The first iPad launched at a time when ‘netbooks’ were already adopted in the market, but Steve Jobs found a way to bring a product to the masses that emulated the size of those portable laptops but added more functionality, such as touchscreen support. Despite a phalanx of competition in this particular space at the time, the iPad weathered the storm, and 13 years after its inception, it remains the best-selling tablet in the world.

The first iPad received continuous criticism, just like the iPhone, but Apple bulldozed through the competition

The first wave of iPad shipments started reaching customers on April 3, 2010, and at the time, there was a multitude of competing products. Today, Apple has extended its family of tablets, while the only other actual rival, albeit in a smaller capacity when it comes to shipments, is Samsung, churning out premium Galaxy Tab S models on an annual basis.

Microsoft’s Surface range is up there too, but since it runs a proper desktop operating system, it would not be fair to introduce an ‘apples to apples’ comparison. During the first iPad’s announcement, Microsoft was on top of the world, targeting multiple segments, and if anyone had told leading players of the industry that the iPad would end up being the most dominant tablet a decade from now, they would probably have labeled them as delusional.

iPad sales were initially off to a slow start but eventually picked up steam. By the second quarter of 2011, Apple had a whopping 61 percent market share of the tablet business, according to Statista. By the fourth quarter of 2022, Apple’s overall share reduced, by it commands nearly 50 percent of the entire world’s shipments. More than a decade ago, Apple did not sell the same number of iPad units that it does today, so that is something to keep in mind.

The original iPad also sold for $499 when it first launched, was heavy, and had massive bezels surrounding the display. You can already take a guess that the product was getting hammered left, right, and center, as with the same amount, customers could nab themselves a laptop with decent specifications. Regardless, Apple managed to carve out a massive chunk of the market, and at this time, it has four different tablets available to purchase, with features such as pen, keyboard, and mouse support, which did not exist with the first version.

In 2024, Apple is expected to launch the first OLED iPad Pro lineup, and with that imminent release, the technology giant is expected to cement its position as the worldwide leader in tablet shipments.