IPad

This article is about the line of tablet computers by Apple. For the first model of the iPad, see iPad (1st generation). For other iPads and other uses of the word, see iPad (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with iPod.

iPad
Front face of the last generation's flagship model, the iPad Pro (6th generation)
DeveloperApple
Manufacturer
TypeTablet computer
Release dateApril 3, 2010; 14 years ago (April 3, 2010) (1st generation)
Units sold677.7 million (as of 2022)[5]
Operating systemiOS (2010–2019)[6]
iPadOS (2019–present)[6]
ConnectivityWiFi, cellular, 30-pin dock connector, Lightning connector, USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack, 3-pin "Smart connector"
Online services
RelatediPhone, iPod Touch, comparison of iPad models
Websiteapple.com/ipad
This article is part of a series on the
iPad
List of iPad models

The iPad is a brand of iOS- and iPadOS-based tablet computers that are developed and marketed by Apple. The first-generation iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010. Since then, the iPad product line has been expanded to include the smaller iPad Mini, the lighter and thinner iPad Air, and the flagship iPad Pro models. As of 2022, over 670 million iPads have been sold, making Apple the largest vendor of tablet computers. Due to its popularity, the term "iPad" is sometimes used as a generic name for tablet computers.

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 a user interface tailored to the tablets' larger screens. Since then, major versions of iPadOS have been released annually. 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, the iPad had a market share of 34.6% among tablets. 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 additional support for cellular networks. Accessories for the iPad include the Apple Pencil, Smart Case, Smart Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio, Magic Keyboard, and several adapters.

  1. ^ "Supplier List" (PDF). Apple. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  2. ^ Wagner, Wieland (May 28, 2010). "iPad Factory in the Firing Line: Worker Suicides Have Electronics Maker Uneasy in China". Der Spiegel. ISSN 2195-1349. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  3. ^ Dou, Eva (May 29, 2013). "Apple Shifts Supply Chain Away From Foxconn to Pegatron". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on October 6, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  4. ^ Lovejoy, Ben (October 22, 2015). "Majority of iPhone/iPad workers at Pegatron's Shanghai factory exceed 60-hour work limit, claims China Labor Watch". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  5. ^ "Apple Statistics (2023)". Businessofapps. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Byford, Sam (June 4, 2019). "iPadOS should make the iPad a better tablet, but not a laptop". The Verge. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  7. ^ "iOS and iPadOS – Feature Availability". Apple. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.