iPad Launched
Apple launched the iPad, creating the modern tablet computer market
April 03, 2010
Apple Introduces the Tablet Era
On January 27, 2010, Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPad at an Apple event in San Francisco. He described it as a device that sits between a smartphone and a laptop, offering a better experience for browsing the web, watching video, reading books, and playing games. Many tech analysts had been skeptical before the launch, but the crowd's reaction was electric. The iPad went on sale in April 2010 and sold one million units in its first 28 days.
A New Category of Device
Before the iPad, tablet computers existed but had never caught on with consumers. Microsoft had pushed tablet PCs since 2002 with little success. Apple succeeded because the iPad's touch interface, app ecosystem, and battery life made it genuinely useful for everyday tasks. It became especially popular in schools, hospitals, and homes where a full laptop wasn't needed. Publishers and game developers embraced it quickly, creating new types of content designed specifically for the large touchscreen.
The iPad's Lasting Impact
The iPad created a new product category that reshaped how people interact with computers. It pushed rivals like Google and Microsoft to develop their own tablets and hybrid devices. The App Store exploded in size as developers rushed to build iPad-specific apps. Today, iPads are used by students, artists, musicians, doctors, and pilots. The original iPad showed that a simpler, touch-based computer could be more powerful than a complex one. Use our age calculator to see how old the first iPad is today.