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iPad Base iPad should be removed
- Thread starter Astuces iOS
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It’s always something
macrumors 6502a
I will never pay the premium for an iPad Pro. On the other hand I will seriously consider buying an iPad Air when my A16 finally wears out.
Same but I mean if we update the base iPad to give it like a18 or better in the future, you may just wanna get the base iPad, proof is that you are fine now with a16 !
Reverend Benny
macrumors 68000
They should at least bump it up to 8GB of ram, it should be a minimum for all devices 2026.
PandaPunch
macrumors regular
Me and my many clones.
Jokes aside, the iPad Air is a good middle ground between the base iPad and the Pro. If someone was to ask me about which iPad to get, if they're in that middle ground, I'd recommend the Air assuming they can afford it. The M series processor should be decent future proofing + if they have other family members they can still pass it on to someone else if they decide to upgrade like 2-3 years later.
Quite expensive, 250 more while the base iPad cost only 350...
Let's say you keep a base iPad 3-4 years, in around 10 years it will cost you : 1050 (3 iPads)
Now 2 iPad airs that you keep 5 years each : 1200 !
So it's not a huge point, I understand some people (like me) who already have an iPad Air keyboard will want an iPad Air or pencil pro users... But I really think it would drop by a lot the market of iPad airs !
chrono1081
macrumors G3
We have tens of thousands of base iPads deployed at work. People definitely use them.
Base IPad can be had for $250 to $300 on sale.
No one needs to buy the ridiculously overpriced iPad keyboard from Apple.
If you need a keyboard, you can buy Bluetooth keyboards starting at $20.
I still consider the base iPad one of Apples best deals.
No one needs to buy the ridiculously overpriced iPad keyboard from Apple.
If you need a keyboard, you can buy Bluetooth keyboards starting at $20.
I still consider the base iPad one of Apples best deals.
PandaPunch
macrumors regular
Personally, I think that additional $250 is worth it. Again, it's a matter of if you can afford that or if saving that additional $250 for something else is more important.
I've had this conversation with people in the past about cheaper Android tablets versus more expensive iPads; if you're willing to wait however long it takes to save up that additional cash, you will get a much better experience and you'd also be able to get more value of that iPad as a result. The only reason why I'd say go for the cheaper iPad and don't wait is if you're fully dependent on that iPad for a life or death type of situation, like your current iPad got stolen and that's how you're making your living.
Also, just in general, I think it's better to get the best item you can afford anyways and that there's more to cost than just the upfront sticker price of an item.
iPad A(n-2 or more) chip
iPad Air M( n-1 or so ) chip.
Memory. (i.e., ability to run multiple concurrent apps and whatever local footprint apps (e.g. local AI))
So maybe 8GB versus 12GB. (the entry iPad was at 4GB and now at 6GB. )
With current memory supply crisis there is not likely that the base iPad is getting same memory as the iPad Air. ( more money in Air's price to pay for higher priced memory).
Most likely Apple is dragging their feet because they would like to get away with being able to sell the plain iPad at $250-75 range and still make a profit they like. (there are sales several times a year to get the plain iPad down to those levels. ) . < $300 chromebooks , Fire Tablets (sub $300), sub $300 Android tablets , etc.
The wave of the A-series chasing more RAM for "Apple Intelligence" is a bit of a disconnect with the plain iPad's mission. The Apple keyboard you keep trying to throw into the system price is misdirection. The market that iPad is target at wants the whole system to be below $300 or they not buying it. Period.
Throw on top "Apple Intelligence" is not a huge short term 'value add'. If the A18 has to punt more of what is eventually "Apple AI" into the cloud then a A15 iPad probably can punt almost just as easily off system and into the cloud. If Apple AI was a large value add then maybe they could pull some folks over the $300 barrier, but right not that clearly unproven.
The A18 will mainly 'buy' Apple lower margins. For now , until adjust to new NAND/RAM prices they probably just want to 'punt' the plain iPad impact into the future when they have more data/knowledge/scope.
P.S. The Neo is going to 'disrupt' some of the "back-to-school in Fall" planning already. (on the top half of the Chromebook scale). Mudding the waters with a possible pricing change on iPad also is unnecessary. It would not be surprising for Apple to wait until after 'back-to-school" season largely completes. Collect the data and figure out next move for plain iPad. ( sell the older 'well known' model for now).
Ik that you can do more on M series chip, it's faster and blablabla but come on 99% of people aren't going to pay just for that if the base iPad is enough powerful for everyday tasks... That's why the Mac exists !
I personally think that you are better to buy a base iPad with A18 and an Apple Watch SE than paying for the iPad Air cause you will enjoy more an apple watch than the better performances of the iPad Air !
Unless of course you really need an air cause like you wanna upgrade from iPad Air 4 and have a keyboard OR you wanna draw with Apple Pencil pro...
The Mac exists if you want a laptop. Quit conflating tablets and laptops - different people want different form factors for their own reasons.
Which is exactly why the plain iPad exists. They doesn't have to pay more to get the plateaued workload levels they are already at. A large fraction of them are updating because their current iPad is so old they it has run out of security support (and warranty support ran out long ago). the SoC performance isn't much. Apple AI or new high workload apps are not much . So why pay for a A-series that is 'faster' than a couple of years ( which is still years after they bought the previous iPad).
The Mini's screen is smaller, but probably doesn't cost less because has more 'features' ( gapless , etc. )
??? iPad Air -- iPad Pro --> basic Mac entry level all share the plain Mn series. (at different times. iPad Air is a 'hand me down' system. ) The Neo is a corner case for a Axx Pro die (since now different sized die than plain A-series). Because the die is bigger (and costs more) can only 'hand me down' so far in the line up. The plain iPad is likely below that point (place the regular phone needs 'hand me down' system placements also. )
The Mac is no where near the $300 price point (new ...... even 'used' for many , many years.)
The Neo , in part, gets to a lower price by leaving stuff off. No magsafe, smaller battery , etc. The plain iPad allow the keyboard and a decent amount of aluminum to be chucked also.
You seems to be on track that the iPad wants to be a Mac. I don't think Apple or millions of other users treat it that way at all.
PandaPunch
macrumors regular
That... doesn't even make sense. Like sure, there are people who would benefit from the cheapest iPad + Watch combo. I was also someone who liked the budget level iPad. But the Air has it's place and is worth it's price tag if you want a high quality tablet, even if you don't need a keyboard or pencil.
wolfboy
macrumors 6502
Base iPad still has its place since it's so cheap at $250-300. It's the iPad Air and Pro that will get cannibalized by the Neo.
As for the iPads getting expensive after adding in a keyboard: Go with a separate keyboard!! They're cheaper and you can re-use it when you upgrade iPads!
Logitech Keys 2 Go is the perfect iPad keyboard. Super thin, folds, and the same width as an 11" iPad. Uses a coin battery with a 3 year life span so you just need to change batteries every few years. Since it's not attached, you can use it in conjunction with any case you want.
I bought the Logitech Combo Touch a few years back. While it was nice when I had it, the smart pins on the case stopped working so now it's completely useless. And even though the detachable keyboard is not broken, I would need to find a way to buy just the case by itself in order for it to even function. Anyway this whole experience soured me on case+keyboard combos. I'm never buying those again.
As for the iPads getting expensive after adding in a keyboard: Go with a separate keyboard!! They're cheaper and you can re-use it when you upgrade iPads!
Logitech Keys 2 Go is the perfect iPad keyboard. Super thin, folds, and the same width as an 11" iPad. Uses a coin battery with a 3 year life span so you just need to change batteries every few years. Since it's not attached, you can use it in conjunction with any case you want.
I bought the Logitech Combo Touch a few years back. While it was nice when I had it, the smart pins on the case stopped working so now it's completely useless. And even though the detachable keyboard is not broken, I would need to find a way to buy just the case by itself in order for it to even function. Anyway this whole experience soured me on case+keyboard combos. I'm never buying those again.
Funny Apple Man
macrumors 6502a
The Magic Keyboard for the Base iPad (and all other iPads imo) are a ripoff for the price.
There's 3rd party keyboards out there that do just as well for a much lower price.
There's 3rd party keyboards out there that do just as well for a much lower price.
Abydos
macrumors 6502
got to love these pointless discussions, buy the tool you need - I doubt a blacksmith needs the same tools as an automobile mechanic, so why should tablet users
jmoore5196
macrumors 6502a
Beanoir
macrumors 6502a
Amazing, you should apply for the job to run Apple with plans like that!
Zazoh
macrumors 68000
Many people only need the iPad, for those that need more, there is the Air. For those that want to pay a premium to own the flagship device there is the Pro. Maybe 1% of people actually need the pro. But this line is perfect. Same can be said for MacBooks too. The pro is for people who buy the deluxe model of a car. It’s not necessarily needed, but it may bring them joy.
throAU
macrumors G4
They don’t do the same things.
If you get a keyboard for the ipad pro it’s a little bit like a mac neo, sure but it also has a touch screen and pencil support. It runs ipadOS and has more/better cameras on it.
as to “no one needs M4 on their ipad” - i bought an M5 ipad pro thanks and for what i do on the ipad it is instantly better to use than an M1 ipad Air i had previously.
“Need”? No.
“want” because any waiting i do with my hardware is dead time in my life i’ll never get back and i’m willing to pay for it - yes.
(posted from my m5 ipad pro, plugged into my 32” monitor)
Why does it matter to you? I know several people with base iPads, including my mother who is elderly. And she loves her iPad. She doesn’t need a keyboard or perform high-end productivity tasks. She just wants a larger screen to consume content.
Euroamerican
macrumors 6502a
We suprised my mother-in-law with one as an accompaniment to her older Macbook Air.....
From what I've heard, she barely uses the Macbook anymore!
Please customer and didn't have to pay more shekels than need be.
From what I've heard, she barely uses the Macbook anymore!
Please customer and didn't have to pay more shekels than need be.
Devyn89
macrumors 65816
Isn’t this far and away the best selling tablet in Apple’s lineup? Why on earth would they discontinue it? That wouldn’t make sense financially. What they should do in my opinion is get rid of the air, introduce an iPad 13” (maybe call it iPad Plus) and keep the Pro at the high end. But then I don’t know how well the air sells so maybe that wouldn’t make sense.