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Next Low-Cost iPad Said to Feature Thinner, Lighter Design

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The ninth-generation low-cost iPad that Apple is expected to debut in 2021 will feature a design that's based on the third-generation iPad Air that Apple introduced in 2019, reports Mac Otakara, citing Chinese supply chain sources.

ipad-air-gold-16x9.jpg

The display size is expected to remain the same at 10.2 inches, but it will be "significantly thinner" at 6.3mm. The current eighth-generation iPad is 7.5mm thick, so a 6.3mm chassis would mark a significant design change. It is also expected to be lighter at 460 grams vs. the current 490 gram weight.

Mac Otakara says that the device will continue to feature a Touch ID Home button and a Lightning port, with Apple declining to transition to USB-C. It is expected to have a full-lamination display, anti-reflective coating, P3 wide color support, and True Tone.

In addition to the ninth-generation iPad, Mac Otakara has some detail on the next-generation iPad Pro models. Mac Otakara says that the upcoming refresh will not see the changes to the display size or the housing, but the A-series chip performance could be "significantly improved."

Mac Otakara does not mention the rumored 12.9-inch iPad Pro model that is expected to have a mini-LED display, which suggests that this is going to perhaps be a standalone high-end model sold alongside updated iPad Pro models that are getting a more standard refresh. Many iPad Pro rumors we've heard to date have also focused heavily on the 12.9-inch model and have suggested that this will indeed be a higher-end version.

Back in December, a rumor from Chinese website cnBeta echoed much of what Mac Otakara had to say today, but claimed that the next-generation iPad will have a 10.5-inch display, an A13 Bionic chip, and 4GB RAM.

That rumor suggested that the new iPad could perhaps see reduced pricing, with Apple selling it for $299 rather than $329. The iPad refresh has been rumored for the spring of 2021, but that may be an optimistic estimate as the eighth-generation iPad was released in September.


Article Link: Next Low-Cost iPad Said to Feature Thinner, Lighter Design
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/01/06/low-cost-ipad-thinner-design/
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Thinner and lighter?
Who woulda thunk it.
But yeah, this sounds exactly like what they would do. The iPad fifth generation was just a recycled version of the first iPad Air from 2013 with updated internals.
The new one is just a recycled version of the iPad Pro 2017 and the iPad Air 2019, but with updated internals.
 
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This really should be called the iPad SE, because that’s exactly what it is.
Take an old iPad design that was recently discontinued, in this case the 10.5 inch footprint, and update the specifications, lower the price, and boom!
The same thing that they do with the iPhone SE series, take an older design, the iPhone 5s or the iPhone 8 design, put a new processor in there, and that’s it.
 
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Wasn't the new iPad rumored to basically be the previous gen iPad Air (chassis and some shared internals)? That would make sense, since it's an entry level model iPad, and they're likely trying to use leftover binned parts, now that the iPad Air has moved to its new form factor. The previous gen iPad Air was also 6.1mm, which is very close to this rumored 6.3mm, and shares the same rumored weight at ~460 grams. The potential price reduction to $299 hardly matters, because many retailers already sell the iPad at this price point year round.
 
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4jasontv said:
Well, weight is one of the biggest issue with the current iPads. Hopefully it’s noticeably lighter.
Click to expand...
after that you will complain that will bend too easy....you people are never satisfied
thinner and lighter= bending easier
Proof are the current ipad pro or tab s7 and so on.....
 
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Blackstick said:
The $329 (often $299) iPad is a gem in Apple's lineup. It's a great value for the money. And the easiest way for people to get into the Apple ecosystem, at this point. Thinner/lighter is always good.
Click to expand...
I watch movies, surf the web, goof around with GarageBand and take notes with my iPad and the $329 is the perfect device for what I do. My only complaint is the 32 gigs fills up fast.
 
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Yeah I’m not going to believe Mac Okatara on this one

the same macokatara who claimed that Apple would release a 4G version of the iPhone 12 (and other wrong reports)

www.google.com

Leak: iPhone 12 Launch Could be Delayed to Late October

A new report from Mac Otakara citing supply-chain sources claim that Apple will not launch its iPhone 12 lineup until late October due to the ongoing pandemic. Apple will first launch its 4G iPhone 12 models in October and then follow it up with the release of the 5G models in November. The...
www.google.com www.google.com

But if I were to believe that this iPad will have a fully laminated display then it won’t be a budget iPad no more (unless Apple can prove me wrong)

but I believe in a 10.5 inch display (and other info) from that December report from that Chinese site, I think 10.2 is still a bit odd for size

also

“In addition to the ninth-generation ‌iPad‌, Mac Otakara has some detail on the next-generation iPad Pro models. Mac Otakarasays that the upcoming refresh will not see the changes to the display size or the housing, but the A-series chip performance could be "significantly improved."

Ummmm A14X will be a massive improvement over A14. How can you put silly words like “could be significally improved” 🤦‍♂️
 
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Blackstick said:
The $329 (often $299) iPad is a gem in Apple's lineup. It's a great value for the money. And the easiest way for people to get into the Apple ecosystem, at this point. Thinner/lighter is always good.
Click to expand...
If the iPad 9 is expected to have the following:

"full-lamination display, anti-reflective coating, P3 wide color support, and True Tone."

Then I'd be surprised if it stays around at $329. I can see it getting a price bump to $399. I hope I'm wrong though.
 
If Apple care about consistency, iPad should be renamed to iPad SE. Like iPhone SE, it leverages older, cheaper design to hit the entry level price point while using newer processor to run modern apps.

iPad Air should be renamed to iPad, which is essentially as good iPad Pro while foregoing few pricier components more demanding users care about (e.g., Face ID, camera system, premium display) to hit the sweet spot.
 
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