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Is the iPad Still Popular?
Apple's shift to 64-bit apps moves iPad users to update
By Daniel Nations Daniel Nations Writer University of Texas at Arlington Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, and other publications. He is a developer who has published apps in the Apple App Store, Google Play marketplace and Amazon Appstore; he also has worked as a data analyst and DB administrator. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 6, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Apple iPad Macs Apple stopped providing regular sales figures on iPads after 2018 but broke its silence in late 2020 to report that the company has sold more than 500 million iPads over the last 10 years. Although the tablet market, in general, has declined from its heyday only a few years ago, the iPad still leads the way in sales and innovation. The Facts
At the end of 2018, these were the facts: The 9.67 million iPads sold in the fourth quarter of 2018 accounted for 34.9 percent of the tablet market share—more than any other manufacturer. Second-place Samsung held on to 15.1 percent of the market, while third-place Huawei claimed 10.3 percent.In 2018, only Apple and Huawei showed an increase in tablet sales. It's fair to say that the iPad is one of the most popular computing devices in the world, and certainly, the most popular tablet. So what happened with sales to cause all the uproar? The iPad demonstrated its popularity with its second-quarter 2019 earning report—its best in six years. Tomohiro Ohsumi / Getty Images News The Tablet Market Benefits From Upgrade Cycles
The iPad was slow to jump on the upgrade cycle, which accounted for some of its bad press. Because the tablet market was saturated, almost everyone who wanted an iPad already had an iPad. The only way to attract buyers was to offer them something better. The iPad 2 and the original iPad mini were popular for years. They had a few things in common: They both ran on the now-ancient Apple A5 processor. Neither of them has a Retina display, Touch ID, or Apple Pay. They don't work with the Apple Pencil or the new Smart Keyboard. However, people still loved them. Why? Because they worked great. So why should they upgrade? Precisely for the reasons just mentioned: Retina display, Touch (or Face) ID, and Apple Pencil compatibility. However, it took a major move from Apple to seal the deal on upgrades. Move to 64-Bit Apps Made Half of iPads Obsolete
Although people loved the iPad 2 and the iPad mini, eventually the upgrade cycle caught up with many of them. Roughly half of the iPad models can no longer download new apps from the App Store. They also can't receive new updates to apps they already have on their iPad, which pushed many users to upgrade their iPads. The reason? Apple dropped support for 32-bit apps. Apple moved to a 64-bit architecture with the iPad Air. Still, apps in the App Store maintained backward compatibility for a while with older iPad models by delivering both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. However, Apple no longer accepts 32-bit apps in the App Store. This translates to no new apps or app upgrades for owners of the iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, or iPad mini. (The original iPad has been obsolete for years now.) Here's more about older iPad models becoming obsolete. Why Is Apple Dropping Support for 32-Bit Apps
Dropping support for 32-bit apps is a good thing for the iPad. Apps that are designed for the iPad Air and later models, including the iPad mini 4 and later, deliver more robust features. These models operate on top of 64-bit architecture, and they are faster and have more memory dedicated to running apps. Apple draws a line in the sand for features like multitasking, which requires at least an iPad Air or iPad mini 2 for slide-over multitasking and an iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 4 for split-screen multitasking. This translates to better apps for everyone, but it also means that owners of older iPad models are feeling the pressure to upgrade. With obsolete models taking up about half the market share of iPads in the real world, this translates to a decent bump in sales for Apple. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire The Difference Between the iPad Mini 4 and the Original Mini Is Your iPad Obsolete and Outdated? What Is the iPad Air and How Does it Compare? Behind the Invention and Evolution of the iPad iPadOS 15: Release Date, Features, and Supported Devices The 27 Best iPads of 2022 by Lifewire How Long Does an iPad Last? Compare Every iPad Model Ever Made The History of iOS, from Version 1.0 to 16.0 The Ultimate iPad Comparison Chart (2022) Why Can't I Upgrade My iPad? The iPad's Screen Resolution for Different Models Can I Upgrade or Downgrade to Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6)? New iPad mini Pro: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors How to Connect USB Devices to an iPad Google Pixel Tablet: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies