New 9.7-Inch iPad Hands-On: 'Very Familiar' Update Benefits From Apple Pencil Support and A10 Fusion Chip

[mattster16]

I just bought the 2017 iPad 2 days ago. Ugh. Now I'm one of THOSE people I always disparage for not doing their research. I traded in my iPad 4 to Apple for $105 and applied to the new iPad.

This might sound shady to some, but should I just return the one I bought? It's opened and I've used it. I just really want the A10 (don't care about pencil as much) so I'm future proof for longer before Apple decides to stop providing software updates. Will Apple let me do that?

I buy a crap ton of stuff from Apple - 2 watches, 2 sets of airpods, macbook pro, macbook air, 2 other ipads, a homepod, iphone x, iphone 7s. So I really don't feel guilty about it.

 

[Sunshoopa]

Air 2 started at $399 not $329. Even with refurbs, 2017 iPad 32GB WiFi is $239 while Air 2 32GB WiFi is $289 and even the Air 2 16GB is $269.

It's matter of personal preference whether one finds the air gap intolerable. We've got the Air, Air 2, Pro 9.7 and 2017 iPad and the air gap doesn't bother anyone in our household.

I really didn’t know about this air gap back when I had my iPad Air. Main thing I noticed when I upgraded to the 10.5” is the improved blacks resulted from it.

You actually took the time to look that up. Wow. Just. Wow.

Eh? I knew that by memory as well. Not really that hard to remember...

 

[rui no onna]

I just bought the 2017 iPad 2 days ago. Ugh. Now I'm one of THOSE people I always disparage for not doing their research. I traded in my iPad 4 to Apple for $105 and applied to the new iPad.

This might sound shady to some, but should I just return the one I bought? It's opened and I've used it. I just really want the A10 (don't care about pencil as much) so I'm future proof for longer before Apple decides to stop providing software updates. Will Apple let me do that?

I buy a crap ton of stuff from Apple - 2 watches, 2 sets of airpods, macbook pro, macbook air, 2 other ipads, a homepod, iphone x, iphone 7s. So I really don't feel guilty about it.

Apple offers a money-back guarantee to ensure customers are happy with their purchase and that's factored in to their product pricing. Personally, I'd return it and get the 2018 iPad.

 

[hajime]

It's bad. Basically on iPad Pro it will feel like the content is right on top of your screen and you are actually touching the content while on this iPad the content will feel like it's inside the screen. The Air gap makes the screen cheaper to replace but compromises on brightness. The iPad Air 2 had a laminated screen at this price bracket so Apple is being very miserly here with this screen.

Thanks. I have been using the iPad PRO 12.9" for about two weeks. Did not notice that the content is right on top of my screen.

 

[rui no onna]

I really didn’t know about this air gap back when I had my iPad Air. Main thing I noticed when I upgraded to the 10.5” is the improved blacks resulted from it.

The deeper blacks may be due to HDR and not the fully laminated display.

 

[Sunshoopa]

The deeper blacks may be due to HDR and not the fully laminated display.

Hm... maybe! I saw some article or people on forums talking about it awhile back said laminated displays don’t reflect onto the glass so it doesn’t trap light thus making darker blacks.

 

[FasterQuieter]

I wonder how much they save using 18-month old silicon rather than 6-month old. $2? I have no clue, but I'd love to know. Seems to me that the fewer cores is differentiation enough from the Pro. No need to use such old tech.

 

[roncron]

To those of you who say this event is boring, keep in mind that it wasn't really intended for us. It was intended for two groups.

The education part is not about the product, which we all agree is way behind the curve. It's about software and the experience of using iPads in classrooms.

The other group is the mass market consumer, the person who when shopping for a phone doesn't care about FaceID or OLED displays or dual-lens cameras, but just wants a good-performing iPhone and would be perfectly happy buying an iPhone 7. The budget iPad line is the iPhone 7 of iPads. The tech is nearly two years old, but the iPad is a fairly mature product in many ways and the average mass-market consumer would be perfectly happy with this new budget iPad.

Some of you expect that Apple's share of the education market isn't likely to increase much despite the education-targetted hardware and software introduced today. I agree. The new budget iPad is still expensive for schools, especially when you throw in the Apple Pencil. For the same $400, schools could buy a full Windows laptop that can do just about anything educators might need, or two Chromebooks that can be used for internet research, writing papers, doing spreadsheets, and some other tasks. Apple's educator software seems kind of cool (I'm a college professor and follow this stuff a bit), but it isn't mature or versatile enough for widespread market penetration, IMHO.

 

[ersan191]

I just bought the 2017 iPad 2 days ago. Ugh. Now I'm one of THOSE people I always disparage for not doing their research. I traded in my iPad 4 to Apple for $105 and applied to the new iPad.

This might sound shady to some, but should I just return the one I bought? It's opened and I've used it. I just really want the A10 (don't care about pencil as much) so I'm future proof for longer before Apple decides to stop providing software updates. Will Apple let me do that?

I buy a crap ton of stuff from Apple - 2 watches, 2 sets of airpods, macbook pro, macbook air, 2 other ipads, a homepod, iphone x, iphone 7s. So I really don't feel guilty about it.

... so return it? There’s nothing shady about it, I don’t understand - you get 14 days to return it for any reason.

 

[jacjustjac]

Okay I’ve read a few MacRumors articles about the new iPad now and they don’t ever seem to mention the capacity of the new iPad...

Also, wow, you can see that air gap from space!

 

[rui no onna]

I wonder how much they save using 18-month old silicon rather than 6-month old. $2? I have no clue, but I'd love to know. Seems to me that the fewer cores is differentiation enough from the Pro. No need to use such old tech.

iPad Pro is A10X, latest gen iPhone is A11. Iirc, A11 is faster or same speed as the A10X in a number of benchmarks. Probably not ideal for Apple to have the $329+ iPad be faster than the $649+ one.

 

[jamesrick80]

I just bought the 2017 iPad 2 days ago. Ugh. Now I'm one of THOSE people I always disparage for not doing their research. I traded in my iPad 4 to Apple for $105 and applied to the new iPad.

This might sound shady to some, but should I just return the one I bought? It's opened and I've used it. I just really want the A10 (don't care about pencil as much) so I'm future proof for longer before Apple decides to stop providing software updates. Will Apple let me do that?

I buy a crap ton of stuff from Apple - 2 watches, 2 sets of airpods, macbook pro, macbook air, 2 other ipads, a homepod, iphone x, iphone 7s. So I really don't feel guilty about it.

No brainer......return

 

[ersan191]

Okay I’ve read a few MacRumors articles about the new iPad now and they don’t ever seem to mention the capacity of the new iPad...

Also, wow, you can see that air gap from space!

32GB or 128GB - you can literally order it right now - apple.com

 

[kiranmk2]

Shame the UK pricing is still rediculous. Last year, the exchange rate was $1.2:£1 so £329 made sense (our VAT rate is 20%). Now however, the exchange rate $1.4:£1 so I would expect a price of £299 (exchange rate + VAT gives ~£280, so even £299 gives Apple a healthy UK profit)!

 

[Knightcastle]

I really hope the new iPad has 3GB RAM. The discontinued budget iPad only had 2GB and that’s not enough for modern games, AR and 4K video.

It can't play 4K video

 

[ersan191]

It can't play 4K video

You've been able to playback 4K video since the Air 2 (anything A8 or newer)... There's just not much point since the display resolution is nowhere near 4K

 

[dogslobber]

Sounds like this 2018 iPad is the true successor to the Air 2. Looks like the same form factor and not fraudulent like the terrible 2017 model. Well done, Apple.

 

[rui no onna]

Sounds like this 2018 iPad is the true successor to the Air 2. Looks like the same form factor and not fraudulent like the terrible 2017 model. Well done, Apple.

Nope. 2018 iPad is same form factor as 2017 and iPad Air. Note the thickness in the specs and size of battery.

 

[chrfr]

I just bought the 2017 iPad 2 days ago. Ugh. Now I'm one of THOSE people I always disparage for not doing their research. I traded in my iPad 4 to Apple for $105 and applied to the new iPad.

This might sound shady to some, but should I just return the one I bought? It's opened and I've used it. I just really want the A10 (don't care about pencil as much) so I'm future proof for longer before Apple decides to stop providing software updates. Will Apple let me do that?

I buy a crap ton of stuff from Apple - 2 watches, 2 sets of airpods, macbook pro, macbook air, 2 other ipads, a homepod, iphone x, iphone 7s. So I really don't feel guilty about it.

You should definitely contact Apple. They will allow you to return the one you have or they might offer you some money back on the older one you already have. Personally, I'd return and get the new model.

 

[myrtlebee]

Was under the impression that the display was laminated to the glass like the Pros when I purchased mine this afternoon. Every 2017 iPad I tried had dust under the glass... oh well, will see what happens when it gets here. Worth a try. Beyond that, I also hope the gap doesn't interfere with sketching on the iPad with the pencil.

 

[Wags]

2 little 2 late. you have already lost the education market. should have held it while you had it

Tim has been too busy saving the world

 

[kazmac]

I just bought the 2017 iPad 2 days ago. Ugh. Now I'm one of THOSE people I always disparage for not doing their research. I traded in my iPad 4 to Apple for $105 and applied to the new iPad.

This might sound shady to some, but should I just return the one I bought? It's opened and I've used it. I just really want the A10 (don't care about pencil as much) so I'm future proof for longer before Apple decides to stop providing software updates. Will Apple let me do that?

I buy a crap ton of stuff from Apple - 2 watches, 2 sets of airpods, macbook pro, macbook air, 2 other ipads, a homepod, iphone x, iphone 7s. So I really don't feel guilty about it.

Yes, Apple will be glad to do the exchange. If I were you, I'd return for a new one.

 

[jeremiah256]

I don't believe Apple will be able to compete with Google ChromeBooks and Chromebook Tabs (Ugh! WTF marketing department?) in education for the most part, with iOS devices. There is more overhead (both in labor and funds) required to manage, maintain, and deploy iOS devices verses Chrome OS devices.

Apple's best products for education are the Mac Mini and MacBook Air, with excellent software like iMovie, Clips, Garageband, iWorks, etc. on one hand, and the legacy ports schools still use (and will use in the foreseeable future) on the other. Schools couldn't order them in large numbers, but a mixture of Chromebook devices and low cost Macs would be a great combination.

Unfortunately, Apple has not indicated whether either device is going to be around for the long term.

 

[dogslobber]

Apple's best products for education are the Mac Mini and MacBook Air, with excellent software like iMovie, Clips, Garageband, iWorks, etc. on one hand, and the legacy ports schools still use (and will use in the foreseeable future) on the other. Schools couldn't order them in large numbers, but a mixture of Chromebook devices and low cost Macs would be a great combination.

Schools shouldn't be buying technology in the first place. There's no proof that it has any value.

 

[roncron]

I just bought the 2017 iPad 2 days ago. Ugh. Now I'm one of THOSE people I always disparage for not doing their research. I traded in my iPad 4 to Apple for $105 and applied to the new iPad.

This might sound shady to some, but should I just return the one I bought? It's opened and I've used it. I just really want the A10 (don't care about pencil as much) so I'm future proof for longer before Apple decides to stop providing software updates. Will Apple let me do that?

I buy a crap ton of stuff from Apple - 2 watches, 2 sets of airpods, macbook pro, macbook air, 2 other ipads, a homepod, iphone x, iphone 7s. So I really don't feel guilty about it.

You should totally return it. Apple expects and welcomes returned products purchased within 2 weeks of the announcement of new products. This is very normal. If you don’t return it, you’ll probably always regret it.