How Apple Almost Killed the iPad — Then Changed the Game Forever
The Evolution of the iPad: A Firsthand Journey Through Every Generation
I just bought every generation of iPad ever, and I’m excited to take you on a journey through the highs, lows, and wild turns of Apple’s iconic tablet. Let’s explore how the iPad was originally scrapped, how Apple eventually made it, how they stumbled with marketing, and how they finally pulled it all together to dominate the competition.
PhotoCredit: apple.com
The Origins: From Scrapped Project to Tech Revolution
What’s truly fascinating about the first iPad is that Apple was working on it as far back as 2004. But in a twist of fate, while developing the iPad, Apple realized that if they scaled down the same technology, they could create a revolutionary phone. That realization led them to suspend iPad development and go all-in on what would become the iPhone in 2007. The iPad, the product Apple originally intended to make, didn’t arrive until 2010.
Unboxing the First iPad: A Glimpse into the Past
Opening the first iPad is a trip down memory lane: a full-color quick start manual, two Apple stickers (a rarity now), a 30-pin connector, and a 10-watt power brick. But back in 2010, the tablet market was abysmal. The conventional wisdom was: don’t make tablets—they never work. Most existing tablets were clunky, stylus-driven Windows PCs, and even Apple had its own rocky history with the Newton PDA and a canceled 1983 project called Bashville.
Apple’s Game-Changing Moves
So, what did Apple do to change minds?
• Component Costs: The iPhone’s massive success drove down the price of components, allowing Apple to release the iPad as one of the most affordable tablets.
• Revolutionary Interaction: Apple scaled up the iPhone’s capacitive multi-touch interface, letting users interact with just a finger—no stylus needed. Steve Jobs’ announcement that the iPad would cost $499 instead of the expected $999 was a mic-drop moment.
The iPad’s user interface was so intuitive and beautiful that it still holds up today. Powered by the Apple A4 chip, it was 3.4 times more powerful than the first iPhone and quickly put tablets back on the map, selling over 15 million units and capturing 85% of the tablet market.
The iPad 2: A Modern Marvel
The iPad 2, released just a year later, was an even bigger revelation. It was dramatically thinner—dropping from 13.4 mm to 8.8 mm—thanks to a new battery design and less internal framing. It introduced cameras, doubled the RAM, and featured the dual-core A5 chip, making it 2.5 times faster than the original. Smart Covers made their debut, adding both convenience and style.
"The iPad 2 became such an icon that it remained Apple’s entry-level iPad until 2014, outlasting even the third and fourth generations".
The “New iPad” and Market Confusion
Logic would suggest that after the iPad and iPad 2’s success, Apple would continue with straightforward improvements. Instead, they named the next model simply “the new iPad”—a move that baffled many. The main upgrade was the introduction of the Retina display, bringing one of the highest-resolution screens to market. However, other improvements were modest, and the device’s LTE support was limited to the US, leading to lawsuits abroad.
At the same time, Android competition was heating up. Google’s Android 3.0 “Honeycomb” was a genuine tablet-optimized OS, and by Android 4.0, lag was being addressed. Apple’s market share fell from 85% to 44%.
Lawsuits, Smaller Tablets, and the iPad Mini
Feeling the heat, Apple tried to sue Samsung for copying design and features, but the High Court ruled there was no consumer confusion—Samsung simply wasn’t “as cool.” Meanwhile, smaller 7-inch tablets were gaining popularity, and despite Steve Jobs’ initial resistance, Apple released the iPad Mini. While not cutting-edge, the Mini’s thin design and lower price made it a hit, outselling the iPad 4 it launched alongside.
The iPad Air: Thinner, Lighter, and More Powerful
Instead of a fifth-generation iPad, Apple launched the iPad Air—a massive leap in design and efficiency. It was lighter, thinner, and featured the new A7 chip, doubling performance. The Air’s branding and the launch of iOS 7, with its flat, modern design, made it feel distinctly new and futuristic.
Going Big: The iPad Pro
In 2015, Apple went big—literally—with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. With a starting price of $799, it introduced the A9X chip, quad speakers, and the Apple Pencil (despite Steve Jobs’ famous dislike for styluses). The Pro blurred the lines between tablet and laptop, especially as Apple began targeting creative professionals.
Redesigns, Power Surges, and the Push for “Not a Computer”
The third-generation iPad Pro in 2018 brought a full redesign, USB-C, Face ID, and a 120Hz ProMotion display. Apple began pitching the iPad as a true computer alternative, with performance claims that rivaled or surpassed many laptops. The introduction of iPadOS further differentiated the iPad from the iPhone, adding desktop-class features and multitasking.
The M1 and Beyond: Blurring the Lines
By 2021, the iPad Pro featured the M1 chip—the same used in MacBooks—making it about 1.5 times faster than the previous generation. With up to 16GB of RAM, 2TB of storage, and a mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display, the iPad Pro was a technical marvel. Yet, the software still limited its full potential, echoing Steve Jobs’ analogy of putting a truck engine in a car.
The Latest Generation: A Crowning Achievement
The seventh-generation iPad is a miracle of engineering at just 5.1 mm thick, with a tandem OLED display for incredible brightness. Apple finally moved the front camera to the landscape side and introduced the Apple Pencil Pro with new squeeze and rotation features. Despite some curious decisions—like downgrading rear cameras—the iPad line has come a long way from Steve Jobs’ original vision.
PhotoCredit: apple.com
Reflections: From Email Machine to Creative Powerhouse
Looking back, it’s astonishing how the iPad evolved from a scrapped email machine to a device that can do almost anything. Apple’s relentless innovation, occasional missteps, and willingness to challenge its own products have made the iPad a defining device of the modern era. And while some of Steve Jobs’ concerns still linger (like where to store the Apple Pencil), the iPad’s journey is a testament to Apple’s expertise, experience, authority, and trust in shaping the future of technology
