Frankly, these new hardware announcements don’t excite me any longer, and I don’t understand how new hardware will improve anyone’s experience when the iOS software and core services (looking at you Siri) now resemble Microsoft's Windows—inefficient, half-baked, and buggy. Until iOS improves, I won’t be wasting $$$ on mere hardware improvements.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Said to Debut New iPad Pro Lineup, 128GB iPhone SE, and Red iPhone 7 and 7 Plus at March Event
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
All this "fragmentation" and "model proliferation" BS is just that.
It ALL stems from two threads overlapping:
a - will Apple keep the same PHYSICAL dimensions on their product, or change them?
b - will Apple keep the usual bezels, or change (or eliminate) them?
If they keep the same number of devices in the same physical dimensions as now, then they will not have MULTIPLIED their products, they will have upgraded them.
If they eliminate the bezel on the 9.7" model, it will become a ~10.5" model WITHOUT GETTING ANY BIGGER physically. This works because the screen is measured diagonally, not by heighth & width.
For further example, if they went full-face screen on the iPad Mini, without any other physical changes, it would "magically" become a ~8.5" device because "the screen" would get larger even though the device didn't. A similar miracle of the physical universe would "transform" the 12.9" model into a ~13.5" model....
By using 'edge-to-edge' screens on all models, they would increase the viewing dimensions - and therefore the effective size - without otherwise modifying the device.
There is much to recommend a shift to full-face or 'edge-to-edge screens': it would be visually clean, simple and striking, and therefore exactly the sort of tech lust-magnet that has brought the company this far; it would make for a MUCH more satisfying viewing/gaming experience overall, and it would allow Apple to strut their stuff in a couple of areas: use of pressure-sensitivity to 'call up' a control area on demand, and maybe even a transparent-from-the-back display layer that will allow the user-facing camera to function normally, without roping off an area for itself.
Compared to the LACK of 'wow-factor to be found in yet another round of "why is it larger and heavier now for so little benefit?? DOOMED!!!", the full-face screen would be reason to upgrade for a lot of people; if they only did that with the 'pro' models, that would hella differentiate them; If they did that with all, it would unify the line.
The real question, then, becomes "Will Apple leave TWO devices with the SAME physical dimensions in their line-up, and if so, WHY?" THAT would really tell us something....
It ALL stems from two threads overlapping:
a - will Apple keep the same PHYSICAL dimensions on their product, or change them?
b - will Apple keep the usual bezels, or change (or eliminate) them?
If they keep the same number of devices in the same physical dimensions as now, then they will not have MULTIPLIED their products, they will have upgraded them.
If they eliminate the bezel on the 9.7" model, it will become a ~10.5" model WITHOUT GETTING ANY BIGGER physically. This works because the screen is measured diagonally, not by heighth & width.
For further example, if they went full-face screen on the iPad Mini, without any other physical changes, it would "magically" become a ~8.5" device because "the screen" would get larger even though the device didn't. A similar miracle of the physical universe would "transform" the 12.9" model into a ~13.5" model....
By using 'edge-to-edge' screens on all models, they would increase the viewing dimensions - and therefore the effective size - without otherwise modifying the device.
There is much to recommend a shift to full-face or 'edge-to-edge screens': it would be visually clean, simple and striking, and therefore exactly the sort of tech lust-magnet that has brought the company this far; it would make for a MUCH more satisfying viewing/gaming experience overall, and it would allow Apple to strut their stuff in a couple of areas: use of pressure-sensitivity to 'call up' a control area on demand, and maybe even a transparent-from-the-back display layer that will allow the user-facing camera to function normally, without roping off an area for itself.
Compared to the LACK of 'wow-factor to be found in yet another round of "why is it larger and heavier now for so little benefit?? DOOMED!!!", the full-face screen would be reason to upgrade for a lot of people; if they only did that with the 'pro' models, that would hella differentiate them; If they did that with all, it would unify the line.
The real question, then, becomes "Will Apple leave TWO devices with the SAME physical dimensions in their line-up, and if so, WHY?" THAT would really tell us something....
I've been waiting for iPad Mini update.
the form factor is the best.
I owned iPad Air,iPad Mini 2,iPad Mini 4 and iPad Pro 9.7 and the Mini's were the preferred ones.infact I sold the iPad Pro 9.7 just after 1 month it was so cumbersome, but wasn't;t impressed with Mini 4's spec.so and updated Mini 4 is desirable.
the form factor is the best.
I owned iPad Air,iPad Mini 2,iPad Mini 4 and iPad Pro 9.7 and the Mini's were the preferred ones.infact I sold the iPad Pro 9.7 just after 1 month it was so cumbersome, but wasn't;t impressed with Mini 4's spec.so and updated Mini 4 is desirable.
When it comes to keeping stock of the different models, yes. But when it comes to the consumer having to make decisions, colour and cellular flavour (which is only an issue in a few countries) are almost completely orthogonal decisions. They don't affect price nor functionality (only indirectly via network coverage). Meaning they can be made completely independently of choosing the size, generation, capacity and presence of cellular modem.
And since the main complaint in this sub-thread is about giving the consumers too much choice, a too confusing line-up, I think it is hard to argue that adding colour options really made things harder for consumers. And besides colour options, the number of choices as enumerated by me have not really increased over the last couple of years and is not expected to increase.
This is a very good point, I've also read that the home button will be removed as well. If they are doing that with a new 10.5" iPad Pro, wouldn't they also do it with the 12.9" and 9.7" iPad Pro also. It seems weird to have these Pro models and one of them looking very different (no bezel and no home button) compared with the others?
I agree. That's the first thing I thought about when I heard this rumor. How strange to go bezel-less on only ONE iPad Pro. Why do that? Wouldn't it make sense to unify the iPad Pro line up? Just removing the bezels on the 10.5" model will make the 12.9" , 9.7" & 7.9" pro updates look old the moment they are announced. Makes no sense.
It does seem very odd, I'm not sure we will see the 10.5" bezel less iPad in March, either that or Apple are going to change the design on all of them.
You would think the 12.9 and 10.5 would be seen as EQUAL in terms of flagship so makes perfect sense for the design to be the same
Maybe it has to do with size. the 12.9 inch one is pretty hefty and carrying without any bezel is probably not a good thing; also, you lose battery to screen ratio when doing that, which presents its own difficulties.
True. But you could say the same thing about the 10.5". I'm sure Apple would be able to optimize the battery of a bezel-less 12.9" iPad Pro to keep the same life. Maybe Apple is just testing the market to see if a bezel-less 10.5" iPad Pro will outsell the regular 9.7" & 12.9". If it does, then Apple would adopt it across the board. If not...then no. I dunno. I would just find it odd for Apple to have a line of iPad pros all with bezels except for the mid size for too long.
That depends on pricing though. Same specced 12.9" at €799 and bezel-less 10.5" at €1099 perhaps?
I dunno. How can Apple charge more for a smaller iPad Pro just because it doesn't have bezels? Doesn't make sense to me.
I am willing to bet that the 10.5" iPad Pro will sport the same 2732x2048 resolution as the 12.9" iPad Pro (for a 326 PPI). This will, amongst other benefits, allow users to access the new virtual keyboard layout and run 2 apps side by side in full iPad resolution.
So the significance will come in the form of a different UI, not so much screen size.
While it may look rather simple to the consumer at first glance, the details are the problem here. As you confirmed, keepign stock is one of them. If the customer walks into a brick-and-mortar store these days, he expects to be able to get the product he wants or "needs". Even while ignoring that the current options could already become confusing to the customer (in a sense that the decision is more difficult the more options are available, pardon me if "confusing" is the wrong term - no native speaker here), if you don't get what you want and have to change your decision on the fly or go home without the a product, because the store does not have your desired option, is a less-than-satisfying user experience.
Someone compared the easiness with ordering a burger at a fast food chain. That comparison is flawed imo, because usually you can get whatever product out of the chain's portfolio you desire - any day, any time.
And then there's the other side of the medal, which seems to be ignored by most posters: The seller / maker side. While it may be true that there is only one LTE model for a certain country, Apple (and its logistics partners) have to deal with a couple of those, because they have to cater to many markets world wide. The more factors you have to consider as company, the more difficult it becomes. Eventually you'll face delays in some products, so you have to explain to the customer why a product is available in country A, but not in country B just around the corner. You have to evaluate and certify components, test and qc them as well as the finished products, ensure in-portfolio compatibility, adjust the software (e.g. hardware drivers), keep it in sync over all product variations and much, much more.
That will inevitably lead to a negative impact for the customer, even if he may not be affected directly, because for his untrained eye there are only so few products. Then why can't Apple bring them to market already, in sufficient numbers and also assure proper QC, while they're at it?
Even as an owner of iPad and iPhone with e-reader apps on them, for reading I prefer my ePaper eReader all of the time. Perhaps if an iPad could offer a similar reading experience (like e.g. a display with additional ePaper mode, perhaps even transflective), then I might reconsider.
Smaller = newer, more sophisticated technology = more expensive. Assuming that the tech specs (like battery time etc.) are comparable.
My guess is the 10.5 is the Air 3.
Thinking out loud here as far as parts, but I'm guessing the casings and glass are all the same...it's just that under the glass is more screen, not bezels. So that new screen would only be one "part" (not quite that simple, but you get my point).
All the other new parts for Pro or "Air 3" are from the current Ipad/Iphone bin as far as cameras, SOC etc. Thus there are no parts leaks because 97% of the parts have existed since the Iphone 7 or earlier, and, makes it easier and cheaper for Apple to produce.
My guess is the 10.5 gets the A9x, and Pro's get the A10. More Ram for the Pros. 12.9 gets the True Tone screen. The 10.5 is basically the specs of a current 9.7 Pro, without pencil support or Smart connector (since it's an Air 3) and of course the higher res screen. Home button may or may not be part of that design.
And then in a few years, the Pros (and Mini) migrate to same design, more or less.
I understand your thinking but I'm pretty sure you are way off in your conclusion. Apple releasing what will effectively be a new iPad line in the 10.5" screen will be marketed as a premium device with high end features and price to match. I would say it is much more likely to be like the 9.7 Pro but with the 12.9 screen resolution due to reduced bezel size i.e. true tone, quad speakers & smart connector with Pencil support but with a newer SOC and more RAM.
Time will tell though.
Tim, wake up.
Look at sales trends. Talk with customers for once.
Enough iPad choice & fragmentation - no use casting our throats with more of that.
We have entered the post-iPad era now.
We are waiting for an iPad/MacBook convolute with the benefits of both iOS and MacOS.
Look at sales trends. Talk with customers for once.
Enough iPad choice & fragmentation - no use casting our throats with more of that.
We have entered the post-iPad era now.
We are waiting for an iPad/MacBook convolute with the benefits of both iOS and MacOS.
Last edited:
I have launch date ipad 2 still in daily use. It is 6 years old now. Probably time to update....
Has there been any indication on whether the rumored new SE will keep the headphone jack? I am interested in an iPhone of that size, but I insist on having a headphone jack. If the new SE just adds memory, then I will wait for that one. But if it is a more drastic redesign I would rather get a current SE while they are still easily available.