Although the first iPad was unveiled in 2010, Apple was already well-steeped in making tablets. For starters, the California tech giant had sold them as early as 1993 under the Newton MessagePad name. Still more surprising is the fact that the iPad was actually developed before the iPhone, only to be shelved when its tech proved equally applicable in mobile phone form.
With the announcement of the eighth iPad and the iPad Air comes Apple’s most powerful tablets yet. Under the hood, the iPad 8 boasts a new A12 Bionic Chip, giving it a CPU that’s 40 times faster than its predecessor with twice the graphics capability. The Air also receives some upgraded hardware in the form of an A14 Bionic Chip, making it the fastest-learning, most capable model to date. And when it comes to visuals, both models get an overhaul, with the iPad 8 gaining a 10.2-inch Retina display and the Air a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display. But apple’s also been busy behind the software scenes — iPadOS 14 brings with it new features like Smart Selection handwriting learning, geometric shape recognition, and Scribble text entry. With 100% recycled aluminum enclosures and 100% recycled tin soldering, Apple’s new iPads are more environmentally friendly than ever. You can pick up the iPad 8 from $329 and the iPad Air from $599 starting Friday, September 18th.
