8GB iPad Prototype from 2011 Reveals Apple's Scrapped Budget Model

[MacRumors]

After Apple released the original iPad in 2010, it tested a second-generation model that only had 8GB of storage. AppleDemoYT, known for sourcing rare prototype devices, recently shared a video featuring the test iPad.

The iPad runs SwitchBoard, Apple's internal factory testing software, instead of a version of iOS. It was manufactured in 2011, but it is a 2012 iPad that has an iPad 2,4 identifier. The iPad is a prototype that Apple used during the Engineering Validation Testing phase of device production.

On the back of the iPad, there's an 8GB label, which suggests it wasn't just meant to be a test device. Apple's original iPad started with 16GB of storage, and Apple never released an iPad that had less storage space than that.

Prior to the launch of the iPad 3, there were rumors suggesting that Apple would release a low-cost iPad 2 with 8GB storage. It was supposedly going to be a more affordable option, but Apple ended up launching the iPad 3 at $499, while keeping the 16GB iPad 2 around at $399. The 8GB iPad never made it to market.

The rumor about the 8GB iPad came from DigiTimes, a site that has a hit or miss record when it comes to Apple rumors. Interestingly, the iPad 2 prototype proves that this is one time that DigiTimes wasn't wrong, because Apple did seemingly consider an 8GB model.

It's likely that Apple decided 8GB wasn't enough storage space for a tablet, and 2012 was around the time that Apple phased out 8GB capacities for the iPhone. From the original iPhone to the iPhone 4s, 8GB storage was an option, but the 2012 iPhone 5 started with 16GB of storage.

These days, 128GB is the minimum storage that Apple offers in its iPhones and iPads.

Article Link: 8GB iPad Prototype from 2011 Reveals Apple's Scrapped Budget Model

 

[macduke]

The iPad 3 was the worst iPad Apple ever released. Although the 256MB of RAM on the first gen model is pretty close to the worst. Both devices didn't run great, especially if you wanted anything to persist when switching between two apps. The iPad 2 at $399 was definitely the one to get.

 

[phenste]

anyone else getting flashbacks to when we got that insanely blurry image of an iPad nailed down to a board, like, ten minutes before the keynote? good times lmao

fascinating stuff! probably smart on their part not to release a model with only 8GB. ludicrous storage for a content consumption device.

 

[vertsix]

Makes sense due to iOS' larger assets for iPads. It was already cramped enough on the iPhone 4/4s at the time with 8GB, could you imagine the iPad?

 

[Charliebird]

I feel like that video was eight minutes too long..

 

[EugW]

Heh. I was thinking 8 GB was insane for RAM back then... then I realized it was storage. Doh!

The iPad 3 was the worst iPad Apple ever released. Although the 256MB of RAM on the first gen model is pretty close to the worst. Both devices didn't run great, especially if you wanted anything to persist when switching between two apps. The iPad 2 at $399 was definitely the one to get.

Yeah, I specifically skipped the original iPad because of its 256 MB RAM, and waited for the iPad 2.

Similarly, I specifically skipped the original iPad Air because of its 1 GB RAM, and waited for the iPad Air 2 (which we still have in daily use at our house).

I was disappointed the iPad Pro M4 didn't come with 12 GB RAM but 8 GB is OK. However, what makes me even more annoyed is some of them actually do come with 12 GB RAM, but with 4 GB of that inactivated. And now my iPhone has more RAM than my M4 iPad "Pro".

 

[AusMness]

Wow, we’ve got more than that in memory now

 

[Abydos]

I own an iPad 1 and iPad Air 1, you learn to treat them like the original macOS (pre multi tasking) - they were not bad when used that way

 

[Andres Cantu]

The original iPad seemed like a beta product compared to the iPad 2. Seeing as to how it came with, back then, iPhone OS 3.2, it makes you wonder whether that device should have come out in 2009 instead. I know Apple worked on the iPad before the iPhone, so it's possible they may have had it ready sooner.

Also, it always felt wrong for that original iPad to come with half the amount of RAM of the iPhone 4.

 

[Nermal]

anyone else getting flashbacks to when we got that insanely blurry image of an iPad nailed down to a board, like, ten minutes before the keynote? good times lmao

Yep. This was the one

 

[usmaak]

The iPad 3 was the worst iPad Apple ever released. Although the 256MB of RAM on the first gen model is pretty close to the worst. Both devices didn't run great, especially if you wanted anything to persist when switching between two apps. The iPad 2 at $399 was definitely the one to get.

I went through a few iPad 3s before I gave up and went back to my OG iPad 1. The screens were terrible and looked like a dog pissed on them, they heated up way too easily, and the wifi was garbage. That was the only time I've ever played the screen lottery with Apple devices. I bought one on release date and the left side of the screen was very yellow and dim. I figured that they all couldn't be that bad and I was right. Some were even worse. Pink and green tints, badly uneven lighting, horrible off center viewing, I saw it all. If someone actually got a good one, I'm still jealous.

 

[phenste]

Yep. This was the one

my god, thank you so much for linking! what a flashback. still crazy that this happened like, an HOUR before, even crazier that I remember where I was when this was posted…!

 

[Nermal]

It was actually about half a day before. You can compare with the announcement thread.

 

[Neepman]

More likely than not this model was developed as a ipad for education contracts that were not going to hold a lot of apps or entertainment content.

 

[dannyyankou]

Prior to the launch of the iPad 3, there were rumors suggesting that Apple would release a low-cost iPad 2 with 8GB storage. It was supposedly going to be a more affordable option, but Apple ended up launching the iPad 3 at $499, while keeping the 16GB iPad 2 around at $399. The 8GB iPad never made it to market.

A lesson to everyone that just because a rumor ends up not being true in the end, doesn't mean there wasn't any merit to it.

 

[All Taken]

Interesting piece of history. This line about another sites track record made me chuckle, you’re all hit and miss really. If I had a dollar for every Kuo says or Gurman believes. Whether it be 9-5 mac or MacRumors, you all have that same hit and miss track record

“The rumor about the 8GB ‌iPad‌ came from DigiTimes, a site that has a hit or miss record when it comes to Apple rumors.”

 

[pig pile]

The iPad 3 was the sole reason I never bought another iPad. I still haven't but I would consider a mini form factor if they gave it a proper screen.

 

[Charliebird]

My iPad 3 was quite nice, I guess for once I got something from a good batch. I even bought it open boxed from best buy for a significant savings. I remember unboxing it in my car holding my breath that everything looked good on it.

 

[EugW]

My iPad 3 was quite nice, I guess for once I got something from a good batch. I even bought it open boxed from best buy for a significant savings. I remember unboxing it in my car holding my breath that everything looked good on it.

It's not that the iPad 3 didn't look good. It did look good. The problem was the OS performance was poor after about a year, at least compared to the iPad 2, but some were more concerned about that than others.

 

[saudor]

It's not that the iPad 3 didn't look good. It did look good. The problem was the OS performance was poor after about a year, at least compared to the iPad 2, but some were more concerned about that than others.

Yeah it suffered the same issue as the iPhone 4 vs 3GS - the GPU couldnt handle the retina display.

A bit of a shame since the iPad 3 had 1gb of RAM which would have been useful if it wasn't severely held back.

 

[JosephAW]

With the speed of Wi-Fi and cellular data now I’m surprised they don’t have devices that don’t have any local storage, everything is stored on the iCloud including apps 🤔
Maybe not yet but the technology eventually will get there where you’ll have unlimited storage in the cloud.

 

[EugW]

With the speed of Wi-Fi and cellular data now I’m surprised they don’t have devices that don’t have any local storage, everything is stored on the iCloud including apps 🤔
Maybe not yet but the technology eventually will get there where you’ll have unlimited storage in the cloud.

We still need storage for apps because otherwise it'd be way, way too slow, and of course if you lost your connection, your iPhone would be useless. However, I always get the lowest storage iPhones and iPads these days. We share a 2 TB iCloud family account.

 

[mjs916]

The iPad 3 was the worst iPad Apple ever released. Although the 256MB of RAM on the first gen model is pretty close to the worst. Both devices didn't run great, especially if you wanted anything to persist when switching between two apps. The iPad 2 at $399 was definitely the one to get.

I bought it at launch and fully regretted it. I guess that Retina display was a bit too much for it to handle. Mere months later the 4th iPad launched sans 30-pin connector but with a processor that could actually push those pixels.

 

[winxmac]

They should have never released the iPad 3. The iPad 4 is what the iPad 3 should have been.

 

[Blackstick]

They should have never released the iPad 3. The iPad 4 is what the iPad 3 should have been.

Really they should have gone from iPad 2 (2011) to iPad Air (2013) but that doesn’t please Wall Street. The 3 and 4 were both chonky and unwieldy beasts.