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

[maverick808]

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

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.

 

[Aston441]

The mini is now more expensive than the Air?

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.

 

[vatter69]

Cant believe no red iPad? Where is the innovation going?

 

[Wackery]

at apple, everything old is new again!

 

[mattopotamus]

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 was almost certain the latest rumors were of an April event since no media invites were send out, usually 10 days prior to an event.

 

[Traverse]

Nice upgrade and good price.

 

[Fravin]

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

Nope!

 

[apolloa]

Wow! I see they have changed the iPad Mini to only being available in 128GB size, so that's at £429 now. Which is the same price as this new iPad 128GB????

What ever Apple has done makes no business sense what so ever. But the new 9.7" model is a nice price and spec. Shame it seems to be the only new iPad launch d today though.

 

[Mr. Dee]

I told you! They are saving the new iPads for the A11 chip. It would just be awkward to debut the new iPads even with a A10x chip and new design just for it to be obselete by the iPhone. This fall is gonna be an incredible upgrade cycle.

iPhone with new design A11 chip
iPad with new design A11 chip.
Watch 3

 

[Aston441]

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.

The Macrumors sidebar has been matter-of-factly telling me to expect a MacBook update for months. Yes I'm disappointed.

 

[match14]

Signs of cost cutting the tech specs make no mention of "Fully laminated display" or "Antireflective coating"

 

[9081094]

AAPL up in premarket. The infinite pipeline has everyone excited.

Wrong... this just came out of the pipeline. When you look into it, you'll see Timmy sitting in his office counting beans. You can see right through the pipeline, nothing there but Timmy counting on the other side

 

[Howard2k]

This is just what I was hoping for to replace my iPad 3. Cheap and cheerful.

vs the Air 2 - CAD$50 cheaper, next gen processor. Slightly thicker and the screen appears to be a cheaper design. But I'll almost certainly pick one up.

I'm pretty happy with this update, just what I was hoping for.

 

[Darkashnet]

The Air is dead! Its a lot heavier than the Air 2, I wonder why.

 

[satchmo]

Looks like they simply cleaned up the product line having Pro (superlarge, large), Large, and Mini.
Wish they removed the 4 from mini4.

 

[Donka]

Wow! I see they have changed the iPad Mini to only being available in 128GB size, so that's at £429 now. Which is the same price as this new iPad 128GB????

What ever Apple has done makes no business sense what so ever. But the new 9.7" model is a nice price and spec. Shame it seems to be the only new iPad launch d today though.

Definitely looking like they are positioning this new iPad as the entry level iPad and the mini will soon be EOL. A shame because the mini worked well for me due to its physical size and not the cheaper entry point - it is also the perfect kids iPad imho. Hopefully the mini doesn't go but the current line up does not bode well for it.

 

[iShater]

Another iPad to add to the messy, fragmented, unnecessarily long line up of iPads to saturate the already saturated mobile market while continuing to leave the demand of Macs behind..

Long sigh.

I'd love to say we're losing faith Tim, but that was so long ago now.

Reminds me of the disastrous Mac lineup of the late 90's. Anybody remember the bazillion Mac lines?

 

[Mercifull]

Starting at $329 in the U.S and £339 in the U.K. The U.K price trajectory isn't looking good.

Hooray for Brexit. We've taken back control! For too long British people have had to put up with low prices for products.

 

[zilba25]

It's Apple fools

Is it April fools?

 

[blackcrayon]

So there is 1 "new model" i.e. the beginning of the end for the 9.7" iPad which will be replaced in April with the 10.5" iPad.

Beginning of a very long end, though. As a "basic" iPad it could stay in the lineup for a few years as the new baseline edu model, like the iPad 2 was.

 

[9081094]

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

Yes, they should have included the pencil and redesign it a bit so that the pencil connects with the iPad. Minimal effort Apple... now we have to wait another year for iPads and Apple still thinks this will be enough to satisfy users and not letting them switch to competitors?

 

[ascender]

So was this not one of the things which had been rumoured, but those rumours were saying it would be alongside the new 10" model and spec-bumped 12" one, rather than just being released in to the current lineup?

 

[Sandstorm]

Don't forget about the new Clips app.

Yeah! More garbage like this and with every passing day more and more neglected Mac! Way to go Tim, excellent job!

 

[DJLAXL]

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.

No, their stock is hitting all time highs. They don't desperately "need" anything man.

For those of you who have problems with the products, show them with your wallets my friends. Nothing more us as consumers can do. A post on a website won't cut it.

 

[aserrano1971]

Apple is laughing at us.

I was waiting for a new iPad Pro to buy it.
I'm still waiting.

Apple you have to wait to sell me an iPad.