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perhaps i'm missing something but the current ipad air 2 starts at that exact same price point.

Wait, you are joking right? Apple has generally lowered pricing on the older gen model by $100 after one year and introducing the new gen. It's been now 2 years, and Apple is holding the same pricing? Has to be a joke right?
 
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An increase to 32GB for the base model is nice, but again, doesn't justify a price increase. 16GB has been the norm ever since the first iPad was released in 2010. 32GB of NAND storage in 2016 probably isn't more expensive than 16GB in 2010. iPhones have seen their base capacity increase over the years (4 to 8 to 16) without a price increase. Same for iPods and Macs.

16GB in 2010 is probably more the equivalent of 64GB today. 2010 might as well be an eon ago. NAND prices have plummeted since then.

I understand that while the cost of components drops, it doesn't always mean there is a usage case to be made... which is why the 16GB standard has stuck around for so long (albeit a bit longer than most have liked). But what I don't like is the huge chasm between offerings. 32GB *or* 128GB? Where's our 64GB? It's like the iPhone 32GB debate all over again...
 
I'm not surprised but still disappointed.

No doubt Apple will be increasing its average profit per unit with this move.

[...]
Apple is getting really agressive about increasing its profits. Between this, the price of the 12.6" iPad Pro and its accessories, and the price of the new Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad, I'm getting worried a little.

Perhaps. But looked at another way, this is basically a portable Mac mini. Yes, it's not running OS X, but performance-wise it probably beats it and even includes a display. Just Bring Your Own Keyboard. Seems like a pretty good value from that perspective.
 
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Either way you slice it, I'm not sure how one can justify Apple holding the same pricing for iPad Air 2, when they've generally lowered the older gen by $100 after about 1 year product cycle, now it's 18 months, well beyond the usual 1 cycle, I'd say close to 2 product cycles, and they are keeping it the same? It doesn't make any sense, particularly on a product line in decline, other than Apple being arrogantly aggressive with profit margins.
 
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TBH I'm very happy with my iPad Air 2 (managed to buy it from eBay for nearly £220 less six months after it was released to market).

If/when I upgrade to the latest iPad I'll do the same again. It really does need to be "special" to justify the increase in price; adding four speakers and a Smart Connector with a slightly faster processor and more Flash Storage doesn't cut it for me personally.
 
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Or you could just say the update is six months late. ;)
And it offers nothing extraordinary (no more than a typical Apple update) and yet somehow costs $100 more. :cool::p

iPhone 6s offered a significantly faster SoC like iPad Pro will.
It also had and improved display technology with 3D touch, like iPad pro with Apple pencil (sold for $99 separately of course).
iPhone 6s had 2x the RAM iPhone 6 had, like iPad Pro compared to Air 2.
iPhone 6s came out exactly 1 year after iPhone 6.
iPad Pro 9.7" will come out 1.5 years after Air 2.

iPhone 6s costs exactly the same as iPhone 6 did. iPad Pro 9.7" will be $100 more. Sure...Nicely done Apple:rolleyes:
 
Great product but price is steep for a tablet.

In the scheme of things not really. You dont need to upgrade a tablet every year or even 2. It's not like a phone where you get to upgrade after x months and paying monthly on it. Even the iPad Air runs 99% of the apps just fine still and its 2.5 years old now.

iPhones seem to jump a bit more in upgrades than the iPad.

And it offers nothing extraordinary (no more than a typical Apple update) and yet somehow costs $100 more. :cool::p

iPhone 6s offered a significantly faster SoC like iPad Pro will.
It also had and improved display technology with 3D touch, like iPad pro with Apple pencil (sold for $99 separately of course).
iPhone 6s had 2x the RAM iPhone 6 had, like iPad Pro compared to Air 2.
iPhone 6s came out exactly 1 year after iPhone 6.
iPad Pro 9.7" will come out 1.5 years after Air 2.

iPhone 6s costs exactly the same as iPhone 6 did. iPad Pro 9.7" will be $100 more. Sure...Nicely done Apple:rolleyes:

Again, phones are different. They are moving a LOT more volume of phones than tablets. And you are dealing with monthly payments on the majority of the devices sold which locks people into upgrading every year or 2. Unlike tablets very few people pay the full price up front.

As above the Air 1 can still run the vast majority of apps and iOS9 features and is 2.5 years old now. The phones seem to jump tech a lot faster and get more large upgrades yearly. A 2.5 year old iPhone would be the 5S, not much competition to the 6S really; the gap is a lot larger than the Air 1 to Air 2 right now.
 
In the scheme of things not really. You dont need to upgrade a tablet every year or even 2. It's not like a phone where you get to upgrade after x months and paying monthly on it. Even the iPad Air runs 99% of the apps just fine still and its 2.5 years old now.

Have you tried the ipad mini? Regardless, it's still a steep price if you think about what you're getting.
 
I, for one, can't wait.

Sure, I wish the price was the same. But the additions are worth it to me. My only regret is it doesn't support 3D touch, which would allow for better interfaces on the iPad's productivity apps.

I wonder if I'll want the bigger model down the road. I bought it, but returned it. (The software wasn't taking advantage of the bigger screen, and it's not a great companion device to bring along with a laptop.)

Hoping he 9.7 with Pro features is the best of both worlds...
 
Now that Apple has its own banking division with Apple pay, they can charge so much more for their products that it will force people to take Apple pay loans to own them. They already are doing it for the iPhones with their pay twenty something a month for life and get "free" upgrades every year plan. I guess the iPad needs to get a few hundred dollars more expensive for them to do it on those too.
 
Who pays full price for an ipad anyways?
People who buy Apple products at the Apple Store on Black Friday.

Saved 5% off.

While literally every other store (Target, Best Buy, Walmart, Staples, etc.) has like up to 30% of discounts.
 
Were your previous "shut up and take my money" decisions for a 128 GB w/LTE iPad? If not then it seems like the "over $1000" complaint is just something to complain about. If yes, then you are concerned about the $125 increase over the Air 2... I can understand that.

My iPad Air2 LTE is a 64GB model. Fine with 64. Not fine with 32. So if my choice is 32 or 128 then I'm "stuck" with 128, yes.

I'm not "concerned" about $125, it's not like I don't have another $125 laying around. But even when I bought my other iPads I winced a bit at the cost. $1000 for a tablet that isn't really a productive work tool for me but more of a toy isn't something I can wrap my head around. It's too extravagant of a buy even for me.

To make matters worse, unlike Macs which hold their value, iPads do not. So it makes the that kind of purchase even tougher to justify.
 
Maybe air 3 at 499 with no support for pencil or keyboard, but a 9.7 pro at that 599 with smart keyboard n pencil support. Same specs apart from the support.
 
Seems a little unreasonable.
Was unreasonable when Apple introduced the iPad Air 2, with a better case, a more powerful SoC and double the ram for THE SAME PRICE ?
And now, after 18 months, they give a new model for $100 more leaving the old Air 2 at the same price ??? That's insane even for me, an hardcore Apple supporter!
I really hope this rumors are unconfirmed.
 
People who buy Apple products at the Apple Store on Black Friday.

Saved 5% off.

While literally every other store (Target, Best Buy, Walmart, Staples, etc.) has like up to 30% of discounts.

if you want the latest and greatest you pay for it. No one is going to have any % off the new model for months; it is mid-year.

If you think about it in the scheme of things here, and you keep your iPad 24 months then the extra $100 is a whopping $4.17 more per month of ownership.

Even upgrading yearly you're talking $8.33 more per month; a meal at fast food. If you NEED an iPad, not as a luxury toy, then one can justify $8/month easily.
 
Was unreasonable when Apple introduced the iPad Air 2, with a better case, a more powerful SoC and double the ram for THE SAME PRICE ?
And now, after 18 months, they give a new model for $100 more leaving the old Air 2 at the same price ??? That's insane even for me, an hardcore Apple supporter!
I really hope this rumors are unconfirmed.

Wait we agree on this, wow, what's going on? :D
 
So much whining, nagging and frustration. Don't people ever get laid around here? :)

It's a luxury consumption electronic gadget, not food or water or anything one need to survive the day. If one don't like it, one shouldn't buy it. It's like going crazy complaining on clouds because rain is falling from them. Or getting mad at the sun because it sets every day. Better worry about the stuff one can influence and life will become more fulfilling.
 
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