It started with iPad Mini last year. Apple left it out. This year they left iPad Air out. And next year they'll update iPad Air and leave the mini out of update. With tablet sales declining this looks like Apple's strategy. What do you people think?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
So it looks like Apple will update iPad once every two years.
- Thread starter mdridwan47
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I think Apple with "Manipulate" the timeframe to suit what they wish to sell.
Think about it:
This year we have our customers again, that are looking forward, with money ready to buy the latest, this years model iPad.
However, this year, we wish to launch a more expensive iPad Pro.
Naturally we'd like people to give us more money and buy the iPad Pro, than to buy a new normal iPad.
So, let's give them nothing to buy in the normal iPad Line.
The only new thing they could put there money into would be the more expensive iPad Pro.
Think about it
Think about it:
This year we have our customers again, that are looking forward, with money ready to buy the latest, this years model iPad.
However, this year, we wish to launch a more expensive iPad Pro.
Naturally we'd like people to give us more money and buy the iPad Pro, than to buy a new normal iPad.
So, let's give them nothing to buy in the normal iPad Line.
The only new thing they could put there money into would be the more expensive iPad Pro.
Think about it
The short release cycles frequently discouraged me from buying a new device, so I'd certainly welcome it. I believe they'll play by ear, though, depending on the market situation. Releasing an Air 3 this fall might have cannibalized the Pro sales, but I don't know that it really indicates a permanent change of Apple's release strategy.
Exactly.
They will modify release/update cycles to best suit them.
And as you say, a great new iPad Air 3 would only of damaged sales, and moved focus away from the Pro.
You after the latest and greatest iPad for 2015/2016 there "IS" only one device for you to buy.
An iPad Pro.
Apple have deliberately made sure of that.
I can't blame them, it's good sales tactics to make the most money, which is what they are in business for.
They left the air out this year to focus on the iPad pro. Leaving out the air I don't think is a thing that will happen again.
Problem is people don't always see the need to replace their tablets every year. They are already great as it is.
Problem is people don't always see the need to replace their tablets every year. They are already great as it is.
Exactly.
This, dare I say, has been Apple's problem. their lack of idea's/innovation.
Ever since the launch of the iPad1 many years ago, all they have REALLY done is:
1: Fit a ok'ish, but never great camera, without a flash into the back of the device.
2: Made it faster.
3: Made it thinner and lighter
4: Offer it in 3 colours.
That's pretty much the extent to Apple's imagination over the past 5? years.
And they wonder why people are not upgrading to the latest model every time?
FINALLY with the iPad Pro they have actually REALLY done something.
Albeit, they still can't get past the habit of the ok-ish camera with no flash on the rear, when for literally just a few dollars they could have put an iPhone 5 or 6 camera and flash unit into the device and eliminated this one weak spot.
That and there didn't seem to be enough stuff to add to the iPad air 2 to make a worthy update. Aside from a faster processor, what else is there? 3D touch is likely constrained by iPhone 6S demand, it already has 2gb of ram and an 8 mp camera, and you can't really make it any thinner without further compromising battery life.
Heck, they updated the iPad mini last year and all it got was touch-ID and a new colour option.
The Air didn't need an update. The device is still great and shows no signs of slowing down. I don't mind this if it's true because it still means I have the lastest and greatest iPad Air model haha.
Although at first, I was pretty peeved that there was no Air 3 this year, the more I think about it, I can understand why Apple held off. Being that, for Apple, the tablet market is only 5 years old, they are probably starting to rethink their strategy. I'm not so sure that the tablet market is declining so much as market saturation. Of course there are those who will upgrade their devices every year, for the average consumer, the iPad can last as long as a laptop. I am currently on my last week with an iPad 3 as my Air 2 is going to arrive, but I really don't NEED to upgrade. We are upgrading 4 iPads this year because over the next couple years our "play money" will be going towards some trips. So it's either upgrade now or wait a couple more years. Unless Apple comes out with some sort of iOS/OS X hybrid, which we've heard is not what they are interested in, iPads aren't going to see any major changes - just spec bumps and new features.
Not enough data to draw a conclusion. This year is unusual because of the launch of the Pro.
I think what we are seeing is Apple staggering the schedule in order to direct sales to what they feel is important.
2013: iPad Air + iPad Mini 2 released.
Both fantastic machines So there's parity in release schedule. Buy what you want.
2014: iPad Air 2 vs iPad Mini 3.
Air2 is substantial upgrade and Mini3 was clearly a placeholder and focus was shifted to pushing Air2 sales.
2015: iPad Air 2 vs iPad Mini 4 vs iPad Pro
Mini4 catches up with solid specs but is inconsequential. Air2 is a placeholder and gets no update in order to shift focus on a new product line with Pro.
2016: iPad Air3 + iPad Pro2
Once again Apple can reach parity since they're all "old" devices. So Air and Pro can both get their respective missing features. Force Touch. Pencil Support. Smart Connector. They're all the same machine again so buy what you want.
Maybe we'll see some skipping still (2products updated, one left behind) but where we are now then I believe all 3 products are placeholders since they all seem to be missing pretty important features that exist elsewhere in the iOS lineup.
Here's another thought I had: What if next fall, along with the iPad Pro 2, Apple comes out with the all-new iPad with an 8.8 inch screen? They'll go back to just 2 models with one being smaller than Air but bigger than the Mini, though possibly keeping 16gb models of the Air 2 and/or Mini 4 as their "inexpensive" option....
A A9 next year with the Air 3 . I bet the Pro won't be changed for two years as well. Remember Apple will never let their Pro model be outshined or equaled by any regular iPad.
That would make no sense whatsoever the A8X is FASTER than the A9, which would make the entire affair a downgrade. This also brings up another reason the air wasn't updated, the processor is still the fastest out there and will be second to only the pro with the A9X.
Oh really? That's news to me. If I check out the iPad mini timeline it looks to me so as if there was a "new" model every year.
If I am not wrong, my iPhone 6S+ is showing faster geekbench scores than the ipad air 2. So the A9 is actually faster, though I am not sure how critical that 3rd core in the A8x processor is to features like split-screen multitasking.
I was hoping for an Air 3 that took care of a few of the annoying issues that the Air 2 has. But, I'm not surprised they didn't refresh it. No need to. Oh well, nothing wrong with my Air 1. Onward I go.
Foxconn can't hire more lazy workers and Apple is not accepting abused employees so it slow down on making all iPad line.
https://browser.primatelabs.com/ios-benchmarks
This is the official geek bench site, if I may ask what score do you get on your 6S+? I'd be interesting with this whole new "two different A9 chips" if one is faster than the air 2 and one falls behind, enough that the overall score for the phones falls below the air 2.
in real life test, is the 6s really that much faster than Air 2? I thought Air 2 was a power house
The tablet market in general has a lack of imagination. Also, why do you need a flash on a tablet camera?
It's got nothing to do with it being a "Tablet Camera" there should, by default be a flash unit on any stills camera, there has been since the early days of photography.
If you actually think about it. Phones are carried more in the daytime, and tablets, are in general, though not 100% more indoor/home devices, often being used more in the evenings etc, hence generally tablets will be used in more low light areas as a whole. Low light = not good for camera and more noise/grain.
Also if you wish to use the camera as a kind of document capture device, again having extra illumination is good, the size of the tablet could also obscure more light too.
For the sake of $5 why not?
What are the advantages in NOT having a flash ? None.
Think also of how MASSIVE a tablet battery is compared to a phone, also, the physical space inside the device.
It's just silly to deliberately make a camera worse by not having a flash for the times someone may want one.