Apple iPad (1st generation) vs Apple iPad (9th generation)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

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iPad (1st generation) compared with iPad (9th generation)

	AppleiPad (1st generation)	AppleiPad (9th generation)
Overview
Released
Released	April 2010	September 2021
Display
Screen size
Screen size	9.7″	10.2″
Resolution
Resolution	1024 × 768	2160 × 1620 (better)
Sharpness
Sharpness	132 pixels per inch	265 pixels per inch (better)
Panel
Panel	LCD	LCD
Brightness
Brightness	–	500 nits
Display type
Display type	LED-backlit glossy Multi-Touch display with IPS technology	Retina; LED-backlit IPS LCD
Pixel density
Pixel density	132 ppi	264 ppi
Display features
Display features	Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating	True Tone; oleophobic coating; non-laminated panel (Notebookcheck)
Performance
Chip
Chip	A4	A13 Bionic
Memory
Memory	256 MB	3 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB	64 GB, 256 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	1 GHz Apple A4; 256 MB RAM identified by iFixit's corrected teardown	A13 Bionic; 3 GB RAM reported by Notebookcheck
AI engine
AI engine	–	Neural Engine
Cameras
Rear camera
Rear camera	None	8 MP (better)
Ultra wide camera
Ultra wide camera	None	None
Front camera
Front camera	–	12 MP
Rear camera
Rear camera	–	Wide; f/2.4 five-element lens; 5x digital zoom; HDR; 43MP panorama; automatic image stabilisation; burst
Front camera
Front camera	–	Ultra Wide; f/2.4; 122-degree field of view; Centre Stage; HDR; Retina Flash; lens correction
Video recording
Video recording	–	Rear 1080p at 25 or 30 fps; 720p slow motion at 120 fps; 3x video zoom; front 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps; stabilised time-lapse; HEVC and H.264
Battery and connections
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 10 hours	Up to 10 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	25 Wh	32.4 Wh (better)
Mobile data option
Mobile data option	Yes	Yes
Stylus
Stylus	Not supported	Supported, sold separately
Keyboard made for it
Keyboard made for it	Yes	Yes
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Up to 10 hours surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video or listening to music; up to nine hours surfing the web on 3G	Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi browsing or video; nine hours cellular browsing
Charging
Charging	10W USB Power Adapter included; charging through the dock connector	20 W USB-C Power Adapter included; USB computer charging supported
USB-C
USB-C	30-pin dock connector; Dock Connector to USB Cable; 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack; VGA adapter supports 1024 x 768 output	Lightning; 3.5 mm headphone jack; optional adapters support 1080p external video
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac); 2x2 MIMO; up to 866 Mb/s
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR	Bluetooth 4.2
Mobile network
Mobile network	Wi-Fi + 3G model supports UMTS/HSDPA and GSM/EDGE data; micro-SIM; assisted GPS; weighs 730 g	Gigabit-class LTE and UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA; nano-SIM and eSIM; cellular model weighs 498 g
Stylus support
Stylus support	No Apple Pencil support	Apple Pencil (1st generation), sold separately
Keyboards
Keyboards	iPad Keyboard Dock, sold separately	Smart Keyboard through Smart Connector, sold separately
Design
Weight
Weight	680 g	487 g (better)
Thickness
Thickness	13.4 mm	7.5 mm (better)
Height × width
Height × width	242.8 × 189.7 mm	250.6 × 174.1 mm
Operating system
Operating system	iOS	iPadOS
Biometrics
Biometrics	–	Touch ID in Home button
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in speaker	Stereo speakers
Microphones
Microphones	Built-in microphone	Dual microphones
Sensors
Sensors	Accelerometer; ambient light sensor; digital compass; assisted GPS on Wi-Fi + 3G model	Gyroscope; accelerometer; barometer; ambient light; compass; iBeacon; GPS/GNSS on cellular model
Materials
Materials	Aluminium and glass enclosure	Enclosure made from 100% recycled aluminium
Colours
Colours	Silver enclosure with black front	Silver, Space Grey
Software at launch
Software at launch	iPhone OS 3.2; this generation predates iPadOS	iPadOS 15
In the box
In the box	iPad, Dock Connector to USB Cable, 10W USB Power Adapter, documentation	iPad; Lightning to USB-C Cable; 20 W USB-C Power Adapter