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Agree with the observation about relative sizes!

The iPhone Plus models are about 19 sq. inches whereas the iPad Minis are about 42 sq. inches- well over TWICE as large!

Lots of people abandoned their Minis when they got their Plusses, but I cannot see them substituting!

The news about the Minis is great! Finally having a flash and getting an advanced camera will be fantastic! The Mini has been our favorite i-device for taking and showing photographs; the size is just right (the Air is unwieldy and the iPhone too small).
This is why I don't get the 10.5" model rumour. What is gained over the "traditional" 9.7" model? 12.9", 9.7" and 7.9" one can understand.
 
If they're all "Pro" models, then shouldn't they just be called "iPad"? Pro is supposed to distinguish the model over a lesser model of the same generation.

Thank you! I need to buy a new iPad and I am completely confused about their Air/Pro lines.
 
WE DON'T NEED NEW iPads! The 12.9" iPad needs a software update to optimize the OS so it's not just a bigger iPhone, adding a "true-tone" display and a better camera doesn't do that. I can do basically everything on my iPhone 5s as I can my 12.9" iPad, besides basic split-view options which barely support most Apps. That's pathetic. Laptop replacement my ass.

They need a faster charger for the 12.9" iPad Pro. Mine takes a long time to charge. I usually have to leave it charging all night to get 100% and that will only just about last me through a working day.
 
9.7 and 10.1? Not good enough Apple.
Where's my 9.9?

Steve jobs wouldnt have done this, Going to samsung, etc etc
Dunno if you're being sarcastic, but if you think ios tablets are pad, androids are even worse off. I have the latest Samsung S2 9.7 and it's even more laggy than my father's 2012 ipad 2. Hardly any apps made for tablet either.

What I really wish for is Apple to stop gimping the ipad mini with inferior CPU/GPU's. I haven't bought one since the Mini 2.
 
Quote: "The smaller 7.9-inch model, which will succeed the iPad mini 4, will likewise include a Smart Connector, True Tone display, four speakers, and a 12-megapixel rear-facing iSight camera with True Tone flash, as Apple works to standardize features across its tablet lineup, according to the report."

If Apple is going to fragmentize at all, I'm happy it's (mostly) in size and not features.
 
This has become an huge farce. The iPads sales right now are equal to the 2011 ones when only the iPad 2 was sold. Just drop the "Pro" moniker, keep 3 models, one for each form factor, and charge down-to-earth prices. Also USB-C with host functionality.

still have my iPad 2, use of it trailed off when I got my Macbook Air in mid-2013. Waiting for them to update the macbook pro. Just don't see a role for another iPad in my life.
 
Isn't that the ultimate form over function? Stop selling the previous year models just because it insults our sense of neatness of the naming lineup?

Have you ever wondered why Apple is keeping the previous model around in their iOS lineup but not in their Mac lineup? The reason is simply that the improvements year over year in the iOS models are enough to justify two price brackets. With Macs, that is much less so. You need bigger differences to over parallel lines. You also have CPU speed and RAM options within a given Mac line, something you don't have with iOS models (for good reason, even Android devices don't come with such options).

What is the reason to keep older iOS devices around? To hit different price points? Whether it's iPad or iPhone, they have 3 screen sizes and multiple storage tiers. There's already plenty of options to cover many price points. It would be nice if when internals are updated (which is significant for iOS devices) that older ones are dropped.

Besides, there hasn't been any real redesign for iPads in 4 years - which is fine, as the design is good and it's really screen/internals that matter right now.

Edit: Actually the Watch is a great example. They updated it this year, and kind of kept last year's model but by updating it internally with the same CPU that the newer model received. That I like, regardless of the watch that someone purchases now, they're all newer faster models.
 
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as the owner of a 9.7" ipad pro I can honestly say that I see nothing pro about this product. It really isn't any more useful to 99.99% of people than the ipad air, which should just be called the ipad again at this point. The 0.01% (likely fewer actually) would be those who use it for Apple pencil support
 
The idea of a 10.5" iPad Pro makes sense, in terms of the size relationship with the mini and therefore resolution. 10.1" makes no sense, it is a very small addition and if introduced would likely replace the 9.7".
 
still have my iPad 2, use of it trailed off when I got my Macbook Air in mid-2013. Waiting for them to update the macbook pro. Just don't see a role for another iPad in my life.

Fully agreed, I have had many ipads (1, 2, 3, air, air 2, pro 9.7, mini, mini 2) over the years in my family, when I try to use one I just get frustrated and go back to my macbook air.
 
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What a mess it's all becoming. The product liens are slowly but surely edging back to the way they were pre Steve Jobs' return.
 
as the owner of a 9.7" ipad pro I can honestly say that I see nothing pro about this product. It really isn't any more useful to 99.99% of people than the ipad air, which should just be called the ipad again at this point. The 0.01% (likely fewer actually) would be those who use it for Apple pencil support

I love my iPad mini. And look forward to when they release e "pro" version so I can use the Apple Pencil. But I do agree that they should have waited until the ipads can run OSX before they start calling them "Pro". To me these are improvements not worthy of a "pro" label. Not yet anyway.
 
I love my iPad mini. And look forward to when they release e "pro" version so I can use the Apple Pencil. But I do agree that they should have waited until the ipads can run OSX before they start calling them "Pro". To me these are improvements not worthy of a "pro" label. Not yet anyway.

I don't think they will ever run OSX but it would be pretty cool if they ran something a bit less limiting than iOS. The hardware doesn't need a crippled OS anymore, it is plenty fast enough to handle more
 

Great write up. I feel exactly the same on all if it (minus the watch). I know most people would think it's nuts, but the Macs for example, I would easily drop the MacBook Air and just have MacBook and MacBook Pro. I'd hate to say (and never have) what Steve would have done, but when he was around we rarely saw old products kept at lower price points. He'd introduce that new MacBook and just drop the Air entirely.

The watch though I think was done well. Maybe Series 1 and 2 naming confuses people that the Series 1 is the old watch, but to me they're analogous to an iPad with Wifi vs iPad with Wifi+Cellular. I like that they have the same performance but the Series 2 also includes GPS and swim-proofing. There is a lot of variations of the watch though, damn.
 
With a Mini Pro model Apple will get my money.
I was looking to buy a new iPad Mini but was waiting.
I have an original Mini that is now long in the tooth, but I want pen support.
They will definitely get my money for a Mini Pro if it supports the Pencil.

For me it's an iPad Mini Pro or nothing.
I don't like the larger iPads. I want something like a small notebook I can take to meetings.
 
The Pro line should come with the Apple Pencil. I know it's for PROfessionals, but I think if you're going to give children an iPad that it should include the pencil to encourage them to draw and be creative. So that makes me think the iPad Mini Pro is perfect, but if they up the price $100 and charge you $99 for the Pencil, it becomes a hard pill to swallow.

Apple is highly unlikely to include the Apple Pencil with the iPad. That's not how Apple operates. They charge a premium for everything and their accessories are priced accordingly.

Your analogy is be same as 'Apple should include the Airpods with the iPhone 7, it will influence the customer to appreciate Bluetooth.'

That's a nice thought, but Apple is out to make money and they would be losing money by including accessories which retail between $100-$160.00.

If the customer truly wants the option of purchasing the Apple Pencil, they will. But unfortunately, your theory does not look promising.
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Apple doesn't seem to be very serious about the iPad. It seemed like the tech has peaked.

Apple does not seem serious about the iPad? How so? They have invested in two new Pro versions, emphasizing how the iPad could replace your laptop and Tim Cook quoted, he see's the iPad lineup ultimately replacing your laptop over time. Not to mention the ridiculous amount of marketing they have invested in the iPad line with in the last year, right next to the iPhone.

I think it's evident Apple appears 'Serious' to me in the direction their heading. And to the point, how has the tech peaked? To what extent?
 
The only thing not clear from this article is whether the Mini will be able to use the Apple Pencil or not.

Yes this is confusing. I assume we are supposed to assume Pencil support is included in the Mini because it is a Pro, yet its other new specs and features are mentioned specifically in this article EXCEPT Pencil support. I'm not sure what to make of that.
 
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Staggering as $100 more than what you paid for your iPad 3 (entry level model)? Or staggering as in $50 more to get twice the storage (128 GB 9.7" iPad Pro: $750 vs 64 GB iPad 3: $700)? Or as in exactly the same if comparing the 32 GB iPad 3 ($600) to the 32 GB 9.7" iPad Pro ($600)

Try UK prices :(
 
Yes this is confusing. I assume we are supposed to assume Pencil support is included in the Mini because it is a Pro, yet its other new specs and features are mentioned specifically in this article EXCEPT Pencil support. I'm not sure what to make of that.
Ugh, if they don't it's a serious problem.

ipad mini is the ideal book reader, and would be the ideal doodle notebook. But if there's no Pencil support, there is no reason to upgrade from, say, the Mini 2, when it got its initial speed boost. The Mini 2 is still a fine e-reader and video player...
 
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