A new handheld tablet computing device from Apple Inc. that first launched in January 2010. The iPad is designed for consumers who want a mobile device that is bigger than a smartphone but smaller than a laptop for entertainment multimedia.

The iPad device is roughly the size of a sheet of paper and weighs 1.5 pounds. The screen is a 9.7-inch LED backlit glossy multi-touch screen, capable of displaying up to 1024x768 pixel resolution (2048x1536 resolution in the Retina Display of the iPad 3 and iPad4).

All versions of the iPad include Wi-Fi capability, which can be used for surfing the Web, checking email, and downloading apps directly to the device. Some versions of the iPad also include 3G support for transferring data over a cellular connection, though this capability requires a monthly cellular service contract. While the original iPad did not include a camera, the iPad 2 includes both rear-facing and front-facing cameras. These cameras can be used for video conferencing with other iPad, iPhone, or Mac users via the FaceTime feature.