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iPad 10th Gen IPad a mistake?
- Thread starter jwolf6589
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Chip, RAM, display, Pencil 2, Stage Manager, USB speed, $150.
It could increase the size of the pie, the way iPad Air does alongside iPad Pro.
It could increase the size of the pie, the way iPad Air does alongside iPad Pro.
I think there is a broad consensus that the new iPad line-up is weird and convoluted. I think the Ars Technica review summarises the 10th gen iPad perfectly - it's great device in isolation, but it's awkwardly positioned and not great value:
"if you're just looking for a [basic iPad], look no further than the $329, ninth-generation iPad; this 10th-generation model's Air-like redesign doesn't add anything essential to that, but it adds at least $129 to the price.
If you're looking for a productivity and creative device for taking notes, typing on the go, and top-notch performance—in other words, the full iPad experience—you can grab the iPad Air, starting at $599...
If you want all of that but in a smaller package, get the iPad mini. Or if you're a creative on the go with huge performance needs and the desire for the cutting-edge in display technology and more—and price is no object—the iPad Pro is the best one for you.
It's not that the iPad is bad. It's just not the best choice for anybody in particular." (emphasis added)
Despite the general negative consensus around it, I bought one and got it yesterday, and it’s fine. I really like the blue they chose since it’s got actual *color* and isn’t a bland shade. It’s very close to the blue they used on the later iPods.
I figure I’ll do a small review in a few days, but I think this model exists because Apple probably had data/commentary from Apple stores and other retailers that customers wanted something nicer than the 9, but cheaper than the Air.
We’ll see if that proves to be right.
I figure I’ll do a small review in a few days, but I think this model exists because Apple probably had data/commentary from Apple stores and other retailers that customers wanted something nicer than the 9, but cheaper than the Air.
We’ll see if that proves to be right.
Exactly and they summarized it quite well. For me i’d rather go with the 9th Gen than the latest budget iPad. In fact I would ignore both the 10th Gen and Air and consider the 9th Gen or the 11” iPad Pro. With the Pro you leapfrog the two in between iPads.
I already have a 9th Gen and wanted a new iPad and decided to go with the M2 11” Pro. You get more RAM and storage for a couple hundred more.
I think the 10th-generation iPad looks like a good device (Pencil issues aside) but the pricing is just wrong.
It reminds me of what Apple did with the iPhone 5c. A good product, but too close in price to the 5s (in the UK).
The iPhone Minis were probably the same. The 1st and 2nd generation iPhone SEs sold well, appealing to those that wanted a cheaper and/or smaller device, but when Apple launched the Mini, it pitched it as a premium device. If Apple reintroduces the same design as a future budget model, I think it will be successful.
I expect Apple to lower the price of this iPad when they finally retire the old design, but at the moment, it’s just too expensive for its intended market. There’s too much competition from Apple’s other iPads whether that be the 9th-generation, 5th-generation Air, or discounted and refurbished older models.
It reminds me of what Apple did with the iPhone 5c. A good product, but too close in price to the 5s (in the UK).
The iPhone Minis were probably the same. The 1st and 2nd generation iPhone SEs sold well, appealing to those that wanted a cheaper and/or smaller device, but when Apple launched the Mini, it pitched it as a premium device. If Apple reintroduces the same design as a future budget model, I think it will be successful.
I expect Apple to lower the price of this iPad when they finally retire the old design, but at the moment, it’s just too expensive for its intended market. There’s too much competition from Apple’s other iPads whether that be the 9th-generation, 5th-generation Air, or discounted and refurbished older models.
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Agreed. At $449, the 10th gen is too expensive while wages have been flat and haven’t kept up with inflation.
This one needs to be priced more along $349-399 but I reckon that will come after the 9th gen is dropped from the lineup.
Disagree with Ars Technica and the consensus — even dismay — here on Mac Rumors.
The iPad line-up makes great sense and is a classic Tim Cook move, with improved devices for “marginally” more money.
Set aside the Pros and focus on the iPad 9, 10, and Air. In each case, for a relatively “nominal” amount of extra money, you get a substantially improved device. (Typically, Cook prices devices in $100 USD increments; these are slightly more).
iPad 9 vs. 10
For $120 more in the U.S., the 10 gives you
iPad 10 vs. Air
For $150 more, you get
I feel no confusion over it; a different set of features at different price points.
Indeed, Cook has done it again! It's a masterful, classic Cook line-up, nudging people to step up one or two increments and spend more money with Apple!
Brilliantly mercenary, while being pro-consumer.
——————
Note: The landscape vs. portrait camera placement throws some for a loop in making the comparisons, but that is a non sequitur for many buyers. It is irrelevant, a matter of individual preference, or something one simply can get used to, rather than being a source of confusion. Others, no doubt, will disagree — and have already!
The iPad line-up makes great sense and is a classic Tim Cook move, with improved devices for “marginally” more money.
Set aside the Pros and focus on the iPad 9, 10, and Air. In each case, for a relatively “nominal” amount of extra money, you get a substantially improved device. (Typically, Cook prices devices in $100 USD increments; these are slightly more).
iPad 9 vs. 10
For $120 more in the U.S., the 10 gives you
Colors
Larger screen
A14 v. A13 chip
Better camera
USB-C
5G cellular
Liquid Retina Display vs. RD
iPad 10 vs. Air
For $150 more, you get
M1 chip
Advanced media engine
Different colors
2nd gen pencil
Choice of two keyboards
Laminated screen with anti-reflective coating
Better, richer, color palette for screen (wide color, P3 vs. sRGB)
The line-up makes sense to me… and I'm in the market for a new iPad!I feel no confusion over it; a different set of features at different price points.
Indeed, Cook has done it again! It's a masterful, classic Cook line-up, nudging people to step up one or two increments and spend more money with Apple!
Brilliantly mercenary, while being pro-consumer.
——————
Note: The landscape vs. portrait camera placement throws some for a loop in making the comparisons, but that is a non sequitur for many buyers. It is irrelevant, a matter of individual preference, or something one simply can get used to, rather than being a source of confusion. Others, no doubt, will disagree — and have already!
Not sure I'd consider USB-C to be a benefit on the 10th gen iPad. Supposedly data transfers are gimped to USB 2.0 speeds. If that's the case, why didn't they just stick with lightning for easier compatibility with the Apple Pencil, instead of messing with an adapter?
Also, there's really no difference between Liquid Retina Display vs. Retina Display. Both are the same PPI, the "Liquid" part just means the display has rounded corners.
Strong agree. I would add that I don't really think the 449 starting price is in itself is outrageous, or at least it wouldn't be if the base storage was 128GB.
If you just want a basic iPad for a child, a point of sale display, or for browsing/Netflix, etc, then the 329 9th gen is fine, and good value. But if you want your iPad to do a bit more than that, and imagine it might be used various purposes over many years, then 64GB storage really isn't enough. I don't think that's me being enthusiast fussing over tech specs: it's a significant limitation that will annoy many non-tech users.
All of sudden, basic-to-next-step-up isn't 329 vs 449, it's 329 vs 599. The new keyboard folio - a major selling point of the 10th gen - is a whopping 250 extra on top of that. So to my mind, the 10th gen falls between two stools - too expensive for a basic model, but without enough premium features to justify the higher price.
Don't agree! iPads are overwhelming used in landscape now - that much is obvious from the myriad folios and keyboards sold by Apple and others, or simply walking into a coffee shop and seeing how people use them. A first world problem of course, but FaceTime, Zoom and the rest are a big part of people's lives now.
I am quite sure the cameras will be moved to landscape the next time the Pros and Airs are redesigned, but for now it's an oddity.
P.S. I think the new colours look absolutely terrific! As a iPad Pro owner, I am officially jealous.
The only thing I can think of is the EU’s USB-C mandate. While cellular bands differ between markets, they’re not going to mess around using different connectors for different markets, so because they mandated it every iPad that Apple produce has to have it. Presumably they are planning to discontinue the 9th Gen ahead of the deadline and keep the 10th Gen around as the budget offering.
ipad air over ipad 10th
-better SoC
-usbC at full speed vs usb2.0 speeds
-better display
-better apple pencil support
Add to that dual band wifi, 4 times faster than the one in the iPad 10
Still better than lightnig for USB drives (no adapter, no external power needed). Although with only USB 2, only some SSDs and no HDD might work, contrary to the other USB C iPads. Lighting iPads (with USB 2.0) do not work with HDDs and with some SSDs like Sandisk (1GB and up) which require more than 5w, while lightning 3.0 iPads (12.9in and 10.5in pro) can power any drive (with external power) just like USB C on the iPad pro (7.5w)
That was my initial thought too, but thinking about it some more...the mandate doesn't take full effect until the end of 2024, and 2026 for laptops. (Apple could still use lightning in next year's iPhones if they really wanted to.) In any case, I would think/hope existing devices would be grandfathered in. Also, this iPad would have been in development long before the EU mandate came about, it's likely not a last minute change to switch from lightning to USB-C (and develop the adapter).
Because it's not true. Both are rated for 1.2Gbps.
From the iPad 10 specs page:
The comparison page doesn't call out SDB but that doesn't matter.
It’s only mistake IMO is it’s price tag. If it was $399 with 128gb I would buy in instant. But at $599 w for 256gb, it’s way too expensive.
At the price, the iPad 10 is a terrible value, especially since it still uses the Apple Pencil 1, none of the accessories are compatible with the Air and Pro models, still using a non-laminated display in 2022, which makes it feel cheap and outdated (most smartphones and tablets have laminated displays).
To me, it’s a terrible value for what it is, like the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus (the Pro is a better value given the price difference with the better SOC and features). If it was cheaper or at the same price point, it would be a different story. Obviously, Apple is trying to push consumers to more expensive models by making the 10th gen iPad very unappealing.Basically anything else is a better value, even a used/refurbished iPad Pro 2018 than a iPad 10.
To me, it’s a terrible value for what it is, like the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus (the Pro is a better value given the price difference with the better SOC and features). If it was cheaper or at the same price point, it would be a different story. Obviously, Apple is trying to push consumers to more expensive models by making the 10th gen iPad very unappealing.Basically anything else is a better value, even a used/refurbished iPad Pro 2018 than a iPad 10.
Presumably places like CeX will be allowed to (they don’t actually refurbish, just run some checks/tests on a device before they buy it, back a warranty for their customers and sell) but I question whether Apple would when they are the ones with the power to make changes.
They may not know yet, or may not have done in the early stages when it seemed likely that there would be a mandate and it was just a question of what the details would be. If the iPad 10 is to be the new iPad 2, which it may well have to be if it is to reach the price point of the model it superseeded, Apple would still be selling it when the mandate came in, and certainly would be on the refurb store.
Given the lack of a Pencil 1.5 (USB-C connector that would plug directly into the iPad) I am guessing the iPad 11 will support pencil 2, but that the Magic Keyboard folio will carry over to that model.
Presumably because they don’t plan to update the model next year, but still want to continue selling it in the EU in the beginning of 2024.
The mandate won't be in effect until the end of 2024. Even then, the rule only applies to new products that are released after the mandate is in effect. Existing products placed on the market before then can continue to be sold.
Long-awaited common charger for mobile devices will be a reality in 2024 | News | European Parliament
Following Parliament’s approval, EU consumers will soon be able to use a single charging solution for their electronic devices.
www.europarl.europa.eu
I played with the 10th generation iPad today and I think it's great. I was worried that the non-laminated display would be terrible, but it looks great? I'm not a tech nerd, and I couldn't really tell the difference between the iPad Air's display and the iPad's. I'm never going to use Apple Pencil, so I couldn't care less about the stupid charging method, and I'm not going to try and hook an iPad to an external display, so I don't care about the lack of an M1 chip. The 10th generation iPad gives me everything I wanted from an iPad Air for a better price, so I'll probably end up buying it. Besides everything else, the colors are better. Hooray for Silver instead of Starlight, and a blue that doesn't look dirty and dingy.
You may want to check this (video starts at the part about wifi not being dual band)