This is actually somewhat compelling, and the "Apple Tax" appears to be the lowest it's been in a long while. I still have no interest in their walled-garden ecosystem (Yes I am aware that Android isn't a whole lot better) so this isn't for me, but I can imagine a lot of price conscious consumers will be buying these.
But I think a good upbringing / education, can mask many of the differences in average IQ we have between us.
Quote:
I had the advantage of a home where people talked about interesting things, and I had intelligent parents, and I went to decent schools ... I was born at the right time and place. I won the ‘Ovarian Lottery.'
The 13" iPad Pro does have 2x the memory bandwidth of the 9.7" Pro, and the frame buffer would be larger, though I think largely it's just "this is our premium product, and we're sort of acting like you could use it as a laptop, and the larger size means more room for battery, so here's 4GB".
I used an iPad 2 until last fall (once it quit getting updates so was no longer secure) and 512MB was painful, though still got the job done, but oh man are my Air 2 and 13" Pro gigantic improvements.
I really want an iOS laptop (that can be plugged in to a monitor and keyboard too) for my mom. For most things it would work okay, and there'd be less she could do to accidentally install malware. Or just have a super locked down ios-like mode for MacOS (or Windows) to get me the same thing.
I had to log in for this one. I had an iPad air 1 for 30months and that 1GB ram couldn't handle more than 3 tabs in Safari. It was so stressful. Apple were so smug with their software design that they wouldn't dare let you know an error happened so you'd get force closes without an notification about it.
You mean programs in the background closing? That's not really an error, it just unloads stuff when it needs more RAM.
I've not spent a ton of time with 1GB iOS devices. 512MB was really bad from iOS 7-9, though my iPad 2 got the job done. I've really liked my 2GB Air 2 though, and my 13" Pro.
The Air 2 with 2GB keeps a LOT more open before it reloads, and it's storage is a lot faster TO reload stuff. The "Pro" models basically use real SSDs-Apple took their "it's basically an SSD controller although *technically* not because it's missing a few commands or whatever" SSD controller from the Macintosh, chopped it in half and stuck it in the 6s/iPad Pro and newer, which really helps too. (Slow by desktop standards I suppose, but crazy fast by ultra mobile standards!)
I used to think this but ever since I upgraded from a 6+ to a 6S+ with twice the ram, it's been a much better experience. Web pages won't reload as often, switching between apps doesn't force the apps to reload. I understand this may not be important for some but once you experience it, it's quite wonderful. Sure the OS and apps still will work but just not as "smooth."
Well, the Pro is $270 more. Gets you a better screen (though I'm sure this is excellent..that's just more excellent). Faster CPU, 2x the GPU, and some other stuff like better camera (oh, and probably better audio too, though I don't remember if the 10" Pro retains the better speakers of the 13" model).
Depends on what you're using it for and other factors. I feel like the Pro models are overpriced, but that's why this new thing is awesome for me, and I have spent a lot more than $270 for a CPU and GPU upgrade, so...
I've got an iPad 1, and after three years the battery is getting very tired. And the constant reloading of apps when switching between them from only having 1 GB of RAM, and the slightly slow processor, is also beginning to annoy me. So this does look a rather tempting, good-value replacement.
I do wonder if an A10X iPad is going to turn up this spring. Will Apple bother, given the low sales? It's not like MS has put out a Surface 5 either, when the Surface 4 is well over-due replacement.
Oooh, it took me a minute to figure out why you were laughing...my brain had filled in the "Air" part in your original post!
I used a 2 (original 2) until last fall (when it quit getting OS updates so was no longer secure), and made due. I'd hate to think how slow a 1 would be if it could run iOS 10 :-D
And yeah, this really wouldn't be a bad upgrade. The Air 1 has basically identical specs to the iPhone 5s if I'm remembering right? And this model is basically an iPhone 6s, 2 years newer, fairly solid CPU and GPU bumps plus 2x the RAM and whatnot.
I used my iPad 2 through last fall when it quit getting OS (and thus security) updates!
It is RAM starved and kind of sluggish, but still wasn't half bad. I guess I'm keeping it as *JUST* an ebook reader (so I assume security won't be too huge an issue, since it'll always be behind a firewall anyway).
But my iPad Air 2 I bought is an awesome upgrade, and this should be as well! (Actually also have a 13" iPad I use in different situations now too, but I like both, and this price is so nice.)
The Mrs. has one, and its as slow as hell. The Apple store here in Thailand, hasn't the balls, or the intellect to explain the OS is heavier than it was when her device launched.
I've told her to replace it, and she liked a Sammmy Pro tab she saw on this site, but we couldn't get it locally, and well, it was forgotten about for another year. She still clings to her aging, slowing, device.
Oh well, I guess I can only take the horse to the water...
I can't open a second tab in safari without groaning in pain. I'm spoiled for speed, yeah, but the iPad 2/Mini 1/4S were perfectly smooth on iOS6 and then progressively got more and more crapped up. Now even just opening settings is a pain.
agreed. Mine is basically useless it's so laggy. I've considered seeing if I can downgrade it but I don't use it enough to care. I also have an ipad air and it's slower than it used to be but still usable at least.
I think the new version of iOS were written to create hardware obsolescence. There really can't be any good reason a new OS should cause older devices to become so slow, they are unusable, unless it's the intention.
That's biased/subjective and besides the point. The point is that it was perfectly usable and smooth when first bought. Now it's not, even after a hard reset. You don't get this with Android and Windows tablets and smartphones, only with iOS. Which means these devices are intentionally crippled by Apple to force people to buy new ones.
"intentionally crippled" eh? I guess you dont understand that newer software demands more typically? Windows is already a mature platform, it doesnt need much more in the way of resources now with newer versions, hence why it runs so well.
Android, OTOH, runs smooth because you are not getting updates. Please show me an android tablet that got 6 years of updates, AKA an android tablet that went from gingerbread to nougeat. You cant, because they dont exist. I seem to remember the nexus 7 getting mighty slow with android 5, and plenty of complaining. So I'm not sure where you are getting your facts from.
Also, where is your proof that apple cripples older hardware? The ipad 2 running iOS 9 is the equivelant of a pentium D running windows 7. I dont know if you have ever tried that, but it is SLOW.
Apple isnt crippling older hardware, mobile hardware just evolved far, far faster then desktop hardware did at the time. Now we see the mobile world slowing down hard. But claiming that rapid hardware improvements is "crippling" older hardware takes quite a bit of tainted kool-aid.
Well it's not safe to use anymore for general purpose stuff/browsing the web since it's not getting OS updates (though that's STILL no worse than the typical Android device). It would still be okay for some other things, could probably be used for walled garden things, Hulu or Nook or whatever. I used mine until iOS 10.
I upgraded to a pro 9.7 from an air 2 9.7 last year. The air 2 was hands down a better tablet then the pro.
First of all. The air 2 felt faster. I'm pretty sure the 3rd oddball core went to good use in a variety of apps. Also, the battery life was better on the air 2. I don't quite understand that but I used them for the same things, mostly pornhub, and although the pro has stereo sound in landscape it definitely needs to be changed more often and my habits haven't changed over the years.
Somehow that A8X was definitely more power efficient, and presumably the air 2 screen used less power than the DCI calibrated pro screen.
I use air 2 and pro back and and forth and honestly can't tell the difference other than the stereo speakers and the pro does seem to drain battery like nobodys business.
The battery part is scary as my Air 2 I feel like rips through the battery.
My 5.5 year old iPad 2 felt like it STILL got better battery life than my brand new Air 2 gets. In the scheme of things it's not bad, but then almost all mobile devices need MASSIVELY more battery.
Wow, that's weird...the 9.7 Pro does have only a 64-bit memory interface, but I assume also much faster RAM. Other than that the Pro's CPU and GPU have been upgraded. I mean it's "only" 2 cores but for most stuff the faster cores should make it faster or at least no worse.
I use an Air 2 and a 13" Pro with the full 128-bit memory interface and 4GB, and it's faster, although the Air 2 is currently totally fine.
Don't be silly. The iPad Pro 9.7" is the replacement for the Air 2. There is nothing bizarre here. There are two lines, Pro and non-Pro. The only issue is whether the next mini is called "iPad mini" (which separates the brand identity) or whether it is just called iPad 7"
Who will buy this? People who care about PRICE more than anything else. Mainly business, education, and for kids. All people who barely care about even the existence of that front camera.
This notion that common, hard working adults aren't price conscious is nothing but ridiculous. This is what iPads should have been priced at from the start if people kept their heads out of their behinds.
That's not my point. My point is that people who are value conscious (whether in business, ed, or other) are realistic enough to understand that compromises need to be made.
If you're in a bracket where you think that a 1.2MP front camera is "unacceptable" you are NOT the target audience. Just like when you buy a $2 hamburger at McDonalds, you don't complain that you expected a sit-down experience with a sommelier swinging by to discuss which vintage of Diet Coke you'd like to order.
That's a specious argument, very few people would pair wine with a cheeseburger. Upgrading from the 1.2 to a 5MP shooter might have cost what $2 more? This was beyond cost cutting, it's a glaring shortcoming.
I'm not really that clear on why I should care about the camera, personally. I've probably used the front camera on any of my iOS devices less than 10 times in the past 10 years. (Literally)
And then I'm sure it's fine for most uses. I mean video chatting I'm sure it's fine. I'm not going to be doing photography with it, so...
And I don't actually DO video chatting either...I just mean that's the only real use I'd potentially have for it, and 1.2MP would be totally fine, and I'm sure better than on devices I've actually used.
"Thicker and heavier than the iPad Air 2? Nice downgrade."
Apple: this is the Ipad air 2, it's thinner and lighter than the last ipad!
The Internet: jeeze Apple, when are you going to get over your fetish with thinner and lighter? You shrank the battery, that makes the air 2 worse than the old air 1!
Apple: here's our new entry level ipad. We made the battery bigger, and put in a more power efficient SOC, so the battery life will be even better!
The internet: Goshdarnit, Apple, you've taken a massive step backwards, this thing is thicker and heavier than the previous Ipad!
It's notable that it loses the antireflective coating, laminated display, and goes back to the thickness and weight of the Air 1 rather than the Air 2 it "replaces". A9X would have been nice, but I guess they gotta keep the Pros Pro-er somehow.
But other than that, pretty nice value for a fullsize ipad.
I think it still has *a* anti-reflective coating, which is so vital for outdoor use. I'd be disappointed if it's a full regression to the Air 1's coating, which is marginal for use in full sunshine.
Well for $329 that definitely seems like the tablet to buy if you need a tablet for basic consumer stuff. The only other one out there is what a Shield from 2015, or paying $600 for Samsung's 'new' tablet with the Snapdragon 820 SoC my phone from last year has.
Or you could go for one of those cheap 10.1" Atom tablets, which actually works pretty well between the improved performance of cherry trail and the increased fluidity of win10
There isn't a better chip out yet. The newer chips bare satisfy the demand of their new unannounced phones.
The Samsung tablet has much better hardware inside even if the price really is ridiculous for an Android tablet. That AMOLED screen is wasted on ARM tablet. I'd buy it at that price if it had Windows, a ULV processor and UFS storage (Intel doesn't want that though, we'll have to wait for AMD).
Now that people are broke for paying $500+ for ARM tablets (no, they didn't grow up and realize they were idiots all along), Apple is trying to get them to re-buy the tablets that they [Apple] artificially slowed down with software.
I bought an iPad 2 several years back and it was nice and fluid. It's f'ing unusable now even with NO Apps installed after a reset. I still have my first generation Galaxy S in the drawer and its still just as usable as I first got it after I performed a reset. People know this about iOS devices and STILL buy them...................
To be fair, my Air 1 runs better now with iOS 10 than it did new. Mind you, I use Chrome, which has come on leaps and bounds (largely by switching rendering engine to WebKit).
Hey, different browsers for different folks. But, seriously, if you're just using Chrome on an iPad out of habit, you really should look into Safari plus an ad blocker. It is SO MUCH nicer in so many ways.
I have both Chrome and Safari on my iPad (Safari tends to be cluttered with lotsa tabs I am still reading carefully, so I bring up Chrome when I just need to look up a throwaway page) and I'm constantly amazed at how GHASTLY the Chrome experience. A lot of this is no ad-blocker --- so all this beeping blinking crap and "You won't believe how this one trick gave me three dicks and turned my tongue blue" --- but it's also stupid little things like having no Reader mode to reformat pages nicely.
I primarily use Chrome because I use it across phone, tablet and PC, and being able to pick up reading something open on another device is really useful. But by god I wish it had an ad blocker on iOS. But I suppose a Google browser is quite unlikely to block Google ads.
Chrome on Android has a really nice 'make page mobile-friendly' mode now.
Security flaws? ALL OSs have 0 day security holes. What would you prefer? A usable device with a 1 in >100K chance you'd get hacked? Or a device that's relatively unusable after an update to a more secure version to the OS? I mention the iPad 2 because that's the one I have. I've seen iPad 4's and Airs (friends and family) that suffer the same issue. I've also seen Galaxy Note 12's and they're perfectly usable, just like the day they were bought.
Look, there always is a compromise. If I had the choice I'd rather stay on an old version of the OS if it means my device would stay usable. Going back to older versions is extremely difficult on iOS. If you have reason to believe you got "hacked", you can always reset the device.
Why should I be forced to dump a perfectly working device???
I'd buy a Windows tablet over Android any day, both for the security, and because you're getting a real full OS. Windows works well on tablets. I use iPads though as...well, they're probably better as ereaders, work fine for everything else, and there's no Windows Marvel Unlimited.
Windows is your best bet for a secure, fast and fluid OS that doesn't suffer from planned obsolescence, and only gets better with time. It can do everything iPads and Galaxy tablets can do and more. You can use it for whatever you want, whenever. It would stay perfectly usable (probably better than first bought after updates) provided your battery is replaceable and serviced.
I have Windows tablet, Samsung S2, iPad Air. I use the Samsung, I have not touched the Win tab for a year, and the iPad is barely used by children /even they prefer laptops/.
On a tablet, the single thing that makes the biggest difference is the OLED screen. iOS is Kodi unusable/unfriendly. Kodi on Win tablet is VERY slow to launch and frequently crashes.
So, the Samsung has: 1. OLED screen !!! 2. Kodi works and auto updates on it. Apps are available to copy your Kodi install to FireTV/sticks on a single click !!! 3. eBooks reading is easy 4. web browsing in Chrome is quick, browser launches quickly - about 10 times faster than win tablets 5. all above is enough for a consumer tablet usage, for anything more demanding, you should get a proper laptop/desktop/workstation
Samsung's price on the "new" S3 is a joke. However, once it gets to the <$300 territory, it will be a good buy.
Sorry, but 2011's iPad 2 is a dog. It's nice they brought it up to iOS 9.x for compatibility but they should've stopped selling it years before they did. Keeping it as an entry level model hurt the brand. It's garbage. It's multicore Geekbench score is 571. The 2014 Air2? ~4000 in Geekbench. Ignoring the superior GPU and 2GB ram vs 512MB.
Not just the iPad 2, but they should have stopped shipping/never shipped the Mini 1 which was the same hardware.
It worked fine until last fall when it quit getting OS updates, but of course was super slow and I'd gotten almost 5.5 years out of it by that point, versus someone who might have bought a Mini 1 far more recently.
I get the 835 argument, as those are clearly supply constrained. Yet Samsung is a chip maker, Samsung could have supplied a new SoC for this tablet, could have designed one specifically for this tablet. Which at $600 should be done. But instead they used a 2016 phone SoC.
Or the Pixel C. My nephew has one, largely for gaming. It's very, very good. Too heavy for my tastes though -- 500g is the upper limit to hand-hold comfortably, I think.
"Somewhat surprisingly, the company is also offering a version of the tablet with a cellular modem despite the budget-focused nature of the tablet. Unfortunately Apple is still charging a $130 premium for this functionality, which feels especially steep given the tablet’s low base price."
Wow. Apple release iPad Pro. "They suck. Why is everything they sell so expensive?" Apple releases iPad. "They suck. Why is everything they sell so cheap?"
It'll probably be 5 years or so from launch. That's not good, but at least it beats the Android market where they're literally insecure from the day you buy them and never get caught up. (Unless you're buying a Pixel, but even then Google's dumped support after 2 years on their Nexus devices.)
How is the 9.7" Pro a downgrade vs the Air2? Superior performance, display, cameras, speakers, hardware (smart connector and Apple Pencil ability) all in the same physical footprint. How is the Air2 better?
This is a direct response to the drastic drop in iPad sales in Education as they all turn to Chromebooks as a cheaper option that has less theft desirability. Our Apple Reps have repeated commented about their sales in our district drying up like the proverbial river in a drought. This will at least be interesting as its almost price competitive with a Chromebook (not withstanding a MDM license add on for both of them). Though anything with an Apple logo on it is an instant theft target so even if its cheap it won't stop it from being stolen less.
Same as ever. Put a Micro-SD slot in it and I'd be interested. Don't even care if you have to use some proprietary format that can only be used by the iPad itself. Just don't want to be tied to fixed storage amounts. What is this, 2007 ?
Isn't a $50 Kindle Fire a lot more reasonable for a child? Even if you aren't a Prime member to stream kids stuff, you can slap a 128GB micro SD card in there with whatever kids content you want. And when (not if) they drop or otherwise beat it senseless, it's so cheap it is easily replaceable.
Package on package, that is, the RAM and the CPU stacked on top of each other in a two layer package, and appearing as a single chip on the logic board.
Well, there's entry level and entry level. It is Apple's entry level 10" tablet, but in the scheme of things it's high end if anything. The SE was their full current iPhone when it launched, and is still very high end by phone standards and just 1 generation out of date by iPhone standards.
Wow, thumbs up! I bought an Air 2 late last year to replace my no-longer-secure-because-it's-limited-to-iOS-9 iPad 2, and I've been quite happy with it so far.
This is looks like you're getting basically the same thing, for less. The Air 2's CPU/GPU are both better and worse than the iPhone 6s, so for $330 it's certainly good. (I guess it'll actually have better single threaded CPU performance, which is always good!)
Hopefully this will help save people the mistake of buying a cheap Android tablet, and should be supported at least 3.5 more years, if Apple's history of 5 years of support for their recent SOCs holds up.
Wow, Best Buy has a free $25 gift card, I guess this Friday (or starting this Friday?) when you order it (I mean order it on Friday...or however long they offer it).
If you want a full sized iPad, something that's got nice specs at a nice price, even if it isn't the absolute newest (should still get multiple years of security/OS updates) this is a pretty great deal.
It looks to me like they pulled a repeat of the iPhone SE strategy and they have leveraged an older production line (whose cost had already been written down) to produce a less expensive version of a device.
You get the current SOC, in the older iPad Air form factor, with the older iPad Air screen.
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fanofanand - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
This is actually somewhat compelling, and the "Apple Tax" appears to be the lowest it's been in a long while. I still have no interest in their walled-garden ecosystem (Yes I am aware that Android isn't a whole lot better) so this isn't for me, but I can imagine a lot of price conscious consumers will be buying these.jakoh - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
Definitely worth buying to throw as fodder for your kids so they would shut up and grow up dumb as sticks. Thats why i dont own one.michael2k - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as the saying goes. It won't be the iPad at fault if your kids are dumb.Notmyusualid - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
@michael2kHilarious!
But I think a good upbringing / education, can mask many of the differences in average IQ we have between us.
Quote:
I had the advantage of a home where people talked about interesting things, and I had intelligent parents, and I went to decent schools ... I was born at the right time and place. I won the ‘Ovarian Lottery.'
- Warren Buffett
xype - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
"many of the differences in average IQ we have between us"Right-o. The differences between the average IQ you have between the two of you. I’m afraid michael2k wins this one.
StevoLincolnite - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Yeah. I don't own any kids either.****
Also 2GB of Ram when we are a 1/3rd of the way through 2017. Yuck.
TheinsanegamerN - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
1GB iphone 5Ss are still perfectly usable. The miracle of highly optimized OSes and software!I have yet to see a reason to have 4GB on an iProduct. the 12" ipad doesnt do anything the 9.7 cant do.
fasterquieter - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
I always assumed that was there as video RAM. To help push the extra pixels in that model.Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
The 13" iPad Pro does have 2x the memory bandwidth of the 9.7" Pro, and the frame buffer would be larger, though I think largely it's just "this is our premium product, and we're sort of acting like you could use it as a laptop, and the larger size means more room for battery, so here's 4GB".I used an iPad 2 until last fall (once it quit getting updates so was no longer secure) and 512MB was painful, though still got the job done, but oh man are my Air 2 and 13" Pro gigantic improvements.
I really want an iOS laptop (that can be plugged in to a monitor and keyboard too) for my mom. For most things it would work okay, and there'd be less she could do to accidentally install malware. Or just have a super locked down ios-like mode for MacOS (or Windows) to get me the same thing.
Mil0 - Wednesday, March 29, 2017 - link
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/up...damianrobertjones - Thursday, March 30, 2017 - link
Wow! Apple now have a 13" iPad? When was that released!?UglyFrank - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
I had to log in for this one.I had an iPad air 1 for 30months and that 1GB ram couldn't handle more than 3 tabs in Safari. It was so stressful. Apple were so smug with their software design that they wouldn't dare let you know an error happened so you'd get force closes without an notification about it.
Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
You mean programs in the background closing? That's not really an error, it just unloads stuff when it needs more RAM.I've not spent a ton of time with 1GB iOS devices. 512MB was really bad from iOS 7-9, though my iPad 2 got the job done. I've really liked my 2GB Air 2 though, and my 13" Pro.
The Air 2 with 2GB keeps a LOT more open before it reloads, and it's storage is a lot faster TO reload stuff. The "Pro" models basically use real SSDs-Apple took their "it's basically an SSD controller although *technically* not because it's missing a few commands or whatever" SSD controller from the Macintosh, chopped it in half and stuck it in the 6s/iPad Pro and newer, which really helps too. (Slow by desktop standards I suppose, but crazy fast by ultra mobile standards!)
turbocomppro - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
I used to think this but ever since I upgraded from a 6+ to a 6S+ with twice the ram, it's been a much better experience. Web pages won't reload as often, switching between apps doesn't force the apps to reload. I understand this may not be important for some but once you experience it, it's quite wonderful. Sure the OS and apps still will work but just not as "smooth."PixyMisa - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
The miracle of shutting down apps while you're still using them.StevoLincolnite - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Nah. 1GB of Ram is crap.Load up a browser with a heap of tabs... And it will unload tabs to save on memory.
Or if you are multi-tasking it will unload apps to save on memory... So when you switch back it has to load the app again.
You are paying hundreds for these devices, spending a couple extra bucks bolstering the DRAM count is the least we could ask for. Don't be apologetic.
Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
It's fine. 4GB would be nicer, but only the 13" iPad has that so far. 2GB definitely works fine so far, 1.5 years in to the 6s hardware's lifecycle.WinterCharm - Wednesday, March 29, 2017 - link
Well, iOS is very efficient with 2GB of ram.fred666 - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
The Apple Tax is very high on the iPad Pro and iPad mini, both too expensive compared to the new $329 iPad.2 GB RAM on the $1030 iPad Pro 9.7 256GB cellular is the prime example of this.
Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Well, the Pro is $270 more. Gets you a better screen (though I'm sure this is excellent..that's just more excellent). Faster CPU, 2x the GPU, and some other stuff like better camera (oh, and probably better audio too, though I don't remember if the 10" Pro retains the better speakers of the 13" model).Depends on what you're using it for and other factors. I feel like the Pro models are overpriced, but that's why this new thing is awesome for me, and I have spent a lot more than $270 for a CPU and GPU upgrade, so...
damianrobertjones - Thursday, March 30, 2017 - link
Are you 'sure' that the screen is better than previous iPads? I preferred my Mini 4 screen.Meteor2 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
I've got an iPad 1, and after three years the battery is getting very tired. And the constant reloading of apps when switching between them from only having 1 GB of RAM, and the slightly slow processor, is also beginning to annoy me. So this does look a rather tempting, good-value replacement.I do wonder if an A10X iPad is going to turn up this spring. Will Apple bother, given the low sales? It's not like MS has put out a Surface 5 either, when the Surface 4 is well over-due replacement.
Meteor2 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Lol iPad *Air* 1.Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Oooh, it took me a minute to figure out why you were laughing...my brain had filled in the "Air" part in your original post!I used a 2 (original 2) until last fall (when it quit getting OS updates so was no longer secure), and made due. I'd hate to think how slow a 1 would be if it could run iOS 10 :-D
And yeah, this really wouldn't be a bad upgrade. The Air 1 has basically identical specs to the iPhone 5s if I'm remembering right? And this model is basically an iPhone 6s, 2 years newer, fairly solid CPU and GPU bumps plus 2x the RAM and whatnot.
WinterCharm - Wednesday, March 29, 2017 - link
as far as tablets go, there is nothing out there better than an iPad at this price point.osxandwindows - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
goodbye, iPad 2.Still going strong on the latest version of iOS, but its time for an upgrade.
With the prices in the holidays, this is perfect.
Pissedoffyouth - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
>Still going strong on the latest version of iOSLOL
osxandwindows - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
Still usable.:d
Lilietto - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
Usable is already a stretch....even just web browsing is a pain.Araa - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
I've got an iPad 4 and it's "usable", the Air 2 should be doing just fine on iOS 10IcyStorm - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
iPad 2 doesn't refer to the iPad Air 2 - it refers to the 2nd-generation iPad released back in 2011.Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
I used mine through last fall when it quit getting OS updates.Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
I used my iPad 2 through last fall when it quit getting OS (and thus security) updates!It is RAM starved and kind of sluggish, but still wasn't half bad. I guess I'm keeping it as *JUST* an ebook reader (so I assume security won't be too huge an issue, since it'll always be behind a firewall anyway).
But my iPad Air 2 I bought is an awesome upgrade, and this should be as well! (Actually also have a 13" iPad I use in different situations now too, but I like both, and this price is so nice.)
damianrobertjones - Thursday, March 30, 2017 - link
You have a 13" ipad? When did Apple release that? Oh do you mean the 12.9" one? Specifics man... they're important.Notmyusualid - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
@ PissedoffyouthMy thoughts exactly.
The Mrs. has one, and its as slow as hell. The Apple store here in Thailand, hasn't the balls, or the intellect to explain the OS is heavier than it was when her device launched.
I've told her to replace it, and she liked a Sammmy Pro tab she saw on this site, but we couldn't get it locally, and well, it was forgotten about for another year. She still clings to her aging, slowing, device.
Oh well, I guess I can only take the horse to the water...
Meteor2 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Ha ha, same as my sister, still using an iPad 2. If it ain't broke, why fix it? It still loads websites and plays IPTV.tipoo - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
I can't open a second tab in safari without groaning in pain. I'm spoiled for speed, yeah, but the iPad 2/Mini 1/4S were perfectly smooth on iOS6 and then progressively got more and more crapped up. Now even just opening settings is a pain.andrewaggb - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
agreed. Mine is basically useless it's so laggy. I've considered seeing if I can downgrade it but I don't use it enough to care. I also have an ipad air and it's slower than it used to be but still usable at least.Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Yeah, I remember my iPad 2 being fast at first, and still good in 6, and then 7/8/9 were all very slow, though useable.mdw9604 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
I think the new version of iOS were written to create hardware obsolescence. There really can't be any good reason a new OS should cause older devices to become so slow, they are unusable, unless it's the intention.lilmoe - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Still going strong? lolYour standards are pretty damn low brother. It's literally unusable with the latest OS.
TheinsanegamerN - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
I've used ipad 2's running fully updated, and "literally unusable" is quite a stretch.Yes, they are slow and old, but they are still usable for basic web browsing/ video viewing.
lilmoe - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
That's biased/subjective and besides the point. The point is that it was perfectly usable and smooth when first bought. Now it's not, even after a hard reset. You don't get this with Android and Windows tablets and smartphones, only with iOS. Which means these devices are intentionally crippled by Apple to force people to buy new ones.That's unacceptable.
TheinsanegamerN - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
"intentionally crippled" eh? I guess you dont understand that newer software demands more typically? Windows is already a mature platform, it doesnt need much more in the way of resources now with newer versions, hence why it runs so well.Android, OTOH, runs smooth because you are not getting updates. Please show me an android tablet that got 6 years of updates, AKA an android tablet that went from gingerbread to nougeat. You cant, because they dont exist. I seem to remember the nexus 7 getting mighty slow with android 5, and plenty of complaining. So I'm not sure where you are getting your facts from.
hero4hire - Sunday, March 26, 2017 - link
A positive comparison of windows being efficient alongside hardware locked iOS? Is this opposite day in the forums?TheinsanegamerN - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Also, where is your proof that apple cripples older hardware? The ipad 2 running iOS 9 is the equivelant of a pentium D running windows 7. I dont know if you have ever tried that, but it is SLOW.Apple isnt crippling older hardware, mobile hardware just evolved far, far faster then desktop hardware did at the time. Now we see the mobile world slowing down hard. But claiming that rapid hardware improvements is "crippling" older hardware takes quite a bit of tainted kool-aid.
Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Well it's not safe to use anymore for general purpose stuff/browsing the web since it's not getting OS updates (though that's STILL no worse than the typical Android device). It would still be okay for some other things, could probably be used for walled garden things, Hulu or Nook or whatever. I used mine until iOS 10.r3loaded - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
Thicker and heavier than the iPad Air 2? Nice downgrade.osxandwindows - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
Should have made it paper thin so I can brake it easily.What a failur.
/s
osxandwindows - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
*failure.Seriously anandtech, we need an edit feature.
Notmyusualid - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
@ osx....I've suggested they switch to disquss years ago, but they do not seem interested.
And we scratch our heads in disbelief.
Meteor2 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
I much prefer this system. Fast and clean to read, and the lack of an edit button makes you think before posting. Well, it should do ;)Samus - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
I upgraded to a pro 9.7 from an air 2 9.7 last year. The air 2 was hands down a better tablet then the pro.First of all. The air 2 felt faster. I'm pretty sure the 3rd oddball core went to good use in a variety of apps. Also, the battery life was better on the air 2. I don't quite understand that but I used them for the same things, mostly pornhub, and although the pro has stereo sound in landscape it definitely needs to be changed more often and my habits haven't changed over the years.
Somehow that A8X was definitely more power efficient, and presumably the air 2 screen used less power than the DCI calibrated pro screen.
Samus - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
Charged* more often.Byte - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
I use air 2 and pro back and and forth and honestly can't tell the difference other than the stereo speakers and the pro does seem to drain battery like nobodys business.Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
The battery part is scary as my Air 2 I feel like rips through the battery.My 5.5 year old iPad 2 felt like it STILL got better battery life than my brand new Air 2 gets. In the scheme of things it's not bad, but then almost all mobile devices need MASSIVELY more battery.
Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Wow, that's weird...the 9.7 Pro does have only a 64-bit memory interface, but I assume also much faster RAM. Other than that the Pro's CPU and GPU have been upgraded. I mean it's "only" 2 cores but for most stuff the faster cores should make it faster or at least no worse.I use an Air 2 and a 13" Pro with the full 128-bit memory interface and 4GB, and it's faster, although the Air 2 is currently totally fine.
mdw9604 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
You bought an iPad Pro to surf porn? We need to make prostitution legal again. Not enough single women.fanofanand - Tuesday, March 28, 2017 - link
+1Cygni - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
Look at the price. It is not a replacement for the Air 2.Jumangi - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
Well as the Air 2 is being discontinued it basically is.name99 - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
Don't be silly. The iPad Pro 9.7" is the replacement for the Air 2.There is nothing bizarre here. There are two lines, Pro and non-Pro.
The only issue is whether the next mini is called "iPad mini" (which separates the brand identity) or whether it is just called iPad 7"
shabby - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
It took apple courage to do that.1.2mp front camera? What year is this?
andrewaggb - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
I was thinking that too. Would it have been that expensive to upgrade the cameras even a little?michael2k - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
I think that depends on how tightly coupled the ISP, camera, and SoC are.name99 - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
Who will buy this? People who care about PRICE more than anything else. Mainly business, education, and for kids. All people who barely care about even the existence of that front camera.lilmoe - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
This notion that common, hard working adults aren't price conscious is nothing but ridiculous. This is what iPads should have been priced at from the start if people kept their heads out of their behinds.Meteor2 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
+1. Value is important.name99 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
That's not my point. My point is that people who are value conscious (whether in business, ed, or other) are realistic enough to understand that compromises need to be made.If you're in a bracket where you think that a 1.2MP front camera is "unacceptable" you are NOT the target audience. Just like when you buy a $2 hamburger at McDonalds, you don't complain that you expected a sit-down experience with a sommelier swinging by to discuss which vintage of Diet Coke you'd like to order.
fanofanand - Tuesday, March 28, 2017 - link
That's a specious argument, very few people would pair wine with a cheeseburger. Upgrading from the 1.2 to a 5MP shooter might have cost what $2 more? This was beyond cost cutting, it's a glaring shortcoming.Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
I'm not really that clear on why I should care about the camera, personally. I've probably used the front camera on any of my iOS devices less than 10 times in the past 10 years. (Literally)And then I'm sure it's fine for most uses. I mean video chatting I'm sure it's fine. I'm not going to be doing photography with it, so...
Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
And I don't actually DO video chatting either...I just mean that's the only real use I'd potentially have for it, and 1.2MP would be totally fine, and I'm sure better than on devices I've actually used.shabby - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Even the ipad pro has a 1.2mp camera, clearly profit is all apple cares about, you're paying top dollar yet apple blesses you with a shitty camera.Ananke - Thursday, March 30, 2017 - link
Surprisingly, that's 99% of the market :)Glaurung - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
"Thicker and heavier than the iPad Air 2? Nice downgrade."Apple: this is the Ipad air 2, it's thinner and lighter than the last ipad!
The Internet: jeeze Apple, when are you going to get over your fetish with thinner and lighter? You shrank the battery, that makes the air 2 worse than the old air 1!
Apple: here's our new entry level ipad. We made the battery bigger, and put in a more power efficient SOC, so the battery life will be even better!
The internet: Goshdarnit, Apple, you've taken a massive step backwards, this thing is thicker and heavier than the previous Ipad!
Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Yeah, I just...1.4mm? I mean OH NO! I must spend $170 more because 1.4mm will keep me up at night!Makes sense they're reusing the Air 1's case or whatever for a cheaper product.
Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
The Air 2 launched at $500 and this is launching at $330...and it's like 1.4mm thicker, which is totally irrelevant. My iPad 2 still feels fine.tipoo - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
It's notable that it loses the antireflective coating, laminated display, and goes back to the thickness and weight of the Air 1 rather than the Air 2 it "replaces". A9X would have been nice, but I guess they gotta keep the Pros Pro-er somehow.But other than that, pretty nice value for a fullsize ipad.
Meteor2 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
I think it still has *a* anti-reflective coating, which is so vital for outdoor use. I'd be disappointed if it's a full regression to the Air 1's coating, which is marginal for use in full sunshine.Sttm - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
Well for $329 that definitely seems like the tablet to buy if you need a tablet for basic consumer stuff. The only other one out there is what a Shield from 2015, or paying $600 for Samsung's 'new' tablet with the Snapdragon 820 SoC my phone from last year has.Retycint - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
Or you could go for one of those cheap 10.1" Atom tablets, which actually works pretty well between the improved performance of cherry trail and the increased fluidity of win10Meteor2 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Are they still being made? I thought Intel had pulled the plug on older Atoms. They are very good cheap tablets.lilmoe - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
There isn't a better chip out yet. The newer chips bare satisfy the demand of their new unannounced phones.The Samsung tablet has much better hardware inside even if the price really is ridiculous for an Android tablet. That AMOLED screen is wasted on ARM tablet. I'd buy it at that price if it had Windows, a ULV processor and UFS storage (Intel doesn't want that though, we'll have to wait for AMD).
Now that people are broke for paying $500+ for ARM tablets (no, they didn't grow up and realize they were idiots all along), Apple is trying to get them to re-buy the tablets that they [Apple] artificially slowed down with software.
I bought an iPad 2 several years back and it was nice and fluid. It's f'ing unusable now even with NO Apps installed after a reset. I still have my first generation Galaxy S in the drawer and its still just as usable as I first got it after I performed a reset. People know this about iOS devices and STILL buy them...................
lilmoe - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
*barelyMeteor2 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
To be fair, my Air 1 runs better now with iOS 10 than it did new. Mind you, I use Chrome, which has come on leaps and bounds (largely by switching rendering engine to WebKit).I bet that Galaxy S is full of security flaws.
UglyFrank - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
That's because when the Air 1 came out with iOS 7 which was chock-full of bugs. I remember getting multiple random restarts everyday.name99 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Hey, different browsers for different folks. But, seriously, if you're just using Chrome on an iPad out of habit, you really should look into Safari plus an ad blocker. It is SO MUCH nicer in so many ways.I have both Chrome and Safari on my iPad (Safari tends to be cluttered with lotsa tabs I am still reading carefully, so I bring up Chrome when I just need to look up a throwaway page) and I'm constantly amazed at how GHASTLY the Chrome experience. A lot of this is no ad-blocker --- so all this beeping blinking crap and "You won't believe how this one trick gave me three dicks and turned my tongue blue" --- but it's also stupid little things like having no Reader mode to reformat pages nicely.
Meteor2 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
I primarily use Chrome because I use it across phone, tablet and PC, and being able to pick up reading something open on another device is really useful. But by god I wish it had an ad blocker on iOS. But I suppose a Google browser is quite unlikely to block Google ads.Chrome on Android has a really nice 'make page mobile-friendly' mode now.
lilmoe - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Security flaws? ALL OSs have 0 day security holes. What would you prefer? A usable device with a 1 in >100K chance you'd get hacked? Or a device that's relatively unusable after an update to a more secure version to the OS?I mention the iPad 2 because that's the one I have. I've seen iPad 4's and Airs (friends and family) that suffer the same issue. I've also seen Galaxy Note 12's and they're perfectly usable, just like the day they were bought.
Look, there always is a compromise. If I had the choice I'd rather stay on an old version of the OS if it means my device would stay usable. Going back to older versions is extremely difficult on iOS. If you have reason to believe you got "hacked", you can always reset the device.
Why should I be forced to dump a perfectly working device???
R. Hunt - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Tablets are perfect for media consumption and the Amoled display makes that amazing.If you want Windows on it, sounds like what you really want is a laptop.
Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
I'd buy a Windows tablet over Android any day, both for the security, and because you're getting a real full OS. Windows works well on tablets. I use iPads though as...well, they're probably better as ereaders, work fine for everything else, and there's no Windows Marvel Unlimited.lilmoe - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Windows is your best bet for a secure, fast and fluid OS that doesn't suffer from planned obsolescence, and only gets better with time. It can do everything iPads and Galaxy tablets can do and more. You can use it for whatever you want, whenever. It would stay perfectly usable (probably better than first bought after updates) provided your battery is replaceable and serviced.Ananke - Thursday, March 30, 2017 - link
I have Windows tablet, Samsung S2, iPad Air.I use the Samsung, I have not touched the Win tab for a year, and the iPad is barely used by children /even they prefer laptops/.
On a tablet, the single thing that makes the biggest difference is the OLED screen. iOS is Kodi unusable/unfriendly. Kodi on Win tablet is VERY slow to launch and frequently crashes.
So, the Samsung has:
1. OLED screen !!!
2. Kodi works and auto updates on it. Apps are available to copy your Kodi install to FireTV/sticks on a single click !!!
3. eBooks reading is easy
4. web browsing in Chrome is quick, browser launches quickly - about 10 times faster than win tablets
5. all above is enough for a consumer tablet usage, for anything more demanding, you should get a proper laptop/desktop/workstation
Samsung's price on the "new" S3 is a joke. However, once it gets to the <$300 territory, it will be a good buy.
darwiniandude - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Sorry, but 2011's iPad 2 is a dog. It's nice they brought it up to iOS 9.x for compatibility but they should've stopped selling it years before they did. Keeping it as an entry level model hurt the brand. It's garbage.It's multicore Geekbench score is 571.
The 2014 Air2? ~4000 in Geekbench. Ignoring the superior GPU and 2GB ram vs 512MB.
Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Not just the iPad 2, but they should have stopped shipping/never shipped the Mini 1 which was the same hardware.It worked fine until last fall when it quit getting OS updates, but of course was super slow and I'd gotten almost 5.5 years out of it by that point, versus someone who might have bought a Mini 1 far more recently.
Sttm - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
I get the 835 argument, as those are clearly supply constrained. Yet Samsung is a chip maker, Samsung could have supplied a new SoC for this tablet, could have designed one specifically for this tablet. Which at $600 should be done. But instead they used a 2016 phone SoC.Meteor2 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Or the Pixel C. My nephew has one, largely for gaming. It's very, very good. Too heavy for my tastes though -- 500g is the upper limit to hand-hold comfortably, I think.risa2000 - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
"Somewhat surprisingly, the company is also offering a version of the tablet with a cellular modem despite the budget-focused nature of the tablet. Unfortunately Apple is still charging a $130 premium for this functionality, which feels especially steep given the tablet’s low base price."Not only for the modem, but also for the GPS.
Byte - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
all base ipads have GPS already.plewis00 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
No they don't.Byte - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
wow race to the bottom. apple wins.name99 - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
Wow.Apple release iPad Pro. "They suck. Why is everything they sell so expensive?"
Apple releases iPad. "They suck. Why is everything they sell so cheap?"
sorten - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
Apple and Samsung are discovering the limits of the "$800 device to browse the web and play Candy Crush" market.name99 - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
Just FYI the 10" iPad PRO starts at $600...But don't let facts derail your theory.
lilmoe - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Nice. $600 for a device that will be artificially unusable in a couple of years even when the hardware is more than capable.Enjoy.
Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
It'll probably be 5 years or so from launch. That's not good, but at least it beats the Android market where they're literally insecure from the day you buy them and never get caught up. (Unless you're buying a Pixel, but even then Google's dumped support after 2 years on their Nexus devices.)Morawka - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
So the iPad Air 2 is still the best tablet apple has ever made. the pro was actually a downgrade imodarwiniandude - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
How is the 9.7" Pro a downgrade vs the Air2? Superior performance, display, cameras, speakers, hardware (smart connector and Apple Pencil ability) all in the same physical footprint. How is the Air2 better?Meteor2 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
It's a lot cheaper...TheinsanegamerN - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
The pro is only $100 more then the air 2 was at launch, and contains twice the baseline storage, a faster SoC, and longer battery life.Einy0 - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
A much more reasonable price point for tablets.CoreLogicCom - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
This is a direct response to the drastic drop in iPad sales in Education as they all turn to Chromebooks as a cheaper option that has less theft desirability. Our Apple Reps have repeated commented about their sales in our district drying up like the proverbial river in a drought. This will at least be interesting as its almost price competitive with a Chromebook (not withstanding a MDM license add on for both of them). Though anything with an Apple logo on it is an instant theft target so even if its cheap it won't stop it from being stolen less.KPOM - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 - link
Gotta love cheap school districts giving away your kids' browsing/usage data to Google to save a few bucks.helvete - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Feeding the data to Apple is much better. Right?Haawser - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Same as ever. Put a Micro-SD slot in it and I'd be interested. Don't even care if you have to use some proprietary format that can only be used by the iPad itself. Just don't want to be tied to fixed storage amounts. What is this, 2007 ?Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
That's interesting...yeah, $330 is a LOT more reasonable for a child IMO, and it's not bad hardware at all.Bob Todd - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Isn't a $50 Kindle Fire a lot more reasonable for a child? Even if you aren't a Prime member to stream kids stuff, you can slap a 128GB micro SD card in there with whatever kids content you want. And when (not if) they drop or otherwise beat it senseless, it's so cheap it is easily replaceable.TheinsanegamerN - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
*school use. Try to type for a state test on a kindle.TheinsanegamerN - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
AND is far more repairable then any ipad.jimjamjamie - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
"but since the A9 is a PoP design..."what is PoP?
0iron - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Package on packagejimjamjamie - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Thanks!Glaurung - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
"what is PoP?"Package on package, that is, the RAM and the CPU stacked on top of each other in a two layer package, and appearing as a single chip on the logic board.
0iron - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
So, what happen to A10X?Meteor2 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Well, the rumour-mill is now for an unannounced event in April, possibly at the opening of Apple's new HQ building. I'm not convinced.darwiniandude - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
This is entry level. Like the iPhone SE. A10X will be in the Pros when they get updated.Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Well, there's entry level and entry level. It is Apple's entry level 10" tablet, but in the scheme of things it's high end if anything. The SE was their full current iPhone when it launched, and is still very high end by phone standards and just 1 generation out of date by iPhone standards.vladimirovich - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Apple fans will buy this shitWolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Wow, thumbs up! I bought an Air 2 late last year to replace my no-longer-secure-because-it's-limited-to-iOS-9 iPad 2, and I've been quite happy with it so far.This is looks like you're getting basically the same thing, for less. The Air 2's CPU/GPU are both better and worse than the iPhone 6s, so for $330 it's certainly good. (I guess it'll actually have better single threaded CPU performance, which is always good!)
Hopefully this will help save people the mistake of buying a cheap Android tablet, and should be supported at least 3.5 more years, if Apple's history of 5 years of support for their recent SOCs holds up.
Wolfpup - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Wow, Best Buy has a free $25 gift card, I guess this Friday (or starting this Friday?) when you order it (I mean order it on Friday...or however long they offer it).If you want a full sized iPad, something that's got nice specs at a nice price, even if it isn't the absolute newest (should still get multiple years of security/OS updates) this is a pretty great deal.
BillBear - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
It looks to me like they pulled a repeat of the iPhone SE strategy and they have leveraged an older production line (whose cost had already been written down) to produce a less expensive version of a device.You get the current SOC, in the older iPad Air form factor, with the older iPad Air screen.
Meteor2 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
Good spot. I believe the SE has done very well for Apple too.HexiumVII - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 - link
I will christian this the IPad Air SE.TheinsanegamerN - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
And hopefully better battery life if the iphone SE is anything to go by.UtilityMax - Saturday, April 15, 2017 - link
I think the latest pricing reflects what people really want to pay for consumer tablets.