Three New iPads Said to Launch in March, Including Bezel-Free 10.9-Inch Model

[Neepman]

It will be interesting to see how they kill off the millions of 9 inch ipads out there still working flawlessly. Even my first Gen has 5 plus hours of battery life would be all I needed if they hadnt crippled the OS.
[doublepost=1478913755][/doublepost]

I always laugh at any story about Apple products that suggests a "low-cost" model..!

" Low cost" is defined as whatever tablet you could get with android OS for 80 percent less money.

 

[Tycho24]

They can make all the changes to its appearance that they can possibly think of, but until it has a more useful operating system (with access to the file system!), they are missing out on a huge market. If they would have done it sooner, the MS Surface wouldn't have gained near so much ground.

Lol, gained so much ground??
I don't think that means what you think it means.

Note: see attached chart
[doublepost=1478916086][/doublepost]

Very weird that Apple is continuing to include a legacy port on their new products. One would assume they don't actually consider it to truly be legacy.

Omg. Stop. Really. Please. Just STOP!!!!!!

Can you really not comprehend that space is at a premium on a phone, but not on a tablet or notebook??
Apple said they removed the headphone jack for these reasons:
1) room for new double-sized TapticEngine
2) along with virtual home button, allowed for easier waterproofing
3) allowed for greatest battery life of ANY iPhone thus far
So..... we can see that if there are benefits, they do it. If not, they don't.
Case in point:
MacBook & iPad have PLENTY of room for it; removal of it would not allow for a noticeable increase in battery, like in the iPhone. Nobody is clamoring for a waterproof iPad & MacBook, and that is clearly not in the works.
So........ there was a trade off to be made. Make some people mad, but give others more battery than ever, and water resistance. With the iPad & MacBook THERE IS NO TRADE OFF!!!!!!!!!!! If they removed it, it would make some people mad.... & give others zero benefit.
So, why remove it?
Just to be jerks?
No.
They realize some people use it. I don't see it disappearing from iPad for at least several more iterations, & only if there becomes a compelling reason. I don't see it disappearing from MacBook for the foreseeable future.

 

[Abazigal]

Maybe they'll surprise us with an iPhone SE2 since they did that last year? iPads are interesting but the novelty has worn off for me for the most part. If they did a bezel-less iPad mini retaining the same screen but reduced bezel that would be nice. I'd like one to be closer to a Kindle Voyage size. And, for pete's sake, Apple can't you come up with a design that makes the iPad comfortable to actually hold for any length of time. Reading on an iPad is torture unless you have something to prop it up for you.

As a teacher, I walk around the classroom with iPad Pro in one hand and Apple Pencil in the other, sometimes for more than an hour on end. And I don't find it tiring or a strain to do so.

 

[blackcrayon]

With an iPod touch iOS running it, what can you expect?

Apple has taken zero advantage of the larger size. Well, other than bringing multitasking, 2 years after the competition had it.

I guess... In the same way a 5k imac doesn't take advantage of the larger size over a 12" MacBook.

 

[Tech198]

I'd go for the bezel-free iPad, ... if my Air 2 ever dies.

I'm starting to wonder even Apple doesn't even know how big a tablet should be... sine every other year they come out with increased sizes. I would of thought 10 inches would be enough, but nope. They'll still getting bigger.

 

[cmaier]

I'd go for the bezel-free iPad, ... if my Air 2 ever dies.

I'm starting to wonder even Apple doesn't even know how big a tablet should be... sine every other year they come out with increased sizes. I would of thought 10 inches would be enough, but nope. They'll still getting bigger.

It's not bigger. The screen is bigger but the device is not.

 

[Tech198]

It's not bigger. The screen is bigger but the device is not.

at one point they will need to increase the size of device once they hit the edge to make more room for large edge to edge screens. That's my point.

 

[Scary Spice]

down down bezel!

 

[cmaier]

at one point they will need to increase the size of device once they hit the edge to make more room for large edge to edge screens. That's my point.

Huh? I don't understand what you are saying. At what point will they need to do that?

 

[kb3tzt]

It’ll be interesting to see how Apple handles inadvertant touches along the edges of the device. With no bezel, there’s not “safe” place to grip the device while holding it. The OS will have to determine what’s a deliberite touch vs indiscriminate touch.

apple will come out with the hover pad attachment.... so you wont have to hold it at all. it will float in front of you, and you will just tap away with it. Wait, theyll make it so you need the usb-c to thunderbolt to firewire to lighting to 110 adapter to keep it juiced up. seriously though i considered a pro model but by the time i got the storage and size i needed, it wasnt that much more to get a macbook. the idea of apps vs full blown versions of my software didnt stick to well. actually i found a 2015 macbook with 512gb ssd cheaper than a large ipad pro with pen, brand new factory sealed in a b&m store. just as portable and easier to hold imho.

 

[cmaier]

i found a 2015 macbook with 512gb ssd cheaper than a large ipad pro with pen, brand new factory sealed in a b&m store. just as portable and easier to hold imho.

Since the MacBook is bigger and heavier, it's not "just as portable." And why add the price of the pen to the iPad - does the MacBook come with a pen?

 

[dampfnudel]

iPad mini needs a refresh. I'm afraid that with Apple profits come before pleasure. Please don't disappoint.

Maybe Apple will wait until early 2018 to introduce the bezel-less, home button-less, 3D Touch OLED iPad mini 5 and if someone really wants a more up to date iPad before then, you'll have to get the 9.7" or up.
[doublepost=1478931729][/doublepost]

Not updating the mini? Boo. I guess my mini 2 will stay.

My mini 4 will probably stay until 2018 when (fingers-crossed) Apple releases a 7.9" OLED, bezel-less iPad mini 5 or 6 with a similar design to next year's iPhone 8 and A11/3D Touch.

 

[44267547]

What about non-Pro? I would prefer a cheaper one with no pencil support.

Agreed. The Apple Pencil has no significance to me. I would prefer the iPad for a lesser value without various unwanted features for some.

 

[Wanted797]

And we begin to see the expansion of Apple's product line, like before Steve returned.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

Lol, gained so much ground??
I don't think that means what you think it means.

Note: see attached chart
[doublepost=1478916086][/doublepost]

Omg. Stop. Really. Please. Just STOP!!!!!!

Can you really not comprehend that space is at a premium on a phone, but not on a tablet or notebook??
Apple said they removed the headphone jack for these reasons:
1) room for new double-sized TapticEngine
2) along with virtual home button, allowed for easier waterproofing
3) allowed for greatest battery life of ANY iPhone thus far
So..... we can see that if there are benefits, they do it. If not, they don't.
Case in point:
MacBook & iPad have PLENTY of room for it; removal of it would not allow for a noticeable increase in battery, like in the iPhone. Nobody is clamoring for a waterproof iPad & MacBook, and that is clearly not in the works.
So........ there was a trade off to be made. Make some people mad, but give others more battery than ever, and water resistance. With the iPad & MacBook THERE IS NO TRADE OFF!!!!!!!!!!! If they removed it, it would make some people mad.... & give others zero benefit.
So, why remove it?
Just to be jerks?
No.
They realize some people use it. I don't see it disappearing from iPad for at least several more iterations, & only if there becomes a compelling reason. I don't see it disappearing from MacBook for the foreseeable future.

Not to disagree with you or anything, but did you do the chart yourself? Think maybe your "May" bar needs to be renamed, perhaps to Sept?

 

[Steve.P.JobsFan]

All I have to say is this: Thank god for JUMP! On Demand from T-Mobile.

I've had a 12.9-inch model since they came out, just switched to the 9.7-inch Pro a week or so ago. I knew there would likely be a refresh come spring, so I'm happy that when these new models come out, it just takes one phone call to T-Mobile and I can swap out for no cost.

More on topic: I think a bezel-less iPad would be great, especially if they can fit a bigger display in the same footprint as the 9.7-inch model. The only reason I "upgraded" to the smaller display was because the 9.7-inch model is (IMO) the best size for portability and daily use. Productivity isn't as great compared to the 12.9-inch, but a 10-inch model would fix that and definitely be the sweet spot.

 

[pika2000]

My mini 4 will probably stay until 2018 when (fingers-crossed) Apple releases a 7.9" OLED, bezel-less iPad mini 5 or 6 with a similar design to next year's iPhone 8 and A11/3D Touch.

I don't even need 3D touch. All I want is Pencil support. Oh well.

 

[DCIFRTHS]

It’ll be interesting to see how Apple handles inadvertant touches along the edges of the device. With no bezel, there’s not “safe” place to grip the device while holding it. The OS will have to determine what’s a deliberite touch vs indiscriminate touch.

This concerns me as I like the bezels for the reason you stated.

Also, from the article: I don't see how a Home button could be completely removed with out a major overhaul of iOS

 

[cracksoup]

it's just not innovative. Unless apple has an ipad version of iOS many of us will sit these new versions out.

we just dont need a big iphone.

Don't know about you but I can't sit with my iPhone taking notes at class. I also don't want to sit with Netflix or YouTube for a longer period of time on my iPhone but I'd be more than happy to do that on my iPad.

I think people are judging the iOS software just because it was originally a phone OS. However I think it's quite capable and it's even better on the tablets with multi window, keyboard cases, tablet designed apps etc. It's much more capable than the iPhone even if they share the same grid of icons.

 

[chrisrosemusic1]

I will assume you meant macOS..?

I don't think he does - I think he is saying that the iPad is a big iPhone, which is actually isn't. I wouldn't want a completely different OS on the iPad, iPhone and Mac. Ball ache.

 

[zen]

Not sure a bezel-less iPad would work. How do you hold it when reading books, magazines, newspapers, etc?

 

[ValO]

I'll wait until March before upgrading. I was interested in the 9.7 Pro. If Apple can implement 3D Touch into one of the models, consider me sold.

3D Touch just isn' t intuitive on an iPad compared to 3dtouch on an iPhone . You can' t hold it in the same hand, so you can' t apply counterforce for a firm press. When you lay it on a flat surface you will be able to do that. But when it is on the Smart Keyboard stand it will feel flimsy.
Betting on 3D Touch with the use of an Apple Pencil on an iPad . Would still love a convertible between a MacBook/macOS and iPad/iOS though. With a new smart keyboard with trackpad and perhaps even a toolbar and a dual boot system or something like that. Without the Smart Keyboard , you' ll only be able to choose iOS, with the Smart Keyboard attached you' ll be able to choose between both iOS and macOS .
No doubt it will cost some serious $$$$.

 

[Tycho24]

Not to disagree with you or anything, but did you do the chart yourself? Think maybe your "May" bar needs to be renamed, perhaps to Sept?

No. That's the most recent I could find.

 

[ValO]

I don't think he does - I think he is saying that the iPad is a big iPhone, which is actually isn't. I wouldn't want a completely different OS on the iPad, iPhone and Mac. Ball ache.

I would like an iOS on the iPad that has more features, just like pip and split screen are now distinctive features for iOS on the iPad. We have iOS, macOS , watchOS , tvOS, I would love padOS, or something like that, that makes the gap between macOS and iOS a little bit smaller.

 

[MacBH928]

the 9.7 is the perfect size for me and other than spec bumps and enhancement I can't see anything more I want, my Air 2 still works great.

The problem is software which is retarded by today's standards. Please try to understand iOS was made for a non-app store iphone in 2007 not to run pro-software.

We need an OS jump like OS 9 to OS X.