Apple has this week marked the iPad 4th generation from 2012 as officially obsolete. The fourth generation was introduced just a few months after the third generation, which itself was the first iPad to feature the now standard Retina display, which at the time the only other devices to feature it was the iPod touch 4th and 5th generation and the iPhone 4 and 4s.

As of 1st November the iPad 4th generation was made obsolete, meaning that worldwide it is no longer eligible for any hardware servicing. 

The Pad 4th generation was the first iPad to feature the Lightning connector, which made its debut on the iPhone 5. Prior to this, the iPad used the 30 pin connector.