8 GB iPad 2 Coming Alongside 16 GB and 32 GB iPad 3 Next Week?

[TLewis]

I bet Apple spread this rumor to lower expectations and to later have an even more positive feedback to the announcement of the 64GB and 128GB models. Why wouldn't they release such models in times of product diversification? Just to force some people to use iCloud, are you serious?

It's also possible that the retina display is a horribly expensive part, and, to keep the (rumored) price increase to a "minimum", they had to reduce the memory. I'm not saying that this is going to happen, but it is plausible.

Edit: it's also possible that Apple is sending out "confidential" misinformation to see who is spreading the rumors.

 

[WeegieMac]

People on here need to stop thinking that Apple design their products with only the MacRumors demographic in mind.

If an 8GB entry level WiFi iPad 2 was launched at £299.99 (£100 off same model in 16GB) it would be ideal in my home. I'm not someone who'll take my iPad with me to work, so for music and video content I simply use iTunes home sharing. Boom, no hit on capacity and all my content is there.

The main apps I'd use on iPad would be Netflix, Sky Go, Sky News, Sky Sports News, and one or two "big" titles (Soul Calibur and GTA 3). It would be a more convenient way to check email or a website (like this) as opposed to sitting at my desk and booting up my iMac.

Apple expect the power users to adopt the iPad 3 with higher storage, so if you're concerned about having the biggest and best, why do you care about a new entry level model so much anyway?

 

[Mo1959]

The idea of a cheaper 8GB iPad 2 seems ok. Will suit a lot of users. I have put off getting an iPad until now. Have taken early retirement and want to get the iPad 3 as a treat to myself before I have to start watching the pennies! Really hope they are still going to produce at least a 64GB capacity as this will have to do me for a while and I don't really like Cloud computing for some reason.

 

[rmwebs]

I can only say this:

I TOLD YOU!

I've been hammering on that this would happen, only to be shot down with 'dont be stupid' remarks. Looks like I was right

 

[TripHop]

Don't Worry, Be Happy 64 For Sure & Maybe 128 GB

No 64gb iPad? That SUX.

Apple wants everything in the cloud just like google?

I just sold my 64gb iPad 1 in anticipation for a new iPad 3 with even more memory..

My 64gb is nearly maxed out too.

What if you are editing lots of videos? Plus it looks like Apple is going to be charging more for less.

NOT HAPPY. NOT HAPPY. NOT HAPPY.

Not gunna happen. It's just not enough, a lot of games can be as large as 2GB after installation, and even 32GB can be tight, yet alone 8GB. That's four big games, or four text books. Even my 64GB 4S is nearly full.


iPad 2 WiFi 16GB $499
iPad 3 WiFi 32GB $650, 64GB $750, 128GB $850

That's what I'm thinking. Expecting the iPad 2 to have the updated A5X at 28/32nm, perhaps at a 1.2GHz clock speed.

Why does anyone believe Apple is still making iPad 2s? They haven't been making iPad 2s since December. It's absurd to think Apple would continue to make a crippled Non-Retina iPad EVER. iPad 2s are the past. Apple doesn't cling to the past in any thing they do. There'll be plenty of refurbished and used iPad 2s to satisfy the low budget market. You are living in fantasyland thinking Apple is going to waste valuable iPad 3 manufacturing capacity to make obsolete models for some imagined low price market Apple management doesn't give a rats ass about.

Don't believe this dribble. Apple is already not making low res iPads in any size. There have only been Retina iPad 3s coming off the line since January. And there's a good chance the top model will include 128GB of storage ram because the iPad 3 wants more space to hold bigger hi-res photo and video files. Stories like this are pure click magnet nonsense.

 

[MasterHowl]

Although I'd never use on, my mum would definitely benefit from an 8GB iPad 2.

She's only use it for BBC iPlayer, ITV Player (watching TV shows in bed before she goes to sleep), Skype for me whilst I'm at university, emails, and maybe a few photographs and songs!

I'd never be able to have an 8GB iPad 2, but people should stop bashing the idea just because they'd never use on...

 

[TLewis]

Why does anyone believe Apple is still making iPad 2s? They haven't been making iPad 2s since December.

Citation, please. I haven't seen anything that says that iPad2 production has stopped.

It's absurd to think Apple would continue to make a crippled Non-Retina iPad EVER. iPad 2s are the past. Apple doesn't cling to the past in any thing they do.

Uh, you have heard of this thing called the "iPhone 3GS" that is still being sold by Apple, right? A low-end iPad would serve the same function as the 3GS does in the iPhone product line (well, maybe a it would be closer to the iPhone 4, but you get the idea).

And there's a good chance the top model will include 128GB of storage ram because the iPad 3 wants more space to hold bigger hi-res photo and video files. Stories like this are pure click magnet nonsense.

Maybe, but maybe the retina display part is very expensive, and Apple has to reduce something to keep any possible rumored price increases to a minimum. At this point, I think anything can happen. As much as I want to see a 128GB version, I wouldn't be surprised if it does not happen.

 

[juannacho]

Meh! Nonsense!

An entry level iPad 2 8GB, well sure, why not. But a new iPad with four times the number of pixels having a max size version of 32GB is just madness.

I'd be astonished if this actually happens. As people have mentioned, resolution alone means this new machine is gonna need a truckload of storage.

The maths is pretty simple - x4

 

[timokeshi606]

…
Maybe, but maybe the retina display part is very expensive, and Apple has to reduce something to keep any possible rumored price increases to a minimum. At this point, I think anything can happen. As much as I want to see a 128GB version, I wouldn't be surprised if it does not happen.

They wouldn't add retina display if it's really that expensive. Space in terms of memory is an important feature of a tablet device. Today so far nobody really misses a retina display when it comes to usability, but people get seriously frustrated when their devices reach capacity limitations.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

It's absurd to think Apple would continue to make a crippled Non-Retina iPad EVER. iPad 2s are the past. Apple doesn't cling to the past in any thing they do.

You'd have a better argument if Apple wasn't still selling the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 as its "free" and "lower cost" models, respectively.

 

[Lesser Evets]

A sub-$400 iPad2 with 8GB would be perfect for many people. It's an entry device which is perfect for browsing and emailing and viewing, but it could never be a serious media holder. I'd buy one for my mom, it'd be perfect for kids, but it wouldn't be for everyone.

Smart move, if Apple does it.

Meh! Nonsense!... a new iPad with four times the number of pixels having a max size version of 32GB is just madness.

I'd be astonished if this actually happens. As people have mentioned, resolution alone means this new machine is gonna need a truckload of storage.

You are going by the old paradigm of "I NEED TO KEEP ALL MY CRAP ON A DEVICE" which, I'm fearing, Apple probably wants to get rid of. They might attempt to force people to use iCloud as much as possible.

I hope they would have a 128GB version. Doubt it will arrive this year.

If you don't like it, write to Apple. They'll only change with enough customer complaint. iCloud isn't constant or reliable for many users.

 

[0087215]

It simply cannot be true!

The iPad 3 with only 32GB internal storage? Sure! My old iPhone 3Gs has 32GB storage and I can tell you: it is not enough.

The retina display in the new iPad will mean that games and other graphic intensive apps will increase in size. How will you be able to download and play all those titles, such as Infinity Blade 2 (and perhaps 3), if you have only 16GB storage?

If Apple were about to decrease the storage of their future iOS products and make a shift to iCloud, why would they have introduced a 64GB version of the new iPhone 4S, which does not need as much space as the iPad.

I think it is nonsense!.. In my view, we will see a new iPad 3 with max 128 GB.

 

[0098386]

Why would they drop 64gb? Sorry Digitimes I don't buy your story.

 

[MythicFrost]

Why does anyone believe Apple is still making iPad 2s? They haven't been making iPad 2s since December. It's absurd to think Apple would continue to make a crippled Non-Retina iPad EVER. iPad 2s are the past. Apple doesn't cling to the past in any thing they do. There'll be plenty of refurbished and used iPad 2s to satisfy the low budget market. You are living in fantasyland thinking Apple is going to waste valuable iPad 3 manufacturing capacity to make obsolete models for some imagined low price market Apple management doesn't give a rats ass about.

Don't believe this dribble. Apple is already not making low res iPads in any size. There have only been Retina iPad 3s coming off the line since January. And there's a good chance the top model will include 128GB of storage ram because the iPad 3 wants more space to hold bigger hi-res photo and video files. Stories like this are pure click magnet nonsense.

They need a low end model, and the "retina" iPads are going to carry a slightly higher price tag.

The majority of what you just said can be refuted by the fact that they're still selling the three year old iPhone 3GS, and two year old iPhone 4. So they obviously do care about the lower budget market.

You'll see a $499 "low res" iPad 2, because the starting point for the 32GB iPad 3 will be at least $650.

 

[pika2000]

8GB would feel silly, especially after Apple touting the iBooks stuff and with textbooks in gigabytes sizes. I would think if Apple wants a "lower" end iPad, it would be just the 16GB iPad2 dropped in price.

 

[jclardy]

I was thinking they may do something like this. Sell an 8GB iPad 2 for only $399 or something.

My main thought against it was that 8GB is not a lot of storage on an iPad. Unless you can just stream music from iCloud without downloading...Even still apps, videos and pictures will fill up the space quickly.

Also, I don't see why they would ditch the 64GB. My thought is that with the high-res screen they improve the Photos app and/or release Aperture/iPhoto for iPad.

 

[Ayemerica]

An 8GB iPad 2 is insulting to consumers, unless it is 299$.

 

[Patriks7]

I really hope this isn't true. Sometimes it's tough enough to survive with my 64GB. The idea of 128GB and a retina display was drool worthy for me and would've been an instant buy.

 

[LostSoul80]

If that's true, can only mean one thing: the iPad 3 will be ******* expensive.
Far more than the actual iPad 2's.

 

[Ayemerica]

I really hope this isn't true. Sometimes it's tough enough to survive with my 64GB. The idea of 128GB and a retina display was drool worthy for me and would've been an instant buy.

Same I was 100% ready to buy with 128GB, the retina was just extra.

 

[SBlue1]

i need as much storage as possible. streaming is no option with the slow interent and data caps, especially if i wanna watch a huge hd movie. 32 gig is a minimum for the entry level ipad.

8 gigs are pathetic unless they include a sd-card slot which will never happen anyway.

----------

But I do think an 8GB iPad 2 at a cheaper price point would compete with the other tablets out there.

Other tablets? Never seen one in the real world. Really.

 

[eRondeau]

If the price was $299 I would buy one for my elderly mother, and maybe one each for my niece & nephew. Whereas I would by none for $699.

But what I don't understand is how the price of RAM even factors in to this equation. I can buy 8GB USB sticks for $10-15 retail; that means a major buyer like Apple probably pays $5 for 8GB of iPad RAM. The only reason they'd want a $299 iPad w/ 8GB vs a $304 iPad w/ 16GB is because Apple knows a lot of the 8GB buyers will very quickly get hooked and move-up to the full-blown $699 model. iPads are like crack -- once you're hooked, you'll always need more.

 

[MacDarcy]

I'm sorry...8 gigs is a JOKE. It's a joke for an ipod these days, let alone a tablet. Seriously. Even with the "cloud" 8 gigs would get maxed out almost immediately.

I think it's time to say goodbye to 8 gigs as an option in the ipod and iphone market....and don't even think about introducing it into the ipad market. That would be a huge step backwards. Apple can continue to offer the ipad 2 at a lower price point without having to cripple it with a pathetic 8 gigs of storage. Pfft!

Plus i call this rumor bogus simply based on them saying Apple is going to drop the 64 gig ipad??? LOL. Yeah riiiiiight. That makes absolutely ZERO sense. People are wishing for an ipad with 128gigs...Can you imagine the backlash if they not only don't offer one, but also drop the 64 gig model?!!

This is so ridiculous, that I call this rumor completely false. I will bet good money that Apple not only keeps the 64 gig model, but doesn't offer an 8 gig one either.

A 128 gig model is still wishful thinking...but would be welcome. I think as much as Apple wants to move to the cloud, they know people aren't always gonna have access to it...and do like to have things on their ipad. Not to mention that apps alone can eat up space very quickly.

Anyway...just calling this rumor BS.

 

[maattp]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Mobile/9A405)

Those cheapskates better not make a 8 gb iPad. That's completely ridiculous.

 

[rowley]

Horses for courses.

An 8gb would be good for casual media absorbers at home, people who watch youtube or listen to pandora or spotify, hit book of faces or twitter. That stuff does not need huge local storage.

For heavy users (people who are travelling/offline), having documents, videos, music, etc locally, that's going to be a problem.

Apple are covering their bases IF this happens.