The Evolution of iPads Over The Years ( 2010 – 2020 )
Apple iPads have been around for a decade and it is still as popular as it was first launched in 2010. A reason behind the tablet’s popularity is that people are already accustomed to the iPhone.
It includes the multi-touch function, App Store, iTunes Store, and more. As of December 2020, there’s 25 models of iPads; let’s take a look at how iPads have evolved over the years.
2010 – Launch of iPad
The first version of iPad came 3 years after the first version of iPhone was launched. The tablet aims to cover the functions of a MacBook and iPhone. Fast forward to 10 years later, we can see that a portion of people use iPad instead of a typical laptop to do their work.
2011 – Introduction of front-facing camera
iPad 2 (the second version of iPad) is the first ever iPad to have a front-facing camera. It is also slimmer, increased performance speed, and had better graphics compared to the first version of iPad.
2012 – The Mini version
Launched alongside the iPad 4, iPad mini is half the weight of a standard iPad. It has a rounded edge and runs on the A5 processor. Despite not using the Retina display that was used in iPad 4, the smaller version of an iPad is still comparable to a normal-sized iPad.
2013 – As thin as Air
Designed to be lighter, smaller, and slimmer, iPad Air has a larger viewing area compared to an iPad. It is the first iPad model which supports iOS 7.
2015 – The Pro is here
Now in a larger form, the iPad Pro has four speaker setups instead of the dual setup that is present in iPad Air 2. This translates to a louder volume for users to enjoy their music. A 64-bit A9X chip was used in the iPad Pro to increase its loading speed as well.
Apple Pencil was first released in 2015, along with iPad Pro.
2016 – A smaller iPad Pro
iPad Pro 9.7 was originally thought to be joining the iPad Air model due to its small size. However, Apple decided to group it into the Pro family. This iPad comes along with the rose gold colour and it is the first iPad to have to True Tone display technology in it.
2018 – Removal of home button
Apple has made a huge move to remove the button on their mobile devices in the late 2017. In 2018, the button was removed from the iPad too. The iPad Pro 11 (1st generation) features facial recognition (Face ID) to unlock the device, make payment, and more.
2020 – The smallest Pro
The 11-inch iPad Pro (2nd generation) is the smallest addition to the Pro family. It uses a USB-C connector, A12Z Bionic chip, and has a Retina display. Not only that, it also has a wide and ultra-wide camera at the back of the tablet. LiDAR scanner is also available in this iPad for Apple to create depth mapping points.
Posted : December 15, 2020
A large part of what makes the iPad Mini so popular is its tiny frame combined with insane processing power. Apple knew their target demographic well when tweaking the specs for this recent release, and it really shows. Catered towards people working on the go, and creatives who spend a lot of time drawing and sketching for work, this 6th generation iPad Mini checks all the boxes for a powerful and portable tablet suited for work and play.
Apart from the changes to case material, the new design language of the iPad Mini 6 features a larger edge-to-edge screen, along with narrow borders and minimum bezel space. Although we’ve seen bezel-less devices from Apple for the better half of a decade, this is the first time the iPad Mini has gotten such an upgrade. In addition to looking much sleeker, this change is felt even more coupled with the new 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone, P3 wide colour, and ultra-low reflectivity.
The end result is a gorgeous dynamic screen that makes the iPad Mini 6 a practical choice indoors and outdoors. Not to mention the support of Apple Pencil 2, which feels amazing on the low latency screen. All these facets add up to make a difference larger than the sum of each individual part, resulting in the new iPad Mini feeling like the perfect device for anyone wanting a portable and adaptable workhorse tablet.
Apart from the changes to case material, the new design language of the iPad Mini 6 features a larger edge-to-edge screen, along with narrow borders and minimum bezel space. Although we’ve seen bezel-less devices from Apple for the better half of a decade, this is the first time the iPad Mini has gotten such an upgrade. In addition to looking much sleeker, this change is felt even more coupled with the new 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone, P3 wide colour, and ultra-low reflectivity.
The end result is a gorgeous dynamic screen that makes the iPad Mini 6 a practical choice indoors and outdoors. Not to mention the support of Apple Pencil 2, which feels amazing on the low latency screen. All these facets add up to make a difference larger than the sum of each individual part, resulting in the new iPad Mini feeling like the perfect device for anyone wanting a portable and adaptable workhorse tablet.
It wouldn’t be an Apple upgrade if they didn’t improve the camera capabilities on the device. If anything, that’s the least we expect from the tech giant’s annual keynote events. This time, the iPad Mini has received blessings in both the front and back cameras on the device. Boasting a 12MP camera on both the front and back of the 6th-Gen iPad Mini, this is a massive boon compared to the relatively sub-par 7 and 8-megapixel cameras on the respective front and back of the 5th-Gen iPad Mini. The newer Mini also has the ability to record in 4k and capture higher-quality images, courtesy of the new Smart HDR 3 function in the A15 Bionic chip.
Knowing that video calls are also more popular now than even in the time of COVID-19, Apple’s implementation of CentreStage for a more natural video call experience also feels like a natural feature to have as well.
A ton of well-deserved updates to the iPad Mini makes it feel right at home alongside Apple’s latest generation of tablets. If you’re still wondering if you should still get the new iPad, the make or break factor here really is the size and portability of the iPad Mini 6.
Historically, the Mini was always viewed as the cheaper and lower-spec cousin of the flagship iPad. Not this time – the iPad Mini 6 proves a worthy contender for the individual who’s constantly on the move, looking for an all in one device that fits comfortably in the palm of their hand.
