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Question is what will be under the hood? If it's even remotely close to the pro spec wise and retains the Air 2 price it makes the pro look rather expensive. If they bump up the price it's likely fewer people will buy the Air 3 (and potentially an iPad at all) as they will question why it is. The only way I can see that it might work will be not supporting the pencil and keeping the performance low enough.
 
I just care for RAM really. As long as there's more than 2GB it's a winner for me. There's never too many RAM.

RAM will determine how multitasking will behave

I agree that more ram the better but there are only a small number of iPad's with 2GB vs the millions of iPad's on the market. The majority of people will not notice the difference because developers won't push the limits. It's hard enough getting them to do 3D touch. I personally haven't run into any memory issues on my iPad Air 2.
If you have a iPad Air (not 2) then I would upgrade.
 
For people who appreciate good sound quality output this iPad may be really interesting.

Congratulations... u just got most iPad Pro uses to change their minds..... now it'll only be the pencil that interests them. I'd prefer carry round an iPad Air with four speaks them a 12-inch with the same four speakers.

If Apple keeps bringing more and more features back to older products after they just tried to definite the product line only or newer products only, they'll be more angry buyers.... I don't see how solves anything. Or at least at launch u can say "yay, i bought the iPad Pro because of 2 exciting features."

Now everyone will say "yay, I' just bout the iPad Pro over 1 exciting feature." (screen size and the pencil were kinda made for each)
 
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Reasons to buy an iPad Pro other than pencil and speakers and keyboard and screen size.
iPad-Pro-charts.003.png
ipad-pro-benchmark-1.png
It's now the worlds fastest computer without a fan.
 
I still can't believe Apple discontinued the smart case for iPad Mini 4 and is trying to force people to buy the super expensive and rubbish quality (ugly as hell too) silicone case + smart cover combo instead!that's $80 for a cheap ass ugly rubber sleeve and the front cover..why? why can't user just buy a decent quality smart case anymore? so annoying.
 
This makes a ton of sense. iPad pro is about size, not functionality. Lets get serious keyboard cases for regular iPads.
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If Apple keeps bringing more and more features back to older products after they just tried to definite the product line only or newer products only, they'll be more angry buyers.... I don't see how solves anything. Or at least at launch u can say "yay, i bought the iPad Pro because of 2 exciting features."

Now everyone will say "yay, I' just bout the iPad Pro over 1 exciting feature." (screen size and the pencil were kinda made for each)

I don't see why it's a problem. Technology is going to advance. You get new features in high-end devices first. That's what you're paying for. But eventually that tech is going to make its way to lower end devices unless its held up arbitrarily. And if Apple does that, they open the door for another company to come in and eat their lunch. They have to push things forward.
 
As the proud owner of a Surface Pro 3, I am considering an iPad as my next purchase to complete my Apple ecosystem. Its that I am torn between the Air (small screen) and the iPad Pro (too many compromises and price). I don't want to buy an Air just to downgrade at the same time, its a comfortable size.
Don"t get an iPad Pro if you expect it to replace the Surface in the office, we have 5 iPads Pro in the office and we are changing the them for Surface 4's, iOS is too restrictive in the workplace. The Pro screen size is so much better than an iPad for normal tablet tasks and is the best iPad currently available
 
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The Air line will NOT get pencil support. Not for a while anyways. Why would Apple botch iPad Pro sales? Either way, it will be interesting to see what actually comes out. I don't get the "flash" support on an iPad? Who uses those devices as a camera?
 
So many people are wishing for Apple Pencil support in the new ipad air. Why not just buy the iPad Pro.
I mainly use my iPad like a media consumption device on the couch and love the size. Don't want anything bigger for this use. I want the pencil so I can use it like a Wacom (I have an older Medium Intuos4) with my Mac running Photoshop. The Pro is too much of a niche for my needs, though I am sure it would be nice if I was in Photoshop all the time.

I have the Air2 and don't care about the speakers. I mainly use headphones or AirPlay. I also don't care about a RAM update. The iPad Air 2 never feels slow with the current apps on iOS. I would update if the only change was the Pencil and pressure sensitivity.

The Air line will NOT get pencil support. Not for a while anyways. Why would Apple botch iPad Pro sales? Either way, it will be interesting to see what actually comes out. I don't get the "flash" support on an iPad? Who uses those devices as a camera?
The iPad Pro is a niche product because of the size. Many Pro owners like a larger screen and won't be interested in the 9.7 iPad. The 9.7 is a different and bigger market and Apple has always been more about the bottom line that worrying about butchering another product line.

I am not predicting a change because they had a hard enough time coming up with pencils for the Pro. However, I will buy one if they do.
 
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Apple opted not to update the iPad Air lineup last September when it debuted the iPad mini 4 and iPad Pro, and a new iPad Air 3 has been rumored for release during the first half of this year, most likelyat a March media event.
Quote me on this.

Due to diminishing returns (On both hardware technology, and also new functionality), I have a feeling that Apple will move to a 2 year alternative refresh cycle for the iPad (Akin to Tick–Tock for Intel processors, Battlefield–Battle Front for EA's shooting games, ...).

Year A: iPad refresh
Year B: iPad Mini+iPad Pro refresh.
 
Smart connector would be fantastic!

If you add in a file management system, I would say the price would be almost worth it.. Almost being key ;)

I think the lack of file management system is what has slowed Apple growth in Ipads sector. Without it, you can't justify the price for a lot of people!
 
I doubt they will. The iOS product line (excluding iPods) only just got to 2GB across all devices less than 6 months ago, and given that the vast majority of iOS devices currently being supported still have 1GB, why on Earth would Apple jump to 4GB so soon on anything but the iPad Pro? I don't even see a point to 4GB of RAM on iOS. Sure, some people were starting to feel restricted by 1GB, but are people really feeling that 2GB isn't enough already? What on iOS uses that much RAM unless you feel the need to have 100 browser tabs open? Even desktop OSs can run smoothly on 4GB or less. It's overkill for iOS which still only has the most basic multitasking functionality.
Apple can only raise iPad sales by including features consumers can see and hear. No one cares about RAM except for a small crowd that needs it or cares. Apple doesn't include RAM specs in any of their marketing so why would they lower their profit margins for a market that won't know or care?
 
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Adding
Will adding four speakers not add to the weight to the iPad Air? Will it not make it heavy and thick than the iPad Air 2?
2 more speakers will actually make it lighter. Speakers are mostly air and the thing that will disappear in place of new speakers is battery which weighs more. Just look at inside of an iPad pro and its weight if you need any more evidence.
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That's why I didn't really see the point of the iPad Pro. I was hoping they would just add 4 GB of memory to the iPad Air, and eventually incorporate pencil support. (4 speakers I could take or leave). And it was inevitable that the iPad Air would eventually get the same processor.
You sound like many iPhone owners before they introduced 6 and 6+. Now those people cannot go back to a small iPhone. My iPad pro is not too big and the iPad Air is just too small for serious Pencil use. Don't get me wrong. I want pencil support for a new air but that's only because I have the pencil already. 9.7" is just too small for serious illustrating.
 
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You sound like many iPhone owners before they introduced 6 and 6+. Now those people cannot go back to a small iPhone. My iPad pro is not too big and the iPad Air is just too small for serious Pencil use. Don't get me wrong. I want pencil support for a new air but that's only because I have the pencil already. 9.7" is just too small for serious illustrating.

That's fine if you want to do illustrating, but that isn't really what I do. I can't really imagine using a tablet that big. I'm sure there are some apps that don't scale too well with it as well?
 
I'm hoping the iPad Air 3 gets Pencil support (or at least 3D touch) to get me to upgrade my Air 1. As for it possibly cannibalizing the Pro sales ... maybe a little. It will come down to the same decision people had with buying a 15" or 17" MBP--screen size and power.

Just my 2¢
 
So it's basically a small iPad Pro. I wonder if it'll support the Pencil. That'll be one way to make me regret my Pro purchase.

Pencil support is inevitable. Come March it will have been roughly six months since the iPad Pro was introduced. Anyone who was going to buy one would have done so by now. It makes perfect business sense for Apple to do it. One of the biggest criticisms about the Pro is that it's too big to be portable. A 9.7" iPad with Pencil would be perfect for students. And since Apple just released an iOS update with students in mind....

Personally, I'm not buying an iPad until it supports BOTH the pencil and 3D Touch. OLED would be nice too but now I'm just being greedy.
 
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