Skip to main content

Hands On Impressions of the Apple iPad

ipad-gamingApple’s expertise is in creating elite products that provide a certain sex appeal to the public—hence their vast success, even in a recession. So it was no surprise when the company unveiled its mysterious Apple tablet, now officially known as the iPad, at an elite gathering today (weeks after the Consumer Electronics Show). Apple didn’t want just any old tech-junky getting his/her fingerprint smudges all over the iPad’s 9.7-inch 1,024 by 768-pixel high-quality display. Today, after Apple pushed the iPad into the spotlight, the company allowed the attending press to get a brief  hands on with the new tablet device.

Here are some of the first hands on impressions from Apple’s iPad unveiling event.

ipad-flat

Recommended Videos

SlashGear

ipad-ledSlashGear claims that handling the iPad is really like handling a big iPhone—but unfortunately a lot of the iPhone’s flaws have carried over to the new tablet device.  Overall, they had mostly good things to say about their hands on experience—reporting the iPad was very speedy and the iBook ebook reading is “fast and clean.”

Joystiq

Joystiq describes the iPad as a “big iPod Touch,” especially from a gaming perspective. They also noted that Need for Speed actually controlled better with the iPad’s larger screen and tilting abilities.

Engadget

ibooksEngadget says that when holding the iPad, it actually felt a lot heavier than they thought it would. They were disappointed that there were no “multitasking” capabilities, but did note that the device is “blazingly fast” and its 1024 x 768 screen is stunning.

Gizmodo

Gizmodo liked the heft of the iPad, calling it “substantial, but surprisingly light.” They also were very pleased with the iBooks app saying it made you feel more like you were reading a book than Kindle ever did.

Ars Technica

Ars Technica also compared the iPad to a giant iPhone—naming the similar features and specs. They also mentioned that is was quite easy to navigate on the iPad.

Dena Cassella
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Haole built. O'ahu grown
I tried a tiny iPad mini keyboard. It was a bewildering experience.
Editing notes using the HOU Keyboard for the iPad mini.

It almost sounds comical, but using a teeny-tiny keyboard with an iPad mini is not a terrible idea. In fact, it just might help you get some work done in a space that would otherwise be sacrificed to social media doomscrolling, give you a headstart into the day, or simply engage in some word-y recreational activity. 

The iPad mini is a fantastic device. It’s criminally underrated as a portable external display, especially for Mac users. It has all the firepower in the world you will need from a tablet. In fact, were it not for the screen size, it would deserve a productivity-boosting keyboard more than the 2025 iPad with its 11-inch screen. 

Read more
You could be folding your iPad as soon as next year
A person holding the 13-inch iPad Air (2025).

The iPad Fold, as it's being touted, could arrive as soon as next year.

A new report suggests that the first folding iPad could be on track to land in 2026.

Read more
iPad Air (2025) vs. iPad Pro (2024)
Apple iPad Air M3 2025 vs iPad Pro M4 2024

The iPad Pro is Apple's premier tablet computer, that offers power identical to a MacBook in a more convenient and portable layout. It was announced in May last year and continues to serve as Apple's flagship iPad since then. Intriguingly though, Apple also announced an iPad Air at the same time last year with an M2 chip, and the same design was recently refurbished with M3 chips.

Superficially, both iPad models may seem very similar, especially since the iPad Air covers all the essential features from the iPad Pro, including support for the new Apple Pencil Pro, a similarly large footprint that will let you replace your laptop for most chores. Simultaneously, the $400 divide between the two devices must leave you wondering why Apple is charging extra for identical specs. The answer is complicated and more confusing than the comparison between the base iPad and the new iPad Air (2025).

Read more