The 4 worst iPads Apple ever launched

Abstract

• No iPad has been an outright failure, however a few of Apple’s product choices have been problematic.
• The third-gen iPad was heavy and liable to overheating, for instance.
• The 2020 iPad Professional misplaced entry to vital apps and options solely a yr later.

To Apple’s credit score, there hasn’t been a genuinely horrible iPad launched to this point. By that, I imply one thing that is outright disagreeable to make use of, or else damaged or incomplete. That is nonetheless an issue with loads of different merchandise — simply think about the Humane Ai Pin, or the Full Self-Driving mode on Teslas. You may be capable to allow FSD in your Mannequin 3, however there’s nonetheless a danger it should disengage partway via your commute.

Apple has, nevertheless, sometimes made some baffling compromises, such that some iPads did not actually make sense to purchase if you happen to might afford to attend a yr or two for enhancements. These are my private picks for the worst iPads in that regard — your personal selections may range.

1 The third-generation iPad (2012)

Coming in scorching and heavy, actually

This was the primary iPad I ever owned, and I actually appreciated it, total. It was additionally the primary iPad geared up with a Retina Show, that means there have been no discernible pixels in suitable apps. And since I purchased the mobile/GPS model, I used to be ready to make use of it for offline maps throughout a visit to Germany.

It was almost half a pound heavier than the 2024 11-inch iPad Professional.

There have been drawbacks to the product, although, starting with weight. Even the Wi-Fi-only mannequin was 1.44 kilos, or about 652 grams. Which may not sound like a lot, but it surely was almost half a pound heavier than the 2024 11-inch iPad Professional, and that is earlier than including a case. It was uncomfortable to carry single-handed for greater than a minute or two. Inevitably, you needed to relaxation it on one thing for studying, by no means thoughts utilizing a stylus or making an attempt to kind out a full sentence.

The pill was additionally notorious for operating scorching — by no means dangerously so, however you’d really feel it if you happen to sat it in your lap. And in Australia, Apple bought into authorized hassle for advertising and marketing the mobile model as “4G,” despite the fact that it did not really assist native 4G networks. The corporate was compelled to alter its promoting within the nation, in addition to provide refunds to individuals who felt deceived.

2 The primary-generation iPad mini (2012)

For measurement purists solely

Looking back, Apple actually went off-course with iPads in 2012. On paper, the first-gen Mini wasn’t a foul thought — Apple wanted some kind of response to the Google Nexus 7and different small Android tablets. It additionally wanted a mannequin that was genuinely ergonomic for studying. Later Minis have turn out to be common amongst some professions for that motive, reminiscent of business aviation.

The OG Mini was outdated the second it arrived, nevertheless. It used the identical A5 processor from 2011’s iPad 2, regardless of the third-gen iPad sporting an A5X chip at a time when each ounce of efficiency mattered. Extra importantly, it did not have a Retina Show, so photos remained very pixelated. Everybody following Apple rumors knew {that a} Retina Mini was inevitable, and certain sufficient, the second-gen Mini mounted that oversight a yr later.

3 The fourth-generation iPad Professional (2020)

Oops, now you are out of date

That is one other product I purchased with my very own money, and it is what I am nonetheless utilizing right now. For essentially the most half, I do not remorse shopping for it. It is a testomony to its design that it is maintaining with (most) apps 5 years later.

It was, nevertheless, an incremental replace to the 2018 Professional fashions, as an illustration, including an ultra-wide digicam and an additional graphics core, whereas bumping base RAM to 6GB. It was effective if you happen to hadn’t upgraded your iPad in a few years, like me, but it surely was pointless if you happen to owned a 2018.

2020 house owners discovered themselves unable to run some apps purely for architectural causes, and even some iPadOS options.

The actual kicker was that it was the final Professional to make use of an A-series processor. The subsequent yr, Apple switched the Professional over to the identical M-series chips it was utilizing in Macs. 2020 house owners discovered themselves unable to run some apps purely for architectural causes, and even some iPadOS options, specifically extending Stage Supervisor home windows to an exterior show. There’s nonetheless skepticism about whether or not these boundaries have been synthetic, provided that Apple Intelligence runs on 2020 {hardware}.

The honest factor for customers would have been to maintain 2018 Professionals round till the M-series soar. It isn’t clear why Apple did not, besides maybe due to aggressive strain.

4 The Tenth-generation iPad (2022)

Nice till you bought to the tag

Spec-wise, there was nothing too off-putting concerning the Tenth-gen iPad. It had a two-year-old iPhone processor, true, however that was ok, and the product superior base iPad specs in different methods, above all by ditching issues like a House button and a Lightning port. It even added a landscape-oriented FaceTime digicam, lastly acknowledging that nobody needs to carry an iPad vertically for a complete video name.

The actual downside — other than needing an ungainly Apple Pencil adapter — was the worth. Apple jacked the price up $120 to $449, maintaining the Ninth-gen iPad on sale for $329. When you actually needed to save cash, it made extra sense to purchase that Ninth-gen mannequin or discover a refurb. When you might afford the Tenth-gen, you have been $150 away from shopping for an iPad Air, which was clearly the higher machine.

Apple appears to have realized its lesson, since 2025’s base iPad is $349 once more.