger brother. Read the whole article to learn all about its specs.

Apple iPad Pro 12.9 inches

While the majority of Apple’s fans are wondering whether or not will there be a new version of the iPad Pro released this year, other users simply prefer to enjoy the existing model. This 2018 tablet encompasses everything that the market has to offer in terms of premium design, performance, high-end technology, and whatnot. Other competitor tablets may have received the Pro title, but the iPad Pro 12.9” is, in reality, the only device that truly exceeds all users’ expectations. It doesn’t only perform perfectly, but it is also superior from a design perspective, being extremely pleasant to touch.

The fact that it costs as much as a laptop is totally worth it. Although it has some weak spots, it is capable of satisfying your needs just like one. With a 12.9 inch display, it is ideal for frequent travelers, people who run their business on the run, students, and any person who wants flexibility, freedom of movement, and top performance. There are a few things that everyone admires about this tab, including its competitors: it is very powerful, ultra-thin, its display is high-end, it has a compact design and a strong battery. Also, its Pencil is amazing. Read more about the iPad Pro 12.9 inch to convince yourself of its qualities.

2016 – iPad Pro 9.7

Basically the iPad Air 3 in all but name. Touted as a laptop replacement – a claim widely ridiculed by the professional press. It’s a shame Apple insists on that kind of hyperbole because this really is one of the best tablets ever.

2015 – iPad Mini 4 and iPad Pro

On September 9th, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced two new iPad models. The less reported of the two was the iPad mini 4, which filled the space between the iPhone 6s and iPad Air 2. Compared to the iPad mini 3, the 4 was thinner and lighter, had a faster processor, much improved rear camera – all while maintaining its battery life (10 hours).

But the major news was the iPad Pro. With a vast, 12.9 inch screen, surround sound, and stylus pen for pixel-perfect input, it created quite a stir. Cook, with typical Apple overstatement, called it ‘the biggest news for the iPad since the iPad.’

Both devices came with iOS 9.

Apple iPad Air

On 22nd October 2013, Apple introduced a new, thinner, and lighter version of the iPad. The new iPad Air was 28 percent lighter and 20 percent thinner than the 4th generation model. It weighed only 1 pound/450 grams and was the lightest 10 inch tablet on the market, causing consternation among rival manufacturers who were asked to raise their game yet again.

The tablet came with the new 64-bit architecture chips A7/M7 already present in the iPhone 5S. The operating system was iOS 7. The display remained the same as in the 4th generation iPad (Retina with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 px).

Apple iPad Mini

Released alongside the fourth-generation iPad, the iPad Mini represented Apple’s effort to obtain significant market share in the 7 inch tablets market, a size it had previously shunned under the watch of Steve Jobs.

The 9.7-inch screen common to previous iPads was replaced by a 7.9-inch screen. The resolution was the same as the iPad 2’s 1,024-by-768 pixels, though the smaller screen meant an increase to 163 pixels per inch.

Rather than the familiar dimensions of 9.5 inches by 7.31 inches, the iPad Mini measured in at 7.87 by 5.3 inches. The other major change in comparison to iPad 3 was the Lightning port (a move which annoyed fans as it rendered some of their old accessories obsolete), 1.2-megapixel front camera, dual-band Wi-Fi, and the use of a Nano-SIM card rather than a Micro-SIM.

Apple iPad 4

No products found.

Perhaps the most prominent change for the fourth-generation iPad was the new Lightning port that debuted on the iPhone 5. The durable, all-digital Lightning was 80 percent smaller than the old connector and its reversible design meant that cables could be used in either orientation.

Joining the Lightning port was a processor upgrade in the form of a powerful Dual-core A6X processor with quad-core graphics. The new iPad also brought dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and a high-definition 720p FaceTime camera.

Apple iPad 3

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A significant development in the world of tablet computers came with the introduction of the third-generation iPad, which featured a Retina display for the first time on an iPad. The display featured a 2,048-by-1,536 pixel resolution with 264 pixels per inch, powered by the dual-core Apple A5X processor.

Comparing to the previous model, the memory doubled from 512 megabytes to one gigabyte, and 4G LTE connectivity was added. The rear-facing camera was upgraded to five megapixels and supported full 1080p video.

Apple iPad 2

The second iteration of the iPad featured some of the most substantial improvements in the entire line. While producing a thinner profile, reduced from .52 inches to .34 inches, Apple still included both a front- and rear-facing camera, an internal gyroscope, 512 megabytes of memory, and a vastly superior processor.

From the Apple A4 processor on the original iPad, the iPad 2 upgraded to a dual-core A5 processor which offered twice the processing speed and nine times the graphical power.

Apple iPad

The original Apple iPad, released on April 3, 2010, was powered by an Apple A4 processor and 256 megabytes of memory. The iPad originally ran a specially designed version of Apple’s operating system, named iOS 3.2.

The original iPad did not feature a front or rear camera. Storage options included 16, 32 and 64 gigabyte models, and connectivity options included Bluetooth version 2.1 + EDR, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and 3G cellular connectivity.

Pre-History

Steve Jobs long held a vision for a type of personal computer that would be the size of a book and would be incredibly easy to use.

“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.”

Apple invested in Acorn Computers, a British company renowned for its technical skills. Acorn would indirectly play a large role in the history of mobile computing – a joint venture including Acorn and Apple would create ARM Holdings, a company which now makes most of the world’s mobile processors.

Their earliest chip, the ARM6, was used in Apple’s Newton MessagePad 100. It, and later iterations, met a mixed response. It was derided for its awful handwriting recognition and short battery life, but retained a sizeable hardcore following – the last dedicated Newton shop closed in 1998.

As early as 1991, Jonathan Ive began experimenting with the tablet form – it was his first project as an Apple employee. In 2004 he hadn’t given up on the idea, making a ‘crude’ prototype of a device. He was persuaded to prioritize the iPhone by Jobs, but after the runaway success of the iPhone, he was able to return to the project that had interested him for so long.