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Apple's New iPad Lineup Causes Potential Confusion With Inconsistent Features
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I mean… it’s not THAT confusing. it’s annoying for sure and very inconsistent, but it’s not like there are a thousand options lol.
the main question people have are size and price which eliminates the Pros if they don’t want something large and eliminates the Mini if they don’t want too small.
then it’s just “do you want something more powerful and newer that will last you longer? or do you want to pay less and getting something that’s a bit lacking?”
that’s really it.
the main question people have are size and price which eliminates the Pros if they don’t want something large and eliminates the Mini if they don’t want too small.
then it’s just “do you want something more powerful and newer that will last you longer? or do you want to pay less and getting something that’s a bit lacking?”
that’s really it.
The new entry level ipad with a CPU from 2 years ago now starts at E589. How do you justify that?
But unlike the Series 3, the iPad 9 is actually a perfectly capable device, and will be still get updates.
By that Apple logo.
Many people see that Apple logo/brand as premium, and they are willing to pay more for it.
Come on people, it’s easy…
If you want an iPad go for the 9th gen unless you like colours, then go for the 10th gen. If it’s too big for you, go for an iPad mini, if it’s too slow buy an 11” iPad pro and if it’s too slow and small go for a 12.9” iPad Pro, but if it’s too heavy go for an iPad Air.
If you want an iPad go for the 9th gen unless you like colours, then go for the 10th gen. If it’s too big for you, go for an iPad mini, if it’s too slow buy an 11” iPad pro and if it’s too slow and small go for a 12.9” iPad Pro, but if it’s too heavy go for an iPad Air.
I miss the days where there's 1 flagship iPad, a mini version of it, and one older basic iPad.
I literally have no clue what you're trying to say since my post was about the Mini...which - again - is not even meant to be the entry-level iPad.
Let me guess, you want to pay no more than 150 bucks for a good-quality tablet?
And yes, I have the headache of a budget android tablet to work with for work... I'd rather pay twice as much and more any given day even for the entry-level iPad if it means it actually...you know... works.
That's what I previously meant when I say people want to pay nothing but get everything.
Because, at the end of the day and whether you like it or not, tablets still are luxury/convenience items. I work in both the edu sector as well as a notoriously underfunded research area, so I'm very aware of budget limitations. But even more so we are very concerned with getting a good bang for our buck.
And, considering that new iPad is $450 in the US... it's not exactly Apple's fault that the Euro is so weak, now is it?
I’d imagine the 9th gen iPad has seen a spike in sales today with the news the 10th is hugely disappointing and now £200 more! We bought a 9th gen for my daughter and it included an Apple Pencil for £379. The 10th gen is £499 starting price! I thought the entry level iPads were supposed to appeal to kids and for education purposes?
I think with it only being a year old at this point, it is considerably better than that analogy. More like a series 7 AW.
Apple needs to fix their product lines, people will become disinterested in the products because they don't have a clear understanding of the differences and classes of the products. Here's what I think Apple should do with the iPad lineup.
And the closest thing apple has ever had to a bargain for what you get. Likely as soon as they can wiggle out of some educational supply and support contracts, it will sleep with the fishes. The same reason the iPad2 stayed at the party late as I recall.
A lot of people ignore a ton of things.
- I’ve yet to meet a regular person that really cares about the camera placement to the point that is a make or break. There’s also currently a technical challenge with the charging/placement for the second-gen Pencil. Not sure how they’d overcome this without what is probably a dramatic rearrangement internally in the device. Dynamic Island wouldn’t really work here because of the dual orientation nature of the iPad.
- the base $329 iPad is still a great deal that will get software updates for years to come. It’s primarily there for school and institutional buyers who get it for $299 and probably even less with high volume contracts that include maintenance, and as an intro to the ecosystem for general consumers. The tech press ignores how embedded and invested this iPad is within the larger market, including repairs/replacements/charging stations, etc.
- The redesigned iPad will eventually come down in price and replace the base iPad, but it’s completely new and will take a few years, especially because it requires new charging stations, cases, etc. As large institutions update their infrastructure, they’ll transition to this.
- 99.9% of people that bought an M1 iPad Pro are not upgrading to this, and even the folks that bought an iPad Pro 2 years ago, aren’t upgrading and that’s totally fine. This is a mid-cycle refresh.
- If phones are on a 2-3 year upgrade cadence, iPads are more like 4-6 years.
- The best actual stylus for the new iPad is probably the just updated Logitech one. It’s the one I’d recommend to people that would buy this. The ability to use the old Pencil is there more as a result of the tech being there. If you reeeeally care about drawing accuracy/latency, you’d get the Air or Pro anyways.
- People buy the mini mostly because of its size. The price is commensurate with Apple retaining margins on a lower volume product, while justifying continued investment. The low price mini never sold in enough volume to justify what was needed to sustain it.
Ultimately, people are super dismissive of “an iPad for everyone” and I think it’s the wrong take. Not everyone upgrades their iPads as often as Apple updates them. Also, $150 is actually a lot of money for some people and Apple gives you brackets tailored to your needs/budget. If you want the best iPad and money is not a constraint, get the Pro. You really like to draw but don’t care about most of the higher-end features of the Pro, get the Air where you get the new Pencil, a nice display, amazing performance with the M1, and a couple additional colors. You want a nice iPad but don’t care about drawing and top end performance, and you have a little bit more money to splurge, you get the new iPad. If you don’t have a ton of money but want a device that still performs well, will get updates for years, has a ton of 3rd party accessories, you get the base. If size is top priority, you get the mini.
- I’ve yet to meet a regular person that really cares about the camera placement to the point that is a make or break. There’s also currently a technical challenge with the charging/placement for the second-gen Pencil. Not sure how they’d overcome this without what is probably a dramatic rearrangement internally in the device. Dynamic Island wouldn’t really work here because of the dual orientation nature of the iPad.
- the base $329 iPad is still a great deal that will get software updates for years to come. It’s primarily there for school and institutional buyers who get it for $299 and probably even less with high volume contracts that include maintenance, and as an intro to the ecosystem for general consumers. The tech press ignores how embedded and invested this iPad is within the larger market, including repairs/replacements/charging stations, etc.
- The redesigned iPad will eventually come down in price and replace the base iPad, but it’s completely new and will take a few years, especially because it requires new charging stations, cases, etc. As large institutions update their infrastructure, they’ll transition to this.
- 99.9% of people that bought an M1 iPad Pro are not upgrading to this, and even the folks that bought an iPad Pro 2 years ago, aren’t upgrading and that’s totally fine. This is a mid-cycle refresh.
- If phones are on a 2-3 year upgrade cadence, iPads are more like 4-6 years.
- The best actual stylus for the new iPad is probably the just updated Logitech one. It’s the one I’d recommend to people that would buy this. The ability to use the old Pencil is there more as a result of the tech being there. If you reeeeally care about drawing accuracy/latency, you’d get the Air or Pro anyways.
- People buy the mini mostly because of its size. The price is commensurate with Apple retaining margins on a lower volume product, while justifying continued investment. The low price mini never sold in enough volume to justify what was needed to sustain it.
Ultimately, people are super dismissive of “an iPad for everyone” and I think it’s the wrong take. Not everyone upgrades their iPads as often as Apple updates them. Also, $150 is actually a lot of money for some people and Apple gives you brackets tailored to your needs/budget. If you want the best iPad and money is not a constraint, get the Pro. You really like to draw but don’t care about most of the higher-end features of the Pro, get the Air where you get the new Pencil, a nice display, amazing performance with the M1, and a couple additional colors. You want a nice iPad but don’t care about drawing and top end performance, and you have a little bit more money to splurge, you get the new iPad. If you don’t have a ton of money but want a device that still performs well, will get updates for years, has a ton of 3rd party accessories, you get the base. If size is top priority, you get the mini.
Meh. Keeping my iPad Air 2 until it dies. I don't feel the need to ever buy another iPad, now that my M1 Macbook Air is fanless, portable, and super light (compared to my old 2012 13" Macbook Pro). Oh, and it has a headphone jack!
It just feels weird they are making iPads into mini computers with keyboards and mouse input (though I do like this feature). I only ever saw value as a media consumption device.
It just feels weird they are making iPads into mini computers with keyboards and mouse input (though I do like this feature). I only ever saw value as a media consumption device.
Yes, THIS.
I'd go further and only keep ONE of the low-tier iPads, possibly the Classic over the "iPad" as the budget-friendly entry-level iPad. I think the distinction between the iPad Air and the iPad just isn't big enough for the average user (it's difficult to explain to my grandma why they "look the same" but are significantly different)
I mean, it's not like we also have the refurbished market, so there's also cheaper option for the higher tiers, if desired.
I also think I'll never understand why we have 10.9" iPads and 11" iPads, but then again I don't understand why we have 14" Macbooks and 13" Macbooks.... those are such arbitrary, artificial differentiations.
I remember times at Apple when every design difference actually *made sense*.
THIS is probably the best and most thought out post of the day. People are not getting iPads every cycle. Unless they have no concern for money and over-concern to keep up with the cool kids. iPads are bulletproof other than falling behind the tech curve. I still can use my first gen. iPad for mail and some apps and still do.
And Apple Pencil 1 still exists ? Why has this not gone yet?
It’s like each iPad model is being designed in a vacuum or product marketing is starting with price points and asking engineering to design products around the price points.
I always said Phil Schiller’s middle name was ’upsell’. Seems like Greg Joswiak is just continuing where Schiller left off.
What a state. Its like Apple of the 90s before they brought steve back.
They should have 3 models. Mini, standard and pro. Thats it. Two colours, black or white. And three memory options.
They should have 3 models. Mini, standard and pro. Thats it. Two colours, black or white. And three memory options.
Why does the Air exist. Have a cheap(er) iPad and the more expensive iPad Pros. And don’t care if there’s a huge price gap between them. The people who need pro hardware/features will pay for them. Everyone else will be fine with the cheaper model.