Nepedia
Back to Discover
Fluent Reader
💻

iPad

technology Maturity 7-9 Next article →

The iPad is a famous brand of tablet computer made by Apple.

Steve Jobs with the Apple iPad no logo (cropped)
Steve Jobs with the Apple iPad no logo (cropped)

It is a helpful tool for many different tasks. People use these devices for personal fun and for work. They are very common in schools and in hospitals. They are also used in the business and technology sectors. Because they are so popular, people sometimes use the word "iPad" to mean any tablet computer.

IPad market share
IPad market share

By the year 2022, people had bought over 670 million of them.

An iPad works using a special system called an operating system.

IPad Mini logo (2021)
IPad Mini logo (2021)

Older models used a system called iOS. In September 2019, Apple switched to a new system called iPadOS. This new system is a version of iOS made just for tablets. It works better with the hardware inside the device. It also has a user interface, or a way to interact with the screen, made for larger displays. You can find many programs for the device in the App Store.

IPad with Magic Keyboard (51013601847)
IPad with Magic Keyboard (51013601847)

Some people use a process called jailbreaking to change these rules.

Apple has worked on tablet ideas for a long time.

Apple Newton-IMG 0454-cropped
Apple Newton-IMG 0454-cropped

In 1983, Steve Jobs said he wanted a great computer in a book you could carry. In 1993, Apple made the Newton MessagePad. It was a tablet-like device led by John Sculley. However, it did not do well because it could not read handwriting very well. Later, designer Jonathan Ive worked on a stylus-based tablet called the Macintosh Folio in 1991. These early ideas helped lead to the modern iPad we see today.

Many different models of the iPad exist now.

IPads
IPads

The first iPad came out on January 27, 2010. It had a 1 GHz processor and a screen with 1,024 by 768 pixels. Since then, Apple added the small iPad Mini and the thin iPad Air. They also made the powerful iPad Pro. In 2021, the ninth generation iPad used an A13 Bionic chip. The tenth generation, released in 2022, used a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port. Even newer models like the 11th generation were announced for 2025.

Using an iPad is easy because of many helpful tools.

IPad Pro (2017-present, logo)
IPad Pro (2017-present, logo)

You can connect to the internet using Wi-Fi. Some models also let you use cellular networks to stay online. You can add accessories to make the tablet even better. The Apple Pencil lets you draw on the screen. You can also use a Magic Keyboard or a Smart Keyboard to type. These tools help the iPad act more like a regular computer.

417 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (9)
File:IPad Logo With Logo Apple.svg
IPad Logo With Logo Apple.svg
File:Apple Newton-IMG 0454-cropped.jpg
Apple Newton-IMG 0454-cropped.jpg
File:Steve Jobs with the Apple iPad no logo (cropped).jpg
Steve Jobs with the Apple iPad no logo...
File:IPads.png
IPads.png
File:IPad Mini logo (2021).svg
IPad Mini logo (2021).svg
File:IPad Air (4th generation, logo).svg
IPad Air (4th generation, logo).svg
File:IPad Pro (2017-present, logo).svg
IPad Pro (2017-present, logo).svg
File:IPad with Magic Keyboard (51013601847).jpg
IPad with Magic Keyboard (51013601847).jpg
File:IPad market share.png
IPad market share.png
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.