Apple Allegedly Working on Two New iPad Air Models

Fuzzball84 said:
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.
Click to expand...
The screen aspect ratio is too narrow and a step back from the earlier minis IMO. Especially for reading and web browsing. The current aspect ratio seems geared toward video.

App developers also don’t usually optimize for the new aspect ratio. The mini used to be just a scaled-down regular iPad, so app layouts translated 1:1. But now the mini 6 is the one weird outlier in terms of iPad aspect ratios.
 
Last edited:
macduke said:
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.
Click to expand...
From a marketing perspective, there is also the potential of saturating the market with various models and configurations. This is a kin to overwhelming shelf space but in the case for high tech items, it’s overwhelming online reviews and articles. The desire is for all (or at least a very large portion) of the articles and reviews to be about your products and squeeze out discussion of competitive products.

This is the basis of what Coca-Cola does with all their different flavors to squeeze competitors out of shelf space in the marketplace.

I’m not saying that this is a good approach or that I agree with it. All that I am saying is there is a rationale behind it
 
MacRumors said:


Apple is working on two new versions of the iPad Air 6, according to a report from 9to5Mac. The site claims that Apple has four separate models in the works (two each in cellular and Wi-Fi), though it is not clear what the differentiating factor would be if there are indeed two separate iPad Air models coming.

ipad-air-cyber.jpg

Apple makes two versions of the iPad Pro because it comes in two sizes, and 9to5Mac speculates that Apple could release a larger version of the iPad Air to go along with the current 10.9-inch version, or debut "a more expensive model with better specs."

Given that the iPad lineup already features two sizes of the iPad Pro, a low-cost iPad, and the iPad mini, a larger or higher-end iPad Air may not make a lot of sense. 9to5Mac warns that Apple's plans could change and that a second iPad Air model might not appear.

Prior rumors have suggested that Apple is working on a seventh-generation iPad mini and an 11th-generation low-cost iPad, with neither tablet expected to feature major changes. 9to5Mac says that its sources believe the iPad mini 7 is coming "soon," but the report also says that all of the new iPads are on track to be announced "between now and WWDC 2024 in June," which is a wide window.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in September that Apple is not likely to introduce new iPads in 2023, and that iPad mini and iPad Air models will instead come in 2024. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also said in September that Apple is working on a new iPad Air and that it could be "coming soonish," so it continues to be unclear if we'll see an iPad of some kind before the end of the year.

Apple has not refreshed the iPad Air since March of 2022, so it has been over a year since the last update. The current model includes the M1 chip, and Apple could wait for the debut of the M3 chip for an update, so iPad Air launch timing could be tied to M3 launch timing.

As for the iPad mini, it has not been refreshed since September 2021, though it is not a tablet that Apple updates regularly.

Article Link: Apple Allegedly Working on Two New iPad Air Model
Click to expand...

MacRumors said:


Apple is working on two new versions of the iPad Air 6, according to a report from 9to5Mac. The site claims that Apple has four separate models in the works (two each in cellular and Wi-Fi), though it is not clear what the differentiating factor would be if there are indeed two separate iPad Air models coming.

ipad-air-cyber.jpg

Apple makes two versions of the iPad Pro because it comes in two sizes, and 9to5Mac speculates that Apple could release a larger version of the iPad Air to go along with the current 10.9-inch version, or debut "a more expensive model with better specs."

Given that the iPad lineup already features two sizes of the iPad Pro, a low-cost iPad, and the iPad mini, a larger or higher-end iPad Air may not make a lot of sense. 9to5Mac warns that Apple's plans could change and that a second iPad Air model might not appear.

Prior rumors have suggested that Apple is working on a seventh-generation iPad mini and an 11th-generation low-cost iPad, with neither tablet expected to feature major changes. 9to5Mac says that its sources believe the iPad mini 7 is coming "soon," but the report also says that all of the new iPads are on track to be announced "between now and WWDC 2024 in June," which is a wide window.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in September that Apple is not likely to introduce new iPads in 2023, and that iPad mini and iPad Air models will instead come in 2024. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also said in September that Apple is working on a new iPad Air and that it could be "coming soonish," so it continues to be unclear if we'll see an iPad of some kind before the end of the year.

Apple has not refreshed the iPad Air since March of 2022, so it has been over a year since the last update. The current model includes the M1 chip, and Apple could wait for the debut of the M3 chip for an update, so iPad Air launch timing could be tied to M3 launch timing.

As for the iPad mini, it has not been refreshed since September 2021, though it is not a tablet that Apple updates regularly.

Article Link: Apple Allegedly Working on Two New iPad Air Models
Click to expand...
The current iPad lineup strategy mirrors the iPod era under Jobs. Remember the iPod classic, mini, nano, touch and shuffle? Apple segmented their products to cater to various user needs and price points. They're doing the same now with iPads. Apple essentially has monopoly on both product categories.
 
Still have the original iPad mini - a little slow loading web and some apps won’t work but still useable.

Only thing I don’t understand is it stopped linking new photos from iCloud since March and I’m not sure why.
 
chiefcell said:
The current iPad lineup strategy mirrors the iPod era under Jobs. Remember the iPod classic, mini, nano, touch and shuffle? Apple segmented their products to cater to various user needs and price points. They're doing the same now with iPads. Apple essentially has monopoly on both product categories.
Click to expand...
iPod nano replaced iPod mini without overlap, though, so the iPod line only ever had four subspecies at a time. Apple lists both the 9th and 10th gen iPads as current and distinct models, so there are at this moment five iPads on offer—six if you split the Pro line by screen size. And I'd argue that the iPods were much better differentiated than, say, the iPad Pro 10.9" vs. iPad Air.
 
Wow, two iPad Air articles in one day? Sounds to me we should be getting it soonish indeed.

I think it’s very plausible that Apple rebrands the Mini and just calls it Air as well. Then there would be two base iPads, two Airs and two Pros.

I’d love it if they slim the bezels on the Mini to increase the screen size. For almost everything I do on it, the Mini’s size is fine, but a larger onscreen keyboard would be nice and sometimes I’d like a slightly bigger screen for certain games.

Plus, we desperately need the Mini to get an M chip. It’s only $100 cheaper than the Air in the US, but the gap in specs is enormous. The Air is not only larger, it has M1 and double the RAM. That’s a slap in the face to Mini supporters.

The Mini 2 and Mini 5 were already basically a smaller Air in their respective years. Apple needs to be more consistent with the Air/Mini specs.

I’d be all over the next Mini if Apple returns to treating it as a miniature Air. When the Mini 6 released, it was a superior Air 4, but then the Air 5 blew past it leaps and bounds, leaving the Mini in the dust.

Now the current Mini is equivalent to what we’d expect from the iPad 11th gen in terms of chip and RAM.

Hoping for a pleasant surprise or two this month.
 
Hardware isn’t the issue.

i have an 11 inch pro and the 10.9 inch that everyone hates. Truthfully.. they both do the same things and can handle anything I throw at either of them. If I need to do ”pro” work I find myself picking up my laptop. this isn’t a shot at Apple, because the hardware is awesome. It’s so good. The software just is lackluster.
 
Stella said:
Apple's product range gets more confused.

Steve Jobs definitely had the product range idea right: Keep it simple, don't have excess number of product variations.
Click to expand...

It’s funny when Apple is criticised for both having a bloated lineup and for not selling the iPhone mini anymore. I guess said criticism applies only when Apple is releasing new products that said critic doesn’t care for (but which others might).

Steve Jobs did what was appropriate for a company recovering from the brink of bankruptcy, and which didn’t have the resources to focus on too many different product lineups.

Tim Cook is doing what is appropriate for a company of Apple’s size today - cater to as many different price points so as to cover as much of the market as possible. Not to mention Apple is being extremely economical with their various iOS devices using the same parts like cameras and processors.
 
phillypharm said:
Oh I’d be down for this. My 2019 air is the worst iPad I’ve owned. I’ve been tempted to get a mini, but want the M-chip goodness. Hopefully it can do stage manager and I’m in.
Click to expand...
? Curious what you dislike about the 3rd gen air. Mine‘s been great - but it’s the only one I’ve had
 
A "rumor" that the world's largest maker of consumer information processing products is working on "two" (or is that "four") new models makes my eyes roll.

Or at least my eyes would roll if they haven't already rolled out of my head from reading these kinds of rumor posts for too long.

Here's something that most people do not discuss: What is really important for these kinds of products. Note that is different than what any individual may fantasize about some product (e.g. a Star Trek style transporter.)

Here's what's important:
1) cost;
2) sustainability.

Without those things under control no company will survive into the future for long.

I'm not in the market for an iPad. (I am in the market to replace my old iMac, but that's for a different thread.) But if I were in the market to buy an iPad, my first thought will be how much does it cost? My second thought will be how long does a charge last? My third thought will be how heavy is it? And my last thought will be how long will it last before it breaks?

And I suspect those kinds of thought will be in the minds of many people around this planet, to whom Apple hopes to sell these kinds of device. If I'm correct in this, then the marketing wizards at Apple will know this and that is what I'd expect future iPad products to address.
 
Most probably a new Air with a larger screen size. iPhones (non Pro models) come in two screen sizes. MacBook Air also comes in two sizes. So looks like iPad Air also will follow
 
The mini is not going away. It has a strong branding and also allows Apple to decouple the update cycle as a low-volume product.
 
The iPad product line as it is is already rather convoluted, with the Pro, the Air and the base at pretty much the same size panel… I don’t think it needs another Air, at a larger size or not.
 
klasma said:
The screen aspect ratio is too narrow and a step back from the earlier minis IMO. Especially for reading and web browsing. The current aspect ratio seems geared toward vide
Click to expand...
Funny you should claim that reading and web browsing is too narrow. The previous aspect that the iPad mini 5 used made reading DC or Marvel comics too small, yet the iPad mini 6 sufficiently larger to view. Web surfing I see hardly any difference. Looking at some wider PDF although might show up smaller in portrait orientation. As far as improving the mini 6 against entertainment, yes allowing correct aspect ratio for 16:9 video as well as placing the speakers correctly L & R of the screen is a big improvement for landscape orientation. I hated the Mini 5 for dumb design of speakers clustered on one end. As for reading its tolerable, but perhaps they could make the display on the mini 7 use less of a bezel for a larger image. They could do that with the next Air too.
 
Stella said:
Apple's product range gets more confused.

Steve Jobs definitely had the product range idea right: Keep it simple, don't have excess number of product variations.
Click to expand...
You realize you’re commenting on contradictory rumors that are weak at best, not an actual product range? But sure no commentary would be complete without the obligatory saint jobs would have done it differently.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Back
Top