Who would buy an iPad Air 3?

[journeyy]

Fair enough, but the A9/X is a rather big step up in performance, that will be the least concern with the device.

 

[sracer]

This is entirely the point. APPLE DID NOT UPGRADE THE IPAD THIS YEAR.
How could you NOT expect iPad sales to fall further?

If Apple wants to boost iPad sales, it needs a compelling upgrade. Improved UI is a great place to start. iPad is not a computer. The majority of iPad buyers don't want a computer. They don't like computers, but iPad does everything they need and they're perfectly happy it's not a computer. Frankly, iOS is a great idea for a phone that fits in your pocket, not iPad! iPad doesn't need to be a computer replacement, MacBook and MacBook Air are the size of iPad and easier to carry and use than iPad if you want a keyboard.​

There's 2 ways to get current owners to upgrade. Compelling New Features (more compelling than features that already exist on iPhone, like 3D Touch - and nothing that makes it more like a Mac, because iPad owners don't want a computer) or a Phenomenal Speed Boost.

Ignoring your flagship product for an expensive niche Pro version is a slap in the face to millions of ordinary iPad owners out there, wondering if there's a good reason to upgrade their slowing vintage iPads.

More importantly, is it a sign of things to come? Apple does not care about iPad owners and it doesn't care about the product. It has the PRO and the Mini for price sensitive customers, both with better profit margins.

Neglect is the only word for it. Any wonder iPad sales are heading south.

And after the iPad 3 experience (upgraded after 6 months to iPad 4 for readers who don't know the history), no one is going to TRUST Apple to do the right thing with a mid-cycle iPad Air update, for fear the curse of the iPad 3 will befall buyers of the iPad Air 3.

The signs are already there—no 3D Touch, Smart Connector but no mention of Pencil support, two features that could well be added on-cycle in September, to the cheering of the media who get every upgrade 'for their job' and not normal users who have to make a buying decision for years ahead.

iPad Air 3 is already cursed. It's cursed by the bitter iPad 3 experience, which seems only confirmed by utter neglect of the product and disrespect already shown to loyal buyers this year.

And even if an iPad Air 3 appears in March, it will be cursed by speculation about a September upgrade! Whether a September upgrade happens at all.

Apple has made its own bed and now it's going to lie in it. iPad sales will take hit after hit for another year, and NOBODY is going to RISK an iPad Air 3, as it's safer to wait for iPad Air 4.

We get it. You got burned by the iPad 3. But your emotions are obscuring the facts. Apple has not had a shortened release cycle since then. (I won't even get into the reasons why it was foolish to buy the iPad 3 at the time. I said so as much back then) People continue to trust Apple. Apple continued to sell more subsequent generations of iPads that the previous ones after the iPad 3.

Speculation is constant. Some of it is organic... generated by those fans and customers who have a strong interest in Apple. Some of it is manufactured... paid astro-turfers who have the role of keeping Apple in the news.

If an Air 3 is announced/released in March, there is virtually zero chance of there being an Air 4 later in the year. If the Air 3 is released in March, depending upon what it offers over and above the Air 2, I'll wait my obligatory 3 months to allow manufacturing to tighten things up and I'll buy one with the full confidence that it will be a fine device.

Apple doesn't have to be perfect (they are far from it), they just have to be better than their competition.

 

[cracksoup]

If only I could stick another GB of RAM in my Air (1) and iOS 10 drastically improved bugs, I would keep my iPad for a long time
I don't feel like one gig of RAM is justifying an upgrade. I simply just lean towards using my laptop more instead...

 

[bufffilm]

The battery will most likely be smaller no matter what because they are adding the 4 speaker system. They might not be identical to the chamber with carbon fibre caps like in the Pro, but they will definitely take up more room than what's in the Air 2. The upgrade to an A9 allows them to make the battery smaller to fit the speakers but maintain the same battery life. Because the A9 is a lot more efficient. As we all know, Apple sets their sights on a specific battery life goal and as the A chips gets more efficient, they reduce the battery size to make room for other things all while maintaining their battery life goal.

I really hope you're wrong about the battery because if you are right, I'm going to be using my iPad2 a lot longer than I expected.

 

[pirata]

I'm pretty happy with my IPP so I don't think I would get an air 3, I do have an ipad3 but I passed it down to my kids.

 

[stylinexpat]

I have an iPad Mini 2. I passed on the Mini 3 and 4 along with the iPad Pro. Now I am hoping to buy the iPad Air 3 provided it comes with nicely upgraded specs which show performance improvements which easily can be seen and felt. Hopefully it will be a nice upgrade from the iPad Mini 2. The upgrades on the Mini 3 & 4 were nothing too special. They were upgrades but no really wow factor.

 

[mrklaw]

I have an iPad Mini 2. I passed on the Mini 3 and 4 along with the iPad Pro. Now I am hoping to buy the iPad Air 3 provided it comes with nicely upgraded specs which show performance improvements which easily can be seen and felt. Hopefully it will be a nice upgrade from the iPad Mini 2. The upgrades on the Mini 3 & 4 were nothing too special. They were upgrades but no really wow factor.

I think the mini 4 was a nice upgrade from the mini 2 - you're right the mini 3 was apple spitting in your eye and charging you $100 for it. Air 3 should knock your socks off

 

[zombierunner]

I would like to replace my iPad mini 4 with the Air 3 but only if it has the 2nd gen Touch ID which is awesome in th iPhone 6s. The iPad mini Touch ID is painfully slow.

 

[RebornProphet]

Not me.

Air 2 is super smooth on iOS 9.3 and loads apps quickly.

It supports everything in the App Store, runs the latest iOS games at full pelt, and has the full suite of iOS features including Split View.

Form factor wise it's thin and light, so I've no urge to upgrade. I'm not interested in a pencil or keyboard and don't see a need for 3D Touch on tablets, so for now it's a no from me.
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If only I could stick another GB of RAM in my Air (1) and iOS 10 drastically improved bugs, I would keep my iPad for a long time
I don't feel like one gig of RAM is justifying an upgrade. I simply just lean towards using my laptop more instead...

Get yourself a deal on an Air 2 mate, more so when Air 3 launches.

The upgrade is worth it, the extra gig of RAM tri-core CPU and that 8 core GPU is felt beneath your fingertips. And the laminated display is so much more responsive.