My Tablet Timeline

Mobile Computing (tech) has been my blog's main topic for years. I've always liked gadgets, so of course I talk about smartphones, laptops, and tablets. In this post, I highlight my experience with the Apple tablets I've owned through the years.

iPad 1

CPU: A4
Display: 9.7"
Storage: 64GB
Accessories: Apple iPad Case
Owned: 2011-2013

When iPad was first revealed in 2010, I had to get one. The 4th gen iPod Touch was my favorite gadget then. Later in 2011, after iPad 2 released, I was surprised (like a kid on Christmas morning) by my wife when she gifted me the iPad 1! It was my first tablet, which she bought from a friend of ours who had upgraded to the 2nd gen iPad.

I had to connect the iPad 1 to iTunes on our PC to sync stuff via cable, so this iPad didn't usher in the Post-PC era. I used iPad to view photos, play games (DragonVale), watch movies, toy with GarageBand and iMovie, and read ebooks. Basically, my iPad 1 was a giant iPod touch for me, though I also bought the iWork apps for it and used Pages a few times.

Before long, the iPad's battery life tanked, or something was wrong with the charging system. It only worked while plugged in via the 30-pin connector, so I sold it.

iPad Air 2

CPU: A8X
Display: 9.7"
Storage: 64GB
Accessories: Apple Smart Cover, generic folio case, Anker bluetooth keyboard
Owned: 2017-2019

In 2017, after switching from an Android phone to the iPhone 6, I wanted to also switch out my Chromebook for an iPad. I found a nice deal on Facebook Marketplace for a used iPad Air 2. I was blown away by how thin, light, and capable the Air 2 was. I marveled that something so minimal could be a laptop replacement. The iPad Air 2 was my first attempt to truly be iPad Only. I blogged about it in 2018.

Things didn't work out though. I blogged about that in 2019, when I basically switched back to a Chromebook. The main reasons at the time were my bluetooth keyboard connection repeatedly dropping while using it, the 9.7" display was cramped, the WordPress CMS didn't work well in Safari then, and I was tired of using my finger to select and manipulate text.

iPad 8

CPU: A12
Display: 10.2"
Storage: 128GB
Accessories: generic folio case, Anker bluetooth keyboard, Logitech Pebble mouse
Owned: 2021-2022

My mobile computing pendulum had swung back to a Chromebook and Android phone. But I quickly bounced back to Apple, all-in once more, in late 2020 (when the first Apple Silicon M1 was announced). I bought a used iPhone 8 Plus, new AirPods gen 2, and a new Apple Watch SE. Of course, I planned to get another iPad too.

In 2021, I bought a new iPad 8th gen from Amazon, on sale, with 128GB of storage. In some ways, it was a step down from the Air 2 since it lacked the laminated display. But it had a much more powerful CPU and a slightly larger display. The big advancements were software based: cursor support and Desktop-Class browsing. I thought these would finally make iPad be all the computer I'd need.

I used my iPad 8 with a bluetooth mouse and keyboard (the same one, in fact, that the Air 2 had trouble with) and they worked. I also had full use of the WordPress CMS (except for the theme customizer on the cramped 10.2" display) and used the iPad 8 to write editorials for RPGamer.

Once again, though, I started feeling some iPad limitations: lack of windowing, full multi-tasking, and Steam gaming. I was drawn to our family's new gaming laptop with Windows 11 and an Nvidia GPU with raytracing. But rather than ditch the iPad for a Windows laptop, I ended up buying the M1 MacBook Air and eventually sold my neglected iPad 8 to my oldest son. I used the MacBook for the same tasks that I had used the iPad 8 except for one the iPad couldn't do: Steam, using RPG Maker MZ to create my own game.

iPad Air 5

CPU: M1
Display: 10.9"
Storage: 64GB
Accessories: generic folio case, Anker bluetooth keyboard, Lamicall stand, Logitech Folio Touch keyboard case, Logitech Pebble mouse
Owned: 2023-present

This month, I switched from my M1 MacBook Air to an M1 iPad Air 5. My kids needed another traditional computer for school work, so I gave them my MacBook and upgraded to a tablet again. I realized that iPad is more capable than ever before, recalling the iPad 8 worked as my only computer. I remembered how fun it is to use iPadOS.

I also wanted to try Stage Manager on iPad, which finally brought windowing to Apple's tablet. And this time, to fully replace my MacBook, I added the Logitech Folio Touch keyboard case to my iPad. It makes my set up seamless and convenient. I've written more about the iPad Air 5 here and here.

All the tablets

Apple isn't the only tablet maker. From 2014 to 2016, I used Android tablets. But I usually stay in the synergy of Apple's ecosystem because the iPhone is so "sticky."

I'd like the 13" iPad Pro with Apple's Magic Keyboard, but I'm super blessed now with my latest iPad set up. Mobile computing has never been better. Well, maybe I should try an iPad Mini to be sure. I'm also curious to see what Apple does next. An M3 chip and a more laptop-like keyboard could come to iPad Pro. So some current Pro features may move down to iPad Air. Hopefully the lineup will get simplified; iPad 9 will probably go away.

To recap: