Apparently not. It lacks the anti-reflective coating and lamination that the Air 2 has. Probably did that to keep the price point low.
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Apple Debuts New 9.7-Inch iPad With A9 Chip to Replace iPad Air 2, Starting at $329
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One day Apple might even realise that chamfered metal edges on a device that people hold in their hands for extended periods of time was a really bad idea. Seems unlikely at this stage mind you.
EDIT: Expectation management is key, I suppose. There's a small chance they'll change the form factor later in the year. I don't personally care if it has small bezels, massive bezels or no bezels. Just, please, for the love of GOD get rid of that ****ing nasty, hostile, prickly machined metal blade that runs around the circumference!!!
EDIT: Expectation management is key, I suppose. There's a small chance they'll change the form factor later in the year. I don't personally care if it has small bezels, massive bezels or no bezels. Just, please, for the love of GOD get rid of that ****ing nasty, hostile, prickly machined metal blade that runs around the circumference!!!
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non laminated screen is a no go for me
Shame I was going to update my iPad Air 2 for the faster processor not sure if it's worth it.
It uses the screen from the first Air, which had that air gap between the cover glass and the actual LCD screen, basically it's like going from the laminated screen of the iPhone 4 back to the air gapped screen of the 3GS.
New iPad 9.7 thickest of all iPads. Thicker than a Mini 4 and thicker than an Air 2 (7.5mm vs 6.1mm). No thanks.
It was in the moment I thought it was a disappointment, but then after thinking about it, I did remember seeing this before, plus it gives them more time to unveil the new products, instead of having a 2-3 hour keynote, they will keep it to a 1.5 hour keynote and keep the spotlight on the new products they are unveiling.
maybe we've reached the end of the cycle and we'll get "the new iPad" next. But I think "iPad" always made sense for this model, and I have been saying that. It's the next baseline model for anyone that just wants an iPad, they might not need the performance and would probably trade a thicker body for a lower price. Especially with the "Air" naming out the window for their product lineup, this made the most sense.
Yes but overall it's much more similar in specs to an Air 2. Cameras, processor, Touch ID.
Nothing truly new today: a speed bump for the 9.7 iPad, EOLing the "Air" moniker and Mini 2 and 32GB Mini 4. This is traditionally how Apple has released minor updates and changes.
If Apple holds an event in April it's for new Pro models and other new high profile products -- ones Apple wants to crow loudly about these with a live tech press audience who will write about them when they go back to the office or Starbucks. Apple doesn't want to waste time talking about two year old models and no one wants to hear that speech either. That is why they get the silent/press release update.
Yeah of course the 9.7" Pro is done, I've been saying that for months now. The 10.5" does exist and will be the smaller iPad Pro and the 12.9" will be the larger. It's always been planned as the replacement for the 9.7", it's never been planned as a third Pro model. The 10.5" is 2 X iPad mini screen and 12.9" is 2 X iPad screen with the same resolution for both models. A lot of people kept saying how Apple are complicating the iPad lineup, when in fact they're simplifying it.
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I'm glad you pointed this out. I am sick of hearing "WWDC is always a software only event, they won't announce any hardware". That's simply not true and it's very possible.
I really don't think that it is. Even if the display was the same, how much is the faster processor really going to improve your iPad using experience? Enough to justify hundreds of dollars? This model isn't really an upgrade over the Air 2, or even Mini 4.
Apple still hasn't figured out it's possible to update the store without downtime. SAD!
It's been quite sometime Apple has a very cool and innovative announcement. Their executives are very complacent at this point. They are fat, rich and lazy.
Sorry but again these iPads and iPhone Red are not a big deal. What about revamp the iPad iOS?
Damn, what about Macs for the love of God!
Apple now is just out of ideas IMO. They are profitable and riding the Steve Jobs wave while they can but at some point that will catch up to them. Tim needs to shake up his executives or he will be gone sooner than later. Apple needs infusion of talent and people who are hungry.
Sorry but again these iPads and iPhone Red are not a big deal. What about revamp the iPad iOS?
Damn, what about Macs for the love of God!
Apple now is just out of ideas IMO. They are profitable and riding the Steve Jobs wave while they can but at some point that will catch up to them. Tim needs to shake up his executives or he will be gone sooner than later. Apple needs infusion of talent and people who are hungry.
Personally, if I was going to update an iPad Air 2, I'd move all the way up to the 9.7 Pro. You're getting a faster CPU/GPU (even vs. the new A9 iPad), better display tech, the ability to use a pencil and smart keyboard, and even better audio output.
So what are the odds we still see an iPad event in the next month or so? The iPhone 7 handily beats the iPad Pro in performance, which is pretty freaking weird. Is this one of those pre-event releases that weren't important enough to make it into an actual event?
The problem I have with that theory is these releases today feel a bit more substantial—not so much in substance but amount. The only thing they could talk about at an event are the iPad Pros, which seems weird unless they are planning on showing off a whole slew of new iOS features for the iPad Pro. But wouldn't they do that at WWDC? Then again, Apple doesn't really use WWDC for hardware much any more. I suppose they could pad an event with an Apple TV 4K and iTunes 4K content. But we haven't heard much in the way of rumors about that lately. And their TV service doesn't seem like it's ready either, so they couldn't talk about that.
I just feel like they were going to have an event, but decided not to within the past month or so. It's also weird how they released a new app without demoing it on stage. But then again, if the iPad event is truly pro-focussed, then maybe that creative toy of an app wouldn't fit the theme? Maybe they developed some Pro apps for iPad that they could discuss?
I'm just really torn right now about what to do. I thought for sure with all the rumors that I could get my Pro 2 at the end of this month and gift my iPad Air 2 to my grandpa for his birthday. Now I'm considering buying him the new iPad, but then I'd feel pretty dumb if they came out with the Pro 2 the next week. Maybe I just need to gift the Air 2 and go without an iPad for a while. I use it a bunch at work, but could manage with my iPhone for a while. I use it a lot in the evenings at home as well, but since the Nintendo Switch came out I've been playing Zelda during my free time in the evenings.
The problem I have with that theory is these releases today feel a bit more substantial—not so much in substance but amount. The only thing they could talk about at an event are the iPad Pros, which seems weird unless they are planning on showing off a whole slew of new iOS features for the iPad Pro. But wouldn't they do that at WWDC? Then again, Apple doesn't really use WWDC for hardware much any more. I suppose they could pad an event with an Apple TV 4K and iTunes 4K content. But we haven't heard much in the way of rumors about that lately. And their TV service doesn't seem like it's ready either, so they couldn't talk about that.
I just feel like they were going to have an event, but decided not to within the past month or so. It's also weird how they released a new app without demoing it on stage. But then again, if the iPad event is truly pro-focussed, then maybe that creative toy of an app wouldn't fit the theme? Maybe they developed some Pro apps for iPad that they could discuss?
I'm just really torn right now about what to do. I thought for sure with all the rumors that I could get my Pro 2 at the end of this month and gift my iPad Air 2 to my grandpa for his birthday. Now I'm considering buying him the new iPad, but then I'd feel pretty dumb if they came out with the Pro 2 the next week. Maybe I just need to gift the Air 2 and go without an iPad for a while. I use it a bunch at work, but could manage with my iPhone for a while. I use it a lot in the evenings at home as well, but since the Nintendo Switch came out I've been playing Zelda during my free time in the evenings.
It is really not that messy. Need a tablet for general use: iPad. Need a very small tablet for general use: iPad Mini. Need a tablet to draw on or a bigger screen: iPad Pro.
One of the least imaginative webpages I've ever seen from Apple ( Clips app ). I think I designed a page like this back in 1996, no..wait..my design was better.
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Interesting speculation. But it's difficult to imagine any 7s without an A11. What would a 7s get? With almost all the goodies going for the 8, I can't see what a 7s would get.
If it was just that it would be better, lol.
This loses the laminated display, and the anti-reflective coating, and is thicker and heavier than the Air 2.