The iPad 2 was the first iPad model to include a front-facing camera.
Released in March 2011, the iPad 2 added cameras that the original iPad completely lacked. Its front camera was designed primarily for FaceTime video calls and captured VGA-quality video and still images, while the rear camera could record 720p video.
The front-facing camera was an important change because it made the larger iPad suitable for video conferencing and helped extend Apple's FaceTime ecosystem beyond the iPhone and iPod touch. The iPad 2 also introduced Apple's faster dual-core A5 chip, a thinner and lighter design, and the Smart Cover accessory.
The iPad 3 followed in 2012 with a much sharper Retina display, but it was not the first iPad with a front camera. The original iPad had no cameras at all, and the iPad mini arrived later, in 2012.