Apple Debuts New 9.7-Inch iPad With A9 Chip to Replace iPad Air 2, Starting at $329

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced it is launching a new 9.7-inch iPad equipped with an A9 chip and a brighter Retina display to replace the iPad Air 2, which has been discontinued. The tablet, which Apple is simply calling "iPad," is Apple's new entry-level model at the 9.7-inch size, starting at $329 for 32GB and $429 for 128GB.

The new 9.7-inch iPad is similar in many ways to the iPad Air 2, which had an A8X chip and started at $399, but slightly thicker and heavier with a faster A9 chip and a brighter Retina display. Another difference is that the new 9.7-inch iPad does not have a fully laminated display or anti-reflective coating per its tech specs.

Beyond the A9 chip, those specs include a 9.7-inch screen with 2,048-by-1,536 resolution and 264 PPI, 8-megapixel rear-facing iSight camera, 1.2-megapixel front-facing FaceTime camera, two speakers, Lightning connector, 3.5mm headphone jack, Touch ID with Apple Pay, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, and Bluetooth 4.2.

"iPad is the world's most popular tablet. Customers love the large, 9.7-inch display for everything from watching TV and movies, to surfing the web, making FaceTime calls, and enjoying photos, and now it is even more affordable," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "New customers and anyone looking to upgrade will love this new iPad for use at home, in school, and for work, with its gorgeous Retina display, our powerful A9 chip, and access to the more than 1.3 million apps designed specifically for it."

Given its price point, the tablet lacks most iPad Pro features, including a True Tone display with a wide P3 color gamut, Smart Connector, Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard support, 4K HD video recording, LTE Advanced, Live Photos, True Tone flash, and four-speaker audio.

The new 9.7-inch iPad is available to order beginning Friday, March 24 from Apple.com, and starts delivering to customers and arriving next week in Apple Stores, through select carriers, and at Apple Authorized Resellers in the United States and more than 20 countries and regions.

Namely, the March 24 launch will also include Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Denmark, India, Mexico, Norway, Russia, Turkey, and other countries will follow in April. Brazil and Taiwan, among others, will follow in May.

This low-cost 9.7-inch iPad was accurately rumored by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in August 2016.

Article Link: Apple Debuts New 9.7-Inch iPad With A9 Chip to Replace iPad Air 2, Starting at $329

 

[vmachiel]

What?? That's it?

 

[dumastudetto]

This looks an incredible deal for those looking to buy into iPad. Investors will be delighted.

 

[Return Zero]

Still ridiculous that the cellular option costs more than $100.

EDIT: Otherwise I do think this is a good release considering the price point.

 

[WhoDatWayne]

Surely there is more coming.......?????

 

[Hieveryone]

Is it April fools?

 

[SamGabbay]

But why take down the store for 8 hours?

 

[1Zach1]

So there is 1 "new model" i.e. the beginning of the end for the 9.7" iPad which will be replaced in April with the 10.5" iPad.

 

[Xavier]

So lower the price, get rid of the stock, and then release a new product.

 

[MacFather]

Deleted.

 

[Aston441]

MacBook? Anyone? anyone... sigh

 

[CaTOAGU]

There's also a Product Red iPhone.

 

[Bustycat]

So they renamed iPad to iPad Air and then renamed iPad Air back to iPad. That is so innovative!

 

[jscooper22]

Meh. I gotta go find a computer company.

 

[Charliebird]

And why would someone buy the 9.7 iPad Pro at $599?

 

[alexcanton]

Another iPad to the already messy, fragmented, unnecessarily long line up of iPads to saturate the already saturated mobile market while continuing to leave the demand of Macs behind..

I'd love to say we're losing faith Tim, but that was so long ago now.

 

[cardfan]

Nothing to see here..

 

[Donka]

Basically an Air 2 with updated SOC and lower pricing. Looks like the Pro page still has a pending update.

 

[maverick808]

£339 in UK!!!

 

[GoodWheaties]

This is weird. It's back to 7.5mm like original iPad Air.

 

[appleguy123]

The mini is now more expensive than the Air?

 

[Jules_K]

There also is a special edition iPhone 7. A college send the picture, I can't reach apple.com atm

 

[bosatsu]

So this cheap iPad and a red iPhone7 and that's all, right?

 

[DocMultimedia]

AAPL up in premarket. The infinite pipeline has everyone excited.

 

[Danilo - Italy]

So there is 1 "new model" i.e. the beginning of the end for the 9.7" iPad which will be replaced in April with the 10.5" iPad.

Not sure at 100% but is possible that the next 10.5 version will have an OLED screen.

 

[Abazigal]

What?? That's it?

There's also a red iPhone and new Watch straps, but yeah, that's pretty much it.