How to Find the Model Number of an iPad

Checking for your iPad model number may not be a priority when you first get your device, but you’ll need it if you want to buy accessories for it. You’ll also need it if you’re planning on selling your device online.

The iPad, iPad Air, iPad Mini, and three distinct sizes of iPad Pro are all different iPad versions available from Apple, and each generation has its own set of features. Because of these differences, you may run into compatibility issues if you don’t know your model number.

Fortunately, this is an easy fix. In this article, you’ll find out how to determine which exact iPad you possess.

How to Find the Model Number of an iPad

If you need to know which iPad model you have, finding the model number is the quickest way to figure it out. You can check your model number in a couple of ways.

You don’t even need to turn on your iPad for the first method. All you have to do is look at the backside of your device. You’ll see “iPad” written there, and underneath you’ll find smaller writing, including the capital letter ‘A,’ followed by a series of numbers. This is the model number.

If you have your device in a case and don’t want to remove it, or if you can’t view the tiny print, you may use the following steps to look up the iPad’s model number instead:

1. Open “Settings.”
   
2. Select “General.”
   
3. Go to “About.”
   
4. A long number that ends in “A” will appear in the Model Number section. This is the SKU number for your iPad. To see your model number, tap this section once. A shorter number that starts with “A” will appear, indicating your model number.
   

iPad Generations and Features

The list of iPad generations continues to expand and shows no signs of stopping. Here’s a list of the ones released thus far:

First Generation

The first iPad generation was released in 2010. The iPad 1st generation could be used to play music, watch photos and videos, read e-books, emails, surf the web, play video games, use GPS. It came with many apps iPad users still use today, such as Safari, iTunes, Maps, Contacts App Store, Notes, Calendar. Only iOS 5.1.1 is compatible with the iPad. Due to hardware constraints, users of the original iPad cannot update to iOS 6.x or later.

Second Generation

FaceTime was a significant feature of the iPad 2. The second generation was slimmed down to less than 9 millimeters making it slimmer than the iPhone 4 and 4S. It also featured quicker graphics that are nine times quicker than the previous iPad and was twice as fast overall. The new iPad has been reduced in weight from 1.5 pounds to 1.3 pounds. It also includes Photo Booth, a popular Mac tool, while iMovie and GarageBand were available separately. iPhoto for iOS also works with the iPad 2.

Third Generation

The iPad 3 was known as the “new iPad” because it introduced many new features. The iPad 3 had a Retina display with four times the pixel density of the iPad 2. It also had A dual-core 1 GHz Apple A5X CPU with quad-core graphics, and a 5-megapixel iSight camera with 5 f/2.4 size element lenses and 1080p video recording was also included in the latest iPad. This was a vast improvement from the iPad 2’s 0.7-megapixel camera and 720p video.

Fourth Generation

In 2012, Apple launched the fourth-generation iPad. The iPad 4 featured a Retina display, the latest Apple A6X CPU, and the Lightning connection, first introduced with the iPhone 5. It debuted with iOS 6.0, which offered a platform for audio-visual material such as e-books, magazines, films, music, computer games, presentations, and online content. iOS 7.0 was included in more recent builds.

Fifth Generation

This iPad 5 featured a 9.7-inch (25-centimeter) display and 2 GB of RAM. The Apple A8X processor had been replaced by the Apple A9, which included the Apple M9 motion co-processor. It had a thickness of 7.5mm, which is the same as the iPad Air. There were just two speakers on this iPad, no Smart Connector compatibility, and no camera flash.

Sixth Generation

The Apple A10 Fusion SoC and support for styluses like the Apple Pencil were added to the 2018 edition. It was offered at a discounted cost to educators and schools. The device came pre-loaded with iOS 11.6 and is compatible with iPadOS up to version 14.

Seventh Generation

The Apple A10 Fusion chip powered the 2019 iPad. It came with 3 GB of RAM and was aimed at the budget-conscious and educational sectors. It also worked with the original Apple Pencil. This tablet is the first in the entry-level iPad series to include a more prominent 10.2-inch Retina display than prior iPad models that featured a 9.7-inch display. It also had a Smart Connector, which allowed it to utilize the Smart Keyboard.

Eighth Generation

The Apple A12 Bionic processor with Neural Engine, 3 GB of RAM, and a 10.2-inch Retina display were all included in the eighth-generation iPad. It also had a Smart Connector on the side to utilize the Smart Keyboard for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro (2nd generation) and iPad Air (3rd generation).

Ninth Generation

An Apple A13 processor powers the newest iPad. It features a new ultra-wide-angle 12MP front camera while keeping the same size factor as the previous model. FaceTime HD video and Center Stage tracking are both supported by the front camera.

Overall, this tablet is smaller and lighter than the previous iPads, yet it still performs the way customers expect from an iPad.

Additional FAQs

How Many iPad Generations Are There?

There are also six generations of the iPad Mini, four generations of iPad Air, and five generations of the iPad Pro.

The 9th generation iPad and the 6th generation iPad mini were introduced in September 2021, and they followed closely behind the 5th generation iPad Pro earlier in the year. With strong CPUs, stunning Retina screens, and plenty of features, the line delivers some of the greatest tablets on the market.

What Does the Model Number on iPad Mean?

The model number identifies the iPad you’re holding in your hands. Apple, however, does not give a unique model name anywhere on the iPad. To find out which model number belongs to which generation of iPads, you’ll need to search the number online or find a list of model numbers and generations to find out your device’s exact generation.

The Last Bit of Information

There are at least two model numbers for each iPad version. The base model only has Wi-Fi connectivity, but a more costly variant with mobile data is also available. There are various cellular models with different cellular radios available for some iPads, but you can identify the exact version by looking at the model number.

Also, remember that some of these iPads have other names. The iPad (3rd generation) and iPad (4th generation), for example, are also known as the iPad 3 and iPad 4, respectively. The iPad 1 is the name given to the first iPad.

Which iPad do you have? Do you know to which generation your iPad model belongs? Let us know in the comments section below.