Apple September Event
Apple finally debuted its eighth-generation iPad running on A12 Bionic chip. (Photo: Apple Inc/Handout via REUTERS)

Apple officially launched earlier today the eighth generation iPad. The new iPad 8 promises significant internal upgrades. Surprisingly, the contents of this year's iPad 8 package is a huge leap from its predecessor.

Apart from the user manual the iPad 8 package contains the device itself, a USB-C to Lightning cable and a 20W USB-C Power Adapter. This is interesting since this is the first time that the Cupertino tech giant is shipping its entry-level iPad with Pro accessories.

It can be recalled that Apple previously took a stand against electronic waste. However, it appears that it upgraded the accessories that go with the base model iPad series. Moreover, the inclusion of the USB-C to Lightning cable along with the new 20W USB-C power adapter makes sense.

Since the new iPad 8 houses Apple's A12 Bionic chip, the device leverages on its fast-charging speeds through the USB-C to Lightning cord. It also features a new thin design and runs on iPadOS 14. With this operating system, the upcoming iPad introduces new features such as the integration of Apple Pencil for better note-taking capabilities and better ways to write notes.

The light and thin design of the new iPad 8 offers portability. Apple says it comes with support for gigabit-class LTE connectivity 4. The Cupertino company also claims that the iPad 8 has all-day battery life that allows users to enjoy it at home or on the go.

The iPad 8 also comes with the Touch ID that makes locking and unlocking easy, safe and secure. According to Apple the A12 bionic chip offers a 40% faster CPU than the iPad 7. It features two times graphics capability and the first ever entry-level iPad to have a Neural Engine. As for its camera, it sports a 7 MP front camera and 12 MP rear camera similar to that of the iPad Pro.

The screen of the iPad 8 is a 10.2-inch retina display. Consumers can start ordering the device as early as today on apple.com and through the Apple Store app available in over 25 countries and regions. The iPad 8 will release starting September 18 and retails at a starting price of $329 for the WiFi model.

Meanwhile, the WiFi + Cellular model retails at a starting price of $459. The new iPad 8 is available in various color options. This includes space gray, gold, and silver finishes. There are 32 GB and 128 GB configurations available for the eighth generation iPad.