iPad Generations: List Of All Models By Release Year

iPads have been in the market for over a decade now. Still, it might be overwhelming when you learn about this amazing product for the first time, as multiple products are available with this signature name.

In this post, you’ll learn about the iPad generation in detail, and I’ll try to explain it simply so that you can remember it easily.

iPad Generations: A List That Has Got Everything

There are 4 iPad models available in the market, and each one of them has passed through different generations they are:

iPad (10 Generations).
iPad mini (6 Generations).
iPad Air (5 Generations).
iPad Pro (6 Generations).

Let me elaborate on these iPad models and discuss each generation in detail so you can understand their differences.

Let’s get started.

iPad Quick Overview:

iPad is one of the most iconic products of our time after the iPhone, launched by the legend himself, Steve Jobs, when he was alive.

The first-ever iPad was launched in early 2010 and was discontinued after a year. Still, this product has evolved over the years and right now, the 10th generation of the iPad is available in the market with powerful specifications under $500 and goes all the up to $800 for the top-end model.

1. iPad 1st Gen:

The first-ever iPad was launched on April 3, 2010, which amazed many people with its unique look and decent specifications, but it was not so budget friendly and was priced at $499.

Despite its expensive pricing then, people bought Apple’s iPad in good numbers, a major milestone for the company. This created a path for Apple to build this product even better, and since then, they have been doing that pretty well.

Key specifications:

Size: 9.7 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 16, 32, and 64GB.
Processor: Apple A4.
RAM: 256 MB
Battery: Non-removable 6600 mAh battery.

Launch Date: April 3, 2010

Operating System: iOS 4 and upgradable to iOS 5.1.1

Current Status: Discontinued on March 2, 2011

Here’s a video where Steve Jobs launch this product.

2. iPad 2nd Gen

The second generation of iPad was launched in 2011 with exciting features, and the debut of FaceTime changed video calling for everyone. It was faster than the first gen in terms of performance, which impressed a lot of customers.

In terms of design, there was no major difference between the first and the second gen and 2nd gen, but this one was launched in different colours, such as Pink, Orange, Green, Blue, and Gray.

Key specifications:

Size: 9.7 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 16, 32, and 64GB.
Processor: Apple A5.
RAM: 512 MB.
Battery: Non-removable 6930 mAh battery.

Launch Date: March 2, 2011.

Operating System: iOS 4 and upgradable to iOS 9.3.5.

Current Status: Discontinued on March 18, 2014.

Here is a detailed review of this excellent product by Phonearena.

3. iPad 3rd Gen:

The third-gen iPad was launched in the market on March 7, 2012, and it was the first time Apple introduced Retina Display on this iPad lineup.

Apart from the Retina Display, consumers praised this model for its spectacular camera and performance with good specifications.

Unlike the 2nd gen, which came with 5 different colours, the third-gen came only with two colour options, i.e White and Black.

Key specifications:

Size: 9.7 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 16, 32, and 64GB.
RAM: 1GB GB.
Processor: Apple A5X.
Battery: Non-removable 11560 mAh battery.

Launch Date: March 16, 2012.

Operating System: iOS 5.1 and upgradable to iOS 9.3.5.

Current Status: Discontinued on October 23, 2012.

4. iPad 4th Gen

A couple of months after Apple launched their third-gen iPad, they decided to bring their new-gen iPad, but it didn’t go well with the customers and they had to face serious criticism even from their loyal fans.

They launched this product with the same old looks but with a new processor called Apple A6X. The price of the base model started at $499.

Key specifications:

Size: 9.7 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 16, 32, 64, and 128GB.
RAM: 1GB GB.
Processor: Apple A5X.
Battery: Non-removable 11560 mAh battery.

Launch Date: October 23, 2012.

Operating System: iOS 6 and upgradable to iOS 10.3.

Current Status: Discontinued on October 16, 2014.

5. iPad 5th Gen:

After a gap of over 4 years, Apple launched their 5th generation of iPad with significantly improved performance and a few surprising features.

One of the major differences between the earlier iPad and the 5th gen was that it came with 2GB RAM and Apple’s A9 processor that helped increase the tablet’s overall performance and was perfectly suitable for multitasking.

Key specifications:

Size: 9.7 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 32 and 128GB.
RAM: 2GB GB.
Processor: Apple 9X.
Battery: Non-removable 8827 mAh battery.

Launch Date: March 21, 2017.

Operating System: iOS 10.2.1 and upgradable iPadOS 16.

Current Status: Discontinued on March 27, 2018.

6. iPad 6th Gen:

The 6th generation of iPad was launched in the market with a price tag of $329 for baseline and was relatively cheaper than previous generations of iPad.

The 6th gen of iPad came with support for styluses such as Apple Pencil because the target market for this model was school teachers.

7. iPad 7th Gen:

The 7th gen iPad makes the first model in the lineup that replaced the 9.7-inch display with a new bigger 10.2-inch Retina display. Still, there are no major differences in the design aspect of this lineup.

Despite offering a bigger display, Apple didn’t upgrade this model with a new processor, which didn’t go well with the consumers however, it came with 3GB RAM for smooth multitasking.

Key specifications:

Size: 10.2 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 32 and 128GB.
RAM: 3GB.
Processor: Apple A10 Fusion.
Battery: Non-removable 8827 mAh battery.

Launch Date: September 10, 2019.

Operating System: iPadOS 13.1 and upgradable to iPadOS 16.1.

Current Status: Discontinued on September 15, 2020.

8. iPad 8th Gen:

With an 8th Gen iPad, you can connect and use Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard, which is suitable for educators and students who brings it to school regularly.

Apple offered this model in three different colours Silver, Space Gray, and Gold. Apple’s A12 Bionic chip was one of the best during that time, and this model’s pricing was also pretty reasonable at only $329.

Key specifications:

Size: 10.2 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 32 and 128GB.
RAM: 3GB.
Processor: Apple A12 Bionic.
Battery: Non-removable 8827 mAh battery.

Launch Date: September 15, 2020.

Operating System: iPadOS 14 and upgradable to iPadOS 16.1.

Current Status: Discontinued on September 14, 2021.

9. iPad 9th Gen:

The iPad 9th gen marks the last model to feature a home button which many people, including me love.

According to Apple, Apple A13 Bionic that came with 9th gen iPad is at least 20% faster than the previous chipset. This iPad didn’t have a lower storage option of 32GB, and customers had to opt for at least a 64 or 256GB variant.

Again, Apple has priced the iPad budget friendly and launched at a price tag of $329.

Key specifications:

Size: 10.2 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 64 and 256GB.
RAM: 3GB.
Processor: Apple A13 Bionic.
Battery: Non-removable 8557 mAh battery.

Launch Date: September 14, 2021.

Operating System: iPadOS 15 and upgradable to iPadOS 16.1.

Current Status: Available.

10. iPad 10th Gen:

The latest iPad was launched on October 18, 2022, with a bigger 10.9-inch display, Apple A14 Bionic, and a few other changes.

It doesn’t come with a home button; you must operate it via Gestures. Another noticeable thing about this model is it is priced relatively higher at $449, which was not the case with the previous model.

Here’s a detailed review of the latest iPad by The Tech Chap.

Key specifications:

Size: 10.9 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 64 and 256GB.
RAM: 4GB.
Processor: Apple A14 Bionic.
Battery: Non-removable 8000 mAh battery.

Launch Date: October 18, 2022.

Operating System: iPadOS 16.1.

Current Status: Available.

iPad Mini:

Not everyone likes the big screen, and keeping this in mind, Apple launched the mini version of their popular iPad and named it “iPad Mini”.

iPad Mini is a compact yet powerful tablet that can do much similar to a regular laptop or a PC.

1. iPad Mini 1st gen:

Apple launched its first mini version of the iPad on October 23, 2012, with a screen size of 7.9 inches considering users who prefer small screens.

Like the regular iPad, the mini also came with the usual software such as Safari, Photos, Mail, Music, etc. The pricing of Apple Mini started at $329, which I think is pretty good considering its specs.

Key specifications:

Size: 7.9 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 16, 32, and 64GB.
RAM: 512MB RAM.
Processor: Apple A5.
Battery: Non-removable 4490 mAh battery.

Launch Date: October 23, 2012.

Operating System: iOS 6 and upgradable to iOS 9.3.5.

Current Status: Discontinued on June 19, 2015.

2. iPad Mini 2nd Gen:

Apple launched the 2nd generation of iPad Mini with Retina Display, one of the key differences between the earlier model and this one.

The design remains the same as the first generation, but it was powered by an Apple A7 chipset that made huge differences in the performance. At the time of launch, the price of this model started at $399, and it was gone up to $829 for the top-spec variant.

Key specifications:

Size: 7.9 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 16, 32, 64GB, and 128 GB.
RAM: 1GB.
Processor: Apple A7.
Battery: Non-removable 6470 mAh battery.

Launch Date: October 22, 2013.

Operating System: iOS 7 and upgradable to iPadOS 12.5.6.

Current Status: Discontinued on March 21, 2017.

3. iPad Mini 3rd Gen:

One of the main features added in the 3rd Gen of iPad Mini is Touch ID which lets you unlock the device without any password, pattern, or passcode.

The size of the tablet remains the same, and Apple offers 4 colour options Gold, Space Gray, and Silver.

Key specifications:

Size: 7.9 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 16, 64GB, and 128 GB.
RAM: 1GB.
Processor: Apple A7.
Battery: Non-removable 6470 mAh battery.

Launch Date: October 16, 2014.

Operating System: iOS 8.1 and upgradable to iPadOS 12.5.6.

Current Status: Discontinued on September 9, 2015.

4. iPad Mini 4th Gen:

In terms of design, the iPad Mini 4th is slightly taller and wider but thinner and lighter by 30 grams than the previous generation.

The headphone jack’s position had to be replaced due to the device’s design aspect. The colour options for this model were Gold, Space Gray, and Silver.

All the variants of iPad Mini 4th Gen came up with 2GB RAM, which made a difference in performance Many consumers praised this Apple’s move.

Key specifications:

Size: 7.9 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 16, 32, 64GB, and 128 GB.
RAM: 2GB.
Processor: Apple A8.
Battery: Non-removable 5124 mAh battery.

Launch Date: September 9, 2015.

Operating System: iOS 9 and upgradable to iPadOS 15.7.

Current Status: Discontinued on March 18, 2019.

5. iPad Mini 5th Gen:

Nearly after 4 years, Apple upgraded its iPad Mini lineup with the 5th Generation, and it was launched for $399 with the colour options of Space Gray, Silver, and Gold.

One of the main additions to this generation of iPad Mini is the support for Apple Pencil, which will help many educators while teaching.

Apple upgraded its processor on this one from A8 to A12 Bionic processor with 3GB RAM, which resulted in superior performance than the earlier model.

Key specifications:

Size: 7.9 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 64 and 256GB.
RAM: 3GB.
Processor: Apple A12 Bionic.
Battery: Non-removable 5124 mAh battery.

Launch Date: March 18, 2019.

Operating System: iOS 12.1.3 and upgradable to iPadOS 16.1.

Current Status: Discontinued on September 14, 2021.

6. iPad Mini 6th Gen:

The latest and the current iPad Mini 6th Generation was launched by Apple on September 14, 2021, with minor changes in the design. It comes with a relatively bigger display i.e 8.3 inches compared to 7.9 in previous models.

The price of this model starts at $499 for the base variant and goes all the way up to $799 for the high-end model. You have got 4 colour options to choose from they are Space Gray, Pink, Purple, and Starlight.

If you want to know more about this tablet, here’s a review for you by none other than MKBHD.

Key specifications:

Size: 8.3 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 64 and 256GB.
RAM: 4GB.
Processor: Apple A15 Bionic.
Battery: Non-removable 5124 mAh battery.

Launch Date: September 14, 2021.

Operating System: iPadOS 15 and upgradable to iPadOS 16.1.

Current Status: Available.

iPad Air:

The iPad Air got into the market for those who don’t want to pay for the regular or premium version but want similar features at a reasonable price.

1. iPad Air 1st Gen:

Apple launched the 1st Gen iPad Air with a sleek design that attracted a lot of consumers. It was available in the retail market on November 1, 2013, with an introductory price of $499.

With fewer bezels, the design of 1st Gen iPad Air resembled iPad Mini. Many iPad users responded positively to the launch of the new iPad Air for its value-for-money aspect.

Key specifications:

Size: 9.7 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 16, 32, 64, and 128GB.
RAM: 1GB.
Processor: Apple A7.
Battery: Non-removable 8600 mAh battery.

Launch Date: October 22, 2013.

Operating System: iOS 7 and upgradable to iPadOS 12.5.6.

Current Status: Discontinued on March 21, 2016.

2. iPad Air 2nd Gen:

The 2nd Generation of iPad Air was launched by Apple on October 16, 2014, along with iPad Mini 3. Like the previous gen, this one is also priced at $499.

The 2nd Gen iPad came equipped with Apple A8X and 2GB, and this tablet’s performance was pretty great, with almost no lags in between.

Key specifications:

Size: 9.7 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 16, 32, 64, and 128GB.
RAM: 1GB.
Processor: Apple A7.
Battery: Non-removable 8600 mAh battery.

Launch Date: October 22, 2013.

Operating System: iOS 7 and upgradable to iPadOS 12.5.6.

Current Status: Discontinued on March 21, 2016.

3. iPad Air 3rd Gen:

Apple launched their new iPad Air 3rd Gen after a gap of nearly 4 years and made huge changes in the tablet.

The 3rd generation of iPad supports only the 1st-generation Apple Pencil, and If you own another Apple Pencil, it may not work for you.

Key specifications:

Size: 10.5 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 64 and 256GB.
RAM: 3GB.
Processor: Apple A12 Bionic.
Battery: Non-removable 8134 mAh battery.

Launch Date: March 18, 2019.

Operating System: iOS 12.1.3 and upgradable to iPadOS 16.1.

Current Status: Discontinued on September 15, 2020.

4. iPad Air 4th Gen:

The 4th generation of the iPad Air had a bigger display than before and came with a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display. Apart from that, it is the first-ever iPad to feature a USB Type-C.

Key specifications:

Size: 10.9 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 64 and 256GB.
RAM: 3GB.
Processor: Apple A12 Bionic.
Battery: Non-removable 8134 mAh battery.

Launch Date: October 23, 2020.

Operating System: iOS 12.1.3 and upgradeable up to iPadOS 16.1.

Current Status: Discontinued on March 8, 2022.

5. iPad Air 5th Gen:

The latest iPad Air was launched on the market on March 8, 2022, and is still available for purchase.

It was equipped with Apple’s own M1 processor and 8GB RAM with a 10.9-inch display and the price set for this tablet was $599, which is slightly expensive compared to other versions of iPad Air.

To know more about the latest iPad Air, here’s a video review that might help you.

Key specifications:

Size: 10.5 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 64 and 256GB.
RAM: 8GB.
Processor: Apple M1.
Battery: Non-removable 8827 mAh battery.

Launch Date: March 8, 2022.

Operating System: iPadOS 15.4 and upgradable to iPadOS 16.1.

Current Status: Available.

iPad Pro Overview:

iPad Pro is the most powerful model in the iPad lineup as it is equipped with the most powerful specifications but will cost way more than any other model in the iPad lineup.

If you do a lot of powerful tasks such as editing, gaming, etc, this might be the perfect choice for you.

1. iPad Pro 1st Gen:

The first generation of the iPad Pro got launched on Nov. 11, 2015. It was meant for users who love to do powerful tasks and want to replace laptops with their notebooks.

Key specifications:

Size: 12.9 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 32, 128, and 256GB.
RAM: 4GB.
Processor: Apple A9X.
Battery: Non-removable 10307 mAh battery.

Launch Date: Nov. 11, 2015.

Operating System: iOS 9 and upgradable to iPadOS 15.7.

Current Status: Discontinued on June 5, 2017.

2. iPad Pro 2nd Gen:

The next generation of iPad Pro got released with a few changes to the product, and people could go for up to 512GB of storage, which wasn’t the case earlier.

Key specifications:

Size: 12.9 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 64, 256, and 512GB.
RAM: 4GB.
Processor: Apple A10X.
Battery: Non-removable 10891 mAh battery.

Launch Date: Jun. 13, 2017.

Operating System: iOS 10.3.2 and upgradable to iPadOS 16.1.

Current Status: Discontinued on Oct. 30, 2018.

3. iPad Pro 3rd Gen:

Apple released the third generation of iPad Pro after 1 year with a few changes for the consumers, such as the addition of Face ID and a powerful processor.

Key specifications:

Size: 12.9 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 64, 256, 512GB, and 1TB.
RAM: 4/ 6GB.
Processor: Apple A12X Bionic.
Battery: Non-removable 9720 mAh battery.

Launch Date: October 30, 2018.

Operating System: iOS 12 and upgradable to iPadOS 16.1.

Current Status: Discontinued on March 18, 2020.

4. iPad Pro 4th Gen:

Apple launched the 4th Gen iPad Pro in 2020 with some noticeable changes, like the position of the front-facing camera, which is compatible with Apple’s Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad.

Key specifications:

Size: 12.9 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 128, 256, 512GB, and 1TB.
RAM: 6GB.
Processor: Apple A12Z Bionic.
Battery: Non-removable 9720 mAh battery.

Launch Date: March 25, 2020.

Operating System: iPadOS 13.4 and upgradable to iPadOS 16.1.

Current Status: Discontinued on April 20, 2021.

5. iPad Pro 5th Gen:

The 5th generation iPad Pro marks the debut of Apple’s M1 Processor in this lineup. Apart from this, some of the key changes in this model are optional 5G connectivity which is only 1TB in the previous version.

Key specifications:

Size: 12.9 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 128, 256, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB.
RAM: 8/ 16GB.
Processor: Apple M1.
Battery: Non-removable 10758 mAh battery.

Launch Date: April 20, 2021.

Operating System: iPadOS 14.5.1 and upgradable to iPadOS 16.1.

Current Status: Discontinued on October 18, 2022.

6. iPad Pro 6th Gen:

Apple launched the 6th and the current iPad Pro on October 18, 2022. Apple has upgraded the processor from M1 to M2 which is much more powerful and faster than ever.

Key specifications:

Size: 12.9 inches IPS LCD Display.
Storage options: 128, 256, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB.
RAM: 8/ 16GB.
Processor: Apple M2.
Battery: Non-removable 10758 mAh battery.

Launch Date: October 18, 2022.

Operating System: iPadOS 16.1.

Current Status: Available.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How many types of iPads are there?

Currently, there are 4 iPad models available such as iPad, iPad Pro, iPad Mini, and iPad Air.

Can I update the outdated iPad?

You can easily update your iPad by going through “Settings > General > Software Update” and completing the process.

Conclusion:

Many people might get confused about the generations and the types of iPad models available in the market and may opt for the wrong one by mistake.

I have tried my best to explain the iPad generation in detail so that you can understand them and choose the right option for yourself or someone else. If you have any questions, leave them below, and I’ll reply ASAP.