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I think this whole iPad mess is going to burst soon. Too many models to sustain. Somethings got to give at this point.

And for that, I would like to see the iPad and iPad Air lines merge and become one product line. The 10.2” size is the perfect medium between the two to do just that. They could also interchange the prices between the iPad mini and the new iPad Air for cleaner distinction between product lines. So basically:

$329 iPad mini
$399-$429 iPad Air
$699-$799 iPad Pro

Simple. Clean. Streamlined.


That is how I see it also. Like the Mac Book line kill/rename model clean it up.

Create 2 iPad Air models, this new 10.2 and a smaller screened mini sized model. Put the A11 (or A12 if a A14 processor is announced) processor in them. Put the latest processor in 2 iPad Pro models with support for keyboards, mice, and all of the latest iPadOS features. Set starting prices as you suggest.

No drama and the division is clear. Want the latest or a power user? Get the iPad Pro. Otherwise buy an iPad Air.
 
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That is how I see it also. Like the Mac Book line kill/rename model clean it up.

Create 2 iPad Air models, this new 10.2 and a smaller screened mini sized model. Put the A11 (or A12 if a A14 processor is announced) processor in them. Put the latest processor in 2 iPad Pro models with support for keyboards, mice, and all of the latest iPadOS features. Set starting prices as you suggest.

No drama and the division is clear. Want the latest or a power user? Get the iPad Pro. Otherwise buy an iPad Air.
"Create 2 iPad Air models"

Disagree. I say have one Mini (7.9"), one Air (10.2"), & 2 Pros (11" & 12.9")
 
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"Would it be a "pro" or an alternative to the Air?"

Interesting theory which could work if it is a REPLACEMENT to the current iPad Air.
That’s kind of what I’m thinking. The size and timing just seems really odd. There’s got to be some catch/change that we don’t know about yet. Looking into the Samsung S6, it turns out that model uses a 16x10 aspect ratio. I don’t see Apple going that way, which makes my earlier theory less likely.
 
Taking a step back, we know they need a smaller tablet, a mid-line tablet, a budget tablet for education, and of course the pro models. There are too many names and models, I'd love to see it cleaned up. For the next gen versions, say 2020, Apple should re-brand the Mini as a smaller Air, and differentiate the Pro's with OLED screens. I would like to see the following:

iPad (10" = $299)
- Low-end - For education and to lure people to iPad OS
- Starting at 32GB, larger laminated screen, A12, Apple Pencil 1 Support

iPad Air (8" = $399, 10.5" = $499)
- Mid-line - better specs in the older home-button design
- Starting at 64GB, 120Hz screen with thinner bezels, latest A13, improved cameras, Apple Pencil 1 Support

iPad Pro (11" = $799, 13" = $999)
- High-end - latest tech for pro users
- Starting at 128GB, OLED 120Hz Screen, current design with Face ID, latest A13X, Apple Pencil 2 Support
 
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Apple is in transition from 4:3 screen ratio to 1.43:1 ratio. iPad Pro 11” was the first one, the others will follow.

iPad Mini 8.2”
iPad 10.2”
iPad Air 11”
iPad Pro 11”
iPad Pro 13.2”
 
As someone in the market for either a new light laptop or iPad, this just muddies my waters a bit more. The use of either will be out in the field and I don't need the power of more than an MB Air or the iPad. I'd go Pro on the iPad for the pencil specifically. I've found I use that often on my Samsung Note phone. That being said, it seems like a pencil isn't a lofty wish but removing the button, as someone asked, seems improbable.
 
That’s kind of what I’m thinking. The size and timing just seems really odd. There’s got to be some catch/change that we don’t know about yet. Looking into the Samsung S6, it turns out that model uses a 16x10 aspect ratio. I don’t see Apple going that way, which makes my earlier theory less likely.
If Apple does what you suggest & introduces a revamped iPad Air with the following:

10.2"
Liquid Retina Display
FaceID
Quad-speakers
A13 SoC w / 4GB RAM
Starting price of $599
Pencil 2 support

I think this would sell really well. I would pick one up in a heartbeat.
 
I hate to bring Jobs into this matter, but didn't he return to Apple back in the days to clean up and simplify their products? I am personally exhausted keeping up with all the variant sizes of iPads, more or less iPhones. Apple used to maintain a screen size consistent for a few years and now it seems like they change screen sizes year after year. Heck, trying to match accessories is crazy complicated too!

I see a lot of consumers with wishlists. I want a 10.4-inch iPad in 2019. In 2020, I'm hoping to upgrade to a 10.7-inch iPad. I love my iPad Pro 10.5, but it is 0.1" too big for my liking this year.

Apple, I enjoy using your products, but your product lines are seriously out of control!!
 
When the 10.2 inch iPad is released, they will discontinue the Air 3.

I think this whole iPad mess is going to burst soon. Too many models to sustain. Somethings got to give at this point.

And for that, I would like to see the iPad and iPad Air lines merge and become one product line. The 10.2” size is the perfect medium between the two to do just that. They could also interchange the prices between the iPad mini and the new iPad Air for cleaner distinction between product lines. So basically:

$329 iPad mini
$399-$429 iPad Air
$699-$799 iPad Pro

Simple. Clean. Streamlined.

Again:

My god, still with this meaningless comment. You have a $300 iPad (10.2) a $500 iPad (10.5) and a $800-1000 professional iPad that comes in two sizes. In the real world people purchases are dictated by budget, not by the inexplicable need to find something to whine about Apple on an Internet forum. Someone in the market for a $300 tablet won’t be confused by the size of a $800 for them unaffordable tablet. And who need a large $1000 tablet won’t give a thought to the size of a low entry 300 one etc.

It’s only confusing for people that have no intention to buy an iPad but just to stare at the website to find something to whine on this forum.

I hate to bring Jobs into this matter, but didn't he return to Apple back in the days to clean up and simplify their products?

See comment before your quote. Also: yes Jobs simplified the computer product line when they were failing, from literally dozens to 4, 2 pros and 2 consumers computers. Then, once they weren’t failing anymore, it was still Jobs that added the Mac Mini (an additional consumer desktop) and the Air (am additional consumer laptop). Why? Because one thing made business sense in a moment, and the other in a different moment. Poeple they think Apple should stick forever to one single business move done in a specific moment are simply people without any knowledge of business, and a total lack of imaginations that can only replicate another person specific decision ad nauseam.
 
I hate to bring Jobs into this matter, but didn't he return to Apple back in the days to clean up and simplify their products?

Yes but apple was failing badly back then and needed to do something about it. Apple is now a trillion dollar company so can afford to have more product lines. Not really that complex.
 
It’s amazing with so few products & product lines what a confusing mess Apple has made of most of them.

Like many others, I’d hope that the Air brand disappears. Everything is thin now.

I can see it only being used on the MacBook Air to denote ‘Intel consumer Mac’ for a year or so after we see A series chips in consumer MacBooks, for those who need/want a ‘traditional’ Mac (if the switch to intel in 2006 can ever be called traditional).

The hope is then, that the iPad Air basically becomes the entry level iPad (and thus there is no longer any need for the iPad Air brand).

Given that the new Air only came out this March, I’d expect all of this not to happen until March next year.

Curious though that there does seem to be an iPhone XR gap in the iPad line up.

Maybe this 10.2 iPad is more about bring Face ID etc to a mid range iPad?

It wouldn’t be hard to imagine the iPad Pro’s internals from 2018 being used for a machine with an aluminium body.
 
Again:

My god, still with this meaningless comment. You have a $300 iPad (10.2) a $500 iPad (10.5) and a $800-1000 professional iPad that comes in two sizes. In the real world people purchases are dictated by budget, not by the inexplicable need to find something to whine about Apple on an Internet forum. Someone in the market for a $300 tablet won’t be confused by the size of a $800 for them unaffordable tablet. And who need a large $1000 tablet won’t give a thought to the size of a low entry 300 one etc.

It’s only confusing for people that have no intention to buy an iPad but just to stare at the website to find something to whine on this forum.

What's confusing about the smallest iPad being the cheapest iPad? Makes absolute sense to me . I did say iPad mini for $329, but you're completely ignoring the mini in all of this. There's your $329 iPad.

And as i said before, 10.2 is between 9.7 and 10.5 so this new iPad could meet in the middle with price point and take over the $399 iPad mini price.
 
What's confusing about the smallest iPad being the cheapest iPad? Makes absolute sense to me . I did say iPad mini for $329, but you're completely ignoring the mini in all of this. There's your $329 iPad.

And as i said before, 10.2 is between 9.7 and 10.5 so this new iPad could meet in the middle with price point and take over the $399 iPad mini price.
Trying to enforce an arbitrary rule like the smallest has to be the cheapest can’t take into account the fact that although smaller, the mini has better internals and a much better display than the $299 education/entry level iPad.

There’s really very little to be confused about regarding the iPad lineup and how consumers might make their choice:

1) If you want a small(er) iPad, you have only one choice, but as a smaller version of the Air 3, it’s very nicely equipped.

2) If you want a huge iPad, you also have only one choice. But you better have a grand or two to blow because it ain’t cheap by any stretch.

3) If you want a “normal” sized iPad, you have three choices. Not one, not two, but three(!) :eek: But is that confusing in any way?
  • good — 10.2” starting at $299
  • better—10.5” starting at $499
  • best — 11.0” starting at $799
For education, younger kids and those who want the lowest possible price, would they choose anything but the good iPad? If you want something that’s faster, has more storage and a visibly better screen—and your budget can take an extra $200 hit—you might well choose the Air. And assuming you’re not particularly price sensitive and you only want the best, you’ll buy... the best.

As others have noted, model selection is largely driven by price. No one cross-shops the mini vs. the 12.9” Pro, or even the budget 10.2” vs. the 11.0” Pro (at nearly three times the price).

Some say get rid of the Air, but to my mind, there has to be room between a $300 cheapie—targeted mostly to education—and an $800 spare-no-expense model.

btw if I had to hazard a guess, with respect to market share of the $300/$500/$800 regular-sized models, I’d say something like 60%/30%/10%. I wonder what others think?
 
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Yes but apple was failing badly back then and needed to do something about it. Apple is now a trillion dollar company so can afford to have more product lines. Not really that complex.


Yeah, it's that complex. There's a fine line between making a stance on product line v. trying to appease everyone. Granted, tastes and technology change over time and that's acceptable.

For me, simplicity was the reason back then I came back to Apple. I worked at an Apple Store until 2011 when the iPhone 5 came out. My point of having too many product lines with nuance changes confuses the consumer (wait until you get older son when you can't dedicate as much time to keeping up with tech). Time becomes that much more important and you pick something that works without going into details.

As I and my peers have aged, I've all moved in the direction of too much, too complicated. They stick with one iPhone and laptop, they don't care much for iPads.

Jobs did introduce additional products into areas where there was a vacuum. One Mac mini is one thing, three+ variations of iPhones is something else.
 
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