Apple Allegedly Working on Two New iPad Air Models

[nutmac]

Almost no one is asking for iPad Air with M2 and better cameras. What most of us wants are:

• 128GB base storage
• Landscape front camera
• OLED
• Longer battery life

 

[sack_peak]

List of devices that are most likely to refresh before 2024:

- 2020 HomePod mini S5
- 2020 AirPods Max H1*
- 2021 iPad mini A15 Bionic
- 2021 Airpods H1*
- 2022 iPad Air M1
- 2022 iPhone SE A15 Bionic*
- 2022 Apple Watch SE S8
- 2022 iPad A14 Bionic
- 2022 Apple TV 4K A15 Bionic

*All refreshed devices using Lightning ports will transition to USB-C ports in compliance to EU law.

The newer Apple chips are the M2, H2, S9, A16 Bionic & A17 Pro.

To exceed USB-C 480Mbps data speeds will require a A17 Pro chip.

The 1st 5nm Apple chip is the A14 Bionic while the 1st 3nm Apple chip is the A17 Pro.

 

[crsh1976]

Two sizes for the Air: Air 10-inch display, Air Mini 8-inch display (replacing the current iPad Mini) - they may as well get rid of the old cheap 9th-gen iPad and rehaul the 10th-gen whose only purpose is to bridge the gap between the cheap iPad and the Air.

 

[TrenttonY]

So we now have 6 iPad models and 5 iPhone models, but not enough room to have an iPhone Mini permanently in the lineup?

 

[ZMacintosh]

jesus can they get a handle on the product lineup for iPads? its nonsensical. iPad mini, iPad, iPad Pro. should be that simple. even then it can be iPad mini and iPad. done

 

[sack_peak]

So we now have 6 iPad models and 5 iPhone models, but not enough room to have an iPhone Mini permanently in the lineup?

Units shipped says the Plus is a better investment for Apple.

 

[MarkNewton2023]

All this is to say: there's a big market for the iPad mini. Just keep supporting them, Apple, and don't treat the iPad mini as a second-class citizen - after all, you charge a premium for the smaller form-factor anyway.

To convince Apple, supporting financial facts of your deposition and reliable sources are needed and they might be convinced to treat iPad mini as a first class citizen 😊 We are waiting 😊

 

[F23]

Nike iPad Air Max

 

[Fuzzball84]

One model using the previous Magic Keyboard, and a more premium model that is compatible with an updated Magic Keyboard.

Would make sense given the cost of these accessories. And then they remove one of the budget iPads.

Just a possibility

 

[phenste]

Gonna respectfully disagree with you there.

I can't see how more options is a bad thing. If people are confused, there are sales people, youtubers, and millions of forum nerds like us to help them figure out the best option for their needs.

seconding this now that I work in retail (at a place that is in fact much more confusing unless you’ve spent hours in it), especially given Apple’s standards for its first-party retail stores—we’re literally there to guide you through what seems like madness at first.

one iPhone size didn’t fit all; Apple bit the bullet after Samsung started eating away at their market share with bigger screens. different people want different things. I know people who love their iPad mini and people who love their 12.9” Pro. choice is good & allows them to compete with a wider market segment.

 

[Fuzzball84]

I bought the original iPad second-hand, which was phenomenal for its time. A few years later I moved on to the iPad mini 1, and then the iPad mini 4, because I liked the smaller form factor. Last year I decided to take a chance on the iPad Air, but I returned it within the week and bought the iPad mini 6 instead. There's nothing wrong with the iPad Air, but for me (and probably many others) it's just too large. I use my iPad mini for reading and occasionally watching videos or playing games. It feels great in the hand, in a way the iPad Air simply didn't - I realized I was using the iPad Air less because of its size.

All this is to say: there's a big market for the iPad mini. The entire iPad lineup is mature, so I see no problems with minimal or zero design changes. Just keep supporting them, Apple, and don't treat the iPad mini as a second-class citizen - after all, you charge a premium for the smaller form-factor anyway.

I have the iPad mini 6… it’s the perfect size and as an e-reader, web surfing, YouTube and streaming device I find it unmatched. It’s the perfect size to not notice when carrying around, but big enough to enjoy content.

One of the Apple minis that they are unlikely to drop anytime.

The only bad thing is its cost… I think most people base their value on size. So when they see the mini against the air… they think “well I could have the bigger one” because most people think bigger is more/better. This isn’t always the case.

 

[applepotato666]

Almost no one is asking for iPad Air with M2 and better cameras. What most of us wants are:

• 128GB base storage
• Landscape front camera
• OLED
• Longer battery life

Almost no one is asking about the M series on iPad in general I think. We want a proper OS. iPad is just a giant iPhone you can draw on currently

 

[Imperial926]

Gonna respectfully disagree with you there.

I can't see how more options is a bad thing. If people are confused, there are sales people, youtubers, and millions of forum nerds like us to help them figure out the best option for their needs.

It’s not people like us it needs to stay simple for. Large numbers of products within one family of devices confuses many. Jobs understood this well and I still remember companies like HP with a vast choice of laptops that made you lose the will to live!

 

[macduke]

Gonna respectfully disagree with you there.

I can't see how more options is a bad thing. If people are confused, there are sales people, youtubers, and millions of forum nerds like us to help them figure out the best option for their needs.

Actually, what you're saying is the opposite of what I was taught in my marketing classes in college. We actually had a whole lecture about the paradox of choice, and how Apple's simplified product lineup (this was around 2010 or 2011) was a huge key to their success and a competitive advantage.

Sure, market conditions and consumer preferences change over time, and we are definitely in an age of more consumer choice and customization. But in general the premise of the paradox holds merit over the long term.

I recommend you read up on the paradox of choice. Sure, having many options can be great for more technical users like us who want specifically what we want, but in general being overwhelmed with options can often cause consumers to not make a decision at all. Or at least delay making their decision for some time until they can sit down and do a bunch of research. And most people, outside of us geeks, don't do that.

The other thing about the paradox, is that when you have so many options available, a consumer ends up being less satisfied with the product they chose because they doubt they made the correct choice. This can lower consumer satisfaction and make them less loyal to you over the long-term. It's really strange and seems counter-intuitive, but it's a thing. And hopefully I'm remembering most of these details correctly. It has been awhile! It's definitely worth a search and a read, as I found it to be one of the more interesting things I learned in my marketing coursework.

 

[Bearxor]

My last couple of iPads have been 12.9” Pro models (2018 and 2020). I feel like I’d like a new 12.9” Pro but they have gotten WAY too expensive. I had to give up cellular when I bought the 2020 model and now iPad Pros cost as much as a MacBook with much less functionality even though they’re essentially the same hardware on the inside.

If I could get a 13” iPad Air with cellular for under 1k that would be a great upgrade for me. The only thing the pros would have that I think I’d miss out on is the quad speaker system.

 

[magicMac]

I think the iPad Air is on its 18 month cycle this October.

I wouldn't be surprised if apple did an Air and Air Plus a bit like the iPhone 14/15. the iPad mini seems to be much loved as much as the iPhone 12mini/13mini was.

 

[macduke]

They should elevate the Mini to Mini Air status, and get rid of the regular Mini line. It already costs more than the iPad. I think this would clarify the positioning of the product more, and would hopefully make them upgrade it more often and get it an M-series chip!

My hope is that they can slim the bezels down more and increase the screen size, making it more useful while in a smaller form factor. Although honestly they could probably bump the physical device size up a little and nobody would complain. People are so used to huge devices nowadays, and phones are encroaching on the Mini's size anyway. So I could see them doing a half inch bump before even considering the bezels.

 

[miiwtoo]

better if working on one (or two xD) new vision model

 

[symphony]

Immediately after this report was posted, Apple sniped more leakers with phoney information

 

[klasma]

One with jelly scrolling and one without, for those who are allergic.

iPad Air Jelly and iPad Air Peanut Butter (no oleophobic coating)
(usually it’s the latter that triggers allergies though)
(both probably using sandwich PCBs)

 

[Fuzzball84]

Actually, what you're saying is the opposite of what I was taught in my marketing classes in college. We actually had a whole lecture about the paradox of choice, and how Apple's simplified product lineup (this was around 2010 or 2011) was a huge key to their success and a competitive advantage.

Sure, market conditions and consumer preferences change over time, and we are definitely in an age of more consumer choice and customization. But in general the premise of the paradox holds merit over the long term.

I recommend you read up on the paradox of choice. Sure, having many options can be great for more technical users like us who want specifically what we want, but in general being overwhelmed with options can often cause consumers to not make a decision at all. Or at least delay making their decision for some time until they can sit down and do a bunch of research. And most people, outside of us geeks, don't do that.

The other thing about the paradox, is that when you have so many options available, a consumer ends up being less satisfied with the product they chose because they doubt they made the correct choice. This can lower consumer satisfaction and make them less loyal to you over the long-term. It's really strange and seems counter-intuitive, but it's a thing. And hopefully I'm remembering most of these details correctly. It has been awhile! It's definitely worth a search and a read, as I found it to be one of the more interesting things I learned in my marketing coursework.

I agree… although sometimes we like the choice… this holds.

I think the only choice I like is different sizes. This is especially important for Apple Watch… it’s really necessary. So even if you get a different size, it’s still Apple Watch. You don’t feel like you’re missing out on anything if you get the smaller size… because it’s still Apple Watch and does the same as the larger version. But these days they have three different tiers…

When I bought my first iPad (first gen) it was the most exciting and the most satisfying apple product I’d bought in years! I love it. I had an iPad and my choice was storage and cellular option.

Now when I go to buy a certain ipad… I spend time thinking if I need it… sometimes we buy more, just incase we need it.

But this is how Apple upsells, they are the Kings of upwelling. Internally they will study and know this, they have to get the balance right as like you said, they can’t have people regretting their purchase… especially when most apple products are expensive.

 

[klasma]

What would allow the Pro to absorb a massive price hike?

OLED, probably.

 

[Chuckeee]

iPad Air mini?
.
In all seriousness, maybe this is the more logical guess:
iPad Pro & iPad Pro Max
iPad Air & iPad Air Plus

How about “iPad Air & iPad Hot Air”?

 

[klasma]

Almost no one is asking for iPad Air with M2 and better cameras. What most of us wants are:

• 128GB base storage
• Landscape front camera
• OLED
• Longer battery life

Replace longer battery life (it’s fine) with a larger size option (I like the 12.9”), and I’m with you. I also wouldn’t mind going back to the semi-rounded back edges, that was more comfortable to hold and easier to pick up from a table (and I’m sure a new Pencil could still be made to work somehow).

 

[tweaknmod]

Actually, what you're saying is the opposite of what I was taught in my marketing classes in college. We actually had a whole lecture about the paradox of choice, and how Apple's simplified product lineup (this was around 2010 or 2011) was a huge key to their success and a competitive advantage.

Sure, market conditions and consumer preferences change over time, and we are definitely in an age of more consumer choice and customization. But in general the premise of the paradox holds merit over the long term.

I recommend you read up on the paradox of choice. Sure, having many options can be great for more technical users like us who want specifically what we want, but in general being overwhelmed with options can often cause consumers to not make a decision at all. Or at least delay making their decision for some time until they can sit down and do a bunch of research. And most people, outside of us geeks, don't do that.

The other thing about the paradox, is that when you have so many options available, a consumer ends up being less satisfied with the product they chose because they doubt they made the correct choice. This can lower consumer satisfaction and make them less loyal to you over the long-term. It's really strange and seems counter-intuitive, but it's a thing. And hopefully I'm remembering most of these details correctly. It has been awhile! It's definitely worth a search and a read, as I found it to be one of the more interesting things I learned in my marketing coursework.

Interesting - thanks for the info! 👍