Leaker: Apple to Launch New Low-Cost iPad This Year With A12 Chip

[MacRumors]

Apple's eighth-generation iPad will arrive this year and feature an A12 chip, according to an anonymous Twitter account with a thus-far proven track record for forthcoming Apple product leaks.

Apple's seventh-generation iPad, introduced in September 2019, was an iterative update to the sixth-generation low-cost iPad, with a larger 10.2-inch display and support for new accessories. However, it used the same A10 Fusion chip as the sixth-generation iPad.

On Thursday, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple is working on two new iPad models, which include a 10.8-inch ?iPad? and an 8.5 to 9-inch ?iPad? mini. These new iPads are expected to launch in the second half of 2020 and the first half of 2021, respectively.

Kuo said that he believes the two new ?iPad? models will follow the ?iPhone SE?'s product strategy, which means affordable price points. The existing low-cost ?iPad? is 10.2 inches, so it's not clear if Apple plans to introduce larger-sized tablets or increase the available display size through bezel reduction.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1261199214605787137

Rumors aside, it would be reasonable to expect a new entry-level iPad this year, as the device has been updated annually for the past three generations. Also, the A10 chip was first used in the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, so there's a good case for arguing that it's about time Apple took the processing power up a notch in its most affordable iPad. The A12 chip first appeared in the iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and the 2019 versions of the iPad Air and iPad Mini.

In recent weeks, the anonymously-run Twitter account "L0vetodream" has noted that some products and components have been delayed, including the new iMac models and the A14 chip. It has also hinted at a 2021 release for a rumored 14-inch MacBook Pro.

The Twitter account accurately revealed several details about the new iPhone SE before any other leakers that we know of, including that the device would launch in the second week of April and come in three storage capacities. Likewise, the account accurately claimed that new iPad Pro models would launch in the third week of March.

Article Link: Leaker: Apple to Launch New Low-Cost iPad This Year With A12 Chip

 

[EugW]

A12 is exactly what we expected although I might have guessed early 2021 with Covid-related delays.

The questions now are:
Size: 10.2” or 10.5” or 10.8”
RAM: 3 or 4 GB
Security: Touch ID or under-screen Touch ID
Storage: Entry level 32 or 64 GB

I might have guessed 10.2” with 3 & 32 GB and conventional Touch ID, but some rumours point to 10.8” with under-screen Touch ID.

 

[BMcCoy]

If it's an A12 10.5 inch iPad, with 3GB RAM, touch ID, 64GB base storage and upgraded front camera to 7M from 1.2M, then isn't that just a 2019 iPad Air?

 

[nicho]

Security: Touch ID or under-screen Touch ID

I don't see new technology in the bottom of the line iPad.

It doesn't even have the 2nd gen touch ID sensor that the air and mini have.

 

[EugW]

If it's an A12 10.5 inch iPad, with 3GB RAM, touch ID, 64GB base storage and upgraded front camera to 7M from 1.2M, then isn't that just a 2019 iPad Air?

No laminated screen thin screen, and no True Tone or wide colour gamut. Also, no anti-reflective coating.

Plus the iPad Air will get updated.

I don't see new technology in the bottom of the line iPad.

It doesn't even have the 2nd gen touch ID sensor that the air and mini have.

That’s why I predicted 10.2” and conventional Touch ID, but some seem to be predicting 10.8”.

 

[chucker23n1]

I still don't understand the positioning of $329 iPad vs. iPad Air.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Apple's been killing it with the iPad lately. Great job!

Just imagining how will they fare when/if Mac switches to ARM...
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I still don't understand the positioning of $329 iPad vs. iPad Air.

The cheapest iPad is for those who want an entry into the tablet world, and really don't care about the size or weight. There are also specific scenarios where customers may be willing to forgo the Air in favour of something as cheap as possible, such as interfaces in shops for customers to use.

It's unlikely the Air is that that much more expensive to manufacture, but Apple can position more expensively because, in this instance, less is more.

 

[rizzo41999]

So many models.

 

[tharitm]

Dear Apple, please give the base model iPad USB C, Apple Pencil 2, and thank you very much. You can take my money then.

 

[chucker23n1]

The cheapest iPad is for those who want an entry into the tablet world, and really don't care about the size or weight. There are also specific scenarios where customers may be willing to forgo the Air in favour of something as cheap as possible, such as interfaces in shops for customers to use.

It's unlikely the Air is that that much more expensive to manufacture, but Apple can position more expensively because, in this instance, less is more.

Yeah, I understand the $329 iPad. But the $499 Air just doesn't really add that much. It needlessly confuses the line-up, a lot like the 13-inch $1299 Pro when the $999 Air and $1799 Pro exist.

 

[MrGimper]

I feel non-laminated screens really annoy me more than they should.

 

[EugW]

The Air makes a lot of sense to me. I would not buy an entry level iPad for myself, but would have considered the Air (although I bought the prev. gen refurb 10.5” Pro instead for less money). The Air takes most of the best features of the Pro and offers it for less money, whereas the Pro gets all the cutting edge stuff... for $$$$.

I suspect the Air outsells the Pro, due to cost.

 

[Zdigital2015]

So many models.

Four (4) models is not “so many models”. Good grief!

iPad mini - smallest, most portable
iPad - cheapest
iPad Air - best for most
iPad Pro - highest end, fastest, pick a size

A very simple lineup, actually.

 

[chucker23n1]

I feel non-laminated screens really annoy me more than they should.

It probably makes sense for the education market. Higher risk of damage; therefore, higher need for repairability.

 

[manu chao]

Yeah, I understand the $329 iPad. But the $499 Air just doesn't really add that much. It needlessly confuses the line-up, a lot like the 13-inch $1299 Pro when the $999 Air and $1799 Pro exist.

They just need to have something in the line-up between $329 and $799. So they went to the parts bin and created something that fits in-between feature-wise. Same with the 2-TB-port 13" MBP.

 

[EugW]

It probably makes sense for the education market. Higher risk of damage; therefore, higher need for repairability.

It makes sense for the education market because it’s the cheapest.

Plus, while some people like some of us like the laminated screen, most people really don’t care. Maybe it’s partially because they don’t know any better but regardless, for most people its just not a significant factor. I bought my wife the 10.2” iPad and she loves it. I got her the 128 GB LTE model. If I were forced to choose one for myself and had a more limited budget, I’d strongly consider cellular over a laminated screen.

 

[Joniz]

I still don't understand the positioning of $329 iPad vs. iPad Air.

I would pay the extra for the Air simple because of the laminated display. That’s the difference, one has some higher quality parts, more for the personal shopper, while the other is as inexpensive as possible for bulk-buying institutions. And the Mini, which has the qualities of the Air, are for those institutions that need small enough to slip into the cargo pocket of scrubs or something. (Which is why I have the Mini.)

 

[chucker23n1]

They just need to have something in the line-up between $329 and $799. So they went to the parts bin and created something that fits in-between feature-wise. Same with the 2-TB-port 13" MBP.

Yeah, but both of those strike me as poor in-between-neither-here-nor-there fits.

 

[UltimaKilo]

If I was at Apple, I would argue for a March 2021 release and simply slash the iPad price down to $299 until then.

 

[JosephAW]

Yes but is it waterproof like my iPhone 11?

 

[44267547]

So many models.

This seems to get brought up a lot, and I always ask in return “Is that a problem?” Usually I never see a member reply back with a logical answer, but choices are a good thing. You have price point segments for every consumer and different spending limits in terms of what they ‘need versus what they want’. The iPad line up Diversifies so much in terms of offering something an entry-level with some older tech and obviously the iPad Pro including Apple Pencil support/Face ID, etc.

if Apple didn’t have enough models, then you would have others saying ‘why do they have so few‘, it seems like there is no perfect median why Apple has too many models, but again, that opens up an array of choices to a wider demographic, and it just adds to more net sales long-term.

 

[kiranmk2]

I wonder why the A11 had so little use - just the 8/8+/X - no iPads, iPods etc

 

[calstanford]

Too many models out there. I don’t see why you’d need more than Pro (which already comes in two distinct sizes!), Air and Mini.

 

[rwalle]

USB-C please! We are in the year of 2020 now

 

[44267547]

Yes but is it waterproof like my iPhone 11?

Your iPhone 11 is actually IP68 water resistant. But I don’t know that an iPad really requires an water resistance compared to our phones have so much more exposure, but I never have encountered anyone that wanted their iPad to be water resistant, I’m not sure that would be a major selling point. But that doesn’t mean Apple couldn’t consider it at least, but that would also require different types of sealants/gaskets, so I’m not sure how that would change the internal housing of the iPad.