iPad · Apple Silicon · 2020
iPad (8th generation)
A quiet but meaningful bump: the A12 Bionic gave the cheapest iPad real machine-learning muscle for handwriting and photos.
Brought the Neural Engine to the entry iPad.
iPad (9th generation) (2021)
iPad (8th generation): key facts
When was the iPad (8th generation) released?
The iPad (8th generation) arrived on September 18, 2020. Apple discontinued it in September 2021.
How much did the iPad (8th generation) cost?
The iPad (8th generation) launched at $329 in 2020, about $398 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Apple A12 Bionic at 2.49 GHz, 3 GB RAM, 32 GB storage, 10.2" Retina IPS, 2160×1620 display.
Why does the iPad (8th generation) matter?
Brought the Neural Engine to the entry iPad.
Full specifications
| CPU | Apple A12 Bionic · 2.49 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 6 |
| Memory (RAM) | 3 GB |
| Storage | 32 GB |
| Display | 10.2" Retina IPS, 2160×1620 |
| GPU | Apple 4-core GPU |
| Ports | Lightning |
| Weight | 490 g |
| Dimensions | 250.6×174.1×7.5 mm |
| Operating system | iPadOS 14 |
| Released | September 18, 2020 |
| Discontinued | September 2021 |
| Launch price | $329 |
How the iPad (8th generation) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 5.3× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 2.49 GHz, the clock is roughly 1.3× 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 2020, about $398 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?
Demand soared as remote schooling made cheap iPads scarce.
Related iPad models
Open the iPad (8th generation) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11