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

[high3r]

32.2Wh battery vs. the 27.6Wh of the Air 2 with a more energy efficient chip. Looking forward to battery results.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

Yeah...disgusting..

Body is the original iPad Air, 2013 model, heavier, etc. Make 200+% profit on it...

Just shameful...

Make people pay $200 more for a modern iPad..

...That will be obsolete in 6 months (Fall) like during the iPad 3 to iPad 4 days...

Looks like I keep my iPad 3....still

Yeah...still mad about that one...

Go Apple...how much money is enough?

I really don't understand all the hate.... This is just a minor update to clear the way for a bigger event in the coming months.

This iPad is an absolutely fantastic deal if you don't need pencil support.

 

[Aftermath747]

Saw the price, got excited, looked at specs, saw the weight, thickness, and screen specs, closed the page.

 

[Dave245]

I really don't understand all the hate.... This is just a minor update to clear the way for a bigger event in the coming months.

This iPad is an absolutely fantastic deal if you don't need pencil support.

It's a great deal if you don't need the iPad Pro, I also don't see the problem I just think people will moan about anything. This wasn't even an Apple event and yet people have still found things to moan about.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

I wonder if Apple will still hold an event or if they will decide to update the iPad Pro along with the iPhone 8 in September and then hold a Mac event in October like last year.

I think we could still see an April event for Mac and iPad Pro. Or perhaps at WWDC. Then Sept for iPhone and Apple Watch.

If there are no more iPad or Mac updates by WWDC then I think some of the hate spewing from this forum will be warranted.

 

[elev8d]

I think it's fair enough for people to be disappointed. There had been rumors of an event in March and maybe a more substantial iPad update. When the store came back online with this new iPad it makes it clear that there will be no iPad event this month, and no really substantial iPad updates in the near future now. I mean this is just a cheaper iPad, there is nothing new in it. So yeah, completely understandable that people are disappointed because this confirms there will be nothing new in iPads for a while.

I don't think they would ever announce a substantial update without a press conference. You don't announce new products without marketing them unless you don't want to sell them.

 

[Dave245]

I think we could still see an April event for Mac and iPad Pro. Or perhaps at WWDC. Then Sept for iPhone and Apple Watch.

If there are no more iPad or Mac updates by WWDC then I think some of the hate spewing from this forum will be warranted.

April seems a little early now after today, otherwise wouldn't they have just announced everything at the April event. I don't think WWDC will see products it rarely does it's reserved for software. So based off that I'm going to say September.

 

[mikecorp]

Tim is visiting China and I'm so bored. Why did they even bother. My problem is that ios is sukyer every year.

 

[B.A.T]

I really don't understand all the hate.... This is just a minor update to clear the way for a bigger event in the coming months.

This iPad is an absolutely fantastic deal if you don't need pencil support.

This is going to save me some serious money. I need to purchase 8 iPads with LTE for work. I can get these for $459 each now. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that's $170 cheaper per iPad then it was a few years ago. That's $1360 saved.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

I think it's fair enough for people to be disappointed. There had been rumors of an event in March and maybe a more substantial iPad update. When the store came back online with this new iPad it makes it clear that there will be no iPad event this month, and no really substantial iPad updates in the near future now. I mean this is just a cheaper iPad, there is nothing new in it. So yeah, completely understandable that people are disappointed because this confirms there will be nothing new in iPads for a while.

My guess: Apple wanted to announce 10.5" iPad Pro in March, but the schedule slipped. Instead of slipping all of the stuff that was updated today, they just released it. I think 10.5" iPad Pro (and possible Mac and others) will still be updated by WWDC at the latest. If nothing is updated by WWDC, then fine.

 

[smorrissey]

My God, this is the biggest disappointment since finding out santa wasn't real

WHAT?? I'm gonna tell a mod about this...

 

[thadoggfather]

I wonder if this model will get the best battery life of any iPads,

A9 efficiency+ Air2/Pro body and around that battery capacity,
Edit- has more capacity and air1 thickness

VS A8x and A9x,

its been since Air1 we've had a non-X in a 9.7 (2013)

This and SE could be the iEnergizer Bunny combo,

 

[sers]

You won't be disappointed with Windows 10. I have no complaints. But in terms of hardware I always build my own and have been doing so for the last 22 years. It may cost a little more than a prebuilt Windows machine but it's right on par with a Mac cost wise. Plus I have ports galore and can upgrade anything within the system. I expect my i7-6700K and motherboard to last another 2 to 3 years before upgrading again.

Wow, nice system. My system isn't as extravagant as yours, but I'm happy nonetheless.

so... i ordered my new mac today

View attachment 692996

Exactly what I did. Welcome to the club.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

April seems a little early now after today, otherwise wouldn't they have just announced everything at the April event. I don't think WWDC will see products it rarely does it's reserved for software. So based off that I'm going to say September.

Hardware has been announced at almost every WWDC in the past 10 years. From iPhone to Mac Pro to standard MacBook upgrades. It's definitely possible. But I suppose would Apple want to release an iPad Pro with A10 just 3 months before A11 comes out?...

 

[cajun67]

I have no idea which iPad is which any more, and I'm 99% more informed than most consumers. Every one in a while I feel like buying one, but don't feel like spending three hours trying to figure out which to get. Then I just "whatever" out, move on, and don't spend the money.

If you need a stylus, get an iPad Pro.

If not, get an iPad.

 

[WarHeadz]

This actually makes sense. It's the first step in streamlining the product line again. The "Air" name never made sense for iPads. Good move to drop it. Now there will simply be "iPad" and the higher end "iPad Pro" in two sizes, both larger than the entry level iPad. Then there's iPad mini which speakers for itself. The whole scenario where there was an iPad Air 2 that looked like and was exactly the size of an entry level "iPad Pro" was confusing and needed to be fixed.

Just yesterday I was looking at deals on iPad Airs because I figured Apple would be releasing an overpriced new iPad, but I'm pleasantly surprised. Looks like I'll be buying the new entry level iPad.

 

[gaximus]

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

According to the article its also thinker and heavier, so its not really an "Air" any more

 

[jujufreeze]

This is what was in the pipeline? Wow.

 

[NIKKG]

another sad day for the Mac

Just get a Surface Pro and move on. Everyone knows the Macs are dead.

 

[gaximus]

DISAPPOINTMENT! pure and utter disappointment today, do like the red iphones though, but expected so much more. Hopefully next month will come with A LOT more releases, which Apple desperately needs.

Not sure what you were expecting, Apple wasn't even hosting an event for this.

 

[Jim Lahey]

Sorry if this has already been discussed;

No laminated display? I'm thinking this means it gets the horrid, clattery, flimsy, plastic-feeling display glass from the original Air? (I owned one, it sucked, that's my opinion, don't care if you agree or disagree). It would certainly neatly explain the return to the same thickness as that model?

 

[44267547]

If there is, it will be st a special event. A "press release" launch is typical for minor launches. This is actually a pretty decent launch since $329 for the entry-level iPad is aggressive pricing. Apple must be looking to boost sales volumes.

I would agree with this. Especially being the iPad is a declining product and has been for while now. This $329 iPad is brilliant, it's affordable with a speed boost, which doesn't offer the Pro features, which not everyone wants. It's a way to reach out and offer excellent hardware in terms of what the Air 2 was.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I infer that Pro updates are imminent via an April Special Event. Certainly the 12.9 Pro requires either an update or a death squad. Also if there is a 10.5" then the 9.7" Pro is done. It will be iPad, iPad Mini 4, iPad Pro 10.5, and iPad 12.9 OR iPad Pro will be consolidated to one size: 10.5.

Question though: does the fact Apple did not remove the # of the iPad Mini as it did with the non-Pro iPad, could one reasonable infer that an iPad mini 5 is on the way?

 

[AppleMad98004]

April seems a little early now after today, otherwise wouldn't they have just announced everything at the April event. I don't think WWDC will see products it rarely does it's reserved for software. So based off that I'm going to say September.

I agree the WWDC is a software event. Don't expect any hardware.

 

[xdexina]

Anyone noticed the chanfred edges are now matte like on iPhone SE?