[UPDATE: More specs] Apple replaces iPad Air 2 with new iPad

[randomhkkid]

http://www.theverge.com/2017/3/21/14998464/apple-replaces-ipad-air-with-cheaper-9-7-inch-ipad

Quote

Apple exec Phil Schiller said that customers would welcome the new “even more affordable” 9.7-inch iPad. “New customers and anyone looking to upgrade will love this new iPad for use at home, in school, and for work, with its gorgeous Retina display, our powerful A9 chip, and access to the more than 1.3 million apps designed specifically for it,” said Schiller.

Changes:

Apple A8X replaced with 64-bit A9

Price dropped to $329

Battery increased by 19%

iPad Air 1 shell re-used

LPDDR4

 

Lineup:

32GB Wi-Fi $329

32GB Wi-Fi and Cellular $459

128GB Wi-Fi $429

128GB Wi-Fi and Cellular $559

 

Apple 9.7-Inch iPad Family
	Apple iPad 9.7" (2017)	Apple iPad Air 2 (Discontinued)	Apple iPad Pro 9.7"
SoC	Apple A9 2 x Apple Twister @ 1.85GHz?	Apple A8X 3 x Apple Typhoon @ 1.5GHz	Apple A9X 2 x Apple Twister @ ~2.2GHz
GPU	PowerVR GT7600	PowerVR 8 Cluster Series6XT	PowerVR 12 Cluster Series7XT
RAM	2GB LPDDR4?	2GB LPDDR3	2GB LPDDR4
NAND	32 / 128 GB	16 / 64 / 128 GB	WiFi: 32 / 128 / 256 GB
			WiFi + Cellular: 32 / 128 / 256 GB
Display	9.7" 2048x1536 IPS LCD
Gamut	sRGB		DCI-P3
Size and Mass	240 x 169.5 x 7.5mm 469g WiFi, 478g LTE	240 x 169.5 x 6.1mm 437g WiFi, 444g LTE
Camera	8MP Rear-facing f/2.4, 1.1 micron		12MP Rear-facing f/2.2, 1.22 micron
	1.2MP Front-facing f/2.2		5MP Front-facing f/2.2
Battery	32.4 Wh	27.3 Wh	27.5 Wh
Launch OS	iOS 10	iOS 8	iOS 9
Cellular	Category 4 LTE + GPS/GNSS in Cellular SKU
Other Connectivity	2x2 802.11a/b/g/n/ac + BT 4.2, Apple Lightning, Headphone Jack		2x2 802.11a/b/g/n/ac + BT 4.2, Apple Lightning, Headphone Jack, Smart Connector on iPad Pro
SIM	Optional NanoSIM
Launch Price	32GB: $329 128GB: $429	16GB: $499	32 GB: $599 128 GB: $749 256 GB: $899

 

The most significant thing here is that Apple has dropped the entry price into the 9.7" iPad from $499 to $329 whilst increasing the performance, battery life and storage capacity. Interesting that they decided to reuse the iPad Air 1 shell rather than stick with the Air 2 design, perhaps a manufacturing surplus?

 

Edit: Added battery capacity increase, hardware shell and RAM type change, table of iPad comparisons from Anandtech

http://www.anandtech.com/show/11215/apple-announces-2017-ipad-97inch-329

[Sauron]

"even more affordable"

 

rofl

 

-edit-

also why on Earth is the cellular model 120$ more

[SeraphicWings]

It would have been something special if this iPad is compatible with the Pencil

[randomhkkid]

1 minute ago, SeraphicWings said:

It would have been something special if this iPad is compatible with the Pencil

But then customers would have no reason to get the 'Pro'!

[Marine_Boy]

Such different, very wow, many affordable! 

 

[FakezZ]

Isn't the iPad dead already?

[TroubleKlef]

Looks like a good deal. Sad that they removed the laminated display.

[TidaLWaveZ]

1 hour ago, Marine_Boy said:

Such different, very wow, many affordable! 

 

MUCH COURAGE!

[Syntaxvgm]

I cannot remember the last time I saw an iPad in public. 

[pagani123]

Is this the first time Apple had made something that is thicker than its predecessor? 

[asim1999]

5 minutes ago, Maybach123 said:

Is this the first time Apple had made something that is thicker than its predecessor? 

No iPad 3 was thicker than iPad 2 

[FakeNSA]

12 minutes ago, Syntaxvgm said:

I cannot remember the last time I saw an iPad in public. 

They occupy with a deathgrip the market of: I don't want to figure out android, I just want it to work. My father, sister, and mother, as well as grandmother have them.

[Syntaxvgm]

Just now, Aelar_Nailo said:

They occupy with a deathgrip the market of: I don't want to figure out android, I just want it to work. My father, sister, and mother, as well as grandmother have them.

I just see iPhones with that type. At least here and in my experience. 

[Castdeath97]

15 minutes ago, Syntaxvgm said:

I cannot remember the last time I saw an iPad in public. 

Some lecturers seem to use it where I study.

[Sir Asvald]

20 minutes ago, FakezZ said:

Isn't the iPad dead already?

Not really. People use them (Android/Apple). I'd prefer having a table over a laptop for when I travel for a long period of time. It's much more convenient and easy

[FakeNSA]

20 minutes ago, Syntaxvgm said:

I just see iPhones with that type. At least here and in my experience. 

Most people with Ipads dont carry them everywhere from my experience, but rather just use them at home. Like, sitting on a couch browsing FB with it, instead of sitting at a computer. Most of these people also have iphones.

[themctipers]

26 minutes ago, Syntaxvgm said:

I just see iPhones with that type. At least here and in my experience. 

ios for me because:

-long OS support (can i bitch about security?)

-jailbreak (i find jailbreak tweaks that I useto look better, and function better than most android equivalents)

-imessage (some people use imessage over, any other alternative..)

-good performance 

[FakezZ]

23 minutes ago, Abdul201588 said:

Not really. People use them (Android/Apple). I'd prefer having a table over a laptop for when I travel for a long period of time. It's much more convenient and easy

Or just use a smartphone and only carry one device?

[Dietrichw]

I am one of the few people that carries an iPad in my bag every day instead of a laptop.

[Sir Asvald]

1 minute ago, FakezZ said:

Or just use a smartphone and only carry one device?

Not when I want to watch a movie or do some work.... How I am going to type on a small screen? 

[Sir Asvald]

1 minute ago, Dietrichw said:

I am one of the few people that carries an iPad in my bag every day instead of a laptop.

Same here! Although I use an Android table. 

[Scruffy90]

Just now, Abdul201588 said:

Not when I want to watch a movie or do some work.... How I am going to type on a small screen? 

People do legit work on tablets still? That's got to be some what painful. 

[FakezZ]

Just now, Abdul201588 said:

Not when I want to watch a movie or do some work.... How I am going to type on a small screen? 

Then just use a laptop? Seriously I think it's been years since I last saw someone using a tablet...

[TroubleKlef]

39 minutes ago, Maybach123 said:

Is this the first time Apple had made something that is thicker than its predecessor? 

6s is thicker than the 6.

[Sir Asvald]

Just now, Scruffy90 said:

People do legit work on tablets still? That's got to be some what painful. 

Yeah. Office, word, emailing. Some people will use their phones for emails, but I like a bigger screen with a lot of surface area.