3 April 2010 · iPad

iPad Wi-Fi

iPad

iPad Wi-Fi product photograph

Evan-Amos · Public domain

Why it mattered

Critics called the iPad a big iPod touch, and that was the point: it ran iPhone apps, booted instantly and was easy for anyone to use. The $499 starting price surprised analysts who expected around $1,000. It sold millions within months and defined the tablet category.

Models and prices

Model / configReleasedKey specsUS launch priceIn 2025 dollars (estimate)
iPad Wi-Fi 16 GB3 Apr 2010A4, 9.7-inch 1024×768$499≈ $740
iPad Wi-Fi 64 GB3 Apr 2010same$699≈ $1,030
iPad Wi-Fi + 3G 16 GB30 Apr 20103G$629≈ $930

Inflation-adjusted prices are estimates: launch price × (US CPI-U 2025 annual average 321.943 ÷ CPI-U annual average of the launch year), rounded to the nearest $10. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series CUUR0000SA0. US list prices only; they ignore currency, taxes and carrier subsidies.

What came before and after

Before: Newton (1993–1998), iPhone OS on iPhone and iPod touch. After: iPad 2 (March 2011).

Buying and collecting notes

Stuck on iOS 5.1.1; mostly collectible. Check for battery swelling.

Questions

When was the first iPad released?
Announced 27 January 2010, released 3 April 2010 (Wi-Fi).
How much did the first iPad cost?
From $499, about $740 in 2025 dollars by a US CPI estimate.
What chip did the original iPad use?
Apple A4.
What came after the original iPad?
iPad 2 in March 2011.

Sources

iPad Wi-Fi was released on 3 April 2010.

The first-generation iPad (; EYE-pad; retrospectively referred to unofficially as the iPad 1 or original iPad) is a tablet computer designed and marketed by Apple as the first device in the iPad lineup of tablet computers. It features an Apple A4 SoC, a 9.7 in (250 mm) touchscreen display, and, on certain variants, the capability of accessing cellular networks. Using the iOS operating system, the iPad can play music, send and receive emails and browse the web. Other functions, which include the ability to play games and access references, GPS navigation software and social network services, can be enabled by downloading apps.

The device was announced and unveiled on January 27, 2010 by Apple CEO Steve Jobs at an Apple press event. On April 3, 2010, the Wi-Fi variant of the device was released in the United States, followed by the release of the "Wi-Fi + 3G" variant on April 30. On May 28, 2010, it was released in Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Italy, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The device received positive reviews from various technology blogs and publications. Reviewers praised the device for its wide range of capabilities and labeled it as a competitor to laptops and netbooks. Some aspects were criticized, including the closed nature of the operating system and the lack of support for the Adobe Flash multimedia format. During the first 80 days, 3 million iPads were sold. By the launch of the iPad 2, Apple had sold more than 15 million iPads.

On March 2, 2011, the first-generation iPad was discontinued following Apple's announcement of the iPad 2. Remaining stock of the first iPad were temporarily available from Apple at reduced price.

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