What iPad is
iPad is Apple’s tablet computer family, running iPadOS. The first iPad was announced on January 27, 2010; the Apple press release described it as a device for browsing the web, sending email, watching videos, playing games, and reading e-books. Together with the iPhone, the Mac, and the Apple Watch, it belongs to Apple’s hardware family.
The lineup and its boundaries
The official product page splits the family into four lines: iPad Pro (“the ultimate iPad experience with the most advanced technology”), iPad Air (serious performance in a thin and light design), iPad (for everyday things), and iPad mini (the full experience in an ultraportable design). Apple Pencil and keyboards are the listed accessories; with a Mac, iPad supports Sidecar (using iPad as a second display) and Universal Control (one mouse and trackpad across devices), and it pairs with the iPhone for picking up content in progress. For model-by-model differences, Apple’s compare page is the most reliable reference.
iPad sits between a phone and a laptop: touch-first, well suited to the Pencil and media consumption, with desktop-class windowing provided by iPadOS and varying by system version. Choose based on the current lineup and system features rather than treating one version’s features as a permanent fact.
Discussion in the show
In the chapter “Vibe Coding 把硬盘用满之后” (when vibe coding fills the disk) of Weekly #003, Guizang describes the disk cost of iOS/iPadOS development simulators: one system for iOS and one for iPad, times the highest, lowest, and middle OS versions for testing, adding up to 40–50 GB; he adds that Xcode itself is also large. This is one developer’s personal experience, related to Xcode and disk management on the Mac, not a review of iPad hardware.
Frequently asked questions
When was the iPad released?
The first iPad was announced on January 27, 2010, per the Apple press release, which also records the original specs: 0.5 inches thick and 1.5 pounds.
What iPad models are there, and how do I choose?
The official product page lists iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad, and iPad mini — top performance, thin-and-light performance, everyday use, and portability respectively. Compare screens, chips, and accessory support item by item on Apple’s compare page.
Which Apple Pencils and keyboards work with iPad?
Apple Pencil and keyboards are the officially listed accessories, but which Pencil model and keyboard products a given iPad supports varies by model — check compatibility for the specific device on the official product page before buying.
How does iPad work together with a Mac?
The official page describes Sidecar (using iPad as a second display for the Mac) and Universal Control (one mouse and trackpad across Mac and iPad), plus editing iPhone-captured content directly on the larger display. These capabilities depend on system versions and device settings.