Apple's 'iPad Air 3' to Be Branded as an iPad Pro With Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil Support

[teslo]

If the price goes up and there is no 9.7" iPad at current pricing, iPad sales will take even more of a dive.

they're saying the iPad air 2 would remain there as the entry level model. i think this is an interesting development - i could see a pencil-capable mini pro next year, thus completing the lineup. they could easily continue to target schools and developing countries by selling current Air 2's and minis en masse at discount, they wouldn't even need to improve performance/hardware for years (how much 'better' does the below average-income consumer need at this point?).

if they really wanted to shake things up, apple could even -gasp - bring the pice down for everyone. let the pro lineup maintain the higher price points.

 

[Glideslope]

Awesome, I was holding out for the "iPad Air 3" hoping for apple pencil support. Love the Pro now, but its just too massive...

If true, Apple may be deciding to end the 12.9" Pro given it's limited appeal to a select user group. Shrinking it to 9.7" could boot sales considerably.

I'll believe it when it's announced.

 

[teslo]

And who needs a camera flash on an ipad...

ever seen one of these? http://padcaster.com
photographer/video/filmmaker folks love iPads too

 

[aces99]

I hope you don't have to buy the 128GB version to get the cellular model. I want the cellular model but don't need 128GB storage. I think they would sell more if they had the cellular support in all versions.

 

[jlc1978]

Exactly! I never could understand why turning a tablet into a laptop by adding a keyboard has any advantage. IN fact, I think it's a disadvantage. It's just more stuff to carry, including dongles, to make it as functional as a laptop.

It really depends on one's needs. I use my Pro as an adjunct to my Mac. I like being able to carry it with a Bluetooth keyboard when I don't want to lug around a 15 inch rMBP. I can write in Word, do some Excel work and then surf the web. With the video dongle I can even carry it in my briefcase instead of the Mac and still run a presentation. The pencil means I can actually take notes and have a PDF record I file under the appropriate client for easy recall.

I also use it, with Duet as a second screen for when I travel, since the 12 inch screen is much more usable than the one on my Air as a monitor.

Keeping the Air2 at a lower price point gives someone who just wants a tablet without the Pro features an option, especially if the lower the price point. It's a lot like the current MB lineup; if all you need is OSX the entry to level models are greater, but if you need more power teh higher end models offer that. It's all about offering models at various price points to entice buyers with the features they need at a price they can afford.

As for developers, more sales of pencil enabled iPads means they are more likely to add features to make their apps appeal to Pro users and a greater base for potential sales.

Apple, meanwhile can add features to iOS to make better use of the Pro features to make Pros more compelling for buyers who want a more powerful OS.

YMMV.

 

[happyslayer]

Yay! I was looking at buying a new iPad this year and really didn't want a 13" Pro; too big. But 9.7" with Pencil support... Yes! Take my money, Apple.

 

[pat500000]

This product naming and categorizing are so ridiculous. What's next? "Ipad mini mac pro imac air 4?"

 

[Keirasplace]

Maybe they're release and Air 3 AND a pro.
That way you'd have a 3 tier level of Ipads.
Like someone said, they may only slightly bump up the Ipad price if they expect a lot of people will buy the pencil.
In that case, you'd have only one Ipad PRo and no air.

 

[Noble Actual]

Maybe they're release and Air 3 AND a pro.
That way you'd have a 3 tier level of Ipads.
Like someone said, they may only slightly bump up the Ipad price if they expect a lot of people will buy the pencil.
In that case, you'd have only one Ipad PRo and no air.

Don't think having Air makes any sense now. Air original came from MacBook Air to denote how light it was but honestly now, every new MacBook and iPad is super light.

 

[Jax44]

I don't mistrust businesses. But it's image is everything to them and the marketing that involves. Look at the fanbase that supports them?
I understand why you do not believe they are all about marketing, especially on the privacy issue, that's because you're American and your culture and laws around the issue are different, Ok, I would say it is Apple using the opportunity for marketing as well as raising the issue about privacy in America. They need to do that so they have protection if it all backfires.

Anyway back on topic.....

I want to buy the new iPad for my mum, so it would be nice for an iPad Air 3 with say four speakers and a nice CPU upgrade, perhaps not on the level of the Pro one, maybe a nice A9X dual core?

Hopefully it is a great product!.

 

[dumastudetto]

If the price goes up and there is no 9.7" iPad at current pricing, iPad sales will take even more of a dive.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if sales lifted alongside an increase in the ASP. These new iPads will do a lot more meaningful things for people beyond a spec bump.

Apple attaching the Pro name to them though should hopefully keep Wall Street from setting wildly optimistic expectations.

 

[GhostRaider]

Why don't they call the 9.7 as just "iPad" 5th generation? Apple makes naming things complicated. Then you would have iPad, iPad Mini and iPad Pro. The "Air" branding is redundant in any Apple product.

 

[playaproved]

This is what I was hoping for until Staples ran the 128GB Pro for $799 two weeks ago.

That made the Pro only $100 more than the current iPad Air 2 128GB and the likely price for a 9.7" Pro is probably going to be $799.

The portability of the pro is better than I was expecting, and the extra real estate is great for note taking and marking up PDF files.

I kept my Air 2 if I do need something a little more portable.

Unless this new 9.7" pro doesn't something the 12.9" pro doesn't I don't see myself ditching my current setup for something else.

 

[thasan]

Great news if true. 9.7" is a much better size for many.

Will almost certainly buy if it works with pencil.

 

[Radon87000]

Looks Like a innovative way to raise margins without causing an uproar.I would expect nothing less from Apple at this point.16GB $700 iPad Pro 9.7 incoming .Oh and it will still have lags thanks to Apple's super optimisation

 

[Vanilla35]

If true, Apple may be deciding to end the 12.9" Pro given it's limited appeal to a select user group. Shrinking it to 9.7" could boot sales considerably.

I'll believe it when it's announced.

Why would they do that? They just launched it. They think more than 6 months in advance lol. They had the 9.7" Pro designed before the 12.9" Pro even came out.

 

[Eckscaliber]

I don't like where this is headed.

 

[thasan]

Some other possible differentiators:

-- Slower A9X processor
-- Tuned down graphics -- not as many pixels to push, not as much size to dissipate heat
-- keyboard will be good but not as good as the 12.9 inch full keyboard. I love it.
-- Hope they give up 16-GB base. But I would bet you don't get to 128GB for less than $799. Question is will choice be 32 or 128 like current Pro?
-- Will smaller keyboard be cheaper? I would hope so.

I bought the Pro with keyboard and Pencil. Honestly can't rationalize the total price but I absolutely love it. Full size keyboard especially. It's not too heavy. Pencil is a dream and glad it will go to wider audience.

Downside of the big size is apps need to be updated for it. Facebook is still ginormous blown up on 12.9-inch screen. Oddly even websites like Daring Fireball are blown up huge in it. C'mon, Gruber!

Dumb question here but can you 'easily' annotate PDF files using pencil? That's the only feature I will probably use.

 

[anonekun]

yay!

 

[ValO]

I hope this is not all they have in store for the new ipad...better speakers and support for a expensive pencil wont cut it for me. The air 2 also has enough ram and i dont need more cpu/gpu. And who needs a camera flash on an ipad...

Keep your iPad Air 2 !
For all of the reasons you mentioned, I don' t see the need for you to upgrade.

 

[jonnyb098]

They will increase the price without increasing the price by selling the pure profit pencil and keyboard add-ons.

DING DING DING , we have a winner. People on here need to shut up about the price, it's not gonna go up in price one cent since people will be buying pencils left and right.
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they're saying the iPad air 2 would remain there as the entry level model. i think this is an interesting development - i could see a pencil-capable mini pro next year, thus completing the lineup. they could easily continue to target schools and developing countries by selling current Air 2's and minis en masse at discount, they wouldn't even need to improve performance/hardware for years (how much 'better' does the below average-income consumer need at this point?).

if they really wanted to shake things up, apple could even -gasp - bring the pice down for everyone. let the pro lineup maintain the higher price points.

The Air 2 will be like the iPad 2. It's gonna be around for a LONG time. They'll discount it to 399 and it'll be an amazing value. Much more so than any iPad price reduction in 6 years

 

[Michael Goff]

Thanks, wasn't sure hence my '?' well that means it will certainly be more expensive than the Air then.

Maybe, maybe not. Apple has kept the price at 499$ starting even while improving the screen. If they raise the minimum storage, though, you might be right. I could see 32gb at 550$.
[doublepost=1456462240][/doublepost]

If true, Apple may be deciding to end the 12.9" Pro given it's limited appeal to a select user group. Shrinking it to 9.7" could boot sales considerably.

I'll believe it when it's announced.

That would be awful.

 

[DoctorTech]

"Same iPad, new price - $200 extra!"

You may be right but I am thinking they will hold the price where it is. iPad sales have been slipping and a big bump in price could cost a lot of market share right now.

 

[Kajje]

Meanwhile in the Apple Store.
- One iPad please.
- New one?
- Yes
- Sorry we don't stock New iPads since 4 years.
- Just give me the new Air
- The Air2 sir? But that's last years model!
- No the new Air.
- Ah the Pro?
- New one?
- Yes, just came out. Literally arrived this morning.
- Too big
- Sir it is the small one.
- Ah the Mini. Too small
- No it's a small Pro. Basically it's just an iPad. But the big one. And New.
- Ah now I get it! One New iPad Pro Mini. Please.
- Do you want a case with that?

 

[easy4lif]

Just a guess:

Ipad air 2

16gb 399
64gb 499

Ipad pro
32gb 599
64gb 699
128gb 799


Also expect the a9x to be lower clockspeed to meet battery goals

Guess ill get the entry ipad pro