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iPad iPad Air 3: 4K, thinner, 3GB RAM?
- Thread starter ApplePhy
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I don't really understand the logic behind this reasoning. Apple has never increased the base price of new iPads. Sure, they added a new category of 128GB that was more expensive, but even when they moved from the non-retina iPad 2 to the retina iPad 3, which represents a 4x increase in the number of pixels, the launch prices were exactly the same.
The iPad 3 launched at a base price of $499.
The iPad 2 launched at the exact same base price of $499.
Moving to 4K (3840 x 2880 in 4:3) from the current 2048x1536 represents an increase of ~3.5x pixels. Even less reason to increase the price than iPad 2 -> iPad 3.
Given what they charge for products such as the Pencil I wouldn't put it past them.
I kind of disagree. While resolution on the screen is literally megapixels the real issue with the camera debate was the sensor versus the number of (less important) megapixels. There is no question that upping the resolution improves the screen quality. However, if Apple continues to sacrifice battery life for thinness then it will be a problem. A few years ago people were saying the same thing about 720p vs 1080p being 'a number on a spec sheet for marketing purposes only'. Where are those people now? I personally don't think the iPad Air 3 needs 4K but it would sure look nice. Saving it for the 4 when they hopefully have better battery technology is likely a better idea.
Millions of people are using 720p iPhone just fine- everyone except the Plus users. It looks perfectly fine to be an I have 20/20 eyesight.
Performance. Have we not learned anything from the iPad 3? The move to retina was great, but performance was hugely sacrificed. Now we have reached retina res with great performance. I don't need 4K just because some people want to win an e-penis competition of having a larger number, while battery life and real performance suffers. I rather have a retina screen that is already excellent, and have a blazing performance.
Same size, same screen res.
Some form of bumped up processor, maybe a cut-down A9X.
Smart Connector.
Pencil Support.
Maybe increased base storage to 32GB.
That's it. I wouldn't be surprised if they kept Pencil support to the Pro though.
My usual rule for new stuff is three, four at most new features to point at.
Some form of bumped up processor, maybe a cut-down A9X.
Smart Connector.
Pencil Support.
Maybe increased base storage to 32GB.
That's it. I wouldn't be surprised if they kept Pencil support to the Pro though.
My usual rule for new stuff is three, four at most new features to point at.
What you describe is a 9.7" iPad Pro. I doubt Apple will do that. I can't see them doing pencil support and the smart connector, especially this early. Now if a whole bunch of accessories come out to support the smart connector, I could see them maybe giving pencil support to more iPads because there would still be a differentiator, but barring that, I don't see it happening. I would look at the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air (or MacBook) lines as an indicator of what to expect for differentiation.
I dont know about the smart connector (mainly for the reason that the iPad Air is too small for a full sized keyboard), but the Pencil HAS to come to the iPad Air. The iPad Pro is awesome but for many it is just too big (also for me). I almost bought one but just couldn't bring myself to do it because I would mainly need it for lectures at university and for that it is just too much.
The main differentiator between the Pro and the Air will be the size and the performance. The Air line hasnt been updated for over a year and they shouldnt hold pencil support back.
The Pencil support is EXACTLY what many, many current Air user or students need.
The iPad has struggled lately. The last thing Apple can allow itself to do is holding back features.
9.7" Retina. No 4K
No 3D Touch
A9X (not sure on recipe)
2g RAM
No Pencil Support
Smart Connector
32g, 128g, 256g.
No 3D Touch until Apple can increase production on the displays. Looks at least 12m away, IMO.
I think they could keep the current resolution and market improved colour, contrast, viewing angles instead as I personally think at this point that's all that needs improved, for me anyway. Going to a P3 colour gamut like the 4K and 5K iMacs would be ideal.
Whose saying Apple will release a new iPad pro in Oct. 2016, that's just speculation? If anything the iPad pro is so overpowered, a second generation release date will be slowed down. Also, since Chinese sells are not so high, I don't think they will be rushing another release of the pro. It may follow the iPad Air 2 footsteps since its overpowered and spring 2017 would be the premier release date for the pro 2. The air 3 will be released in spring 2016 but I see Apple giving it either the A9 with 2 gb ram or the A9X with 2 gb ram with an improved display resolution with no support for the pencil. The air 3 will need the A9X graphics power if the display is 4K. They will do something to not let it compete directly with the pro so the ram should remain the same, but the display may be improved which will be its selling point.
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you guys are funny, the ipad pro will be updated in 2016 calm down, think that the apple watch will be after just one year...
and a watch was meant to be the most not obsolete thing on earth but apple will make it after just 1 year..and you think an ipad pro that is just a tech device will not ?!
keep dreaming
and a watch was meant to be the most not obsolete thing on earth but apple will make it after just 1 year..and you think an ipad pro that is just a tech device will not ?!
keep dreaming
I understand the size as a differentiator argument, but performance may be pushing it. I mean who is lacking performance from their iPad mini/Air? They will need more than that to continue to differentiate the Pro from the rest.
Here is another thought. It is very possible Apple feels you need the size of the Pro to use the pencil. They may have a philosophical point of view that anything smaller than the Pro is not suited for Pencil support. I think the connector, Pencil, and processor will be what continues to separate the Pro from the Air and mini. $200 is already pretty steep for those things. Take any of them away, and it starts to get pretty tough to justify the expense.
That would be really stupid because giving the pencil support for the most popular iPad would actually add value to both products, because developers would be more likely to make pencil compatible apps.
Plus Apple sells more iPad Airs because it's one of the few notable features that can still be added to the tablet right now. And they sell more pencils, which probably have really high margins, and would add a pretty significant amount to Apple's revenue given that they're more expensive than some iPods and Apple TVs.
Not when you want to make a reason to sell iPad pro's. Never said my actual opinion on it but just thinking that is a possibility...
More Apps to support the pencil is a great reason to buy an iPad pro. I'm sure Apple recognizes that the pro's size isn't for everyone, and very few people seriously have a decision to make between the Air and the Pro. They serve completely different markets.
The Air is a very mobile device for times when just using your smartphone won't cut it. The Pro is a device for people who want power and size at the expense of mobility.
The Pro is a better tablet for me (a college student who needs to read a lot of documents and textbooks and take a lot of notes). The Air is a better tablet for a lot of people(who want to easily hold the tablet on the couch, or take it with them to the airport and read on a plane and stuff like that).
iPad Air 3 will definitely have the A9X triple core & 3GB RAM if the iPhone 7 plus will be getting 3GB of RAM.
About the clock speed, I have no idea how they are gonna squeeze this between the Air 2 & iPad Pro benchmarks. There isn't much room to play with there.
It will be a either be minor spec bump if they were to release it on April but with added features like 3D Touch or pencil support...
Or wait till October with a faster processor closer or even better than the iPad Pro with all new features.
3rd generation iPads have always been minor spec bumps (based on history).
About the clock speed, I have no idea how they are gonna squeeze this between the Air 2 & iPad Pro benchmarks. There isn't much room to play with there.
It will be a either be minor spec bump if they were to release it on April but with added features like 3D Touch or pencil support...
Or wait till October with a faster processor closer or even better than the iPad Pro with all new features.
3rd generation iPads have always been minor spec bumps (based on history).
Well , if Apple is really serious about making iOS a platform for productivity performance will always be a diffentiator. There is a lot you can do for example up the RAM, higher clock speed, etc.
Holding back the Pencil Support is just a stupid move for apple simply because the size differences are THAT significant. Yes - they can upsell a few people to an iPad Pro. But ultimately Apple will just end up with frustrated users. It will also slow the progress of the apps itself since the user group of the pencil will be limited.
Perhaps I am wrong. I am mostly just providing another point of view. I think the people here who are saying Apple will definitely have Pencil support on the Air 3 are those that want the Pencil, but not the Pro, and so, in their opinion Apple would be stupid to leave it out. Apple may just believe that a screen with half the real estate may not be suitable for Pencil support. Also, we have no idea what the manufacturing cost of adding Pencil support is. What about the performance and battery cost? Can the Air 3 truly support it without giving up too much in some other area?
I just have a hard time envisioning Apple turning the Air 3 into a smaller version of the Pro for $200+ less. Maybe next Fall when they presumably will have an A10X the Air 3 will launch with the A9X and Pencil support. I just don't know if that will happen any sooner than that without some other major concession to keep them separate.