Apple today debuted a new eighth-generation iPad, powered by an A12 Bionic Chip. The A12 offers up to 40% better performance than the A11 it replaces, double the graphic power, and brings the Neural Engine to the entry-level iPad for the first time.
The new iPad starts at $329, and features a 10.2-inch Retina display, advanced cameras, and “great all-day battery life.”
“We’re excited to offer customers an even faster and more powerful experience with the eighth-generation iPad,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “With its beautiful 10.2-inch Retina display, the performance boost from the A12 Bionic, great cameras, and so much more, the new iPad is an incredible value at a time when, more than ever, our customers need powerful and versatile ways to work, play, learn, and connect with loved ones.”
The new iPad will ship with the iOS 14 mobile operating system (which will be available for all compatible iPads on Wednesday), and supports the first-generation Apple Pencil, and also offers Smart Keyboard support. Gigabit-class LTE is available as an additional cost option.
Apple says the A12 Bionic chip makes the new iPad up to two times faster than the top-selling Windows laptop, up to three times faster than the top-selling Android tablet, and up to six times faster than the top-selling Chromebook.
The A12 Bionic introduces the Neural Engine for next-level machine learning capabilities, including people occlusion and motion tracking in augmented reality (AR) apps, enhanced photo editing, Siri performance, and more.
Apple says the new eighth-generation iPad is designed to be environmentally friendly and supports Apple’s plan to become carbon neutral by 2030. iPad uses a 100% recycled aluminum enclosure and 100% recycled tin for the solder on its main logic board, remains free of harmful substances, is highly energy-efficient, and uses wood fiber packaging that is recycled or comes from responsibly managed forests.
The new iPad (8th generation) is available to order starting today on apple.com and in the Apple Store app in more than 25 countries and regions, including the US. iPad will be available beginning Friday, September 18, with a starting price of $329 (US) for the Wi-Fi model and $459 (US) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model, and comes in silver, space gray, and gold finishes in 32GB and 128GB configurations.
Apple Pencil (1st generation), available for purchase separately, is compatible with iPad (8th generation) for $99 (US). Smart Keyboard for iPad is available for purchase separately for $159 (US) with layouts for over 30 languages, including simplified Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish.
Smart Covers for iPad are available for $49 (US) in black, white, and three new seasonal colors including deep navy, cyprus green, and pink citrus.
Education pricing for institutions purchasing directly from Apple, including schools and universities, is available starting at just $299 (US) for iPad (8th generation). Education pricing for individuals, including current and newly accepted college students and their parents, as well as faculty, staff, and homeschool teachers of all grade levels, is available for $309 (US) for iPad (8th generation). The first-generation Apple Pencil is also available for $89 (US) and Smart Keyboard for $149 (US).
