As we all know, Apple is one of the few tech companies around the globe where innovations never seem to stop. With each new generation of products, we get to see new additions of features and some great changes to specifications which keeps on making their products better and better. This is the same for all product lineups designed by Apple, whether we are talking about their smartphones, laptops, or tablets.
If you have been following Apple’s tablet lineup for some time now, you must know that Apple offers one of the most brilliant lineups of tablets called the iPad. These are very efficient options for those who need a larger display to work while they are on the move. It removes the additional baggage that you would need for a standard laptop, still offering almost all the features that you need for creative applications.
However, choosing the right iPad version can be a daunting task, considering there are too many to count now. Unlike before when there used to be 4 to 5 variants to choose from, Apple now has a separate lineup of Apple iPad that offer different specifications and variations of sizes so that everyone can find an option that suits their needs the best. And considering the premium price range of Apple products, you surely want to get the perfect option in the first go.
So today, we are going to take a look at all available iPad variants and compare them on the basis of their specifications, most importantly the screen size. We will also tell you the exact details of each product so that you can check if these products are the right option for you or not.
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iPad Versions
Before we start with the various models Apple has to offer for an iPad, let us take a look at a few different versions so that you can shortlist your preferred options right now. There are mainly 3 versions of the iPad that you can choose from which are the iPad Mini, iPad Air, and a larger variant from the iPad pro series.
iPad Mini
The Mini series of iPad is powered by quite similar hardware that you would find on other iPad options, but with the advantage of a smaller display size. In a lot of iPad mini models, you will find 3 GB of RAM, a powerful A-series proces
The iPad Mini is definitely the right choice for those who are looking for a handheld tablet that offers a similar form factor as a smartphone. It can work as an ideal secondary device that you can carry around easily. The most common use for an iPad Mini is web browsing, gaming, and watching up with work while you are traveling. A lot of buyers also get an iPad Mini just for its good display quality and use it as a handheld digital book reader.
iPad Air / iPad line (e.g. iPad 4)
The iPad Air manages to maintain a perfect middle ground between smaller iPad Mini devices and the larger variants called iPad Pro. These devices also offer similar functionality as an iPad Mini, granting you a portable secondary screen for mobile usage. It is also possible to pair a set of wireless keyboards and a mouse with an iPad Air to bring more functionality to the device.
There are 4 generations of the iPad Air series and you will find great improvements with each generation of the iPad Air. For example, the iPad Air 1st gen was powered by an A7 chip paired with an M7 coprocessor. The 2nd generation on the other hand featured an A8X processor accompanied by the M8 chip. Still, the performance needed to be upgraded with the upcoming generation. So, the 3rd generation and 4th generations of iPad Air feature Apple’s A series bionic chipsets, the 3rd generation is still coupled with an M12 processor, whereas the 4th one does not necessarily need a coprocessor.
Large iPad Pro
The iPad Pro version, as the name suggests, is a series of iPads that are designed to replace a standard laptop by offering an efficient working station that takes less than half the space of a laptop and offers similarly powerful configurations, if not better. If you are worried about the screen sizes, don’t be. Apple iPad Pro is available in many different screen size options ranging from 9.7 inches all the way up to 12.9 inches, coming edge to edge with a standard mini form factor laptop.
Similar to iPad Air, the iPad Pro is also further subcategorized into 4 different based on their specifications, or generations as they were released. With the first generation of iPad Pro released back in 2015, it has gained a lot of popularity since then, and the latest offering of the iPad Pro 4th generation was unveiled back in 2020. There are quite a few notable differences in these versions. For example, the 2nd and 4th generation of iPad Pro 11 Inches variants operate on an A12Z bionic chip paired with an M1 processor whereas the 1st and 3rd generations of 11 inches models feature an A12X bionic chip instead of A12Z.
iPad Screen Measurements
It can get quite confusing to keep track of all Apple iPad series and generations based on the model numbers of the launch year as a lot of models have been released together, further making them indistinguishable from each other.
But, since most users tend to choose the right iPad for their application based on the screen size, we have decided to prepare a basic comparison table of all available options based on the display size and what type of display these iPads offer. We will also include the exact dimensions of the display to help you clearly understand the sizes of these models on this comparison chart.
iPad Display Size (inches)
iPad Pro 12.9 Inches Options
| iPad Model & Generation | Display Size | Display Panel | Display Dimensions |
| iPad Pro 1st Gen | 12.9 Inches | Retina Display | 12.03 x 8.68 x 0.27 Inches |
| iPad Pro 2nd Gen | 12.9 Inches | Retina Display | 12.03 x 8.68 x 0.27 Inches |
| iPad Pro 3rd Gen | 12.9 Inches | Liquid Retina Display | 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.23 Inches |
| iPad Pro 4th Gen | 12.9 Inches | Liquid Retina Display | 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.23 Inches |
iPad Pro 11/10.9 Inches Options
| iPad Model & Generation | Display Size | Display Panel | Display Dimensions |
| iPad Pro 1st Gen | 11 Inches | Liquid Retina Display | 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.23 Inches |
| iPad Pro 2nd Gen | 11 Inches | Liquid Retina Display | 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.23 Inches |
| iPad Pro 3rd Gen | 10.9 Inches | Retina Display | 9.86 x 6.85 x 0.24 Inches |
| iPad Pro 4th Gen | 10.5 Inches | Liquid Retina Display | 9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 Inches |
iPad Pro Smaller Options
| iPad Model & Generation | Display Size | Display Panel | Display Dimensions |
| iPad Pro | 10.5 Inches | Retina Display | 9.86 x 6.85 x 0.24 Inches |
| iPad Pro | 9.7 Inches | Retina Display | 9.44 x 6.67 x 0.24 Inches |
iPad Air Options
| iPad Model & Generation | Display Size | Display Panel | Display Dimensions |
| iPad Air | 9.7 Inches | Retina Display | 9.44 x 6.67 x 0.29 Inches |
| iPad Air 2 | 9.7 Inches | Retina Display | 9.44 x 6.67 x 0.24 Inches |
iPad Mini Options
| iPad Model & Generation | Display Size | Display Panel | Display Dimensions |
| iPad Mini 1 | 7.9 Inches | Retina Display | 7.87 x 5.30 x 0.28 Inches |
| iPad Mini 2 | 7.9 Inches | Retina Display | 7.87 x 5.30 x 0.29 Inches |
| iPad Mini 3 | 7.9 Inches | Retina Display | 7.87 x 5.30 x 0.29 Inches |
| iPad Mini 4 | 7.9 Inches | Retina Display | 8 x 5.30 x 0.24 Inches |
| iPad Mini 5 | 7.9 Inches | Retina Display | 8 x 5.30 x 0.24 Inches |
| iPad Mini 6 | 8.3 Inches | Liquid Retina Display | 8 x 5.30 x 0.24 Inches |
iPad Resolution
Apart from the display sizes, another concerning factor about iPads, or any other digital display for that matter, is their resolution. The resolution of a display is basically the digital size of the image that can be rendered on the display panel. Unlike most other brands, Apple focuses on the user’s experience rather than pushing technical specifications like display resolution on the product’s front page.
While a lot of Apple consumers consider this as a sigh of relief, most would want to know the exact display resolution before buying an iPad. So, we have one more table here where we will compare the resolutions of various popular iPad models so that you can understand which option offers the sharpest image quality and high-quality image production.
Although, keep in mind that display technology has come a long way now and there are new upgrades and advancements in display technologies waiting ahead. So, the resolutions of iPad models kept getting better and better with time.
iPad Options
| iPad Model and Generation | Launch Year | Display Resolution |
| iPad 1 | 2010 | 1024 x 768 |
| iPad 2 | 2011 | 1024 x 768 |
| iPad 3 | 2012 | 2048 x 1536 |
| iPad 4 | 2012 | 2048 x 1536 |
| iPad 5 | 2017 | 2048 x1 536 |
| iPad 7 | 2019 | 2160 x 1620 |
| iPad 8 | 2020 | 2160 x 1620 |
| iPad 9 | 2021 | 2160 x 1620 |
iPad Mini Options
| iPad Model and Generation | Launch Year | Display Resolution |
| iPad Mini 1 | 2012 | 1024 x 768 |
| iPad Mini 2 | 2013 | 2048 x 1536 |
| iPad Mini 3 | 2014 | 2048 x 1536 |
| iPad Mini 4 | 2015 | 2048 x 1536 |
iPad Air Options
| iPad Model and Generation | Launch Year | Display Resolution |
| iPad Air | 2013 | 2048 x 1536 |
| iPad Air 2 | 2014 | 2048 x 1536 |
| iPad Air 3 | 2019 | 2224 x 1668 |
| iPad Air 4 | 2020 | 2360 x 1640 |
| iPad Air 5 | 2022 | 2360 x 1640 |
iPad Pro Options
| iPad Model and Generation | Launch Year | Display Resolution |
| iPad Pro (9.7 Inches) | 2016 | 2048 x 1536 |
| iPad Pro (10.5 Inches) | 2017 | 2224 x 1668 |
| iPad Pro (11 Inches) 1st Gen | 2018 | 2388 x 1668 |
| iPad Pro (11 Inches) 2nd Gen | 2020 | 2388 x 1668 |
| iPad Pro (11 Inches) 3rd Gen | 2021 | 2388 x 1668 |
| iPad Pro (12.9 Inches) | 2015 | 2732 x 2048 |
| iPad Pro (12.9 Inches) 2nd Gen | 2017 | 2732 x 2048 |
| iPad Pro (12.9 Inches) 3rd Gen | 2018 | 2732 x 2048 |
| iPad Pro (12.9 Inches) 4th Gen | 2020 | 2732 x 2048 |
| iPad Pro (12.9 Inches) 5th Gen | 2021 | 2732 x 2048 |
iPad Sizes & How Each iPad Generation Is Different
As you have already observed so far, the most significant difference between various iPad models is on the basis of display size and resolution. However, you should also base your choice on the hardware specifications and the overall capabilities of the iPad you are picking up instead of just looking at the display size. Here are some important parameters to keep in mind while browsing various iPad models.
iPad Pro
| iPad Model & Generation | Processor | Coprocessor | Camera | Storage |
| iPad Pro (11 Inches) (1st Gen) | A12X Bionic Chip, Neural Engine | M12 Coprocessor | 12 MP | Up to 1 TB |
| iPad Pro (11 Inches) (2nd Gen) | A12Z Bionic Chip, Neural Engine | M12 Coprocessor | 12 MP Wide, 10 MP Ultrawide | Up to 1 TB |
| iPad Pro (11 Inches) (3rd Gen) | A12X Bionic Chip, Neural Engine | M12 Coprocessor | 12 MP | Up to 1 TB |
| iPad Pro (11 Inches) (4th Gen) | A12Z Bionic Chip, Neural Engine | M12 Coprocessor | 12 MP Wide, 10 MP Ultrawide | Up to 1 TB |
| iPad Pro (12.9 Inches) (1st Gen) | A9X Bionic | – | 8 MP | Up to 256 GB |
| iPad Pro (12.9 Inches) (2nd Gen) | A10X Fusion Chip | – | 12 MP Wide | Up to 512 GB |
| iPad Pro (10.5 Inches) | A10X Fusion Chip | – | 12 MP Wide | Up to 512 GB |
| iPad Pro (9.7 Inches) | A9X Chip | – | 12 MP Wide | Up to 256 GB |
iPad Air
| iPad Model & Generation | Processor | Coprocessor | Camera | Storage |
| iPad Air (1st Gen) | A7 Chip | M7 Coprocessor | 5 MP | Up to 128 GB |
| iPad Air (2nd Gen) | A8X Chip | M8 Coprocessor | 8 MP Wide | Up to 128 GB |
| iPad Air (3rd Gen) | A12 Bionic Chip | M12 Coprocessor | 8 MP Wide | Up to 256 GB |
| iPad Air (4th Gen) | A14 Bionic Chip | – | 12 MP Wide | Up to 128 GB |
iPad Mini
| iPad Model & Generation | Processor | Coprocessor | Camera | Storage |
| iPad Mini (1st Gen) | A5 Chip | – | 5 MP Wide | Up to 64 GB |
| iPad Mini (2nd Gen) | A7 Chip | – | 5 MP Wide | Up to 64 GB |
| iPad Mini (3rd Gen) | A7 Chip | – | 5 MP Wide | Up to 128 GB |
| iPad Mini (4th Gen) | A8 Chip | – | 8 MP Wide | Up to 128 GB |
| iPad Mini (5th Gen) | A12 Bionic Chip, Neural Engine, | – | 8 MP Wide | Up to 256 GB |
Conclusion
We hope that you can now easily differentiate between all of the iPad models released by Apple so far and make a choice based on their merits and limitations. Even though all of these models operate on the same operating system and provide identical performance in terms of software and UI, you need to check the physical parameters of the iPad to ensure whether you are getting the right option for your needs or not. For that, we have included a comprehensive list of all iPad models along with their key specifications and display size. If you need any more information about the same, feel free to drop your query in the comment section below.
One Response
Very useful technical review.