These days, we’ve been seeing rare Apple prototypes that never made it to production every now and then, and this one is no exception. YouTube channel, AppleDemoYT, published a video that showcased an elusive iPad 2 with 8GB of capacity. This prototype runs SwitchBoard, which is codenamed for Apple’s software for internal testing purposes only. If you take a look at the back of the device, it has the engraving “8GB” on the back, which indicates that Apple did plan to release this model as a more budget-friendly option after the Engineering Validation Testing phase (EVT).
Apple introduced the iPad 2 on March 2, 2011, as the successor to the original iPad. The iPad 2 brought a newer design, built-in front and back cameras, and the optional Smart Cover accessory. It started at $499 (MSRP), and it was offered in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacities. When Apple introduced the iPad (3rd generation) on March 7, 2012, Apple just lowered the price of the 16GB iPad 2 to $399, and Apple would continue to sell that model until March 18, 2014, when Apple reintroduced the 16GB iPad (4th generation). Therefore, the prototype 8GB iPad 2 never made it to market after all. Furthermore, Apple never released an 8GB iPad model through the iPad’s lifespan, which was a good thing since 8GB was a bit limiting for a tablet, and later that same year, iPhone models started with 16GB of storage, starting with the iPhone 5.
Currently, 128GB is the minimum amount of storage for an iPhone or iPad, and you can get 2TB of internal storage with either the iPhone 17 Pro Max or the iPad Pro (M4). It’s still an interesting blast from the past to see unreleased prototypes that Apple internally tested.
