iPad 11: What's Next for Apple's Most Affordable Tablet

[artifex]

The 9th Gen iPad for $199 is hard to beat and has plenty of life left.

That's what I have, and it's still fine for media consumption. It also more than keeps up with my inability to draw and my unwillingness to videoconference. But I'm finding games more often running into (and possibly over, judging from some crashing) the 4GB RAM limit after recent updates. Also, for people not already invested, lightning sucks.

However, I don't even care yet that I'm missing out on "future" Apple Intelligence stuff: I'm still surprised at how many third party apps don't make use of any iPad's full screen, and are just iOS apps with the bit toggled to allow use on iPads with the lowest possible effort and huge black bars. Back when I was Android-only I always assumed that iOS/iPadOS were what devs wrote for first, and us poor robots just got ports. Now that I have an iPad, I see in many cases the Android versions of apps actually make better use of the screen. WTF, devs? And why is nobody hammering this point?

Oh, but if people do want to mention Apple Intelligence in the base model as necessary to drive sales: remember that the base model iPad is the one they sell to schools. Just how much of that do you want turned on by default, with kid users? What kind of privacy and tracking (and legal liability) issues are going to result? And okay, sure, let's assume they have a software switch so all of that is off by default on managed (school and corporate) devices, but, then... what's the value proposition of the new iPad 11 over the 10, for schools?

 

[Kris404]

iPad 10 is a tweaked iPad Air 4. iPad 11 will be similar to iPad Air 5 (M1)

 

[mcilwraith]

love my iPad 10. perfect little casual machine for browsing, shopping, video on the sofa. would happily have a basic iPad 10 or 11 that did not support AI. could not give 2 craps about AI

 

[Ctrlos]

A new range of colours and an update to the M1 would make more sense. They have the chassis space for a bigger die and it would be cheaper than shoving in more RAM and an A18. At the minute they are their own worst enemy. iPads are generally in good nick 2nd hand and an M1 Air is about £$400.

They could really clean up if they kept the 10G model around but cut the price to £$279. That makes it incredibly compelling to people looking at cheap laptops.

 

[Ctrlos]

Can we get multiple users for iOS? Would be nice to have completely separate user spaces. Thank you.

Sadly Apple want you to buy one personal device each. Its why we won't get a folding iPhone.

 

[Cervisia]

As for RAM being too expensive, from a component cost the difference between 4, 6, and 8GB is negligible. Apple has a vested interest in getting as many people onboard with Apple Intelligence; doing so means they can roll out new features that are subscription based and rake in more of that sweet, sweet services revenue.

That would be logical, but Tim is too old school to sacrifice hardware revenue for services revenue that will come in when he's not around anymore. Apple Silicon was a golden opportunity to increase market share among computers and secure future service revenues, but he choose artifical product segmenting and marginally higher sales income instead.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Get rid of the camera wart and bring back the Lightning connector!

 

[jdawgnoonan]

The A15 makes no logical sense unless it can run Apple Intelligence. I have also read people say the next iPad mini should use that chip. I want the new Mini but will not upgrade if it runs the A15 as I do not consider that to be worth upgrading for.

 

[AlanMarron]

There’s no way we get a new iPad that doesn’t support Apple Intelligence.

Utilizing Apple Intelligence on my MacBook Air for just 24 hours has prompted me to consider upgrading my iPad 9 to the most affordable iPad that supports AI capabilities, currently the 11-inch iPad Air.

 

[Thisismattwade]

love my iPad 10. perfect little casual machine for browsing, shopping, video on the sofa. would happily have a basic iPad 10 or 11 that did not support AI. could not give 2 craps about AI

It’s a great device. We have one for our five kiddos to share. If I didn’t have a completely satisfactory 2018 11” iPad Pro (that I really don’t use much but which remains my favorite Apple device of all time), I’d get another iPad 10. Maybe yellow this time!

This is an interesting discussion on how Apple plans to bring AI to their base iPad: chip considerations (cheap/ineffective fab processes vs the latest and greatest not really being suitable for an entry-level device), RAM considerations, etc. I’ve enjoyed reading this thread.

 

[Jxdawg]

Love my 2020 iPad but with 32GB it has become somewhat long in the teeth. Though iPadOS actually boosted the performance I feel. Whatever base iPad is released next, I will probably snag it. AI would be added incentive but not necessary for me any my usage. I have the ChapGPT app which works just dandy.

 

[MacFanatic713]

love my iPad 10. perfect little casual machine for browsing, shopping, video on the sofa. would happily have a basic iPad 10 or 11 that did not support AI. could not give 2 craps about AI

I feel you on this! My 10 is just dandy. I take mine to my apt complex gym and prop it up on the treadmill. I use it mainly for YT and other media apps. I'll still watch the October event and see what "new improvements" or "The new best ever iPad Apple has created to date" haahaa

 

[urtho]

Hopefully they add the headphone jack back or they have a very high chance of losing the education market. We can not issue adapters, as they will be lost within three days. Bluetooth is not an option as everyone would have the same model if we provided them, and parents will balk at paying more than $15-20 on headphones. That is not to mention that they will never be charged when needed. Kindergarten and first graders just are not a viable market for headphone jack free iPads. And yes I have voiced this to a couple of their engineers when asked why we went with 9th gen over 10th gen two years ago.

If there are still no headphone jacks in two years when our lease is up, we will have two options. Continue on with the 9th gens until the batteries stop working or software updates cease or we will have to migrate to touch screen Chromebooks or Android tablets which we have been resistant to do. We are piloting the Chromebooks in our second grade now as they were already getting Chromebooks not iPads. At the moment managing Android seems to be almost nonexistant, maybe Google will catch up in the next couple years.

 

[Razorpit]

Dunno - Buyers in that segment care even less about apple intelligence than higher end buyers in my opinion

Going in to this latest year refresh yes. I'd agree. But EVERY ad now is more on Apple Intelligence and less on the new hardware itself. "AI" (in all form and names) is the rage. They won't release a new iPad without it. And if they do I'll go drink that cold beer I have up in my fridge. How's that for confidence? 😉

 

[DavidSchaub]

Apple is in a pickle here.

Absolutely.

But giving a low-cost device 8GB is something they don't want to do, because it both raises the cost, and makes the upsell to higher end models harder.

I think the kicker is: 8GB of RAM is just not that much, and almost certainly won't cost Apple that much margins.

For Apple's prices their iOS/iPadOS devices should start at 8GB and their Mac should start at 12 to 16GB.

That being said,. I would not be surprised for the educational cheap iPad to just doesn't support Apple Intelligence for another generation; and really, AI isn't even going to be all out for a generation anyway.

 

[DavidSchaub]

Hopefully they add the headphone jack back or they have a very high chance of losing the education market. We can not issue adapters, as they will be lost within three days. Bluetooth is not an option as everyone would have the same model if we provided them, and parents will balk at paying more than $15-20 on headphones. That is not to mention that they will never be charged when needed. Kindergarten and first graders just are not a viable market for headphone jack free iPads. And yes I have voiced this to a couple of their engineers when asked why we went with 9th gen over 10th gen two years ago.

If there are still no headphone jacks in two years when our lease is up, we will have two options. Continue on with the 9th gens until the batteries stop working or software updates cease or we will have to migrate to touch screen Chromebooks or Android tablets which we have been resistant to do. We are piloting the Chromebooks in our second grade now as they were already getting Chromebooks not iPads. At the moment managing Android seems to be almost nonexistant, maybe Google will catch up in the next couple years.

The OG iMac came with TWO headphone jacks... Good headphone times.

 

[sracer]

love my iPad 10. perfect little casual machine for browsing, shopping, video on the sofa. would happily have a basic iPad 10 or 11 that did not support AI. could not give 2 craps about AI

Same here. But I use mine for more than casual use... it has completely replaced all of my chromebooks and by having both Apple's smart folio and a 3rd party keyboard folio, it makes a very capable netbook for productivity. And when I'm out and about and need to do full Mac OS level stuff, I can remote into my Mac Mini at my home office and it looks and feels like the iPad is running Mac OS.

...and I don't want to get started on how the USB-C port + dock/dongle increases my productivity. 😂

I also agree regarding AI. For some the lack of AI is a pro not a con.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Highly unlikely that it will be M1. The M1 is based on the A14 and shares the exact same Neural Engine and same performance. Both are aging from a tech perspective. A newer chip like the A16 with more RAM would be significantly faster with AI tasks than an M1, especially since the Neural Engine received major upgrades for the A15 and A16 generations. (For reference, a big focus of the update to the A15 and related M2 chips is a significantly faster Neural Engine).

Pretty sure it's gonna get the A18. That's the one I'm betting they're going to standardize around for a bit. Newer, more affordable process, better performance and yields, and designed with 8GB RAM base. Essentially an upgraded, mobile focused M1. Closer to the M3 but better process.

 

[DavidSchaub]

Pretty sure it's gonna get the A18. That's the one I'm betting they're going to standardize around for a bit. Newer, more affordable process, better performance and yields, and designed with 8GB RAM base. Essentially an upgraded, mobile focused M1. Closer to the M3 but better process.

M1 isn't going to happen. It will be almost a 5 year old chip at that point.

A16 is the most likely, and I don't think Apple needs Apple Intelligence at this price point.

A18 with 8GB of RAM is absolutely possible; but then, this device will not be a replacement for the iPad 10th gen. It will be higher price point, and the 10th gen will keep being sold.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but that's what I feel about it.

 

[Sir_Macs_A_Lot]

Just focus on the Mini right now Apple. It's more in need of a 'refresh' than the budget iPad is. And while you're at it: Stop offering 64GB storage in any tablets or phones! When you do this to customers, it's like the equivalent to what P Diddy did to those people.

 

[WilliApple]

Give it an A17 or newer chip and Apple Pencil 2 support, it will become my primary iPad.
Apple, I know you want my money!!!

 

[RALentz]

A16 makes imminent sense, particularly with TSMC's Arizona plant coming online and producing A16's, allowing Apple to advertise in the American market about the CPU being "made here, in America".

Apple's A16 Chips Now Being Manufactured in Arizona TSMC Plant

Apple's A16 chips are now being manufactured on American soil at TSMC's Arizona plant, according to Taiwan-based independent journalist Tim...

www.macrumors.com

-R

 

[Paddle1]

Excellent analysis.

However, I do think it's equally possible they'll go with the A18 (non-Pro). Until the last few years, which were significantly affected by the pandemic and various supply-chain disruptions, Apple made a point of pushing their latest chip tech out even at fairly low price points - for example, the iPhone SE.

I wouldn't want to make a bet in either direction.

The SE is more "premium" than the base iPad at this point I believe. The current SE and iPad 10 were released the same year but the SE has a newer chip despite being older. I could see them skipping AI on this model or even raising the price.

 

[CarAnalogy]

M1 isn't going to happen. It will be almost a 5 year old chip at that point.

A16 is the most likely, and I don't think Apple needs Apple Intelligence at this price point.

A18 with 8GB of RAM is absolutely possible; but then, this device will not be a replacement for the iPad 10th gen. It will be higher price point, and the 10th gen will keep being sold.

Perhaps I'm wrong, but that's what I feel about it.

Yeah definitely not M1. I just meant that M1 seemed to be the baseline for a while there, and I get the impression the A18 is the mobile version of the same idea, that it's a baseline they'll probably be working from for a while. Not that it's technically similar, just spiritually similar.

I feel like Apple has been artificially inflating RAM prices for so long now, they can afford to take the hit to make 8GB the new mobile baseline, which will allow them to make a bit more of a splash at a time when the products are not terribly exciting otherwise.

But yes since we are talking about the absolute base model iPad, you might be right about the A16.

 

[raghu8912]

That is fine, IF Apple is willing to sell old Airs or old iPhones at the cheaper price point; which historically, they haven't been. A product being one (or so) generation old just hasn't been sufficient, given Apple's margins, So Apple needs other to use cheaper parts and make a cheaper device.

Why reduce customer choice by having fewer products?

Heck, I think Apple should have more products, at more price point points. Certainly the Mac lineup should.

Jobs killed most products as soon as he moved back to Apple.
More products is not good.
supply chain nightmare.
confused customers on what to buy.
i think apple has too many products right now, they should trim them.
they need to hire more people to manage all these products.