Unreleased Apple devices

The unreleased 8GB iPad prototype. Photo: AppleDemoYT/YouTube .

After launching the first iPad in 2010, Apple tested a second-generation version with just 8GB of storage. This is an iPad prototype from 2011 revealed by the YouTube channel AppleDemoYT, which is known for collecting and sharing rare Apple prototype devices.

This particular iPad runs SwitchBoard software, an internal Apple factory testing system, instead of iOS. The device was manufactured in 2011, but bears the "iPad 2,4" designation of a 2012 iPad model.

This is a prototype used by Apple during Engineering Validation Testing, a critical step in the device manufacturing process.

Apple may have decided that 8GB is not enough for a tablet. Photo: AppleDemoYT/YouTube.

Notably, the back of the device has an “8 GB” sticker, implying that this is not just a test device. Apple’s first iPad came with a minimum capacity of 16 GB, and to date, Apple has never released a commercial iPad with a lower capacity.

Before the iPad 3 was released, there were rumors that Apple would release a cheaper 8GB iPad 2 to compete. However, Apple eventually launched the iPad 3 for $499 and continued to sell the 16GB iPad 2 for $399 , leaving the 8GB version unreleased.

The rumor of an 8GB iPad originally came from DigiTimes , a site that has a poor track record when it comes to Apple-related news. However, the appearance of this prototype proves that this is one of the few times DigiTimes has been accurate in reporting that Apple was indeed considering producing an 8GB version.

Analysts believe that Apple may have decided that 8GB of storage was not enough for a tablet. This is also the time when Apple began to phase out iPhone versions with 8GB of memory.

The AirPower wireless charging dock has also been discontinued by Apple. Photo: Apple.

Since the iPhone 5 was released in 2012, the minimum storage capacity on iPhone models has been 16 GB. Currently, the minimum storage capacity on iPhone 17 series is 256 GB, and iPad is 128 GB.

The 8GB iPad isn't the first time Apple has leaked prototype devices. The company has experimented with a number of bold ideas that have ultimately been shelved. The most notable was AirPower, a multi-device wireless charging pad that was introduced in 2017 but was canceled two years later due to quality issues.

Other intriguing prototypes include the first-generation iPod nano, which featured an aluminum back and a different port, and the first iPhone, which featured a glowing Apple logo on the back. An idea that was later implemented on MacBooks but was abandoned on the iPhone.

Source: https://znews.vn/thiet-bi-apple-chua-tung-ra-mat-post1589628.html