Evolution Archive
EN繁中

iPad · Standard

2017

iPad (5th generation)

Reboots the classic numbered iPad at a breakthrough $329 entry price, combining an A9 processor with a brighter 9.7-inch Retina display in a durable 7.5mm enclosure.

View this family tree
Announced
2017-03-21
Family
iPad
Branch
Standard
Historical weight
Major evolution

Key specifications

Apple verification ↗
Display
9.7" Retina IPS, 2048×1536
Chip / CPU
Apple A9 · 1.85 GHz
Memory
2 GB
Base storage
32 GB
Ports & charging
Lightning
Weight
469 g
Dimensions
240×169.5×7.5 mm
Original OS
iOS 10.3
Launch price
$329
Released
March 24, 2017
Discontinued
March 2018
Graphics
PowerVR GT7600
CPU cores
2

Generation delta

What changed?

Introduced

2

  • $329 entry pricing

    Established the most affordable starting price point in iPad history for a full-size 9.7-inch Retina model ($329 for 32GB Wi-Fi, $299 for education), significantly below the historical $499 baseline.

    Display

  • Apple A9 chip

    Upgraded the standard tier from A8X to the 64-bit Apple A9 desktop-class chip with embedded M9 motion coprocessor (providing 1.6x faster CPU and 1.8x faster GPU over the A8 architecture in mini 4).

    Silicon

Changed

3

  • Display assembly reverted to non-laminated design

    The cover glass and LCD panel were no longer fused together and the anti-reflective coating was omitted. While this introduced a small internal air gap, it made the display significantly brighter and made glass replacement much simpler and cheaper for schools and families.

    Display

  • Chassis thickness and weight

    Enclosure reverted from 6.1mm (iPad Air 2) to 7.5mm (matching the original iPad Air), with weight increasing from 437g / 444g to 469g (Wi-Fi) / 478g (Cellular).

    Connectivity

  • Storage options

    Replaced the 16/64/128 lineup with simplified 32GB ($329) and 128GB ($429) tiers.

    Storage

Retired

2

  • Fully laminated display and anti-reflective coating

    Retired from the mainstream iPad tier (reserved exclusively for the iPad Pro line at the time, and later reintroduced to the mid-tier with iPad Air 3).

    Display

  • Physical hardware mute switch

    Retained the clean switch-free chassis sides established by iPad Air 2.

    Product

Retained

6

  • 9.7-inch LED-backlit Retina display with 2048-by-1536 resolution at 264 ppi

    9.7-inch LED-backlit Retina display with 2048-by-1536 resolution at 264 ppi.

    Display

  • First-generation Touch ID capacitive sensor in the Home button

    First-generation Touch ID capacitive sensor in the Home button.

    Sensors

  • Two-speaker stereo audio on the bottom edge (did not feature the 4-speaker array of the…

    Two-speaker stereo audio on the bottom edge (did not feature the 4-speaker array of the Pro).

    Audio

  • 8MP rear camera with f/2.4 aperture and 1.2MP FaceTime HD front camera

    8MP rear camera with f/2.4 aperture and 1.2MP FaceTime HD front camera.

    Camera

  • Lightning connector and 3.5mm stereo headphone jack

    Lightning connector and 3.5mm stereo headphone jack.

    Ports

  • 10-hour battery life with a 32.4-watt-hour battery

    10-hour battery life with a 32.4-watt-hour battery.

    Power

Technology DNA

Ideas carried by this generation.

DisplayRetina display

High-density display branding introduced on iPhone 4 and later expanded across product families.

BiometricsTouch ID

Fingerprint authentication introduced on iPhone 5s.

Canonical predecessor

iPad (4th generation) iPad (5th generation)