The 4 worst iPads Apple ever launched

To Apple’s credit score, there hasn’t been a genuinely horrible iPad launched to this point. By that, I imply one thing that is outright disagreeable to make use of, or else damaged or incomplete. That is nonetheless an issue with loads of different merchandise — simply take into account the Humane Ai Pin, or the Full Self-Driving mode on Teslas. You may be capable to allow FSD in your Mannequin 3, however there’s nonetheless a threat it is going to disengage partway by your commute.

Apple has, nonetheless, sometimes made some baffling compromises, such that some iPads did not actually make sense to purchase when you might afford to attend a yr or two for enhancements. These are my private picks for the worst iPads in that regard — your individual selections may differ.

1 The third-generation iPad (2012)

Coming in sizzling and heavy, actually

Apple / Pocket-lint

This was the primary iPad I ever owned, and I actually preferred it, total. It was additionally the primary iPad outfitted with a Retina Show, which means there have been no discernible pixels in appropriate apps. And since I purchased the mobile/GPS model, I used to be in a position to make use of it for offline maps throughout a visit to Germany.

There have been drawbacks to the product, although, starting with weight. Even the Wi-Fi-only mannequin was 1.44 kilos, or about 652 grams. That may not sound like a lot, however it was almost half a pound heavier than the 2024 11-inch iPad Professional, and that is earlier than including a case. It was uncomfortable to carry single-handed for greater than a minute or two. Inevitably, you needed to relaxation it on one thing for studying, by no means thoughts utilizing a stylus or attempting to kind out a full sentence.

The pill was additionally notorious for working sizzling — by no means dangerously so, however you’d really feel it when you sat it in your lap. And in Australia, Apple obtained into authorized hassle for advertising and marketing the mobile model as “4G,” despite the fact that it did not truly help native 4G networks. The corporate was pressured to vary its promoting within the nation, in addition to supply refunds to individuals who felt deceived.

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2 The primary-generation iPad mini (2012)

For measurement purists solely

Looking back, Apple actually went off-course with iPads in 2012. On paper, the first-gen Mini wasn’t a foul concept — Apple wanted some type of response to the Google Nexus 7and different small Android tablets. It additionally wanted a mannequin that was genuinely ergonomic for studying. Later Minis have develop into fashionable amongst some professions for that cause, corresponding to business aviation.

The OG Mini was outdated the second it arrived, nonetheless. It used the identical A5 processor from 2011’s iPad 2, regardless of the third-gen iPad sporting an A5X chip at a time when each ounce of efficiency mattered. Extra importantly, it did not have a Retina Show, so pictures remained very pixelated. Everybody following Apple rumors knew {that a} Retina Mini was inevitable, and positive sufficient, the second-gen Mini mounted that oversight a yr later.

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3 The fourth-generation iPad Professional (2020)

Oops, now you are out of date

That is one other product I purchased with my very own money, and it is what I am nonetheless utilizing in the present day. For essentially the most half, I do not remorse shopping for it. It is a testomony to its design that it is maintaining with (most) apps 5 years later.

It was, nonetheless, an incremental replace to the 2018 Professional fashions, as an illustration, including an ultra-wide digital camera and an additional graphics core, whereas bumping base RAM to 6GB. It was wonderful when you hadn’t upgraded your iPad in a few years, like me, however it was pointless when you owned a 2018.

The true kicker was that it was the final Professional to make use of an A-series processor. The following yr, Apple switched the Professional over to the identical M-series chips it was utilizing in Macs. 2020 homeowners discovered themselves unable to run some apps purely for architectural causes, and even some iPadOS options, particularly extending Stage Supervisor home windows to an exterior show. There’s nonetheless skepticism about whether or not these limitations had been synthetic, on condition that Apple Intelligence runs on 2020 {hardware}.

The truthful factor for customers would have been to maintain 2018 Execs round till the M-series leap. It isn’t clear why Apple did not, besides maybe due to aggressive stress.

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4 The Tenth-generation iPad (2022)

Nice till you bought to the tag

Spec-wise, there was nothing too off-putting concerning the Tenth-gen iPad. It had a two-year-old iPhone processor, true, however that was ok, and the product superior base iPad specs in different methods, above all by ditching issues like a Residence button and a Lightning port. It even added a landscape-oriented FaceTime digital camera, lastly acknowledging that nobody needs to carry an iPad vertically for a whole video name.

The true drawback — other than needing an ungainly Apple Pencil adapter — was the value. Apple jacked the price up $120 to $449, conserving the Ninth-gen iPad on sale for $329. If you happen to actually needed to economize, it made extra sense to purchase that Ninth-gen mannequin or discover a refurb. If you happen to might afford the Tenth-gen, you had been $150 away from shopping for an iPad Air, which was clearly the higher machine.

Apple iPad 10

The Tenth era iPad comes with some glossy new options, bringing it nearer in line to the Air and Professional fashions. It features a 2360×1640 Liquid Retina show and a A14 Bionic processor for clean, highly effective efficiency. It is the primary base mannequin iPad to change to USB-C for charging, making it extra environment friendly. Help for the primary gen Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard Folio can be candy.

Model

Apple

Storage

64GB, 256GB

CPU

A14 Bionic

Ports

USB-C (as much as 480Mb/s)

Digital camera (Rear, Entrance)

12-megapixel large

Show kind

10.9-inch, 2360 x 1640 Liquid Retina

Value

$349, $499

Rear Digital camera

12-megapixel large

Broaden

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