iPad Pro Apple will never release an iPad Air 3

[sracer]

Why do people think that Apple will only be updating the iPad every other year? The only reason they have not updated this year is probably because the iPad Pro being released.

Your speculation is no different nor any more valid than those speculating that the iPad will be updated every other year.

At least the "every other year" is derived from some data. iPad Mini 2->3 was a non-update update. There was no iPad Air 3 announced this year. The iPad Mini 4 released this year has virtually identical specs as the Air 2 (released last year).

Sales rates for iPads have softened... analysts point to market saturation and longevity of ownership as contributing factors.

Seems like a reasonable conclusion to draw that the iPads will be have bi-annual updates... the Mini and full-sized alternating years so that every year at least one iPad model gets updated.

This is different than iPhones where a majority of people are on 2 yr contracts. At any given time, on average half of iPhone owners are eligible to upgrade. That is sufficient incentive to update the iPhone every year.

 

[Dave245]

Your speculation is no different nor any more valid than those speculating that the iPad will be updated every other year.

At least the "every other year" is derived from some data. iPad Mini 2->3 was a non-update update. There was no iPad Air 3 announced this year. The iPad Mini 4 released this year has virtually identical specs as the Air 2 (released last year).

Sales rates for iPads have softened... analysts point to market saturation and longevity of ownership as contributing factors.

Seems like a reasonable conclusion to draw that the iPads will be have bi-annual updates... the Mini and full-sized alternating years so that every year at least one iPad model gets updated.

This is different than iPhones where a majority of people are on 2 yr contracts. At any given time, on average half of iPhone owners are eligible to upgrade. That is sufficient incentive to update the iPhone every year.

That is true both are speculation, but the iPad is usually updated every year for example the Air followed by the Air 2. I also wonder where the iPad Pro will stand on this? If Apple are indeed only going to update the iPad every other year, does that mean the Air 3 next year and then the iPad Pro 2 the year after that. Apple have broken away from their usual cycle, iPads were normally announced at an October event which we haven't had this year.

 

[a7thton]

Ipad 3 with 3D Touch.

Of course that is happening.

 

[The Game 161]

I know what they say about saying "never", but it struck me just now how Apple uses the iPad Air 2 as the reference point for comparisons to the iPad Pro in their advertising. Like,

"nearly double the CPU performance of iPad Air 2"

"It delivers up to 1.8 times the CPU performance and double the graphics performance of iPad Air 2"

"The 12.9‑inch screen offers 78 percent more display area than that of iPad Air 2."

"Since iPad Pro has 2.5 million more pixels than iPad Air 2..."

"Despite having 78 percent more display area than iPad Air 2, iPad Pro feels reassuringly solid in the hand."

"With 1.8 times the CPU performance of iPad Air 2, the A9X chip delivers incredible speed and responsiveness."

"Despite having nearly twice the pixels in its Retina display, iPad Pro still offers up to double the graphics performance of iPad Air 2."

These are all from the Apple site.

Sure, the Pro is a cool, new device, and has gobs of performance and exquisite screen real estate. But this isn't just positioning a new product in the family line. It's like Apple is saying, "Just look at how our new toy compares to that crappy old Air 2. Who'd ever want to buy one of those when you can get the much more sexypants iPad Pro instead?" It's like the Air 2 is a Samsung product and Apple is selling against it with the Pro.

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for an Air 3.

Of course they will

The pro won't be for alot of people as its too big for general use.

Air is the perfect size for at home

 

[Dranix]

Of course they will

The pro won't be for alot of people as its too big for general use.

Air is the perfect size for at home

To big? It's the size of a normal magazine...

 

[newellj]

Your speculation is no different nor any more valid than those speculating that the iPad will be updated every other year.

At least the "every other year" is derived from some data. iPad Mini 2->3 was a non-update update. There was no iPad Air 3 announced this year. The iPad Mini 4 released this year has virtually identical specs as the Air 2 (released last year).

Sales rates for iPads have softened... analysts point to market saturation and longevity of ownership as contributing factors.

Seems like a reasonable conclusion to draw that the iPads will be have bi-annual updates... the Mini and full-sized alternating years so that every year at least one iPad model gets updated.

This is different than iPhones where a majority of people are on 2 yr contracts. At any given time, on average half of iPhone owners are eligible to upgrade. That is sufficient incentive to update the iPhone every year.

This is true, and at least in the U.S. the carriers are still mostly subsidizing phone upgrades, although they're trying to get away from that. Tablets don't have the same level of incentives, don't have the same level of sales, and don't even seem to get the same level of technology upgrades to try to create demand (where is that 3D Touch iPad, anyway? ).

I 'll tell you the upgrade cycle I do NOT want to see again: iPad 3/iPad 4. I bought an iPad 3 five weeks before the iPad 4 was released. Was I annoyed...?

 

[newellj]

Of course they will

The pro won't be for alot of people as its too big for general use.

Air is the perfect size for at home

You are thinking too narrowly. The iPad Pro is also a perfect size for use at home. I'm planning to buy four legs for it and use it as a "touch" table, sort of like the new installations at some of the Apple stores. Do you think putting a cold beer can down on it will affect it? I guess I'll need a screen protector...

 

[Rogifan]

Why do people think that Apple will only be updating the iPad every other year? The only reason they have not updated this year is probably because the iPad Pro being released.

What reason would they have for updating it every year?

 

[MyopicPaideia]

The plan, of course, was to make the iPad Pro the halo model in the line-up. The language they used to introduce it was the same hyperbolic marketing that was used for the iPad Air when it was released as the top dog previously.

Both the iPad Air and the iPad mini will get last year's iPad Pro chip and specs going forward. What we saw this year was simply a product realignment, bringing the iPad mini in line with the iPad Air, so both will be on level terms going forward as the iPads with year old "pro" technology.

Can pretty much guarantee that next year we will see an iPad Pro with an A10X processor, an iPad Air 3 with an A9X and an iPad mini 5 with an A9.

 

[MyopicPaideia]

What reason would they have for updating it every year?

Sales boost?

 

[Septembersrain]

I do wonder if they'll keep all three of the iterations, or if one will see the end of its line. I sure hope they don't drop the Mini. It's portability is very useful. However, if they end the iPad Air line, you'll either be forced with a huge screen that'll need its own carrying case like a laptop or a smaller fit in the purse type.

 

[The Game 161]

You are thinking too narrowly. The iPad Pro is also a perfect size for use at home. I'm planning to buy four legs for it and use it as a "touch" table, sort of like the new installations at some of the Apple stores. Do you think putting a cold beer can down on it will affect it? I guess I'll need a screen protector...

I had the note 12.2

And even that was too big. I think those who get it having the keyboard I think is a must

It will be a great product but can't see it being for me but with me who knows

I do have

6S plus
Mini 4
Air 2
MacBook Pro

After all..

 

[urkel]

Why do people think that Apple will only be updating the iPad every other year? The only reason they have not updated this year is probably because the iPad Pro being released.

Exactly. Apple skipped ONE year out of seven and suddenly it's "Oh, Apple is not longer doing annual updates" without actually evaluating WHY they skipped this year.

Right now we are seeing a transition period for ALL Apple products.

Watch - Waiting for app developers to make it useful

Desktop/Laptop - Waiting for Skylake and new design

iPad - Waiting for Firce Touch solution for large screens

Sure Apple is always on a path of refinement but there are sweet spots on when to buy an Apple product. Last year the iPad 2 was clearly ahead of its time and this year the iPhone 6S is pretty solid. But hat doesn't mean Apple won't take a break from building more or making money.

 

[The Game 161]

Exactly. Apple skipped ONE year out of seven and suddenly it's "Oh, Apple is not longer doing annual updates" without actually evaluating WHY they skipped this year.

Right now we are seeing a transition period for ALL Apple products.

Watch - Waiting for app developers to make it useful

Desktop/Laptop - Waiting for Skylake and new design

iPad - Waiting for Firce Touch solution for large screens

Sure Apple is always on a path of refinement but there are sweet spots on when to buy an Apple product. Last year the iPad 2 was clearly ahead of its time and this year the iPhone 6S is pretty solid. But hat doesn't mean Apple won't take a break from building more or making money.

Exactly for example in about 4 months I have given spend £2,700 on apple products ha

 

[sracer]

Exactly. Apple skipped ONE year out of seven and suddenly it's "Oh, Apple is not longer doing annual updates" without actually evaluating WHY they skipped this year.

No, some of us evaluated why they did. And it was more than simply skipping the Air 3 this year. Last year, the iPad Mini 3 was a cosmetic change from the Mini 2. In essence, there was no update to the Mini last year.

Right now we are seeing a transition period for ALL Apple products.

Watch - Waiting for app developers to make it useful

Desktop/Laptop - Waiting for Skylake and new design

iPad - Waiting for Firce Touch solution for large screens

This is all speculation on your part based solely on your opinion... unless you have statements from Apple to indicate that those are the reasons.

 

[ScottNWDW]

is everybody forgetting that the iPad Mini 3 was basically the iPad Mini 2 with the added ID button. Now that the iPad Mini 4 is out everyone seems to have forgotten that in a sense Apple skipped a year on the mini line. I don't think they need to update. I don't think apple is abandoning the iPad line at all. The iAd air 3 will most likely incorporate many of the same new technologies of the iPad Pro and perhaps push those boundaries a little more. It will probably support the Apple Pencil and perhaps a similar keyboard. I have had an iPad Air 2 since it was released and it is still a very powerful workhorse IMO. I am on the fence about updating my iPad Mini 2 to either the Mini 4 or just wait a little longer for the iPad Pro. I will have to see the iPad Pro, but I'm thinking it might be just too big.

 

[urkel]

Right now we are seeing a transition period for all Apple products.

Watch - Waiting for app developers to make it useful

Desktop/Laptop - Waiting for Skylake and new design

iPad - Waiting for Force Touch solution for large screens

This is all speculation on your part based solely on your opinion... unless you have statements from Apple to indicate that those are the reasons.

Good Grief.

1) What sort of "Proof" is necessary to say that new platforms need more Apps, New machines get new processors or new UI changes get adopted in future machines.


2) You're demanding undisputed "facts" on the Mac Rumors Discussion Forum. Think about that one for a bit.


Seriously. I'll just never understand why people go on discussion forums just to try to shut down discussions.

 

[AttilaTheHun]

The plan, of course, was to make the iPad Pro the halo model in the line-up. The language they used to introduce it was the same hyperbolic marketing that was used for the iPad Air when it was released as the top dog previously.

Both the iPad Air and the iPad mini will get last year's iPad Pro chip and specs going forward. What we saw this year was simply a product realignment, bringing the iPad mini in line with the iPad Air, so both will be on level terms going forward as the iPads with year old "pro" technology.

Can pretty much guarantee that next year we will see an iPad Pro with an A10X processor, an iPad Air 3 with an A9X and an iPad mini 5 with an A9.

For me iPad pro with the size of 9.7 would be the best also in gold color but black screen

 

[pika2000]

When Apple released the mini 2 with retina screen, I switched completely from the regular iPad (iPad 4). When everything is almost the same, I see the mini's form factor to provide me more utility (been taking the mini iPad wherever I go). The only way for me to be interested again in the regular sized iPad would be some new tech. Apple Pencil is one, but the iPad Pro is too big for what I think I would do with my iPad. An iPad Air 3 with Apple Pencil support definitely will tickle me back.

I'm not sure doing a 2 year-cycle for the iPad Air, out-of-sync with the iPad Pro, is a good idea though. There's the iPhone that is still on a yearly cycle, and I doubt people buying iPad Pro would be happy when their expensive iPad is "1 less" generation than the iPhone. What I can think of, best SoC for iPad Pro, second best for iPad Air, third best for mini. That is how it is right now (A9X, A8X, A8). The only reasonable thing I could think of for next year, the line up will be Pro A10X, Air A9X, mini A8 (the same as it is). By 2017, then we can see a more regular refreshes on all the lineups (Pro getting X version of the latest, Air getting last year's X version, mini getting 2 year-old non-X SoC).

I think the sad part imo is the mini. It used to be at the same level as the iPad Air (sporting the A7). But now it is the step-child.

 

[urkel]

The only way for me to be interested again in the regular sized iPad would be some new tech. Apple Pencil is one, but the iPad Pro is too big for what I think I would do with my iPad. An iPad Air 3 with Apple Pencil support definitely will tickle me back.

I think that theres a lot more people interested in a Pencil/Smart Connector enabled iPad 3 than an iPad Pro. So its not crazy to expect more feature parity between Air and Pro next year.

The only reasonable thing I could think of for next year, the line up will be Pro A10X, Air A9X, mini A8 (the same as it is).

Yeah, thats the biggest problem with Tim Cooks Apple. Often times these tiers between product features are arbitrary. There's no reason that next years iPad lineup couldn't all use the same generation processor with screen size being the only differentiator. But we'll still get older generation chips or ridiculous storage capacity options to ensure that these $100 price differences will continue to exist.

 

[daniel1948]

Of course there will be an Air 3. It's the "standard" size for a tablet, and for many people, it's the ideal size. There's just too much space between the Mini and the Pro not to have something in between. The Pro will appeal to people who want and can afford the bigger size. The Mini will continue to appeal to people who want ultra-portability. And in between is everybody else.

There might not be an Air 5, and maybe even not an Air 4 because at some point there are too many numbers and they will change the name, but they'll have a "standard" size tablet until technology progresses to the point where tablets are no longer useful. Like, when your computer is embedded into your contact lenses or a laser in your glasses projects the image directly onto your retina.

Maybe after the Air 4 or 5 the next standard size tablet will be the Helium. You read it from me first, folks! (And Apple, if you're reading this, I really think you should give me an obscene amount of money for suggesting this ground-breaking name for your next series of tablet models.)

 

[davygee]

Of course there will be an Air 3, it's just been delayed to allow the iPad Pro some breathing space. I fully expect a longer update cycle for iPad's now. We should start to see it shift to a 18-24 month cycle. I agree with other posts suggesting that we will see 3 distinct levels of iPad and eventually they will all come out at the one time.

Unless Apple start moving towards 3 levels of chips, moving from the standard A chip and X chip to having an A, X & say XX chip (or even better P for Pro). Then we will more than likely see previous years tech in at least the Mini.

Anyway, I fully expect the Air 3 to be announced in Spring 2016, this will likely have a paired back A9X chip but still with only 2Gb, not the 4Gb that the Pro has. Then no announcements on the iPad front until Spring 2017, then we should see a new Mini, Air and Pro. After that it will more than likely be 18-24 months before we see another version of each.

In any case, come Spring 2017, I forsee:

iPad Mini 5 (A9 or A10)
iPad Air 4 (A10 or A10X)
iPad Pro (A10X or A10P)

 

[lockerc18]

Of course there will be an Air 3. It's the "standard" size for a tablet, and for many people, it's the ideal size. There's just too much space between the Mini and the Pro not to have something in between. The Pro will appeal to people who want and can afford the bigger size. The Mini will continue to appeal to people who want ultra-portability. And in between is everybody else.

There might not be an Air 5, and maybe even not an Air 4 because at some point there are too many numbers and they will change the name, but they'll have a "standard" size tablet until technology progresses to the point where tablets are no longer useful. Like, when your computer is embedded into your contact lenses or a laser in your glasses projects the image directly onto your retina.

Maybe after the Air 4 or 5 the next standard size tablet will be the Helium. You read it from me first, folks! (And Apple, if you're reading this, I really think you should give me an obscene amount of money for suggesting this ground-breaking name for your next series of tablet models.)

This makes some sense. Assuming that the 9.7 inch form factor really isn't defunct, I don't care if the next 9.7 inch iPad is called the Air 3 or the Avocado. All I care about is that there is one, with up to date specs. For me, it's the ideal size. But Apple needs to stop denigrating it in their advertising for other products. Apple has a lot of overlaps and conflicts in all their product lines, which is confusing enough. Anti-selling your own product in favor of another one makes no sense. Apple needs to clean things up.

 

[masotime]

But Apple needs to stop denigrating it in their advertising for other products.

How is Apple "denigrating" it? Just because the iPad Pro is more powerful than the iPad Air doesn't mean the iPad Air sucks. Does the MacBook Air suck because the MacBook Pro is more powerful than the Air? They are meant for different use cases.

 

[lockerc18]

How is Apple "denigrating" it? Just because the iPad Pro is more powerful than the iPad Air doesn't mean the iPad Air sucks. Does the MacBook Air suck because the MacBook Pro is more powerful than the Air? They are meant for different use cases.

Go back and read my original post in this thread. You don't call those quotes denigrating? It's one thing to characterize a product as being the next great step in technology within a product family. It's quite another to say how poor the last version of a product was in favor of the new version, which is exactly what Apple does on their website. They could have done this a lot better and had a much more effective positioning of the products if they hadn't done that. To me, it looks like they're saying that the Air line is gone, and who cares how poor it was anyway since we now have the Pro to replace it. What's poor is their marketing.