IPad (5th generation)

The 5th-generation iPad, marketed simply as iPad and also referred to as iPad 5, is a 9.7-inch designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The device was announced on March 21, 2017 and released on the following March 24th.

Features
This iPad has a 9.7-inch (25 cm) screen. Compared to the iPad Air 2, the processor is updated from the Apple A8X to the A9 with the embedded Apple M9 motion co-processor. The iPad has 2 gigabytes of RAM. It is 7.5mm thick, which is the same thickness as the iPad Air, compared to 6.1mm of the IPad Air 2. Unlike other iPad models available, this iPad's display is not fully laminated and does not have anti-reflective coating. However, this iPad has a brighter screen than the iPad Air 2 (25% brighter according to Apple). It is available in 32 and 128 GB storage options.

Contrasting with the iPad Pro lineup, this iPad features only two speakers (as opposed to four), has no Smart Connector support, and has no camera flash. It is offered in silver, gold, and space grey colors. Despite its use of the Apple A9 processor and accompanying M9 motion co-processor, introduced with the iPhone 6S in 2015, the iPad does not feature support for always-on "Hey Siri" voice input, a feature advertised as being made possible by low-power processing in the then-new chips. The use of "Hey Siri" is limited to when the iPad is connected to power.

The fifth-generation iPad served to be a low-cost option for schools, and was the first iPad to use just the "iPad" name in five years. Future generations would continue to serve as the low-cost option.

Reception
The iPad received generally positive reviews. It was significantly praised for performance, with reviewers asserting that the model was noticeably faster than older iPad models, and also received positive reviews for its price and battery life. It was criticized, however, for lacking a laminated and anti-reflective screen, and lack of support for the Apple Pencil and attachable keyboards through the Smart Connector. Its introductory price in the United States was the lowest ever for an iPad, with the media noting that the lower price might be an effort to encourage wider adoption of the tablet in the education sector, as well as for businesses needing inexpensive tablets for undemanding uses.

Discontinuation
On March 27, 2018, Apple announced its replacement, the 6th-generation iPad.