Because there's less and less reason for people to upgrade their iPads so often. They do what most people want them to do.
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Apple Sold Fewer iPads Year Over Year for 13th Straight Quarter as Tablet Market Shrinks to Five-Year Low
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I don't think it's necessarily the tablets. I think it's Apple not having a coherent ecosystem in the home while not allowing some features that are standard on competing products such as multiple accounts and more robust child protection.
When you have air 2 still getting updates to the latest OS for many that's more than enough. No need to upgrade.
My 12 y/o son came in my room last night before bed and said, "Dad, you are the only one I know that still uses an iPad!"
I'm sure when Apple came out with the 6 and 6+ that they were well aware there would be cannibalization of the iPad to some extent. I know I use my iPad much less now that I use a 7+. I used to have cellular data on my iPad and bring it with me everywhere and now it's relegated to watching TV in the bedroom (no cellular data anymore).
I'm sure when Apple came out with the 6 and 6+ that they were well aware there would be cannibalization of the iPad to some extent. I know I use my iPad much less now that I use a 7+. I used to have cellular data on my iPad and bring it with me everywhere and now it's relegated to watching TV in the bedroom (no cellular data anymore).
From the moment Steve unveiled the iPad, I always have been in the "it's just a big iPod touch" camp. It was originally marketed as a tweener device between an iPhone and a Mac, but iPhones have gotten bigger and more capable while MacBooks have gotten lighter and more portable. Now Apple is trying to market it as a PC replacement when there are still too many functionality holes in iOS to truly replace a Mac or PC (for many people). The addition of the Smart Keyboard is a bit of a mea culpa that the clamshell form factor of a laptop is still a good idea.
The iPad seems stuck in trying to prove 2010-2013 wasn't just an aberration, but I think it was. The iPad benefited from the iPhone craze, and now that powerful smartphones are ubiquitous, the iPad can't ride the iPhone's coattails like it once could. Hoping Apple doesn't keep trying to bash this square peg into the round hole, and instead refocuses on the Mac.
The iPad seems stuck in trying to prove 2010-2013 wasn't just an aberration, but I think it was. The iPad benefited from the iPhone craze, and now that powerful smartphones are ubiquitous, the iPad can't ride the iPhone's coattails like it once could. Hoping Apple doesn't keep trying to bash this square peg into the round hole, and instead refocuses on the Mac.
1.)That's definitely an opinion.
2.) Yes, the iPad is a median. It serves nicely for when you don't want or need to use your laptop for certain tasks.
When you "Need a big screen" to do real work? The 12.9 Pro offers a large display for viewing. However, You're saying you can't do "Real work" unless you have a big screen?
I view the iPad as device for convenience and portability. I can complete most of my tasks on my iPad if necessary, but there are times a laptop is more appropriate.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Fellows: I have been out to the very edge of the Apple bubble. I hear rumors that there are computers being sold that are NOT Macs, running something called Windows. Owners of those claim to have about 90% of the computer market, implying that the vast majority of computer sales are not Apple computer sales.
Furthermore, another group out there apparently buys tablets not branded with the Apple logo. Those run something called Android. And while I've heard fellow Apple people run Android down to no end, it apparently runs the most common uses of tablets just as good as Apple tablets. Since many Android-based tablets tend to be MUCH cheaper than Apple tablets, perhaps one weakness in Apple tablet sales is lack of tangible differentiation to justify the higher price?
I realize our unpaid job is to spin any negative Apple news as positively as possible, but to try to spin Apple tablets are outselling computers probably needs to factor in those Windows computers (and maybe those competitor tablets) too. After all, if Apple opted to stop selling Macs altogether, we could spin that tablets are selling infinitely better than Macs and still be saying next to nothing about their real popularity or desirability. For example, I hear Macs & iPads are infinitely outselling iPod Classic. Are we impressed with my spin of "infinitely more" there?
Apple's stance is that iPads are replacements for computers. If they were functional enough to really be such replacements, they shouldn't just eat into the Mac computers market share but also the much larger Windows computers market share. If iPads were already as good as computers, their relatively low prices should make them THE WAY to embrace the wonders of Apple in lieu of buying Mac or Windows-based computers. Instead, they are spun as if they are winning some contest between only Macs and iPads, while YOY numbers continue to slide. Conceptually, YOY should be growing as they eat some share of Macs and some (of the much larger) share of Windows computer sales too... if they were really solid replacements for computers, that is.
However, if we want to limit our view of the computing world to just computers made by Apple, the ONE Mac that is closest to iPad pricing hasn't been tangibly updated in about 5 years now. Many of us considered the last faux update as an actual step backwards. Can any of us really be surprised that new, cheaper tech is outselling relatively ancient tech?
Besides, I hear that dongles & cables are outselling Macs & iPads combined. Clearly dongles are "the future" based on their relative unit sales popularity vs. either Macs and/or iPads. Maybe watch bands too.
Personally? I'm first in line to buy a new, modernized iPad Mini... IMO the best iPad form factor of the bunch. Having not been tangibly updated since Sep 2015 (with the release of iPad Mini 4, only spec bumps since), I see little reason to replace my iPad Mini 2 released in November, 2013 (almost 5 years ago). Still does everything I want a Mini to do pretty well. Rumors have it that Mini is not selling well (well duh, it needs a real update) and it's not as profitable which, I presume, is the real reason it's not getting much updating love.
So, I'm also first in line to purchase a new, modernized iPad Mini priced the same as the bigger-screen sizes (for fatter profits to Apple too). If the ignoring is driven by bean counters, make us a loaded Mini and price it like it's a regular iPad. I'm ready to pay up that extra for the "loaded" part. And don't worry Apple: your army of unpaid, closet marketers can spin that price increase easily... or just shout down anyone who complains that Minis are no longer priced lower than Mid-sized iPads.
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To be honest, I've had my iPad for over a year and now that I have a new MBP, I'm finding I have less and less use for it. Its main attraction for me was its e-reader function, but there are other e-readers out there. I'm finding that it doesn't do things that the phone does more easily (no weather app, no calculator, no Instagram, no Snapchat), and certain websites simply function better in mobile mode (with the phone) or desktop mode (with a laptop). The tablet has this in-between mode that often doesn't function as well as the phone or the laptop's rendering.
When I use the keyboard with my iPad, I'm often just thinking "what am I doing? Why don't I just use my laptop?" (and try cutting and pasting and formatting documents on the iPad--it's such a pain that any sense of "convenience" over the laptop is lost for me). Too often I find the phone would be more convenient or the laptop would be more functional. The iPad is this "in-between" device that doesn't have the strengths of either the phone or the laptop. Hence why I will probably be selling my iPad soon and stick to the phone/laptop combination that I always had before.
When I use the keyboard with my iPad, I'm often just thinking "what am I doing? Why don't I just use my laptop?" (and try cutting and pasting and formatting documents on the iPad--it's such a pain that any sense of "convenience" over the laptop is lost for me). Too often I find the phone would be more convenient or the laptop would be more functional. The iPad is this "in-between" device that doesn't have the strengths of either the phone or the laptop. Hence why I will probably be selling my iPad soon and stick to the phone/laptop combination that I always had before.
I've been waiting for a freaking 12.9" iPad pro for over a year now, release it already!
Also, useful tip: If you want people to take the iPad as a laptop replacement seriously you might want to consider making iOS more useful on big displays.
Also, useful tip: If you want people to take the iPad as a laptop replacement seriously you might want to consider making iOS more useful on big displays.
I'm still using iPad 4th gen. no need to update does what I want. I would upgrade if they start using a proper file management system with folders, cut, copy and paste.
Preaching to the choir....I had a 12.9 pro and while I loved the hardware and form factor, Apple made 0 effort since it's release to take advantage of the screen size. Seriously, their own apps didn't even take advance of it. What are the folks in Cupertino doing? There is so much potential for a tablet that size and yet some of the apps are like using an iPad mini....
Honestly they could make the OS on the iPad something on a par with the Mac it would still struggle as a productivity tool because of the software environment Apple has created. Its just become a race to the bottom where software is seen as practically worthless. It works on a phone but on something you actually want to be a credible professional device, not so much.
Think about the professional applications that people use on a Mac or Pc, two of the ones I use regularly Photoshop and Sketch just wouldn't really work. Sure they might have watered down versions or companion apps on iOS but the business models that the developer use to sell the applications is impossible on the App Store even if the hardware was powerful enough to support it.
We've finally got a subscription model on the App Store so something like Creative Cloud could actually be feasible but would be subject to the Apple tax which Adobe obviously doesn't have to deal with on the desktop because they can distribute their software directly. Then you've got apps like Sketch who charge £100 for the licence but offer a free trial so you can try before you buy, common practice for professional software on the desktop. You can forget that on iOS though because trials aren't allowed and you would likely struggle to sell and application for £100 on iOS anyway.
I honestly think the only people making real money on the App Store are Apple and the makers of freemium games like Clash or Clans or Candy Crush. It isn't a platform conducive with professional productivity its a platform conducive with consumer consumption devices, and that is what they've got. Unfortunately consumers aren't going to buy $800 plus devices very often to play games, surf the web or watch videos on. You can do that on and iPad 4, you can probably get by doing on a phone.
Think about the professional applications that people use on a Mac or Pc, two of the ones I use regularly Photoshop and Sketch just wouldn't really work. Sure they might have watered down versions or companion apps on iOS but the business models that the developer use to sell the applications is impossible on the App Store even if the hardware was powerful enough to support it.
We've finally got a subscription model on the App Store so something like Creative Cloud could actually be feasible but would be subject to the Apple tax which Adobe obviously doesn't have to deal with on the desktop because they can distribute their software directly. Then you've got apps like Sketch who charge £100 for the licence but offer a free trial so you can try before you buy, common practice for professional software on the desktop. You can forget that on iOS though because trials aren't allowed and you would likely struggle to sell and application for £100 on iOS anyway.
I honestly think the only people making real money on the App Store are Apple and the makers of freemium games like Clash or Clans or Candy Crush. It isn't a platform conducive with professional productivity its a platform conducive with consumer consumption devices, and that is what they've got. Unfortunately consumers aren't going to buy $800 plus devices very often to play games, surf the web or watch videos on. You can do that on and iPad 4, you can probably get by doing on a phone.
It's going to take some planned obsolescence to make me upgrade. Even then, I may look elsewhere for my next tablet. My original Mini retina is only used to read, and for youtube for the kids. No real need to upgrade between this, my 24" PC monitor (glorious G-sync 144Hz), and TV screens.
Your phones don't need to be upgraded very often either.
I had sold my iPad Air 2 and bought an iPad Pro 9.7" LTE. Other than for watching videos when the kids are watching something else, I rarely use it. My rMBP is just more comfortable and convenient. I have no plans to upgrade this iPad unless I find a use to justify it's expense.
Shame on Apple for trying to trick people that iPads are suitable laptop replacements. Maybe they can be for a very select few users. But they've practically committed false advertising campaigns. People aren't stupid.
Macs arent the only computers. In fact they are some of the most expensive you will find on the market. Computers still significantly out sell tablets.
Tablets - 182 million in 2016
Computers - 251 million in 2016.