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

[Olganech]

This new iPad replaced the iPad 2 not the Air 2. The iPad Pro 9.7 was the replacement for the Air 2.

 

[anirdb55]

Apple basically owns the entire tablet market now. No matter how bad a business practice it may be to put a 2 year old chip and and an inferior screen in a 2017 device, we can't really have any alternatives at this point.

 

[576316]

This new iPad replaced the iPad 2 not the Air 2. The iPad Pro 9.7 was the replacement for the Air 2.

That's not really true. The new 'iPad' replaces the Air 2 as the 'standard' full size iPad for people who don't need a Pro model. It's now the 'regular' iPad offering. The iPad 2 was just a much cheaper option if people seriously wanted an old iPad.

I'm just annoyed that, as usual, Apple are forcing people to pay a premium for certain colour options. For example, if you want a Rose Gold iPad you have to buy an iPad Pro. Typical Apple though, not sure why I'd expect anything more.
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Apple basically owns the entire tablet market now. No matter how bad a business practice it may be to put a 2 year old chip and and an inferior screen in a 2017 device, we can't really have any alternatives at this point.

Well there's not really been any innovation in the tablet market for a few years now. So it disguises Apple's general lack of innovation.

 

[Olganech]

The is only so much you can do with a tablet and a gimped os. Also as per the PC market people are finding less need to upgrade their devices as often.

 

[whatta]

"downgrade the regular line, make it cheaper(and less attractive) max 2gb , which runs regular ios + a few pip and splitscreen perks."
Release a new pro line with a 4gb minimum, thin, attractive line up which will run a more advanced pro ios (at least 4gb required) with more pc-like features.

The 9.7 inch iPad Pro 1 didn' t fit in with only 2gb , so i am afraid, they' ll cancel that one.

The way to push the iPad Pro is to get rid of the current attractive mid range (aka iPad Air 2) that is too much competition for the iPad Pro line-up in its current state.

So make the low end uglier and (i hope) make the high end more attractive.

Makes a lot of sense, thanks for sharing. Btw I was a bit disappointed that the smaller iPad Pro had "only" 2GB, one of the reasons I kept my Air 2.

 

[jrhop]

My concern also. Surprised that no one had this remark before. Now we kind of know that it is an Air 1 + A9, and not an Air 2 + A9, so wonder about the 2GB RAM.

Btw I think there is no 1GB device on their market (iPhone SE is already 2GB, also the iPad mini 4), so it should be 2GB..

Also wonder why they did not come up with a "new" iPad Mini with A9. Now only the Mini has A8..

Yeah the iPad line is very confused. Think I will wait on the iPad and see whether the Touch ID is iPhone 6 or 6S gen.

 

[manu chao]

No way the 10.5 will cost $599, same as the current 9.7 inch pro. It will be about $649- $699, and 12.9 inch will start at $799.

I really don't think they can offer two mid-sized iPads with one costing twice that of the other. A slightly larger screen, a one generation newer CPU/GPU and the 'Pro' features (gamut, true tone, anti-reflective coating, smart connector, USB 3 speed, Pencil support) are nice to have, but are they really worth doubling the price? The still current 9.7" iPad Pro had all those advantages over the Air 2, minus the USB 3 speed and slightly larger screen, and still cost only 50% more than the Air 2.

The only way they can get away with something like this is by playing with the storage options.

Still hoping they will continue just the 9.7 inch pro 1 and price it $499. That would be the perfect allround mid to high end ipad.

I can assure you that many, very vocal people will find that idea a sign that Apple has completely lost it, because having three 'mid-sized' iPads clutters up their lineup.

 

[whatta]

iPad mini 2 is 1 gb, wait for apple to announce in 2018 that 2gb will be base, and 1gb won' t get an upgrade to ios12, just as they are doing this year with non 64bit socs(lower than a7 soc). So better sell or exchange your iPhone 6/plus this year.

Indeed, sounds logic, but I think they will let you slow down your iPhone 6 with iOS 12 still, iOS is supporting very old devices. 2016 iOS runs on a 2012 device..
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Yeah the iPad line is very confused. Think I will wait on the iPad and see whether the Touch ID is iPhone 6 or 6S gen.

From Apple's site:
iPad: Touch ID
iPhone: Second-generation fingerprint sensor built into the Home button

but I have no issue with the Air 2 touch id.

 

[Applebot1]

More I think about it getting an Air2 while you can makes more sense.

 

[stevemiller]

So. If the 9.7" is back to just "iPad" and the replacement 9.7" "pro" is a 10.5" screen, that means there will now only ever be a single product that is 9.7" pencil-enabled.

I sure hope that doesn't mean future pencil enhancements are poorly designed for that now obsoleted form factor.

 

[JasperJanssen]

That's not really true. The new 'iPad' replaces the Air 2 as the 'standard' full size iPad for people who don't need a Pro model. It's now the 'regular' iPad offering. The iPad 2 was just a much cheaper option if people seriously wanted an old iPad.

If you want to be more accurate: The iPad Air 2 was the flagship full size iPad when I bought it. It was then in fact replaced with the iPad Pro 9.7 as the flagship 10" iPad. But then afterwards, it became the "step down from flagship 10" iPad" (succeeding the iPad Air, which went through the same trajectory), without hardware changes but with a price drop.

The new iPad replaces the iPad Air 2 as the "step down from flagship 10"", while simultaneously its introduction means a price drop of that segment.

But yes, the iPad Pro 9.7" was the replacement for the iPad Air 2 -- and the iPad is *also* the replacement for the iPad Air 2. These two are not mutually exclusive.

 

[conormeade]

I'm looking to upgrade my iPad. I currently use my iPad Mini 1st Gen which is very limited as its only 16GB capacity and most of the apps keep crashing. This new iPad is very temping for the price, as I'm on a tight budget, but all the negative comments are putting me off. I don't know if I should fork out for the iPad Pro 9.7 inch, or not at all.

I mean I don't do anything on my iPad which needs the Pro features, but I don't wanna buy the updated iPad, and it only lasts a couple of years.

 

[I7guy]

If they went through the effort of creating an iPad Air panel 4 years after it launched and not reuse the iPad Air 2 panel and even customised the manufacturing process of the Air 2 chassis so that the chamfers do not shine at the edges what makes you think they are incapable of changing the RAM ? They could just as well disable the extra ram through software because the purpose of this model is an budget entry into the iPad lineup and Apple really wants people to get the Pro version.If Apple has cut the price by 70 dollars expect more than $70 worth of features to be cut to protect their precious profit margins

And disabling RAM through software isn't far fetched as AMD and NVIDIA do it with their cards all the time and people were able to unlock the extra capabilities through flashing the bios. And if I recall even OnePlus has done it in their phones

They didn't and they won't.
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Well there's not really been any innovation in the tablet market for a few years now. So it disguises Apple's general lack of innovation.

Except for the innovation in apples tablet lineup of course.

 

[somethingelsefl]

How can anyone be disappointed? This was a silent update with no event. Were you really expecting new products?

Exactly.

 

[sracer]

I'm looking to upgrade my iPad. I currently use my iPad Mini 1st Gen which is very limited as its only 16GB capacity and most of the apps keep crashing. This new iPad is very temping for the price, as I'm on a tight budget, but all the negative comments are putting me off. I don't know if I should fork out for the iPad Pro 9.7 inch, or not at all.

I mean I don't do anything on my iPad which needs the Pro features, but I don't wanna buy the updated iPad, and it only lasts a couple of years.

I suggest that you don't put any weight in the negative comments being made here about this new iPad. NONE of those people complaining have even seen one first-hand. Wait a bit for these units to get into the hands of trusted reviewers and a little longer for it to get into the hands of actual customers. If possible, visit a store that has one on display. (though I think there is limited value in spending a few minutes using a display model)

See what THEY have to say about it. Once the dust settles, make your decision based on what YOU think is important. There are many here who want the absolutely latest and greatest generation of device with every single feature available. Some don't even know what practical benefits (if any) those features would provide for them in how they use their iPads. They simply "know" that having every feature is better than missing a feature.

 

[manu chao]

This new iPad replaced the iPad 2 not the Air 2. The iPad Pro 9.7 was the replacement for the Air 2.

Any given product can serve different roles that also can change over time. The iPad Pro 9.7 replaced the Air 2 as the top 9.7" product. The Air 2 changed its role from flagship 9.7" iPad to budget 9.7" iPad when the 9.7" Pro was released. The new 9.7" iPad replaces the Air 2 as this budget 9.7" iPad.
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I'm looking to upgrade my iPad. I currently use my iPad Mini 1st Gen which is very limited as its only 16GB capacity and most of the apps keep crashing. This new iPad is very temping for the price, as I'm on a tight budget, but all the negative comments are putting me off. I don't know if I should fork out for the iPad Pro 9.7 inch, or not at all.

Your iPad Mini 1 has an A5 chip. The new 9.7" iPad has an A9 chip. That is four generations newer. The speed difference should be pretty dramatic. It also will have at least 2 GB of RAM (all A8 or newer iPads do), which is four times what your iPad mini has (and the low RAM amount is one of the major reasons for apps crashing).

 

[Radon87000]

They didn't and they won't.
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Except for the innovation in apples tablet lineup of course.

They will because this is a pure margins product

 

[manu chao]

How can anyone be disappointed? This was a silent update with no event. Were you really expecting new products?

The logic goes like this:

1. Apple should update all iPads with the newest A series chip the moment it releases a new iPhone (with a new A series chip).
2. Apple should update every product every 12 months.
3. The 12.9" iPad is 18 months old, the 9.7" iPad Pro is only 12 months old but both are now six months late in getting an A10-based chip.
4. Apple releasing this new iPad now means there won't be an event announcing new A10-based 12.9" and 10.5" iPads in the next couple of weeks (if there were an iPad event in let's say two weeks, Apple would have announced this new iPad together with the new A10-based ones).
5. Thus indirectly, this press release confirms that the 12.9" and 9.7" iPad Pros will keep being A9 based more than six months after the A10-based iPhone 7 came out.

In other words, people don't complain about what was released but what was not released. If new iPad Pros would have been released together with this entry-level 9.7" iPad, the new cheaper option would have been seen as something positive. In essence, this is shooting the messenger (the new 9.7" iPad) because you don't like the message (no A10-based iPads this month and possibly the next one neither).

 

[Jsameds]

They will because this is a pure margins product

So was iPhone SE, which had 2GB RAM

 

[9081094]

They've a price hike in the Netherlands. The cheapest iPad now is even more expensive than it was before. Go Apple, follow your greed. One day it will bite back and for me I hope it's sooner than later. What a disappointing company it has become.

 

[manu chao]

So this is good ol' iPad Air 2 but only with A9 instead of A8X?

More like the iPad Air 1 with an A9 instead of an A7:

• Same dimensions, down to the tenth of a millimetre and the single gram as the Air 1 (the Air 2 is 6.1 mm instead of 7.5 mm thick, it weighs 437 g vs 469 g). It also has exactly the same battery capacity as the Air 1 (32.4 Wh, Air 2 has 27.3 Wh, the reason it got slimmer and lighter).
• Though it has the 8 MP camera of the Air 2 (Air 1 only 5 MP) and even bumps that from 720p to 1080p. It also has the WiFi capabilities of the Air 2 (incl. 802.11/ac) and improves Bluetooth to version 4.2 (Air 2 has 4.0). It has also a TouchID sensor that the Air 1 lacks.

In other words, it is an Air 1 with updated chips including the camera, WiFi and Bluetooth.

 

[lcseds]

What if renewing every product every 12 months results in only very limited changes? Whereas releasing something every 18 to 24 months allows for bigger differences between products? Look at what they did with the iPad mini 3, they only added Touch ID. You could see this as wasting a model number and creating unnecessary clutter in the line-up.

But it shows interest in the product lines. If Apple always waits for big upgrades, they will send customers elsewhere as it will look like EOL products. This is a result of them being so tight lipped about products and regurgitating the ridiculous "pipeline" comments.

 

[mattopotamus]

The logic goes like this:

1. Apple should update all iPads with the newest A series chip the moment it releases a new iPhone (with a new A series chip).
2. Apple should update every product every 12 months.
3. The 12.9" iPad is 18 months old, the 9.7" iPad Pro is only 12 months old but both are now six months late in getting an A10-based chip.
4. Apple releasing this new iPad now means there won't be an event announcing new A10-based 12.9" and 10.5" iPads in the next couple of weeks (if there were an iPad event in let's say two weeks, Apple would have announced this new iPad together with the new A10-based ones).
5. Thus indirectly, this press release confirms that the 12.9" and 9.7" iPad Pros will keep being A9 based more than six months after the A10-based iPhone 7 came out.

In other words, people don't complain about what was released but what was not released. If new iPad Pros would have been released together with this entry-level 9.7" iPad, the new cheaper option would have been seen as something positive. In essence, this is shooting the messenger (the new 9.7" iPad) because you don't like the message (no A10-based iPads this month and possibly the next one neither).

This is a very good post. I don't think it indicates an event will not happen though. They very easily could have an iPad event and just mention the 9.7" (non-pro). Your post is probably one of the most logical explanations for a reason to be annoyed.

 

[manu chao]

The A9 is only slightly faster than the A8X. So if the Air 2 lags so will this iPad. And I have a feeling this iPad has 1GB of RAM. Considering the cost cutting they have done with matte chamfers, no laminated display or anti reflective coating and a thicker and heavier body its going to have 1GB of ram

It's a thicker-body version of the Air 2. It is the Air 1 body down to the millimetre. If I had to venture a guess, I'd say the Air 1 didn't have anti-reflective coating, laminated display or polished chamfers either. In many ways this is an iPhone SE-like move. Take the body of 2.5 yr-old product (Air 1, released in Oct 2014, SE was released in spring 2016, 2.5 yr after the autumn 2013 iPhone 5s) and put a two-generation newer processor in it (A9 vs A7, SE got A9 vs A7 in the 5s) and update a couple of other chips like the WiFi/Bluetooth and rear camera.

 

[thunng8]

The A9 is only slightly faster than the A8X. So if the Air 2 lags so will this iPad. And I have a feeling this iPad has 1GB of RAM. Considering the cost cutting they have done with matte chamfers, no laminated display or anti reflective coating and a thicker and heavier body its going to have 1GB of ram

1gb ram speculation is the most ridiculous thing I've heard for a long time. Heck the iPhone se has 2gb ram.

We exactly know the performance of the a9 chip. It is more than 50% faster than the a8x in single core which is the most important metric for responsiveness.