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Apple Winding Down iPad 2 Production After Three-Year Run

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MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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Apple is winding down production of the iPad 2 as customer interest in the legacy device dwindles, according to a report from AppleInsider. First introduced in early 2011, the iPad 2 has remained in Apple's product lineup as a lower-price option even as newer iPad models have been discontinued.
According to people familiar with Apple's plans, the company has made the decision to ramp down iPad 2 production given that customers are resoundingly shifting purchases towards its more modern and capable iPads, namely the iPad mini and iPad Air.
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Apple continues to sell 16 GB iPad 2 models priced at $399 for Wi-Fi only and $529 for Wi-Fi + Cellular for the time being, coming in $100 lower than corresponding iPad Air models. There is no word yet, however, on just when Apple plans to stop selling the iPad 2 as its stocks wind down.

ipad_2_bw_ios_7.jpg

The iPad 2 remained popular even up until the launch of the iPad Air, with educational institutions and other specialized markets preferring the device for a combination of its lower price and its compatibility with numerous accessories through the legacy 30-pin dock connector. But with the introduction of the dramatically thinner iPad Air and Retina display-equipped iPad mini late last year, sales of the iPad 2 dropped dramatically and the company has apparently decided that continued production is not worthwhile.

Article Link: Apple Winding Down iPad 2 Production After Three-Year Run
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/02/13/ipad-2-production-ending/
Richardgm

Richardgm

macrumors 6502a
Aug 1, 2008
968
719
Mine still runs like a champ. Well, I neglected to put iOS 7 on it, so that may be a contributing factor.
 
J

Jsameds

Suspended
Apr 22, 2008
3,525
7,987
At last.

Selling the iPad 2 for only $100 less than the Air was a rip off. They should have at least offered the 4th gen or at worst the 3rd gen for that price. Can't wait to see the back of the iPad 2, in a metaphorical sense - it's not an invitation to reply to me with a picture of the back of an iPad 2 haha :p
 
zorinlynx

zorinlynx

macrumors G3
May 31, 2007
8,165
17,651
Florida, USA
I figured they were done manufacturing, and were selling old stock at this point. We ordered 30 iPad 2s for the purpose of doing classroom surveys, and they all came with iOS 6 installed, so they were likely produced mid-last year, at the latest.

I laughed to myself as I used Configurator to bump them all en-masse up to 7.0.4, thinking about all the people who accidentally upgraded and whined about losing iOS 6. Bwa ha ha ha.

iPad 2s are great for this purpose; they're less expensive, sufficiently fast to do the job and less attractive a theft target than iPad Airs or Minis would be.

EDIT: I should add that if you have to configure a bunch of iPads and haven't played with Configurator, to do so. It's one of the coolest apps I didn't know existed! We bought an ergotron cart with built-in USB hubs that lets you plug up to 32 iPads into one Mac. They all show up in Configurator, and you can mass-wipe, install profiles and restrictions, and mass-restore a backup to all of them to make them identical. Really neat stuff, with absolutely NO similar software available for Android, which is why we went with iOS for this purpose.
 
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ilikecorn500

ilikecorn500

macrumors member
May 16, 2011
62
0
Not only is it very outdated, but it's only $100 cheaper than the iPad Air. Technology that's over 2 years newer for just $100 more than the iPad 2 is a no brainer.

It's also a better idea to get the Mini Retina over the 2, which are the same price, because it's faster, lighter, and has a more preferred screen size (for many people).
 
T

Tiger8

macrumors 68020
May 23, 2011
2,479
649
MisakixMikasa said:
does this means iPad 2 and let alone other A5 chip devices won't get iOS 8 update?
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A5 will get iOS 8, and that would be the final OS they will get.

Currently Apple has the iPad 2, iPad Mini, iPhone 4s, and iPod Touch (5th) that use A5.
 
Parasprite

Parasprite

macrumors 68000
Mar 5, 2013
1,698
144
mobi said:
So that means Apple will continue to support iPad 2 with updates till?
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It doesn't mean anything, but it could mean it is nearing EOL. However that doesn't mean there won't be updates for it.

The 3GS was technically discontinued in late 2012, but the 3GS still received 6.0.1, 6.1, 6.1.2, and 6.1.3 (a total of 6 months later) and the iPhone 5 is still receiving updates despite being discontinued as well. Based on Apple/iOS history, I would assume if they dropped update support, it would be at least after iOS 8 or 9, and even then it is possible they will patch major security issues.

tl;dr: Apple works in mysterious ways / dunno, maybe.
 
Nanasaki

Nanasaki

macrumors 6502
Oct 26, 2010
320
0
Tiger8 said:
A5 will get iOS 8, and that would be the final OS they will get.

Currently Apple has the iPad 2, iPad Mini, iPhone 4s, and iPod Touch (5th) that use A5.
Click to expand...

iPad mini and iPod Touch 5 only gets 2 updates if iOS 8 is the final OS.


iPad 1 went from iOS 3 to iS 5. iPad 2 went from iOS 4 to iOS 8 (if it get supported), iPad 3 went from iOS 5 to iOS 8 (if it get supported).

iPhone 3GS went from iOS 3 to iOS 6, iPhone 4 went from iOS 4 to iOS 7, iPhone 4S went from iOS 5 to iOS 8.

So based on this tradition, most devices gets 3 software updates. So I suspect iPad mini and iPod Touch 5 could get iOS 9, possibly iPad 2 and iPhone 4S.
 
musika

musika

macrumors 65816
Sep 2, 2010
1,285
459
New York
Gudi said:
Who are you kidding?
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Nobody. I had mine up until this year, and before iOS 7 it ran as well as the day I bought it. It was a truly great device. The iPad 3 messed that up because it was underpowered, and the iPad 4 was getting rather heavy. The Air is great, or so I hear, besides lack of RAM.

The iPad 2 was great. It's best days are behind it now, but it was a great device in my opinion.
 
I

iLLUMI

macrumors 6502a
Aug 1, 2012
567
281
Richardgm said:
Mine still runs like a champ. Well, I neglected to put iOS 7 on it, so that may be a contributing factor.
Click to expand...

Mine still runs extremely well too! Unlike my iPad 1 which crashes often (only use this extremely rarely though). I have iOS 5.1.1 running on my iPad 2 (2,4). Been tempted to upgrade to iOS 7 but I think I will keep it as is. :)

I don't think my 2,4 still has the 11.7 hrs battery life though. It's much closer to the standard 10 or even less. But thats probably because I dont follow the recommended charging cycles. But thats cool.

iPad 2 has had a good run. I'm guessing iPad Air will become the iPad 2 of the Apple product line once iPad Air 2 comes along.
 
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