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iPad 11 With A17 Pro Chip and Apple Intelligence Rumor Was Wrong

This kinda just means that longevity for this iPad won't be as good.
This also makes me think that this will be a short lived Apple Product tbh, and that the iPad mini will get updated again later this year, and that Apple Intelligence will come to the iPad 12 in early 2026.
 
This iPad is DOA then, with Apple putting so much into Apple Intelligence then any device not supporting it will be out of date in no time. I imagine it's so they can cut back on the RAM in it. Shame.
 
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WilliApple said:
This kinda just means that longevity for this iPad won't be as good.
This also makes me think that this will be a short lived Apple Product tbh, and that the iPad mini will get updated again later this year, and that Apple Intelligence will come to the iPad 12 in early 2026.
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Correction : iPad (A16)
 
The cost savings provided by the A16 chip are uncertain for me. However, I suspect that this iPad model has only 4GB of memory, which appears insufficient for AI applications. It is not feasible to have more with this price point.
 
The term "sucker punch" comes to mind....

Apple is ALL ABOUT profit so why is anyone surprised that they have a "loss leader" product just like the grocery or car dealers.

Years ago, cars had a base engine, usually four cylinders, that would move the car and accelerate modestly. The next step up was the straight six, but for just a few thousand more you could get the V8. Note gasoline prices in that era were sub one dollar....

If you buy the Kiddie meal at McDonalds, are you surprised that you get less food? Spend more and get more to eat.

Apple has always been a Pay to Play company. The price points are like a stair step, kids get a very basic (and disposable) model, adults get the better models and then professionals that need the maximum performance get the top price equipment.
 
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Apple “Intelligence” is DOA anyway. Especially given that the stuff people care about still isn’t out and might not be for years.
 
And people still thought the entry level iPad was going to get a “Pro” Branding chip
 
This is the best current iPad ... because it has no Apple "Intelligence" (Ignorance more like)! Now all they have to do is to put the A16 chip in the whole line-up if they want to make genuine progress.
 
Not surprised by the lack of A17Pro - I think the iPad sells in large numbers so I doubt there would be enough chips to go around - the iPad Mini sales are pretty low, so Apple considered this a good model to utilise the left over & binned A17Pro chips from the iPhone 15 Pro range. With the Mini getting the A17Pro, sadly, there was little chance that the iPad would get the A18. This is what happens with Tim Cook's Apple - maximise profit.

I think a better line-up would be the following. This would allow access to Apple Intelligence at all levels and the Pro would differentiate itself from the Air via the biometrics, screen & speakers (plus launching a decent chunk of time before the Air).

iPadA18 (binned)Basic access to Apple Intelligence
iPad MiniA18Additional GPU core
iPad AirM4~12 month lag from iPad Pro
iPad ProM4+FaceID, Promotion, OLED, quad speaker, increased storage
 
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joshwithachance said:
Gurman is no longer a reliable "leaker". Also, the base iPad couldn't have an A17 Pro at $349 while the mini has the same chip at $499.
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Comparing products and prices in the Apple product jungle is a bit like interpreting religious rules.

The price of the mini is a joke and should rather correspond to the price of the iPad: 349.
or a small surcharge: 399.

I don't know how many million units Apple sells of the cheapest iPad. But without AI features it will lead to millions of students diligently using ChatGPT and getting used to it.
 
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So going into a store and asking for a new iPad will get you a device with specs that are already two years old. Honestly just wish Apple would drop the mini and Air models and put the features from the Air into the base model, offer different display sizes, and raise the price. Might get some backlash for the price increase, but I think people forget the gen 1 iPad launched at $499. $350 is still too much for budget conscious consumers who would just as much settle for a cheap $80 Fire Tablet.
 
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Aeronauts said:
Seems a strange decision for a device that is only updated every 3 years unless they intend to update it more often in future.
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That’s what I was thinking about the mini that has the A17 Pro and not the 18. Updated very infrequently and is the only option for people who need to have a smaller device.
 
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