Evolution of iPad: Specs over history

By Rene Ritchie
last updated

In 2010 Steve Jobs unveiled the original iPad, with a big, bright 9.7-inch 1024x768 screen, and by the miracle of then-modern technology, only 0.5-inches think and 1.5lbs heavy. This morning Phil Schiller showed off not only the new 9.7-inch 2048x1536 iPad Air at 0.29-inches an 1lbs, but the new 7.9-inch 2048x1536 Retina iPad mini at 0.29-inches and 0.73lbs. Miracles of now-modern technology both.

Between them was the iPad 2, still available, though likely still only attractive to education and enterprise mass-purchasers, and 30-pin diehards, the graphically challenged iPad 3, and the powerful iPad 4. A steady march towards the future of mainstream computing appliances. No longer just technology, but simply parts of our lives.

Rene Ritchie
Rene Ritchie
Contributor

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.

11 Comments
  • This reaffirms my decision to get a Mini. Same price for double the memory and less weight.
  • Well Apple made a Big leap, Looking at ongoing slimness and technical advance. BTW: I loved all the Software they showed today!
  • The chart needs a description header on the side.
  • I thought that too Harry, looked at the matrix and thought..................somethings missing teehee.
  • Agree - was just trying to figure out what each category was for and realized the descriptions were all missing.
  • Whoops, yup! Fixed!
  • I don't wanna be a douche but there's a typo... In the second line of your first paragraph... "only 0.5-inches think". Btw... You're welcome. Ill be expecting a check soon in the mail.
  • One real stupid thing that Apple did with the iPad Air is to reduce the battery size and stick with 10 hours backup. Beyond a point there isnt anything to be gained by making a sufficiently thin device even thinner. Especially when this means shaving off on the battery. I want my tablet to last longer, it doesnt matter whether it looks like a pencil or a slim pencil from the side.
  • We don't all need our iPads to last 10 hours without a charge. I much prefer a thinner and lighter tablet than one that's heavier because it can squeeze another couple of hours of battery life. If you truly need more than 10 hours you can pick up an external battery.
  • I can't believe apple didn't do something to boost the A7 chip to an A7X but I guess that shows how much confidence Apple has in this beast!
  • Great evolution but the evolution of iPhone is quite great, because its great popularity for today.