How Many iPads Have Been Sold?

Apple has sold a whopping 360 million iPads since the original debuted in 2010. These sales figures include the original 9.7-inch iPad and the 7.9-inch iPad Mini, which was introduced in 2012. The original iPad sold 3.27 million units in its first quarter and was deemed a whopping success. Apple sold 16.12 million in the first quarter of their fiscal 2016 and this number was called a disappointment because it failed to surpass the 21.42 million sold in the first quarter of 2015 or the 26.04 million sold in the first quarter of 2014.

It is important to note that Apple's fiscal year starts in October, so "Q1" sales account for the holiday season. While the original iPad debuted in March, they switched to an October-November time frame with the 4th generation iPad. In 2016, they announced the 9.7-inch iPad Pro in March and skipped announcing a new iPad in the Fall.

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Are iPad Sales Declining?

In a word: Yes. But this is to be expected. If the computer were just now invented, it would have amazing sales for the first five years, but eventually, most people that wanted a computer would already have one. This means new sales would have to come from some other avenue, such as businesses, markets where people couldn't ordinarily afford a computer, or upgrades from people who felt their computer was just too slow.

The upgrade cycle is what really drives the industry. Most of us have a computer, and we only buy one when our old one breaks or becomes too outdated.

The iPad has not established a firm upgrade cycle. While the original iPad is no longer supported, the second generation "iPad 2" is still supported by the most recent operating system updates. This means the iPad 2 is still a useful tablet for those who own it.

Apple's recent trend is to release new features such as side-by-side multitasking that are only supported by newer models.

This lengthens the life expectancy of the iPad 2 while still giving people a reason to upgrade to a newer model. In the future, Apple will cut off support completely, which should cause an uptick in sales.

Apple is also focusing more on the enterprise market with the release of the iPad Pro line of tablets. These newer iPads rival a laptop in terms of pure performance and are paired with a new Smart Keyboard accessory. Apple also has a partnership with IBM to develop enterprise solutions in various industries.

Read More About the iPad's Popularity

iPad Sales by Quarter