Apple iPad (5th generation) vs Apple iPad (8th generation)

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

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

iPad (5th generation) compared with iPad (8th generation)

	AppleiPad (5th generation)	AppleiPad (8th generation)
Overview
Released
Released	March 2017	September 2020
Display
Screen size
Screen size	9.7″	10.2″
Resolution
Resolution	2048 × 1536	2160 × 1620 (better)
Sharpness
Sharpness	264 pixels per inch	265 pixels per inch (better)
Panel
Panel	LCD	LCD
Brightness
Brightness	–	500 nits
Display type
Display type	Retina; LED-backlit IPS LCD	Retina; LED-backlit IPS LCD
Pixel density
Pixel density	264 ppi	264 ppi
Display features
Display features	Oleophobic coating; non-laminated panel (Notebookcheck)	Oleophobic coating; non-laminated panel (Notebookcheck)
Performance
Chip
Chip	A9	A12 Bionic
Memory
Memory	2 GB	3 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	32 GB, 128 GB	32 GB, 128 GB
CPU
CPU	64-bit A9 with embedded M9 coprocessor; 2 GB RAM confirmed by iFixit	64-bit A12 Bionic; 3 GB RAM reported by Notebookcheck
AI engine
AI engine	–	Neural Engine
Cameras
Rear camera
Rear camera	8 MP	8 MP
Ultra wide camera
Ultra wide camera	None	None
Front camera
Front camera	1.2 MP	1.2 MP
Rear camera
Rear camera	f/2.4 five-element lens; hybrid IR filter; autofocus; Live Photos; HDR; 43MP panorama; burst; timer; backside illumination	f/2.4 five-element lens; hybrid IR filter; autofocus; Live Photos; HDR; 43MP panorama; burst; timer; backside illumination
Front camera
Front camera	FaceTime HD; f/2.2; Retina Flash; Live Photos; HDR; burst; timer	FaceTime HD; f/2.4 as listed by Apple; Retina Flash; Live Photos; HDR; burst; timer
Video recording
Video recording	Rear 1080p at 30 fps; 120 fps slow motion; 3x video zoom; stabilised time-lapse; front 720p	Rear 1080p at 30 fps; 720p slow motion at 120 fps; 3x video zoom; stabilised time-lapse; front 720p
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	32.4 Wh	32.4 Wh
Mobile data option
Mobile data option	Yes	Yes
Stylus
Stylus	Not supported	Supported, sold separately
Keyboard made for it
Keyboard made for it	No	Yes
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi browsing, video or music; nine hours cellular browsing	Up to 10 hours Wi-Fi browsing or video; nine hours cellular browsing
Charging
Charging	USB Power Adapter included; USB computer charging supported	USB-C Power Adapter included; 20 W adapter reported by Notebookcheck
USB-C
USB-C	Lightning; 3.5 mm headphone jack; optional adapters support 1080p external video	Lightning; 3.5 mm headphone jack
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac; HT80 with MIMO	Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac; HT80 with MIMO
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.2	Bluetooth 4.2
Mobile network
Mobile network	LTE, UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA, GSM/EDGE and CDMA EV-DO; nano-SIM with Apple SIM support; cellular model weighs 478 g	Gigabit-class LTE, UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA and GSM/EDGE; nano-SIM with Apple SIM support and eSIM; cellular model weighs 495 g
Stylus support
Stylus support	No Apple Pencil support	Apple Pencil (1st generation), sold separately
Keyboards
Keyboards	No Smart Connector or Smart Keyboard support (Notebookcheck)	Smart Keyboard through Smart Connector, sold separately
Design
Weight
Weight	469 g (better)	490 g
Thickness
Thickness	7.5 mm	7.5 mm
Height × width
Height × width	240 × 169.5 mm	250.6 × 174.1 mm
Operating system
Operating system	iPadOS	iPadOS
Biometrics
Biometrics	Touch ID in Home button	Touch ID in Home button
Speakers
Speakers	Stereo speakers	Stereo speakers
Microphones
Microphones	–	Dual microphones
Sensors
Sensors	Gyroscope; accelerometer; barometer; ambient light; compass; iBeacon; GPS and GLONASS on cellular model	Gyroscope; accelerometer; barometer; ambient light; compass; iBeacon; GPS/GNSS on cellular model
Materials
Materials	Aluminium unibody	Enclosure made from 100% recycled aluminium; recycled tin solder on main logic board
Colours
Colours	Silver, Gold, Space Grey	Silver, Gold, Space Grey
Software at launch
Software at launch	iOS 10; orders opened 24 March 2017, with deliveries and store availability the following week	iPadOS 14
In the box
In the box	iPad; Lightning to USB Cable; USB Power Adapter	iPad; Lightning to USB-C Cable; USB-C Power Adapter