If you own more than one Apple tablet, you have probably wondered whether to write iPads, iPad’s, or even iPodes. The short answer: the standard plural is iPads (no apostrophe). This article explains why that form is correct, where the confusion comes from, and how the word behaves in real-world writing.
Background: Why the Plural Is Tricky
English usually forms plurals by adding -s or -es to the end of a noun: phone becomes phones, tablet becomes tablets. But when a word contains a capital letter, a number, or an unusual spelling, people often hesitate. With iPad, the lowercase i prefix makes the word look like an abbreviation or a brand name, and brand names sometimes follow irregular rules in people’s minds.
Apple has never publicly issued a definitive style guide for the plural of its products, but the company’s own website and press releases consistently use iPads (for example, “All iPads now include…â€� or “Compare iPad modelsâ€�). This usage, combined with standard English grammar, makes iPads the only standard plural.
Standard Plural: iPads
The correct, standard plural is iPads. It follows the normal rule: add -s to the singular noun. The capital P stays, and the i remains lowercase. No apostrophe is needed.
Examples of correct usage:
- “The school bought thirty iPads for its new computer lab.�
- “We compared the battery life of several iPads before choosing one.�
- “These iPads are running the latest operating system.�
In each case, iPads functions like any other plural noun. The word is not an abbreviation, so the plural does not require an apostrophe (which would incorrectly suggest possession or a missing letter).
Common Mistakes: iPad’s and iPodes
The most frequent error is writing iPad’s when you mean more than one iPad. An apostrophe + s is used for two purposes:
- Possession: “The iPad’s screen is cracked.� (one iPad owns the screen)
- Contraction: “The iPad’s been updated.� (iPad has been updated)
It is never used for a simple plural. Writing “I have two iPad’s� is incorrect. Another occasional mistake is iPodes, which mimics the plural of iPhone (iPhones) but is not a word. The correct plural of iPad is not formed by changing the ending; it just takes -s.
Origin: The “i� Prefix and Brand Naming
The i in iPad stands for “internet,� and it was part of Apple’s naming convention for consumer devices introduced in the late 1990s and 2000s (iMac, iPod, iPhone). The lowercase i is a stylistic choice, not an abbreviation that changes pluralization rules. When a brand name ends in a consonant, the plural is formed by adding -s regardless of the capital letter: iMacs, iPhones, iPods, and iPads.
The word iPad itself was introduced in 2010. Since then, the plural has appeared in thousands of articles, reviews, and forum posts. The consistency of that usage confirms that iPads is the accepted form.
How to Use It in a Sentence
Using iPads correctly is straightforward once you remember that it is a regular plural noun. Here are some practical examples:
- “The store sells both iPads and Android tablets.�
- “Our team uses iPads for field data collection.�
- “After the update, all iPads will support the new feature.�
If you are writing about a possessive plural (more than one iPad owning something), you would write iPads’ with the apostrophe after the s: “The iPads’ screens were all replaced.� This is rare but correct.
Style Guides and Official Usage
Most major style guides (AP, Chicago, MLA) do not have a specific rule for brand names, but they all follow the general principle: add -s to form the plural of a noun, even if it is capitalized. For example, AP style would say “three iPads� just as it says “three Macs.� Apple’s own product pages and press materials use iPads without an apostrophe, and that is the form you should use in professional and academic writing.
If you are writing for a publication that follows a specific style guide, check if it has a section on brand names. In the absence of a specific rule, iPads is always safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it “iPad’s� when talking about more than one?
No. “iPad’s� is only correct for possession or as a contraction. For multiple iPads, write “iPads� with no apostrophe.
Do you capitalize the “i� in the plural?
No. The “i� stays lowercase, just as in the singular “iPad.� The capital “P� remains.
What is the plural of “iPad Pro�?
The plural is “iPad Pros.� The model name is treated as a compound noun, and the -s goes at the end: “The iPad Pros have better displays.�
Is “iPads� a word in the dictionary?
Most dictionaries do not list brand names as entries, but they do list the rules for forming plurals. “iPads� follows the standard rule, so it is considered correct by grammar standards.
Why do some people write “iPads� with an apostrophe?
It is a common error caused by confusing plural with possessive. The apostrophe is unnecessary and incorrect for a simple plural.
Should I use “iPads� or “iPad devices� in formal writing?
Both are acceptable. “iPads� is concise and clear. “iPad devices� is more explicit but often redundant. In most contexts, “iPads� is preferred.
Related
General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.
More in this bed
- Bypass BitLocker Recovery Key on Dell Laptop Windows 11
- Erase iPhone Without Apple ID Password: Full Guide
- iPhone Clipboard: Paste All Items? Explained
- Unexpected Error Windows Defender? Fix It
- How to Fix Error Code 0x80070643 (Windows Update)
- How to Secure Windows 10 with Dynamic Lock