The 2021 iPhone release included two updated iPad models. Here’s a recap of what you need to know when updating your apps for the new devices.
Last updated: Mar 27, 2022
The New Models In A Nutshell
The two new devices are updates to the low cost iPad and the iPad mini. The iPad mini update looks to be the more significant.
iPad (9th generation)
The iPad 9th generation updates the 8th generation released in September 2020. It keeps a 10.2" Retina display, but it now supports True Tone. Apple bumped the processor from the A12 to the A13. It still supports only the 1st generation Apple Pencil so it also keeps the lightning connector. The physical dimensions of the device and the screen resolution are unchanged.
- Display: 10.2" Retina display
- Processor: A13
- Screen resolution (points): 810 x 1080
- Native resolution (pixels): 1620 x 2160 (264 ppi)
- Native Scale factor: 2x
- Portrait size classes: w: Regular, h: Regular
- Landscape size classes: w: Regular, h: Regular
The status bar is 20 points high which gives the following safe area insets:
- Safe Area Insets (portrait): top: 20, bottom: 0, left: 0, right: 0
- Safe Area Insets (landscape): top: 20, bottom: 0, left: 0, right: 0
iPad mini (6th generation)
The iPad mini 6th generation updates the 5th generation released in March 2019. It has a larger 8.3" screen compared to the 7.9" 5th generation. The device height is slightly smaller (7.69" vs 8.0") but slightly thicker (0.25" vs 0.24"). The processor is bumped from an A12 to the A15 and the home button is gone. The Touch ID sensor is now built into the top button. The 2nd generation Apple Pencil is now supported which also means the connector has changed from lightning to USB-C. The screen resolution is slightly narrower and taller than the previous 1536 x 2048 of the 5th generation device.
- Display: 8.3" Liquid Retina display
- Processor: A15
- Screen resolution (points): 744 x 1133
- Native resolution (pixels): 1488 x 2266 (326 ppi)
- Native Scale factor: 2x
- Portrait size classes: w: Regular, h: Regular
- Landscape size classes: w: Regular, h: Regular
The status bar is 24 points high which gives the following safe area insets:
- Safe Area Insets (portrait): top: 24, bottom: 20, left: 0, right: 0
- Safe Area Insets (landscape): top: 24, bottom: 20, left: 0, right: 0
List of iPads Supporting iOS 13
I count 22 iPad models, with 8 different screen sizes, that support a minimum of iOS 13. These devices also all support iOS 14 and iOS 15:
-
12.9" (1024 x 1366 points @2x)
iPad Pro 12.9" (1st - 5th generation) -
11" (834 x 1194 points @2x)
iPad Pro 11" (3rd, 4th, 5th generation) -
10.9" (820 x 1180 points @2x)
iPad Air (4th, 5th generation) -
10.5" (834 x 1112 points @2x)
iPad Air (3rd generation)
iPad Pro 10.5" (2nd generation) -
10.2" (810 x 1080 @2x)
iPad (7th, 8th, 9th generation) -
9.7" (768 x 1024 points @2x)
iPad (5th, 6th generation)
iPad Pro 9.7" (1st generation)
iPad Air 2 -
8.3" (744 x 1133 @2x)
iPad Mini (6th generation) -
7.9" (768 x 1024 points @2x)
iPad Mini (5th generation)
iPad Mini 4
App Store Screenshots
When uploading to the App Store you need to supply screenshots for at least the 12.9" iPad Pro (2nd generation) and 12.9" iPad Pro (3rd generation). Those screenshots are both 2048 x 2732 pixels in portrait and are scaled down for smaller device sizes.
See Also
Want To Learn More?
If you’re struggling to build layouts that work across the growing range of iOS screen sizes you might like my book - Modern Auto Layout.