Engineering:iPad (8th generation)

"iPad 8" redirects here. For the eighth full-sized iPad, see iPad (6th generation).

Short description: Tablet computer made by Apple since 2020

iPad

iPad (8th generation) in Space Gray
Also known as	iPad (8th generation), iPad 10.2-inch, iPad 8, iPad (10.2-inch) (2nd generation), iPad (2020)
Developer	Apple Inc.
Manufacturer	Foxconn
Product family	iPad
Type	Tablet computer
Generation	8th
Release date	September 18, 2020 (2020-09-18)
Introductory price	$329 (release price) $299 (education price)
Discontinued	September 14, 2021 (2021-09-14)
Operating system	Original: iPadOS 14 Current: iPadOS 14.7.1, released July 26, 2021
System on a chip	Apple A12 Bionic with 64-bit desktop architecture and Apple M12 motion co-processor
CPU	Hexa-core 64-bit @ Hexa-core (2x2.5 GHz Vortex + 4x1.6 GHz Tempest)
Memory	3 GB LPDDR4X SDRAM (LPDDR4X SDRAM)
Storage	32 or 128 GB
Display	10.2 inches (260 mm) 2,160 × 1,620 px (264 ppi) with a 4:3 aspect ratio, 500 nits max brightness (typical)
Graphics	Apple GPU 4-Core Graphics
Sound	Stereo
Input	Multi-touch screen, headset controls, proximity and ambient light sensors, 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, digital compass, dual microphone, Touch ID fingerprint reader, barometer
Camera	Front: 1.2 MP, 720p HD, ƒ/2.4 aperture Rear: 8.0 MP AF, iSight with Five Element Lens, Hybrid IR filter, video stabilization, face detection, Smart HDR, ƒ/2.4 aperture
Power	32.4 W·h, up to 10 hours of battery life
Online services	App Store, iTunes Store, iBookstore, iCloud, Game Center
Dimensions	250.6 mm (9.87 in) H 174.1 mm (6.85 in) W 7.5 mm (0.30 in) D
Mass	Wi-Fi: 490 g (1.08 lb) Wi-Fi + Cellular: 495 g (1.091 lb)
Predecessor	iPad (7th generation)
Successor	iPad (9th generation)
Related articles	iPad Air (3rd generation) iPad mini (5th generation)

The iPad (8th generation) (also referred to as the iPad 10.2-inch) is a tablet computer developed and marketed by Apple Inc. as the successor to the 7th-generation iPad. It was announced on September 15, 2020 and released on September 18, 2020.

Features

Smart Connector

The eighth-generation iPad uses the same design as the seventh-generation iPad, with a 10.2-inch screen with 1620 by 2160 pixels at a pixel density of 264-pixel PPI, Touch ID support, and compatibility with the Smart Connector.

It uses the Apple A12 chip, which Apple claims provides a 40% faster 6-core CPU and a 2x faster 4 core GPU compared to the processor of the previous generation. It is the first iPad tablet that includes a Neural Engine, a component introduced with the A11 processor. It is the final iPad tablet available with white bezels on the Silver and Gold models; all iPad (9th generation) tablets come with black bezels.

The eighth-generation iPad is compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil, the Smart Keyboard and keyboard attachments compatible with the Smart Connector.

It was released running iPadOS 14, with iPadOS 15 unveiled later at WWDC 2021. iPadOS 16 announced at WWDC22

Reception

Miles Somerville of 9to5Mac found the tablet to be a good value proposition at its price point. He described it as having a nearly identical appearance to its predecessor, but with improved battery life, enhanced performance owing to the upgrade from the A10 Fusion to the A12 Bionic, and better screen sensitivity for Apple Pencil use, while continuing the poor implementation of Pencil charging on a perpendicular direction from the tablet's Lightning port. He found it sufficient for basic activities, gaming, everyday content consumption, and general multitasking, although not measuring up to the 2020 iPad Pro or the simultaneously released fourth-generation iPad Air, in part due to its display that supports only a 60 Hz refresh rate instead of 120 Hz. He especially faulted Apple's choice of keeping a 1.2-megapixel camera on the front of the tablet, which could be a strong negative factor for an intended audience of students, who might plan to use the device for teleconference classes over platforms such as Zoom.

Scott Stein of CNET rated the tablet 8.1 out of 10. Stein commended it for its faster processing that handled iPadOS better than previous models, better support for Apple Pencil and keyboard cases, and a faster charger included in the box. He faulted it for the large bezels that lead to a cramped feel of its screen during multitasking with two apps open, lack of support for the second-generation Apple Pencil and newer Magic Keyboard cases, the outdated 720p camera that does not function well in landscape mode teleconferencing because of placement, the display limited to a 60 Hz refresh rate and lacking True Tone color temperature auto-adjustment, and the insufficient 32 gigabytes of storage for the entry-level model.

David Price of Macworld UK echoed many of the other critiques while noting that this model of iPad would find an audience among average consumers who had not upgraded their iPads in years. He described the continuing design as "comfortably big enough" for typical content, with thoughtful touches, but a dated look because of the large bezels, and welcomed the ongoing inclusion of a headphone jack and rear-facing camera that sits flush with the tablet body. He noted that the lack of screen lamination and consequent flex of the screen during touches could be noticeable to users of higher-end tablets, that the lack of flash on either rear or front camera would hinder low-light teleconferencing and FaceTime Video use, and that the included amount of RAM was low compared to other tablets.

Timeline

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Source: Apple Newsroom Archive.

References

Preceded by iPad (7th generation)

iPad (8th generation) 2020

Succeeded by iPad (9th generation)