iPad · Retina & Beyond · 2017
iPad (5th generation)
Apple refocused the standard iPad on value, dropping it to $329 with a brighter screen and the A9, a hit with schools and families.
Reset the iPad’s starting price to a mass-market $329.
iPad (6th generation) (2018)
iPad (5th generation): key facts
When was the iPad (5th generation) released?
The iPad (5th generation) arrived on March 24, 2017. Apple discontinued it in March 2018.
How much did the iPad (5th generation) cost?
The iPad (5th generation) launched at $329 in 2017, about $421 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Apple A9 at 1.85 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 32 GB storage, 9.7" Retina IPS, 2048×1536 display.
Why does the iPad (5th generation) matter?
Reset the iPad’s starting price to a mass-market $329.
Full specifications
| CPU | Apple A9 · 1.85 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 2 |
| Memory (RAM) | 2 GB |
| Storage | 32 GB |
| Display | 9.7" Retina IPS, 2048×1536 |
| GPU | PowerVR GT7600 |
| Ports | Lightning |
| Weight | 469 g |
| Dimensions | 240×169.5×7.5 mm |
| Operating system | iOS 10.3 |
| Released | March 24, 2017 |
| Discontinued | March 2018 |
| Launch price | $329 |
How the iPad (5th generation) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 8.0× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 1.85 GHz, the clock is roughly 1.7× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 8,190 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $329 in 2017, about $421 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
This price reset is why "iPad" became a classroom default worldwide.
Related iPad models
Open the iPad (5th generation) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11