The iPad launched in April 2010 and created the modern tablet market

The first tablet that shaped how people use tablets today was the iPad, released by Apple on April 3, 2010. It had a 9.7-inch screen, ran Apple's iOS operating system, and cost between $499 and $829 depending on storage and connectivity. The iPad was not the first tablet ever made — companies had built tablet devices before — but it was the first one people actually wanted to buy and use regularly.

Before the iPad, tablets existed in small numbers. Microsoft released the Tablet PC in 2002, which ran Windows and used a stylus. Various manufacturers made smaller devices with resistive touchscreens. None of them caught on. The iPad succeeded because it combined a large, responsive touchscreen, a straightforward operating system designed for touch, and a library of applications people wanted. Within months, it became the standard that other manufacturers tried to copy.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple's iPad launched on April 3, 2010, and became the first tablet computer that sold in large numbers and defined what a tablet should be.
  • Tablets existed before the iPad — Microsoft made one in 2002 — but none achieved widespread use until Apple's version arrived.
  • The original iPad cost $499 to $829 and had a 9.7-inch screen with iOS, Apple's touch-based operating system.
  • Within a year, other manufacturers including Samsung, Motorola, and Amazon released competing tablets running Android or their own software.
  • Tablets became a distinct product category between smartphones and laptops, filling a role that did not exist before 2010.

What existed before the iPad

Tablet computers did not start with Apple. Microsoft released the Tablet PC in November 2002, which ran Windows XP and used a stylus for input. It was a laptop-sized device with a screen you could write on. Manufacturers like Lenovo, HP, and Fujitsu made Tablet PC models. The devices worked, but they were expensive, slow, and the stylus-based interface felt clunky compared to a keyboard and mouse. Most people who needed a portable computer bought a laptop instead.

Before that, companies experimented with smaller handheld tablets. GRiDpad, released in 1989, was one of the earliest. Pen-based computers from companies like Go Corporation and EO existed in the early 1990s. None of these devices found a market large enough to survive. The technology was not ready — screens were not responsive enough, batteries did not last long enough, and software was not designed for touch input. By the time the iPad arrived, most people had forgotten these earlier attempts.

Why the iPad succeeded where others failed

The iPad worked because Apple designed the entire system — hardware, software, and applications — to work together. The touchscreen responded when ready to your finger. iOS, the operating system, was built from the ground up for touch, not adapted from a desktop system. The App Store had thousands of applications written specifically for the iPad's screen size and touch interface. This combination made the device feel fast and natural to use.

Price also mattered. At $499, the original iPad cost less than most laptops but more than a smartphone. It filled a gap: larger than a phone for reading, watching video, or browsing, but smaller and cheaper than a laptop. People could understand what it was for. Within the first month, Apple sold 300,000 units. By the end of 2010, it had sold 15 million.

Android tablets arrived within a year

The iPad's success prompted other manufacturers to enter the market quickly. Samsung released the Galaxy Tab in September 2010, five months after the iPad launched. It ran Android, Google's operating system, and had a 7-inch screen — smaller than the iPad. Motorola released the Xoom in February 2011 with a 10-inch screen. Amazon released the Kindle Fire in November 2011 at $199, undercutting the iPad on price.

These competitors offered choices — different screen sizes, different price points, and different software — but none displaced the iPad as the market leader. Android tablets gained market share over time, but the iPad remained the standard that other tablets were measured against. By 2012, tablets had become a recognized product category, distinct from phones and laptops, and the market continued to grow.

How tablets changed after 2010

The tablet market evolved significantly in the years after the iPad launched. Screens got sharper — Apple introduced the Retina display in the iPad 3 in 2012, which doubled the pixel density. Processors became faster. Tablets got thinner and lighter. Battery life improved. Manufacturers experimented with different sizes: 7-inch tablets for portability, 10-inch tablets for media consumption, and larger tablets for productivity.

Software also changed. Tablets stopped being oversized phones and started becoming tools for specific tasks. Apple released the iPad Pro in 2015 with a 12.9-inch screen and support for the Apple Pencil stylus, positioning it as a laptop replacement for creative work. Microsoft released the Surface line, which combined a tablet with a keyboard and stylus. Android tablets became more diverse, with Samsung, Lenovo, and others targeting different users — students, artists, business professionals.

The tablet market today

Tablets remain a distinct product category more than a decade after the iPad launched. The market is smaller than it was in 2015 — fewer people buy tablets now than did then — but tablets still serve specific purposes. People use them for reading, watching video, casual gaming, and light productivity work. Professionals use high-end tablets with styluses for design and illustration. Students use tablets for note-taking and reading textbooks.

The iPad still dominates the tablet market by sales and by the number of applications available. Android tablets from Samsung, Lenovo, and Amazon compete on price and features. Microsoft's Surface devices blur the line between tablet and laptop. The tablet category that the iPad created in 2010 remains, even though the market has matured and stopped growing as rapidly as it did in the early years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was the iPad really the first tablet computer ever made?

No. Microsoft made the Tablet PC in 2002, and earlier companies experimented with pen-based computers in the 1980s and 1990s. The iPad was the first tablet that sold in large numbers and became popular with regular people. It created the modern tablet market, even though the concept existed before.

How much did the original iPad cost?

The original iPad launched at $499 for the base model with 16 GB of storage. A 32 GB model cost $599, and a 64 GB model cost $699. A version with cellular connectivity cost $130 more. These prices were high compared to smartphones but lower than most laptops at the time.

What operating system did the first iPad use?

The original iPad ran iOS, Apple's touch-based operating system. iOS was adapted from the iPhone's operating system but optimized for the larger iPad screen. It was designed specifically for touch input, which was a key reason the iPad felt responsive and straightforward to use compared to earlier tablets that ran Windows or other desktop systems.

Did tablets replace laptops?

No. Tablets became a separate product category for specific tasks — reading, video, casual work — but laptops remained the standard for serious productivity work. Some high-end tablets like the iPad Pro and Microsoft Surface come close to laptop capability, but most tablets are used alongside laptops, not instead of them.

Are tablets still popular today?

Tablets remain popular but the market is smaller than it was in 2015. People still buy them for reading, watching video, gaming, and note-taking. The iPad remains the market leader. However, fewer people buy tablets now than did a decade ago, as smartphones got larger and laptops got cheaper and more portable.