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

[benji888]

Yeah it looks like they've gone back to the thickness and weight of the original iPad Air. I wonder if that means the screen also isn't laminated and lacks the anti reflective coating. If so, that would represent a huge downgrade from the Air 2. The performance gains from A8X to A9 aren't nearly enough to make a downgraded screen worth it, even at a cheaper price.

Yes, forgot to mention, it is more like the Air form factor, if you compare models on apple's website, you see the new iPad Is lacking:

No laminated display
No anti-reflective coating
No P3 color support
No true tone

Thus the price reduction.

 

[I7guy]

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

Customers are happy also.

 

[Zarniwoop]

Now it seems more unlikely that there could be a spring event to announce new iPad. Unless they've decided to release these minor updates first to focus on more important stuff, like Mac and iPad Pro updates/redesign later on.
April is yet to come, so we'll see.

Todays releases were definitely clearing path for real new product(s). Simplifying selection and worsening some of the regular models specs to make the Pro models shine.

 

[MTBCAM88]

I waited long enough and kind of had a feeling that new macs wouldn’t be coming out anytime soon. Nonetheless, I jumped ship and bought a Windows PC system over the weekend – a Kaby Lake quad core i7, 8gb DDR4 ram (expandable to 64), 4gb Gefore 1050ti graphics card, 256gb SSD and 1TB HDD, umpteen ports on the back and front, etc., etc., all for the price of an i5 dual core mac mini that cannot be upgraded. Windows 10 is not as polished and elegant as MacOS X, but it works well enough, does what I want and the system is blazingly fast. The best part is I can upgrade the system to my heart’s content.

I’ll miss MacOS, but I’m not paying those kinds of prices for inferior and outdated tech, especially when I can’t upgrade it. Apple's priorities are not on desktops and I don't blame them - the money is in mobile, especially when people upgrade every 2 years or so.

Welcome to the PC world. I love Apple's mobile tech, always will, but you can get SO MUCH MORE computing power at a much better price point with a PC.

 

[hawkeye_a]

Thankfully they spared us from a keynote for these rehashed products.

 

[gim]

The new 9.7-inch iPad is essentially the same as 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.

So they are using an Air 1 case and Cook is feeding it to us as a new product.

Not really. The Air 1 has different volume buttons and no Touch ID. This is just a thicker Air 2 case I think.

 

[Rivanov]

Maybe I pick one up when I'm in the USA next June. $ 329 = € 305 right now. Saving me € 104,- .

 

[Gudi]

I don't know why so many expected so much more. How often has Apple made huge updates to their products without a keynote in the past?

And how often has there been a keynote for a product which got a silent update in the same year? For people who hoped for an iPad Air 3 or iPhone SE 2 in 2017 there dreams have been shattered today.

 

[benji888]

This is how they make the distinction between Pro and regular models...

And I was waiting for a price cut for Mini 4... stupid me.

Actually, not really, because the Mini 4, not having the smart connector does have the laminated display w/anti-reflective coating which was reviewed as slightly better than the Air 2 in color quality.

So, they are making things a bit more confusing. ...I fear they may eventually discontinue the Mini size, rather than update it.

 

[nvmls]

At least the didn't come up with a keynote for this time's trolling.

 

[Urban Joe]

This release is:

BS

 

[Royal Gala]

Tim Crook

 

[8692574]

Maybe I pick one up when I'm in the USA next June. $ 329 = € 305 right now. Saving me € 104,- .

329-305 = 24 (and that is not even euros....)

 

[FasterQuieter]

Is the A9 significantly faster than an A8X? That was a triple-core chip and held up pretty well I thought. If the A9 is better, I bet it's not by much. Certainly not for multithreaded tasks.

 

[oldmacs]

A9 debuted late 2015, so this is late 2015 tech - which might I add is still extremely good going into 2017.

No it's not. 2015 iPhone technology powering a much bigger display and software that does mor is not extremely good. This is subpar cost cutting.

 

[recoil80]

Let's be real. If they were planning an event to update the Pros, they would have held these updates for that time as well.

I agree.

Not really. The Air 1 has different volume buttons and no Touch ID. This is just a thicker Air 2 case I think.

I wonder why they need a bigger case. I hope there's a bigger battery in there.

 

[Bacillus]

Thankfully they spared us from a keynote for these rehashed products.

Congratulations everybody ! Today, refurbished has become new..

 

[Rivanov]

329-305 = 24

No, the new iPad is € 409,- in The Netherlands.
When I get it in the USA for $ 329, that's € 305,- with the current $ vs € rate.

 

[8692574]

No, the new iPad is € 409,- in The Netherlands.
When I get it in the USA for $ 329, that's € 305,- with the current $ vs € rate.

For that we have to thank our (EUROPEAN) taxes.... but yea I was pulling your leg!

 

[doelcm82]

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

Of course more is coming. Just not today. Did you skip work to watch the keynote? And don't call me Shirley.

 

[timilner]

I'm in the market for an iPad Pro 2, 12.9 (in whatever form this comes) and I'm as disappointed as the next person that they weren't released today. But with no event, this was always highly unlikely. However, the discontinuation of the iPad Air 2 suggests a divide being set up between the iPad range; PRO, 'mainstream' iPad (released today) and the mini. I'm thinking that there'll be an unveiling of 10.5 and '12.9' (in whatever form this comes!) with iPhone type technology; solid state home button (not sure they'll debut screen integrated touch ID on iPad. They'll save this for the iPhone 8), bezel-less design and A10X chip. This would make sense to happen before WWDC so that we have the latest hardware on which to run the new software. It won't happen AT WWDC as it's a software/developers conference. Also, Apple are unlikely to leave the iPad Pro 2 release much later than early summer as it may cannibalise and cut into iPhone sales. Finally, the 12.9 and 9.7 need some parity as there are quite substantial feature differences between the two. They will end up on a par with each other with only screen size dividing them. All speculation, but we'll see.

 

[timber]

Not much change but I am very happy with it

iPad entry price was getting a bit unrealistic and the fact that Apple decided to act on it shows they still have some grasp with normal people reality.

I know what I will replace my Air with and hope they do the same on the Macintosh line or even the iPhone.

Regarding Euro prices for some reason 329 USD plus VAT yelds 419 euros (in reality its 375). They really should add that native calculator to the iPad.

 

[recoil80]

Is the A9 significantly faster than an A8X? That was a triple-core chip and held up pretty well I thought. If the A9 is better, I bet it's not by much. Certainly not for multithreaded tasks.

The CPU part is faster. But the GPU is also important (I'd say more important in certain ways) and the A9 is great on the iPhone, but the iPad has an higher resolution so I'm looking forward to reading some benchmarks to compare A8X with A9 on an iPad.

 

[str0ppy]

Well, in that case I don't know what to do. I don't want to buy the new one if the screen is worse than the Air 2.

Could buy an Air 2 now, but what happens to the current 9.7 pro when the new updated pros come out? Will they be reduced in price?

I sold my 4 a while ago and have been waiting for a new update - not quite as simple as I thought. Tempted to just go with the Air 2...

 

[skippermonkey]

I've now consigned myself to the fact that i'm going use my 12-core Mac Pro until it dies. However, this thing may well outlive me - best computer I ever bought. That was when Apple made the best computers... sorry, made computers.