The iPad launched in 2010 as the first tablet to reach mainstream use

The first tablet computer to gain real traction in the consumer market was the iPad, released by Apple on April 3, 2010. It ran iOS, the same operating system as the iPhone, and came with a 9.7-inch touchscreen. The device cost $499 for the base model and sold over 300,000 units in its first week. Before the iPad, tablet-shaped computers existed in labs and niche markets, but none had achieved widespread adoption or commercial success.

The iPad's success came from its combination of a large screen, long battery life (around 10 hours), and access to the App Store, which already had thousands of applications built for the iPhone. Previous tablets had failed because they were either too expensive, too heavy, too slow, or ran desktop operating systems that did not work well on a touchscreen. Apple's approach — designing the hardware and software together from the start — proved to be the winning formula.

Key Takeaways

  • The iPad, released April 3, 2010, was the first tablet to become widely used by consumers and remains the market leader today.
  • Earlier tablet prototypes existed throughout the 1990s and 2000s, but they were expensive, slow, or ran operating systems not designed for touch.
  • The iPad's success came from combining a large touchscreen, a mobile operating system, a long battery life, and access to thousands of apps.
  • Within a year of the iPad's launch, other manufacturers released competing tablets running Android and Windows, creating the tablet market as it exists now.

Tablet prototypes existed for decades before the iPad

The concept of a tablet computer dates back to the 1980s. Researchers at Xerox and other technology companies built early prototypes with styluses and touchscreens. Microsoft released the Tablet PC in 2002, which was a laptop that could fold into a tablet shape and recognize handwriting. It ran Windows XP and cost between $2,000 and $3,000. Despite the innovation, it remained a niche product used mainly by professionals in specific fields like medicine and architecture.

In the years before the iPad, several companies tried to build consumer tablets. The Nokia N800 (2007) and N810 (2008) were small tablets with 4.3-inch screens that ran Linux. The Archos 5 (2007) was a 5-inch device that could play video and music. None of these devices gained significant market share. They were either too small to be useful as a primary device, too expensive, or ran operating systems that lacked the apps and polish consumers expected.

Why the iPad succeeded where others failed

Apple's iPad worked because it was designed as a new category of device, not as a laptop or phone squeezed into a different shape. The 9.7-inch screen was large enough to be useful for reading, watching video, and browsing the web, but small enough to hold in your hands. The device weighed 1.5 pounds and ran iOS, which was built for touch from the ground up. There was no keyboard, no stylus, and no attempt to run desktop software.

The App Store was crucial. When the iPad launched, the iPhone App Store already had 225,000 apps. Developers quickly adapted their iPhone apps to work on the larger iPad screen, and new apps were built specifically for tablets. This meant that on day one, the iPad had thousands of programs ready to use. Earlier tablets had struggled because they lacked software — developers did not want to build for a platform with few users, and users did not want to buy a device with few apps.

Price also mattered. At $499, the iPad was expensive, but it was cheaper than the Tablet PC and more affordable than most laptops. It was positioned as a device between a smartphone and a computer — something you could use for casual browsing, reading, and entertainment without the complexity of a full operating system.

The tablet market expanded rapidly after 2010

Within months of the iPad's launch, other manufacturers began releasing competing tablets. Samsung released the Galaxy Tab in September 2010, running Android. Amazon released the Kindle Fire in November 2011, a smaller 7-inch tablet focused on reading and shopping. Microsoft released the Surface in 2013, a tablet that could run full Windows software and attach a keyboard. By 2012, tablets were a mainstream product category with dozens of options at different price points.

The iPad remained the market leader throughout this period. In 2011, iPad sales accounted for about 60 percent of all tablet sales worldwide. By 2015, that share had dropped to around 25 percent as Android tablets became cheaper and more common, but the iPad still sold more units than any competitor. Today, the iPad line includes models ranging from the iPad mini (8.3 inches) to the iPad Pro (12.9 inches), with prices from $329 to over $1,000.

What made tablets different from phones and computers

Tablets filled a gap between smartphones and laptops. A smartphone has a screen too small for extended reading or video watching. A laptop is heavier, requires a keyboard, and runs software designed for a mouse and keyboard. A tablet offered a large touchscreen in a portable form factor, making it ideal for reading books and news, watching video, browsing the web, and casual gaming. It was also simpler to use than a computer — no file management, no installation of software, just tapping apps on a home screen.

This simplicity appealed to older users and people who were not comfortable with computers. Tablets became popular in schools, hospitals, and retail stores because they were intuitive and did not require training. They also had longer battery life than laptops — the original iPad lasted 10 hours on a single charge, compared to 4 to 6 hours for most laptops at the time.

Tablets today look similar to the original iPad design

The basic design of the iPad has remained largely unchanged since 2010. Modern tablets still have a large touchscreen, run a mobile operating system, and rely on apps rather than traditional software. The main improvements have been in processing power, screen resolution, and features like cameras and stylus support. The iPad Pro, released in 2015, added support for the Apple Pencil, a stylus that lets you draw and write on the screen with precision.

The tablet market has matured since its explosive growth in the early 2010s. Tablet sales peaked around 2014 and have declined slightly since then as smartphones have gotten larger and more capable. However, tablets remain popular for specific uses — reading, watching video, drawing, and productivity work with a keyboard case. The iPad still dominates the market, with Android tablets from Samsung, Lenovo, and others serving users who prefer a lower price or different software.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was the iPad really the first tablet ever made?

No. Tablets existed before the iPad, including Microsoft's Tablet PC (2002) and various prototypes from the 1980s and 1990s. However, the iPad was the first tablet to become widely used by consumers. Earlier tablets were expensive, slow, or ran operating systems not designed for touch, so they remained niche products.

What other tablets came out around the same time as the iPad?

The Samsung Galaxy Tab launched in September 2010, just five months after the iPad. The Motorola Xoom came out in 2011. However, none of these early competitors matched the iPad's sales or market share. The tablet market did not truly diversify until 2012 and later, when prices dropped and more manufacturers entered the space.

Why did tablets become so popular so quickly?

Tablets offered a new way to use the internet and apps that was simpler than a computer and more comfortable than a phone for extended use. The large touchscreen, long battery life, and access to thousands of apps made them appealing to a broad audience. They were also easier to learn than computers, which attracted older users and people unfamiliar with technology.

Do people still use tablets, or have they been replaced by phones?

Tablets are still used, though sales have declined from their peak in 2014. Larger smartphones have reduced the need for a separate device for some users. However, tablets remain popular for reading, watching video, drawing, and productivity work. The iPad in particular continues to sell well and has expanded into different sizes and price points.

How much did the first iPad cost?

The original iPad cost $499 for the 16GB model, $599 for 32GB, and $699 for 64GB. This was expensive for a consumer device in 2010, but cheaper than most laptops and less than the Tablet PC. Today's iPad starts at $329 for the base model, though larger and more powerful models cost significantly more.