iPad (5th generation)
The budget iPad returns at a much lower entry price.
Overview
The fifth-generation iPad was a deliberate move to broaden the audience. Priced at $329, it dropped the Air branding but kept the thin-bezel 9.7-inch design almost unchanged from the first iPad Air, at the same 7.5 mm thickness.
The A9 chip with 2 GB of memory delivered a solid jump in speed over the old Air, enough to handle split-screen multitasking comfortably. The display was a little dimmer and not laminated, the camera was an 8-megapixel unit, and there was no support for Apple Pencil or a Smart Keyboard.
It retained Touch ID and the Lightning connector and was sold in silver, space gray and gold. Schools and families became its core audience, and the model was replaced a year later.
Why it mattered
Set the $329 price point that made iPad an easy purchase for schools and families.
At a glance
- Announced
- March 21, 2017
- Released
- March 24, 2017
- Discontinued
- March 27, 2018
- Launch price
- $329
- Chip
- Apple A9, 1.85 GHz dual-core
- Display
- 9.7"
- Storage
- 32GB, 128GB
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- Starting price of $329
- A9 chip with 2 GB of RAM
- Touch ID in a 9.7-inch Air-style body
- No Apple Pencil support
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 9.7-inch
- Type
- Retina LED-backlit IPS
- Resolution
- 2048 x 1536 (264 ppi)
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
- Brightness
- About 500 nits
Chip
- Chip
- Apple A9, 1.85 GHz dual-core 64-bit
- Coprocessor
- Apple M9 motion coprocessor
Memory
- RAM
- 2 GB
- Storage options
- 32GB, 128GB
Camera
- Rear camera
- 8 MP iSight, 1080p video
- Front camera
- 1.2 MP FaceTime HD
Battery
- Battery life
- Up to 10 hours of web, video or music
- Capacity
- About 32.4 Wh
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11a/b/g/n/ac with MIMO
- Cellular
- Optional 4G LTE model
- Connector
- Lightning
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 4.2
Accessories
- Apple Pencil
- Not supported
- Keyboard
- Bluetooth keyboards and third-party cases
Design
- Dimensions
- 240 x 169.5 x 7.5 mm
- Weight
- 469 g (Wi-Fi), 478 g (cellular)
Security
- Authentication
- Touch ID fingerprint sensor
Software
- Launch OS
- iOS 10.3
- Latest supported OS
- iPadOS 16.7.x
How it compares
More in the iPad family
iPad (1st generation)
The slate that defined the modern tablet category.
iPad 2
Thinner, faster, and finally equipped with cameras.
iPad (3rd generation)
The first iPad with a Retina display and LTE.
iPad (4th generation)
A surprise refresh that doubled the speed and introduced Lightning.
iPad (6th generation)
The first non-Pro iPad that works with Apple Pencil.
iPad (7th generation)
A slightly larger 10.2-inch screen and the Smart Connector for $329.
iPad (8th generation)
The $329 iPad picks up an A12 Bionic and a Neural Engine.
iPad (9th generation)
The last classic iPad, with Center Stage and True Tone.
iPad (10th generation)
The standard iPad finally goes all-screen, in four bold colors.
iPad (A16)
The everyday iPad, now with 128 GB and a quicker A16 chip.