When jobos produced the first generation of ipads in 2010, no one thought that this device, “between mobile phones and notebooks”, could raise a trillions of dollars. In the 16-year-old age, 34 money machine types, from the first generation of the “big size” to the present-day m5 flagship, the ipad series has already made the track clear — standard run, mini handle, air power, pro。
Today it is a simple sharing of non-marketing, using white words to sort out the core changes of each generation, and to help you understand the 34 ipads in the last life, whether they're new or first, and they're in direct pairs。
Opening: how does ipad go from zero to “stamp ceiling” in 16 years 34
Precalculation: as at 2025, 34 of the four ipad series, 11 of the standard editions, mini7, air7, pro9, had been issued。
In april 2010, the first generation of ipads (a4 chips, 9. 7 inches of non-totally attached screens, no cameras) went on board, directly transforming the “toucher tablet” from concept to reality; in 2012, ipad 3 launched a retina screen, which was re-emerged in the same year, laying a two-series pattern; and in 2015, pro series, which was decentralized in the m series in 2021, now ipad is not a “magnified iphone”, but a productivity tool capable of running 8k clips, drawing illustrations and 3d modelling。
These 34 sections are not simple sets of parameters, but are broken down around the scenes: a standard version of the limited budget, mini for single-handed games, air for light, pro for professional creation, and the needs of different people in each generation。
Ii. Ipad standard edition: the escalation of the mountain, 11 generations, to be replaced by the learning theater
The standard version of the ipad family, “older” — from 2010 to the present — has been in place for 11 generations, with the core positioning always being the introduction to the value of money, with the principals playing day-to-day studies, follow-up, light work, price-friendly and non-fruitful work。
First to fifth generations: laying the foundations, from “capable” to “good”
- first generation ipad 2010: 9. 7 inches 1024 x 768 screens, a4 chip, 30 stitches without cameras, when they were spitted “like large ipods”, but could not live with novelties and primers
- 2011 ipad 2:33 per cent lighter, first front-and-back camera, a5 chip, magnetic smart cover, which brings up portability directly by the generation
- ipad 3/4: three generations of retina screens (2048 x 1536) in 2012, but a5x chip screens are clearly hot, four generations in seven months, replacing the a6x chip with the lightning interface, officially opening the era of fast-fill interfaces
- ipad 5:30 in 2017, with 9. 7 inches + a9 chips at a price of $2688, which became the "first option" of the year
Ipad 6 of 2018: decentralised the first generation of apple pencil, and was able to take notes, draw drafts, “paperless learning” from which the campus was burned。
Six to eleven generations: improving experience and adapting to mainstream needs
- 2019 ipad 7: changed 10. 2 inches, plus smart connector, to support outside keyboards, making it easier for the student party to take notes
- 2020 ipad 8:a12 chip, enhanced performance, full continuous flight, full daily painting and online classes
Ipad 9:a13 chip + center stage, 2021. 64gb, starting with full value
Ipad 10:2022: replace 10. 9 inches with usb-c interface and observe air outside, but only support the first generation of pencil, which needs to be reconnected, with better positioning
In 2025, ipad 11:a16, 128gb, starting with basic performance, is still the “first option for those with limited budget”。
The standard version of the sentence is: without extreme performance, with only enough money, the student parties, elders, the dramatists closed their eyes and the 10th and 11th generations were the most deserving。
Iii. Ipadmini: seven generations of evolution, 8. 3 inches of "the game main"
The mini series, which took place in 2012 after seven generations with a small screen carrying a body of 7,9/ 8. 3 inches, holding a single hand free of pressure and especially suited to play and read with one hand, is the “good mind” of the game anchor。
Initial to fourth generation: small screen test water, from “portable” to “practical”
- first-generation mini: 7. 9 inches + a5 chips in 2012, which for the first time inserted ipad into “port size”, but the screen was not retina and experienced in general
- 2013 mini 2: upper retina screen + a7 chip with double performance and graphic quality, resulting in a "flag experience" on the screen
- mini 3: only touch id, no internal changes, as "small upgrades"
- 2015 mini 4: lighter body + a8 chip, optimising to become the “most portable ipad”
- 2019 mini 5:a12 chip, full of performances, was finally able to play large hand games, and the game party started to watch。
Six to seven generations: complete transformation into a game exclusive
- 2021 mini 6: big change! 8. 3 inches + usb-c interface + second generation pencil support, lighter body and full one hand game experience
- in 2024, mini 7:a17 pro chip was upgraded, the game frame was more stable, the voyage was optimized, and the handwalker was completely secured。
Summarizing mini: small hands, play games, one hand to read, seven generations is the best option at the moment, budget is straight enough, and don't hesitate。
Ipadair: 7 generations of seals, from “light” to “ipadpro”
The air series was born in 2013, after seven generations, with the initial master playing very lightly, and evolved into a “little ipadpro”, which is the preferred option for users who “do not want to buy pro but want to experience better”。
From the first to the third generation: the main hit low and set the pole
- first generation of air in 2013: 9. 7 inches + a7 64 chips, 28 per cent less than the previous generation. The name “air” is literally a light age
- 2014 air 2: full-on screen + anti-reflective coating, a8x chip + touch id, colour and experience double-up, becoming a classic
- 2019 air 3:10. 5 inches + a12 chip in support of the first generation of pencil, performance and screen upgrades, close to the pro series。
Four to seven generations: full upgrade to "all-powerful"
- 2020 air 4:10. 9 inches + pro same appearance + usb-c + second generation pencil, direct “soft pro”, full value for money
- air 5:m1 chip was decentralized in 2022, performance was equal to pro 5 and prices were much lower, with a “value over ceiling” hammer
- 2024 air 6:m2 chip + 11/13 in double size, in support of pencil pro, with increased creativity
- air 7:m3 chip in 2025, which supports hardware light pursuit, handles simple video clips, 3d modelling, full power properties。
One sentence summed up air: light + performance + price balance, student party, creator, light office first choice, 5th, 6th and 7th generations are all good options for "closed eyes"。
Ipadpro: 9 generations top, m5 chip as “professional creation ceiling”
The pro series was launched in 2015, nine generations old, as a high-end flag ship of the ipad family, and featured professional creations, desktop productivity, m-series chips, high-brush screens, professional accessories, and “platforms” for designers, bloggers and professional creators。
From the first to the second generation: starting the professional age
- first generation pro: 12. 9 inches + a9x chip for the first time carrying apple pencil + smart keyboard, in 2015, officially pushing ipad to the area of “professional tools”
- 2016 pro 9. 7 inch: small size pro, true tone screen (fitting environment light), camera upgrade, taking into account professional and portable
- 2017 pro 2 generation: 10. 5/12. 9 inches of double size, promotion 120hz is painted, smoother, writing, and playing games, which is the generation of “the most experienced”。
Three to six generations: comprehensive innovation, approaching desktop level
- in 2018, pro 3 generation: a major change! Full screen + face id + usb-c/ray interface, no home key, second generation pencil (magnetic ingestion charge), laying the foundations of the current pro look
- 2020 pro 4 generation: plus lidar laser radar, supporting ar creation, magic keyboard with touchboards, with productivity upgraded
- 2021 pro 5 generation: m1 chip decentralisation, desktop level performance, 12. 9 inches on mini-led xdr screen, hdr experience full
- pro 6 generation 2022: m2 chip + apple pencil suspended (precision can also be located without touching the screen) and more precise creation。
Seven-to-eight generations: top-of-the-art, flagship of the ai era
Pro 7 generation 2024: m4 chip + double layer oled xdr screen, birth of the smallest ipad, supporting pencil pro (pressure, precision upgrade), capable of running 3a games, 3d modelling
- 2025 pro-8 generation: m5 chip, memory upgrades from 8 to 12gb, laying the foundation for creation in ai, and professional ability to create again。
One sentence: pro: sufficient budget, professional creativity, pursuit of extreme experience. Seven generations, eight generations, are now “most powerful ipad”, designers, bloggers, creators。
Vi. Core comparison of the four main series: 30 seconds to check against the pit
Vii. Proposal for rational re-engineering/shopping: don't be blindly new, you're the king. Province
1. Selection by demand: learning to follow the standard version of the play, playing the video game for mini, making a light selection for air, making a professional selection for pro, not spending more on unserviceable functions
2. Priority second-hand/first-generation: the second-hand value of air 5, standard 9 and mini 5 is extremely high and is fully adequate on a daily basis if the budget is limited
3. Long-term focus: pro series, air series support systems have been updated for longer periods, m series chips take 5-6 years and standard versions take 3-4 years and are selected on the basis of a replacement cycle
4. Fitness of fittings: standard version, mini only supports first generation pencil, air, pro supports second generation/pencil pro, and pre-purchases the compatibility of fittings。
Viii. At the end: the core of ipad is never a parameter, but a scene
The iterative logic of the ipad four ipad series of 34-year-old machines is simple: they are always broken down around user needs。
Whether it's a standard version of “value for money”, mini's “portfolio game”, air's “optimal balance”, or pro's “professional creation”, each generation is helping different people。
In 2026, ipad was no longer a “recreational device” to take notes for students, draw illustrations for designers, edit videos for bloggers and work for working people. Picking a pair is more important than chasing a new one。
What kind of ipad are you using now? What line do you want to upgrade? Welcome to the comment section
