It's certainly not dead. Sales increased by 15% with the latest earnings report. I think the hardware as we all know will sell itself, iOS 11 is another major factor that will change the way the iPad is used for some and it's capabilities.
Apple's Sizable Jump in Tablet Sales Wasn't Entirely Driven by New Lower-Priced 9.7-Inch iPad
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It's certainly not dead. Sales increased by 15% with the latest earnings report. I think the hardware as we all know will sell itself, iOS 11 is another major factor that will change the way the iPad is used for some and it's capabilities.
spiderman0616
Suspended
Reading comprehension is super important.
canadianreader
macrumors 65816
I had an iPad mini 3 i upgraded to the ipad pro 10.5 256gb i don’t regret it one bit my best buy in years
I'm erring towards the iPad Pro seeing as I want to attempt to replace my MacBook Pro with it for university. It was a pain carrying that thing to and from uni last year, only to realise all I was really doing on it was web browsing and word processing. But I think I'd want the power the Pro offers for longevity and because iOS kinda requires some heavy lifting to work as smooth as butter. Also for that 120Hz screen!
canadianreader
macrumors 65816
and laminated display with 600nits. I feel that the 10.5 will be the most popular iPad ever
Definitely think that's true. But I dunno why they've made it so hard to get hold of decent cases for the things! Apple dropped the ball on that one! Maybe we'll see a Silicone Case released at some point for them.
canadianreader
macrumors 65816
Definitely think that's true. But I dunno why they've made it so hard to get hold of decent cases for the things! Apple dropped the ball on that one! Maybe we'll see a Silicone Case released at some point for them.
I covered mine with a slickwrap retro skin it’s light and beautiful check it out here
https://www.slickwraps.com/retro-skin-for-ipadpro-10-5.html
dingclancy23
macrumors 6502
This is the iPad Mini strategy all over again, but this time they are selling a "bigger" iPad Mini at 9.7inch.
When they first released the iPad Mini, it was a low-priced model that was seen to compete with the cheaper tablets of the time. But it also become popular and it continued to drive the unit sales while decreasing the ASP. Then the iPad Mini lost its value as bigger phones like the Note and the iPhone 6 cannibalized their sales.
The 9.7 iPad is the new iPad mini, and the 10.5 is the new normal size. And following the logic above, the new 9.7 iPad won't be replaced easily because phones won't be getting big enough to make the 9.7 useless.
When they first released the iPad Mini, it was a low-priced model that was seen to compete with the cheaper tablets of the time. But it also become popular and it continued to drive the unit sales while decreasing the ASP. Then the iPad Mini lost its value as bigger phones like the Note and the iPhone 6 cannibalized their sales.
The 9.7 iPad is the new iPad mini, and the 10.5 is the new normal size. And following the logic above, the new 9.7 iPad won't be replaced easily because phones won't be getting big enough to make the 9.7 useless.
rizzo41999
macrumors 6502a
I bought a 256GB iPad Pro 10.5 and can't get enough of it!
JPack
macrumors G5
Makes complete sense. You've got 5.8" and 6.3" displays coming from Apple and Samsung, respectively.
The 7.9" form factor is like a new Ford Taurus in the face of Model 3.
mi7chy
Suspended
So are elementary math, common sense and ability to discern fake news from real news. iPad growth have been negative even with the iPad Pro 2015 release. An iPad Pro 2017 re-release isn't going to change that. The real news from this fake news is Apple doesn't want to be associated with a budget tablet and would rather you buy the higher ASP version.
Zirel
Suspended
Prepare for opinionated post:
Apple has taken some steps in the right direction by simplifying the iPad lineup. For awhile things were getting too confusing and it seemed like Apple's goal was just to sell a lot and not necessarily make the best product. Tim needs to remember that Apple succeeds ONLY when it makes the BEST products in each segment.
The $329 iPad is the best tablet on the market at an affordable price and I would gladly recommend it to anyone looking to buy their first iPad.
The iPad Pro 10.5" is the best tablet on the market, period.
Next steps:
Take the iPad mini out of the lineup - it is a response to pressure from a confused tablet industry in 2012 and the OS doesn't work on that screen size. It's smaller than a regular sized iPad, but you can't hold it in one hand and it's not small enough to fit in a pocket. What is the point?!
The 12.9" iPad Pro is another example of Apple's response to a confused industry (notably Microsoft). Too big and heavy to use in your hands for extended periods of time so you wind up using it on a table. Remember when Steve introduced the iPad for the first time and said it's "more intimate than a laptop but more powerful than a smartphone"? Well the iPad Pro 12.9" definitely isn't more intimate than a laptop if it is mostly used on a table with a keyboard... It is a laptop, but it actually has a BIGGER footprint than a MacBook or MacBook Pro 13", and is not as easy to use as a laptop when propped up.
Apple has shown that it can drive industries in the direction that it thinks is RIGHT. Not sure why they have been getting pushed around in the tablet space over the past few years...
Apple has taken some steps in the right direction by simplifying the iPad lineup. For awhile things were getting too confusing and it seemed like Apple's goal was just to sell a lot and not necessarily make the best product. Tim needs to remember that Apple succeeds ONLY when it makes the BEST products in each segment.
The $329 iPad is the best tablet on the market at an affordable price and I would gladly recommend it to anyone looking to buy their first iPad.
The iPad Pro 10.5" is the best tablet on the market, period.
Next steps:
Take the iPad mini out of the lineup - it is a response to pressure from a confused tablet industry in 2012 and the OS doesn't work on that screen size. It's smaller than a regular sized iPad, but you can't hold it in one hand and it's not small enough to fit in a pocket. What is the point?!
The 12.9" iPad Pro is another example of Apple's response to a confused industry (notably Microsoft). Too big and heavy to use in your hands for extended periods of time so you wind up using it on a table. Remember when Steve introduced the iPad for the first time and said it's "more intimate than a laptop but more powerful than a smartphone"? Well the iPad Pro 12.9" definitely isn't more intimate than a laptop if it is mostly used on a table with a keyboard... It is a laptop, but it actually has a BIGGER footprint than a MacBook or MacBook Pro 13", and is not as easy to use as a laptop when propped up.
Apple has shown that it can drive industries in the direction that it thinks is RIGHT. Not sure why they have been getting pushed around in the tablet space over the past few years...
mi7chy
Suspended
Bingo. Tablets are redundant secondary devices unless they're cheap enough and the market has spoken that a $300 iPad 2017 hits the mark. A ~$200 iPad Mini 2017 would do really well too.
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Solomani
macrumors 601
sledgehammer89
macrumors 6502
Like my 10.5" iPad Pro, but only because of Smart Keyboard. Is attached 90% when using it. Without the Smart Keyboard I wish Apple release an iPad mini Pro. Maybe a mini of the 10.5" Pro
Your post is completely contradictory. The iPad mini never left, it's still exist. So Apple can't "Bring it back". Furthermore, we don't know that Apple won't refresh the Mini in the near future.
The 10.5 iPad Pro got me to upgrade after using my Mini 2 for 4 years. The 10.5" is almost the perfect tablet. Stupid fast SoC, 4 speakers that's so loud I'm afraid to go max volume, super low reflectance, 600 nits of brightness, P3, 120hz, true tone, ~1lb, and has the fastest stylus input anywhere. The only thing it needs now is OLED.
JPack
macrumors G5
The "smaller" price was what attracted customers. Big screen + small price is the winning strategy.
Apple recognized this and carved out the 10.5" size to create a new high-end category.
The mini strategy no longer works because consumers no longer see the value in small displays. With iOS 11, customers see the value in multitasking and content creation with a big tablet. Small tablets no longer have any clear value.
The Game 161
macrumors Nehalem
I'm sure many went for the 10.5 pro being a new size and all
12.9 I think clearly got more interest than people originally thought.
12.9 I think clearly got more interest than people originally thought.
dampfnudel
macrumors 603
Yeah, I wouldn't mind updating my iPad mini 4 with a same size iPad Pro 8.7-9.0", similar to the iPhone 8 with reduced bezels, removal of the home button, OLED, true-tone, A11, 3D Touch, AR, improved camera, FaceID, etc. sometime next year. The screen size is still significantly bigger than the iPhone Plus, or even the rumored 6.4" iPhone coming next year and is very easy to hold over long periods of time. It's a perfect size for a personal tablet.
melendezest
Suspended
I believe it is a combination of a "properly-priced" iPad and a "Pro" model that offers good value.
Apple really hit the sweet spot in both fronts; the (more limited) iPad is now a good value given the price and the iPad Pro is the iPad to buy and keep for years, given its RAM amount and processor power (combined with iOS 11 features).
Apple really hit the sweet spot in both fronts; the (more limited) iPad is now a good value given the price and the iPad Pro is the iPad to buy and keep for years, given its RAM amount and processor power (combined with iOS 11 features).