iPad Air 2 & iPad mini 4 updated (Sept. 7, 2016)

[Eug]

They've been updated, but just with more storage.

Are we going to have yet ANOTHER year with the iPad Air 2?!? I got my (first) iPad Air 2 in 2014.

 

[manly]

It doesn't make a ton of sense for them to release an Air 3. It would probably be as powerful as the 9.7" Pro without a few ancillary features. They could charge $449/$499 for it but that could have 2 consequences:
somewhat lower 9.7" iPad sales due to the higher price
shift of sales from the 9.7" Pro to the Air 3 due to better value

Don't know what they will do long-term. It's a little bit like the smaller MacBook (Air) situation where they could arguably cut a product out of the line-up.

 

[sxr7171]

The tablet market seems to be a dying market. It's seems like there is no room for any real improvement. The iPad Pro is as far as they could push the pricing on these. There's no motivation to cannibalize that.

 

[Oyeve]

They made the air 2 so good that it doesnt need a new version.

 

[ControlD]

They made the air 2 so good that it doesnt need a new version.

The iPad Pro 9.7" is the new version. The Air 2 became the mid-range iPad at that point.

I didn't really expect another 9.7" iPad replacement to be announced and I imagine the next one will be the 9.7" Pro 2 whenever that is slated for release.

 

[TheStu]

When they update the iPads Pro (maybe in the Spring?) to bring them to tech parity (4gb min RAM in both, TrueTone display in both, etc.), then they can take the existing iPP9.7, and call it the Air 3

 

[Midwayman]

Well, it makes me feel good with my launch air 2 I guess.

I suppose they don't want to leapfrog the pro and have it be slower. Probably wait to update the pro to the A11x and then we will get an a10x ipad air 3.

 

[Newbian]

They made the air 2 so good that it doesnt need a new version.

This helps keep their value a lot and my year old air 2 is happy still.

 

[amyklai]

I think part of the problem is that a lot of people (myself included) use tablets for decidedly "non-pro" stuff that doesn't require much cpu power, like web browsing, reading, looking at pictures, reading emails etc.

The iPad Air & Air 2 still work well enough for these people and the iPad Pro prices (629€ for 32 GB, 769€ for 128 GB here in Germany) make upgrading rather unappealing.

IMO, the "Pro" focus is detrimental for the iPad's broad market appeal. From what I can see, the number of people who actually replace their notebooks with iPads is practically non-existant, and it is priced too high for the companion device status that it has for most.

Also, here's my completely non-scientific market research on Amazon.de:
iPad Air 2 64 GB: sales rank #22 in tablet pcs
iPad Pro 9.7 32 GB: rank #239 in tablet pcs
iPad Pro 9.7 128 GB: rank #962 in tablet pcs

Ouch.

 

[Midwayman]

With larger phones out I just think tablets are in a tight spot. A 7+ is big enough for people who are tight on budget. Its still missing a lot of function as a real PC. Anyone other than a very casual user will run into roadblocks on an ipad as their primary computing device. I like mine, but if I didn't need it for a lot of PDFs I read I might have stuck with e-ink for my reader. My 6S+ is honestly good enough for what I need to do away from home otherwise.

 

[Eug]

For the most part I've stopped carrying my iPad Air 2 around, since the 7 Plus now is big enough for light usage.

The only thing is I get the impression that the iPad Air 2 has slightly better WiFi reception than the 7 Plus does.

 

[Tyranicus]

I can't speak for the 7 Plus, but the iPad Air 2 definitely has better reception than the iPhone 6S. I was in a vacation rental at the beginning of the month with poor wifi, and my iPad could connect in places where my iPhone couldn't even see the network.

 

[manly]

Best Buy has the iPad Air 2 (32 and 128 GB models) on sale for $75 off list.

 

[Ajay]

I recently picked up and iPad Air 2 32GB from my local Apple store since they gave me $50 for my old iPad 2. Too bad I missed that BB deal.
Otherwise, I'm very happy with the Air 2, the 9.7" Pro seemed a bit faster - but I didn't think it was worth the extra $$s.
The biggest pluses are Retina display & AC networking (though it's much faster in every respect).

 

[pcslookout]

I am waiting for the iPad 9.7 Pro 2 until I upgrade.

 

[Ajay]

Well, whatever gets the A10X ought to be very fast. I have noticed a couple of ridiculously media heavy web pages that scroll jerkily and one crashed page. Maybe the Pro would have been better - the Pro 2 sure will be. Still a happy camper.

 

[pcslookout]

Well, whatever gets the A10X ought to be very fast. I have noticed a couple of ridiculously media heavy web pages that scroll jerkily and one crashed page. Maybe the Pro would have been better - the Pro 2 sure will be. Still a happy camper.

Yep.

 

[Eug]

Well, whatever gets the A10X ought to be very fast. I have noticed a couple of ridiculously media heavy web pages that scroll jerkily and one crashed page. Maybe the Pro would have been better - the Pro 2 sure will be. Still a happy camper.

The 9.7" Pro has a faster CPU but is still stuck with 2 GB RAM.

In this size for the vast majority of people it makes the most sense to either get the cheaper Air 2 now or wait for the Pro 2.

 

[Ajay]

That's a great point Eug - and figured into my decision.

 

[Commodus]

Barclays analysts are citing supply chain sources with talk of iPad updates in March that would include 9.7- and 12.9-inch models as well as a new "bezel-less" 10.9-inch version, so it might be worth holding out for anyone who wants a new high-end model.

Personally: I think they're wrong about the 9.7-inch version being a Pro model. My hunch is that this will replace the Air 2, and that the larger models are the real Pro variants. That'd mean a redesign for the 12.9-inch Pro as well.

Either way: if there really is a 10.9-inch model, that's what I'm getting. My original iPad Air is definitely showing its age, and a huge rework with a larger display in the same overall dimensions would be just right.

 

[Ajay]

I'd be surprised if the market would support 3 Ipad models well - especially a 9.7 & 10.9" (too close in size).
I read some rumors back of a 10.5" display - may make sense since there are Android tablets this size.
Guess we'll have to wait to find out for sure.

Edit: typo

 

[Midwayman]

I'd be surprised if the market would support 3 Ipad models well - especially a 9.5 & 10.9" (too close in size).
I read some rumors back of a 10.5" display - may make sense since there are Android tablets this size.
Guess we'll have to wait to find out for sure.

Unless they segregate it somehow. Pen support, ram, etc. Can totally see them making the pro slightly larger to justify a price hike.

 

[Ajay]

It would only make sense if it boosted sales - which is averaging something like 11M units/quarter for 2016.

 

[Midwayman]

It would only make sense if it boosted sales - which is averaging something like 11M units/quarter for 2016.

Well sales are one thing. Profit is another. If they can move a good number to a higher margin product even with the same units it is a win.

 

[amyklai]

The 9.7" Pro has a faster CPU but is still stuck with 2 GB RAM.

In this size for the vast majority of people it makes the most sense to either get the cheaper Air 2 now or wait for the Pro 2.

Yeah, coming from the Air 2, it really doesn't make much sense to upgrade to another machine with 2 GB RAM. Besides that, there would have to be tangible improvements for my use cases (mainly simple stuff like browsing, reading, videos) - but the Air 2 is already "good enough" for that, so I'll probably keep using it for the foreseeable future.