Apple's New iPad Lineup Causes Potential Confusion With Inconsistent Features

[Marbles1]

Given that Apple seem to like keeping previous generations around now, it might be a good idea to make the numbering an official part of the iPad name - such as it is with the iPhone. It's dumb to see ' this year's iPad' or the 'NEW IPAD' and even 'the 2022 iPad' is a bit clumsy.

Have

iPad mini
Ipad air
iPad Pro

Use air for the mid-range iPad since just 'iPad' isn't enough to clearly distinguish it - people will start sayings like 'the middle iPad' or 'the iPad standard' or the 'iPad normal one'.

And then append the number of generation next to it. eg iPad Pro 10.

 

[Rogifan]

Folks, it's really not that hard as long as you know what you want to do with an iPad. If you don't know that, then you're going to be confused even if there were only 2 models. For instance, if I knew I was going to be using the iPad to read sheet music, I wouldn't even bother with anything other than the 12.9 Pro. If I were just using it for basic browsing, YouTube, Facebook, etc. I'd go with the cheapest one that has a big enough screen size for my liking. If I wanted it to be ultra-portable, then I'd go with the Mini. If I know I wanted to store TONS of local photos/videos/music, etc. I'd go with a Pro due to the larger storage options, etc.

Take advantage of Apple's handy "compare" feature. It makes this so easy:

View attachment 2098753

So which iPad do you think is a better deal - the 10th gen just announced or the iPad Air?

 

[Rogifan]

Given that Apple seem to like keeping previous generations around now, it might be a good idea to make the numbering an official part of the iPad name - such as it is with the iPhone. It's dumb to see ' this year's iPad' or the 'NEW IPAD' and even 'the 2022 iPad' is a bit clumsy.

Have

iPad mini
Ipad air
iPad Pro

Use air for the mid-range iPad since just 'iPad' isn't enough to clearly distinguish it - people will start sayings like 'the middle iPad' or 'the iPad standard' or the 'iPad normal one'.

And then append the number of generation next to it. eg iPad Pro 10.

Consolidate the Air and the regular iPad and just call it iPad. So you have iPad mini, iPad and iPad Pro.

 

[usagora]

So which iPad do you think is a better deal - the 10th gen just announced or the iPad Air?

As you can see from my signature, I don't even own an iPad currently and have no need for one in my workflow, so I can't really answer that except hypothetically. So if someone told me today that I MUST buy one of those two iPads, I'd easily go with the 10th Gen iPad to save money, as I wouldn't be using the iPad as a primary device and thus wouldn't care about the added M1 performance, Apple Pencil 2 support, or additional display features. If someone wants all or some of those, I think an extra $150 is a pretty good deal to get them.

Btw, I agree personally with consolidating the iPad/Air just like I think there should just be a "MacBook" (not a "MacBook Air"), but to me that's a VERY minor, personal "OCD" preference and I really don't care all that much what Apple decides to do--it really doesn't confuse me, and I don't think it would confuse anyone who knows how to do basic research when buying a product. And I'm sure Apple isn't just flipping a coin when making these decisions. They think far harder about their products than you or I do and have far more data about their marketing and sales than we do.

 

[CarAnalogy]

10th gen iPad - the new entry level iPad for users with fairly basic tablet needs. Maybe give it a year or two for the price to drop to $399. It's closer to the iPad Air in terms of design, has usb-c charging, and still lets people use the cheaper 1st gen Apple Pencil, which some users of earlier iPads may already have. Suitable for students (especially the landscape webcam for zoom lectures).

I partially agree with you except for that part. How are a room full of students supposed to do anything with audio without a headphone jack? Do you really think the dongle is an acceptable solution?

If they actually cared about education they would have left it in. They care about selling airpods and driving people to the higher margin models.

This year is an example that Apple has stopped caring much about the user and more about their business plans.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Consolidate the Air and the regular iPad and just call it iPad. So you have iPad mini, iPad and iPad Pro.

Such a simple, elegant solution. If only Apple’s whole brand identity was about simple, elegant solutions…

 

[Lukepuke311]

the 9th gen should be called the SE since its in the body of a legacy iPad

 

[Lukepuke311]

the 9th gen should be called the SE since its in the body of a legacy iPad

like this

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

the 9th gen should be called the SE since its in the body of a legacy iPad

I don’t think the name makes a blind bit of difference to the consumer at the end of the day. Adding the term SE instead of 9 does not make the range clearer as I doubt the majority of consumers even understand what SE stands for. A numeric system is much clearer as the highest number will be obviously a newer model in basic speak.