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

[mac4good84]

So, this new iPad is $70 less, but its a little thicker, weights a little more, and has no anti-reflective coating or a fully laminated display? You would think by now Apple could make these features standard even with the price drop? I know this one has an updated chip but even then, it won't be a huge boost over what the iPad Air 2 has in terms of performance. I respect Apple being a company that wants to make money but I don't have to like the fact that they are literally trying to squeeze every last penny out of people for a product with tech that is literally going backwards.

In the end, everyone has their own needs and this will appeal to many people and certain markets. What one person thinks is over-priced and under-powered another would think its perfect for what they need. For me, my iPad Air 2, which I've had for almost 3 years, is working perfectly and I see no reason to update. Now, if they release a new iPad before 2017 ends, then we'll see what that has to offer but they have a long way to go in terms of what I think the iPad should have in terms of features, or more specifically "good reasons" for why I should upgrade my current iPad.

 

[Radon87000]

I'm going to have to parrot this and agree

in my house we have an iPad Air (mine) and an iPad Air 2 (Brothers) and I've had a good chance of comparing the two side by side

the display is barely noticeably better in day to day usage. there's no "OMG THIS IS LIFE CHANGING". better on brightness and reflective, but that's about all that's generally noticeable.

the thickness and weight are slightly better, but nothing compelling enough to shell out the money to replace an Air 1 to an Air 2. the usability didn't change at all with the barely perceivable differences.

the only difference I would say is due to RAM availability, the Air 2 is slightly faster at resuming apps, especially ones that you've put in the background. It's also much better at keeping them in memory and far smoother experience for side by side. the Air 1's lack of RAM makes for any side by side use to be quite painful. So hopefully this is better on the new iPad model.

I used to have both and the difference was huge. It doesn't feel like you are manipulating the content itself on the Air 1 while on the Air 2 it feels like the panel is tightly packed against the screen like on an iPhone. Imagine an iPhone with no lamination. It would be horrible

Even Apple agrees

To create the astonishingly thin silhouette of iPad Air 2, we started by redesigning the Retina display, fusing what had been three layers into one. Not only did this make the display thinner, it made it better, with more vivid colours and greater contrast. Then we added an anti-reflective coating, giving iPad Air 2 one of the least reflective displays of any tablet in the world.

 

[FeliApple]

Does this mean there will be no new iPad Pro?

It could also mean it isn't coming on April. The reality is, though, that no one knows except for Apple.

 

[Radon87000]

I'm going to have to parrot this and agree

in my house we have an iPad Air (mine) and an iPad Air 2 (Brothers) and I've had a good chance of comparing the two side by side

the display is barely noticeably better in day to day usage. there's no "OMG THIS IS LIFE CHANGING". better on brightness and reflective, but that's about all that's generally noticeable.

the thickness and weight are slightly better, but nothing compelling enough to shell out the money to replace an Air 1 to an Air 2. the usability didn't change at all with the barely perceivable differences.

the only difference I would say is due to RAM availability, the Air 2 is slightly faster at resuming apps, especially ones that you've put in the background. It's also much better at keeping them in memory and far smoother experience for side by side. the Air 1's lack of RAM makes for any side by side use to be quite painful. So hopefully this is better on the new iPad model.

What the? You say the Air 2 is slightly faster? It was destroying the Air 1 in performance when I bought it. Heck the Air 2 is what the Air 1 should have been in the first place
[doublepost=1490195708][/doublepost]

In all honesty it depends where you're coming from and what your budget is. I'd say this is a very attractive and cheap upgrade from iPad Air 1 and below.

An iPad Air 2 is a better upgrade if you can find one before it disappears

 

[manu chao]

The iPad is an replacement for the Air 2 and not Air 1.

There are always multiple ways to look at it. You can view it as the $399 slot disappearing and a new $329 slot being added instead.

The Air 1 is 4 years old today and it would be worth much less than $200 and all Apple did was change the processor and ram and charged iPad Air 2 rates for it.

Really? iPad Air 2 rates? Didn't know you get the Air 2 for $329.

As expected Apple dropped the price by 70 and reduced more than $70 worth features

Didn't know there was a way to put a monetary value on features.

 

[Radon87000]

So, this new iPad is $70 less, but its a little thicker, weights a little more, and has no anti-reflective coating or a fully laminated display? You would think by now Apple could make these features standard even with the price drop? I know this one has an updated chip but even then, it won't be a huge boost over what the iPad Air 2 has in terms of performance. I respect Apple being a company that wants to make money but I don't have to like the fact that they are literally trying to squeeze every last penny out of people for a product with tech that is literally going backwards.

In the end, everyone has their own needs and this will appeal to many people and certain markets. What one person thinks is over-priced and under-powered another would think its perfect for what they need. For me, my iPad Air 2, which I've had for almost 3 years, is working perfectly and I see no reason to update. Now, if they release a new iPad before 2017 ends, then we'll see what that has to offer but they have a long way to go in terms of what I think the iPad should have in terms of features, or more specifically "good reasons" for why I should upgrade my current iPad.

The iPad Air 2 is probably the longest running Apple gadget in my house apart from laptops with no worthy upgrade in sight. Its kinda sad that a 4 year old device has no compelling replacement
[doublepost=1490195976][/doublepost]

There are always multiple ways to look at it. You can view it as the $399 slot disappearing and a new $329 slot being added instead.

And they downgraded the display back to Air 1,made it thicker and heavier and even dongraded the chassis chamfers. If the Air 2 existed everyone would pay the extra 70 for it.

Really? iPad Air 2 rates? Didn't know you get the Air 2 for $329.

Its in the same price range as the Air 2. If I were in the market for an iPad right now I would get the Air 2. A better display, almost similar performance, is thinner and lighter. Definitely worth the xtra 70.

On the other hand the iPad Pro 9.7 isn't worth the 200 premium over the Air 2 for Apple pencil support and a slightly better display

 

[Donka]

In all honesty it depends where you're coming from and what your budget is. I'd say this is a very attractive and cheap upgrade from iPad Air 1 and below.

Yes, I was meaning if you are already at the Air 2 level or higher then people shouldn't assume that any new iPad would be an upgrade over what they have.

 

[manu chao]

The iPad Air 2 is probably the longest running Apple gadget in my house apart from laptops with no worthy upgrade in sight. Its kinda sad that a 4 year old device has no compelling replacement

The Air 2 was released in October 2014. That is 2.5 years, not 4 years. And one generation difference often isn't that compelling. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.

And they downgraded the display back to Air 1,made it thicker and heavier and even dongraded the chassis chamfers. If the Air 2 existed everyone would pay the extra 70 for it.

And if this new $329 9.7" iPad didn't exist, some people wouldn't get any 9.7" iPad.

 

[milo]

1 Gig of ram is sad. No way that is enough for a pro level device.

That's speculation at this point, hopefully we get the info soon.

 

[Applebot1]

Im pretty happy with this iPad, I think it's a great deal. My latest iPad that I use is a iPad Air and I haven't really been compelled to upgrade until now. For the fairly low cost it feels like a nice upgrade for what I use my iPad for.

I'm in the same situation..would you consider the Air 2 assuming you can get hold of one still?

 

[milo]

This product is an iPad Air 1 with an A9 processor. Its a downgrade for Air 2 owners. The switch from a laminated display to a non laminated one is more jarring than the DCIP3 wide color iPad pro upgrade.

I'll take a model that has faster CPU and the M9 and a bit thicker and heavier over one with slower and a laminated display. Is it a downgrade in any other ways?

 

[Radon87000]

I'll take a model that has faster CPU and the M9 and a bit thicker and heavier over one with slower and a laminated display. Is it a downgrade in any other ways?

Nope its not faster in everything. The Air 2 has beaten the A9 in multi core performance. There is an insignificant performance difference between the two in real world usage. Definitely the difference isn't as striking as the display is
[doublepost=1490198879][/doublepost]

I'm in the same situation..would you consider the Air 2 assuming you can get hold of one still?

Definitely. I am currently in the market for a good tablet but I wouldn't sell my Air 2 for this. Its a downgrade in many ways. The performance difference is so insignificant that if the Air 2 got discontinued on iOS 12 the iPad will be discontinued on iOS 13.

I would get the Air 2 before it disappears.

 

[milo]

And how much did the air 2 cost?

 

[Radon87000]

And how much did the air 2 cost?

About $70 more. Similar performance, a better display thinner and lighter.Better build quality. The Air 2 is not light in the first place so I wouldn't pay for a heavier tAblet

 

[I7guy]

Nope its not faster in everything. The Air 2 has beaten the A9 in multi core performance. There is an insignificant performance difference between the two in real world usage. Definitely the difference isn't as striking as the display is
[doublepost=1490198879][/doublepost]
Definitely. I am currently in the market for a good tablet but I wouldn't sell my Air 2 for this. Its a downgrade in many ways. The performance difference is so insignificant that if the Air 2 got discontinued on iOS 12 the iPad will be discontinued on iOS 13.

I would get the Air 2 before it disappears.

I thought specs and benchmarks didn't matter? Can you really notice the difference? You are getting the iPad se, and I can't wait to get mine.

Apple has a winning formula with this asnthey both go downmarket and upmarket at the same time.
[doublepost=1490199742][/doublepost]

I'll take a model that has faster CPU and the M9 and a bit thicker and heavier over one with slower and a laminated display. Is it a downgrade in any other ways?

It's a great buy for consumers though and Apple will sell them. Apple has a better grasp of their users than pistersnin MR.

 

[Sugadaddy]

Glad I got my Air 2 128GB last Black Friday. Display and size are more important than a tiny speed bump.

This thing's a turd.

 

[Radon87000]

I thought specs and benchmarks didn't matter? Can you really notice the difference? You are getting the iPad se, and I can't wait to get mine.

I am waiting for the OLED iPad 10.5 with no bezels. Not this piece of downgraded crap with a display from 4 years ago

Apple has a winning formula with this asnthey both go downmarket and upmarket at the same time.
[doublepost=1490199742][/doublepost]
It's a great buy for consumers though and Apple will sell them. Apple has a better grasp of their users than pistersnin MR.

The fact that Apple discontinued the Air 2 shows they knew people would get that over this tablet if allowed to remain in the lineup

Consumers have no choice because the Air 2 has disappeared and like it or not you have to get this entry level iPad. This iPad just made me appreciate my 3 year old Air 2 even more than the Pro 9.7 did. Thank you Timmy for saving my money. I really wanted to buy a new tablet but thanks to you that money goes towards my expected 1080ti purchase while I continue to wait for the 10.5 iPad to come out of your seemingly 10 mile long pipeline

The Air 2 will remain as a great legend

 

[macsrcool1234]

Did you see all the marketing hype around the store going down. It's free advertising. Why would they even change that? Help me understand your viewpoint. Help me understand the advantage to Apple for making the change.

Because it's 2017.
[doublepost=1490200530][/doublepost]

Well to be fair, Apple's only 2 competent engineers are busy designing new watch bands and phone colors. They don't have any skilled labor to work on their website (or other products clearly).

Yup, pretty much. Or working on their problematic cloud.

 

[Radon87000]

Glad I got my Air 2 128GB last Black Friday. Display and size are more important than a tiny speed bump.

This thing's a turd.

Its basically an Air 1 with an A9 processor or an Air 2 minus the display lamination,build quality and weight advantage

 

[Radon87000]

I thought specs and benchmarks didn't matter? Can you really notice the difference? You are getting the iPad se, and I can't wait to get mine.

Apple has a winning formula with this asnthey both go downmarket and upmarket at the same time.
[doublepost=1490199742][/doublepost]
It's a great buy for consumers though and Apple will sell them. Apple has a better grasp of their users than pistersnin MR.

Indeed Timmy has such a good grasp of his customers that the iPad continues to break its previous records but not in a good way

 

[TheRealDGD]

Does this come with the Pro features? TruTone? Apple Pencil support?

No but for 300 more dollars it will... ;-)

 

[Radon87000]

No but for 300 more dollars it will... ;-)

Exactly why the just like the new iPad, the pro 9.7 is an even worse deal for the Air 2 owners. A true tone display and Apple pencil support isn't worth 200 dollars more for many people. Apple so far hasn't released a single tablet as a compelling upgrade for the Air 2

 

[Jsameds]

Indeed Timmy has such a good grasp of his customers that the iPad continues to break its previous records but not in a good way

Do you ever give it a rest?

You don't like it and you won't be buying it. We get it.

 

[TheRealDGD]

Does this come with the Pro features? TruTone? Apple Pencil support?

No but for 300 more dollars it will.... ;-)

 

[I7guy]

Indeed Timmy has such a good grasp of his customers that the iPad continues to break its previous records but not in a good way

Not in a good way according to you.