2011 iPad prototype reveals Apple’s cancelled 8GB budget model

Apple iPad

A rare prototype has surfaced showing that Apple once considered releasing an iPad with just 8GB of storage. Shared by AppleDemoYT, a collector known for showcasing unreleased Apple devices, the unit dates back to 2011 and was part of the company’s internal testing programme.

The device runs SwitchBoard, Apple’s factory testing software, instead of iOS. Although manufactured in 2011, it carries the iPad 2,4 identifier, which points to a 2012 model. The prototype also features an 8GB marking on the back, indicating that Apple was at least exploring the possibility of a low-cost version rather than limiting the model to lab use.

Apple’s first-generation iPad in 2010 started with 16GB of storage, and the company never released a lower-capacity version. However, ahead of the iPad 3 launch, reports circulated that Apple could introduce an 8GB iPad 2 as an affordable alternative. Apple eventually kept the 16GB iPad 2 on sale at $399 while introducing the iPad 3 at $499, leaving the 8GB model scrapped.

The source of that original rumour was DigiTimes, a publication often criticised for its mixed track record on Apple leaks. In this case, the prototype confirms that the speculation had some truth: Apple did experiment with the idea of an 8GB iPad.

Ultimately, Apple may have concluded that 8GB was not enough for a tablet. The timing also coincided with Apple dropping 8GB options from the iPhone lineup. While the iPhone originally launched with an 8GB variant, by 2012 the iPhone 5 started at 16GB.

Today, storage expectations have shifted dramatically. Apple’s current iPads and iPhones start at 128GB, highlighting just how quickly base storage standards have evolved in a little over a decade.