Audio can be just as important on an iPad as it is on your smartphone or laptop, sometimes moreso. When I’m flying long-distance, for instance, I prefer to pass the time binging movies and TV shows, and that means using headphones that are both noise-canceling and up to cinematic standards. At home, you might turn to an iPad for gaming, or as an expensive control center for your workday soundtrack.
You’re not necessarily getting the best sound out of the box, however. Even if you’re using Apple’s AirPods or Beats products, there are settings you can change that may drastically improve quality. That’s not just hype.
The history of iPad
Trivia challenge
From Steve Jobs’ original vision to the latest Pro models — how well do you really know Apple’s iconic tablet?
HistoryHardwareModelsFeaturesRecords
In what year did Apple first introduce the original iPad?
Correct! Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPad on January 27, 2010, describing it as a device that sits between a smartphone and a laptop. It went on sale in April 2010 and sold over 3 million units in its first 80 days.
Not quite — the original iPad was announced on January 27, 2010. Steve Jobs famously introduced it by sitting in a leather chair and browsing the web, sending a clear message that this was a relaxed, casual computing experience unlike anything before it.
What processor powered the very first iPad?
Correct! The original iPad used Apple’s A4 chip, a custom ARM-based processor that Apple designed in-house. The same chip also powered the iPhone 4, and it marked a major step in Apple’s ambition to control its own silicon.
Not quite — the first iPad was powered by the Apple A4 chip. This was one of the first major custom chips Apple designed itself, laying the groundwork for the powerful Apple Silicon we see in Macs and iPads today.
Which iPad lineup was introduced in 2015 as Apple’s largest tablet, featuring a 12.9-inch display?
Correct! Apple launched the iPad Pro in November 2015 with a massive 12.9-inch display, positioning it as a productivity powerhouse for professionals and creatives. It also introduced the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard as accessories.
The correct answer is iPad Pro. Launched in 2015, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro was Apple’s boldest tablet yet, aimed squarely at professionals. There is no ‘iPad Max’ or ‘iPad Ultra’ — Apple has kept its lineup to iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.
Which iPad was the first to support the Apple Pencil?
Correct! The first-generation iPad Pro, released in 2015, was the first iPad to support the Apple Pencil. The stylus was a surprise reveal that Steve Jobs himself had once mocked, famously saying ‘who wants a stylus?’ during the original iPhone announcement.
Not quite — Apple Pencil support debuted with the first-generation iPad Pro in 2015. It was a notable moment because Steve Jobs had famously dismissed styluses during the original iPhone launch, yet Apple ultimately embraced one to serve creative and professional users.
Before the iPad launched, which Apple co-founder reportedly said tablets would never work because people don’t want to learn to use them?
Correct! Steve Jobs was famously skeptical about tablets before eventually championing the iPad. He reportedly told his biographer Walter Isaacson that he had previously dismissed tablet PCs, but later became convinced a touchscreen slate without a keyboard could be revolutionary.
The answer is Steve Jobs. Despite being the driving force behind the iPad’s creation, Jobs had earlier dismissed the concept of tablet PCs. His change of heart led directly to the iPad’s development, which he described as the most important thing he’d ever done.
Roughly how many iPads did Apple sell in the first year after the original launched in 2010?
Correct! Apple sold approximately 15 million iPads in the product’s first year on sale, a figure that far exceeded analyst expectations. The iPad’s rapid adoption made it one of the fastest-selling consumer electronics products in history at the time.
Not quite — Apple sold around 15 million iPads in the first year. That staggering number shocked the industry and proved that the market for tablets was enormous, prompting virtually every major tech company to rush out their own competing devices.
Which iPad model was the first to ditch the Lightning connector in favour of USB-C?
Correct! The third-generation iPad Pro, released in October 2018, was the first iPad to adopt USB-C, replacing the Lightning connector Apple had used since 2012. It also introduced the new flat-edge design and Face ID, making it one of the most significant iPad redesigns ever.
The correct answer is the iPad Pro (3rd generation), released in 2018. This model was a landmark release — it introduced USB-C, removed the headphone jack, added Face ID, and debuted the flat-edged design that has since influenced the entire iPad and iPhone lineup.
What is the name of Apple’s smallest iPad, which was revived and updated in 2021 with a design overhaul?
Correct! The iPad mini received a major redesign in 2021 with its 6th generation, adopting the flat-edged look of the iPad Pro and Air, adding USB-C, and supporting the second-generation Apple Pencil. It was the biggest update the mini had seen in years and won widespread praise.
The answer is iPad mini. Apple refreshed it in 2021 with the 6th generation model, giving it a complete redesign that brought it in line with the modern iPad Pro aesthetic. There is no ‘iPad nano’ or ‘iPad compact’ — Apple has never used those names for a tablet.
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Raising streaming quality in apps
Avoid lossless most of the time
Most of the audio you listen to on your iPad is compressed for the sake of space and bandwidth. A consequence of that, however, is that some of the original mix can be lost, meaning you won’t hear all the nuances in your music or videos. The most extreme compression levels (128kbps or lower) sip data, but can sound so muffled that you might as well be listening to AM radio.
If you want to catch every last detail in your music, set the compression bitrate (a.k.a. quality level) in apps to at least 256kbps. Apple Music actually defaults to that. In Spotify, you’ll want to go to Profile icon -> Settings and privacy -> Media quality and select Very high (320kbps). You probably won’t have much control over the audio in streaming video apps, but be sure to check settings anyway. You may get better bitrates if you’re paying for a “premium” tier.
Generally, lossless is a waste of your time. There simply isn’t enough bandwidth for it over Bluetooth, which means you’ll need USB-C headphones or a compatible Wi-Fi speaker. It’s also difficult or impossible to tell the difference versus 320kbps playback, even on the most expensive speakers. You can safely ignore it unless you want to test out your AirPods Max 2, and aren’t worried about the footprint on your iPad storage or internet connection.
Enabling spatial audio features
Apple devotees get special privileges
Many headphones support spatial audio in iPad apps with Dolby Atmos content. If you’re not familiar, spatial audio is distinct from conventional surround sound in that engineers can position “objects” in 3D space. These effects can technically only be simulated on headphones, but your brain won’t know the difference. Be sure spatial features are on in both media apps and your headphone configuration.
If you’re wearing compatible AirPods or Beats products, like the AirPods 4 or Powerbeats Fit, Apple grants you a special privilege: head tracking. To enable this, swipe down over the battery indicator to open Control Center, then tap and hold on the volume slider. Select Spatial Audio, then Head Tracked. When this is on, voices, instruments, and other effects will appear to come from the same place, even when you look in different directions. If you find that distracting, choose Fixed instead.
Experimenting with different EQ levels
The more control, the better
The equalizer settings for your headphones and speakers determine the emphasis on different frequencies. It stands to reason, then, that you should spend a lot of time tweaking them until treble, mids, and bass are exactly the way you like them. In some circumstances — speaking from review experience — changing EQ levels can upgrade a product from a disappointment to brilliant, assuming the hardware is capable enough.
This is one area where AirPods and Beats owners are actually at a disadvantage. While third-party audio gear has long offered EQ options, Apple has traditionally insisted that it knows best. In fact, it’s only adding EQ settings in this September’s iPadOS 27, and then only for products with an H2 chip or later (like the AirPods Pro 3). If you’ve already got the new iPadOS, go to Settings -> [AirPods name] -> Audio & Routing -> Equalizer, then select Custom. Apple doesn’t offer any granular frequency control, but some control is better than nothing.
