When Was The iPad 8 Released & How Much Does It Cost?

Apple’s eighth-generation iPad arrived in 2020, building on the generations that came before it. While it was not the only new iPad model to arrive at that time, or the most premium, it was the cheapest. Due to this, the iPad 8 is a great option for those looking to enter the iPad world or upgrade to a newer model at an affordable price.

The iPad remains an extremely popular option for tablet buyers. While Samsung and others continue to release their own versions, and often at cheaper prices, Apple’s tablet has remained a go-to for many. In fact, business seems to be better than ever for the iPad, with the movement to a working from home lifestyle creating additional reasons for more consumers to purchase a device that bridges the gap between a phone and a notepad.

Apple announced the iPad 8 during its “Time Flies” event on September 15, 2020. During the same event, the company also announced an updated iPad Air model, as well as both the Apple Watch Series 6 and the Apple Watch SE. One of the big selling points with the iPad 8 was the inclusion of the A12 Bionic chip, an upgrade compared to the A10 Fusion chip used in the company’s 2019 iPad 7. A processor change that allowed the iPad line to gain the benefits associated with Apple’s Neural Engine. While announced on September 15, the iPad 8 didn’t become available to buy until Friday, September 18, 2020.

How Much Apple’s iPad 8 Costs

At launch, Apple confirmed the iPad 8 was priced at just $329. At this price, it was the cheapest new iPad available to buy. Although Apple also sells an iPad mini, the smaller iPad price starts at $399. Of course, the $329 is just the starting price for the eight-generation iPad. As is common with Apple products, there are various customization options available that can alter the price. For example, consumers can opt to upgrade the storage from 32GB to 128GB, with the price increasing from $329 to $429. In addition, there’s also the option to add cellular connectivity which takes the price of the 32GB model up from $329 to $459, and the cost of the 128GB version up from $429 to $559. At the higher price point, the iPad 8 creeps close to the cost of the baseline version of the iPad Air 4.

Overall, the iPad 8 remains a great option for anyone considering picking up a new tablet, whether an iPad or otherwise. It is not the most premium option and lacks many of the design points and advanced technologies found in the likes of the Air and Pro lines, but that is by design. The iPad is simply an iPad and that in itself will be more than sufficient for consumers looking for a device with a larger screen than their smartphone. After all, while there are now minis, Airs, and Pros to choose from, Apple’s eight-generation iPad is the latest version of the iPad.

Source: Apple

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John Finn
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John Finn is a technology editor and writer for Screen Rant. John has been covering technology since 2014 and focuses on where tech meets the movie and TV industry. A Psychology graduate from England who now lives in the US, John previously worked in the aviation industry as an airline reviewer. You can find John on Twitter (@J_Finns) or contact directly at john [at] screenrant [dot] com.

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