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sunking101

macrumors 604
Original poster
Sep 19, 2013
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Generally agree w/ you on iPad home button/ big bezels (bezel issue is mainly on top and bottom)/ dated design. They are expected to do same with new budget SE2 iPhone in 2020 lol.

But, old design aside, you said the 8.4” M5 is too heavy and cumbersome. That thing is tiny and light weight vs. any of the current iPads except the mini (it is very similar to mini in size and weight). Even if you splashed on the smaller iPad Pro, it will be a monster in both size and weight vs. what you have now.
Good points. I just thought that Apple might have nailed the design so that it didn't feel so cumbersome to hold as my M5. This is why I'm not such a massive tablet user and why a Pro Series iPad would probably be overkill. I find using my phone so much easier on the couch and in bed. Lying down with a tablet and especially typing on it etc....
 

FeliApple

macrumors 68040
Apr 8, 2015
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I agree, but mainly due to pricing. I have an iPad Pro 9.7, which was forced out of iOS 9 due to Apple’s activation bug and pathetic update policy. As a result, it is considerably slower and its battery life has fallen by around 40% or more. I’m still “okay” with this iPad but as a person who likes Apple products it now feels a little lacklustre.
I can’t buy an iPad in my home country, I have to travel, but I was thinking a little about what I would buy.

I’m not willing to spend a lot of money, especially considering the fact that I would be happy with this iPad had Apple allowed me to remain on iOS 9. I thought: the base 10.2 is discarded due to the fact that it would barely be an upgrade over the 9.7 Pro. The Air is okay, but with the dual speakers and design, I don’t know. Don’t get me wrong, I like this design, but I’ve had this iPad for four years, I’d like to get something new. 800 dollars is way too much, especially considering that I was far happier with my iPad on iOS 9 in the first place. Therefore, the iPad announced today changes nothing.
I thought maybe a refurb 2018 11 Pro would be nice, and I think it would be the best choice, as a 64GB one would cost a little over 500 (64GB, but I’m okay with that as I would have this 128GB Pro still).

Anyway, if I wanted to stay with a “current model” (hypothetically, I’m not buying anything for now), I’d have to get the Air 3, which is, I think, too expensive for what I get. The current options are not appealing to me, so I would have to get the 2018, something I wouldn’t like to do, because I tend to keep stuff for years unless Apple forces it out of me by forcing me to update.

I hope that if I travel - whenever that happens - Apple comes up with an iPad that’s good enough for what I want, and not too expensive. A full-screen design priced like the Air would be nice, and I think that if I have to, I’d go with the 2018 refurb rather than buying the Air 3 if Apple doesn’t come up with anything.
 
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rui no onna

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Oct 25, 2013
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I thought maybe a refurb 2018 11 Pro would be nice, and I think it would be the best choice, as a 64GB one would cost a little over 500 (64GB, but I’m okay with that as I would have this 128GB Pro still).

Anyway, if I wanted to stay with a “current model” (hypothetically, I’m not buying anything for now), I’d have to get the Air 3, which is, I think, too expensive for what I get. The current options are not appealing to me, so I would have to get the 2018, something I wouldn’t like to do, because I tend to keep stuff for years unless Apple forces it out of me by forcing me to update.

I hope that if I travel - whenever that happens - Apple comes up with an iPad that’s good enough for what I want, and not too expensive. A full-screen design priced like the Air would be nice, and I think that if I have to, I’d go with the 2018 refurb rather than buying the Air 3 if Apple doesn’t come up with anything.
"Current" doesn't really mean much. Both iPad 10.2" (A10/3GB) and Air 3 (A12/3GB) are "current" but barring individual TouchID/FaceID preference, the 2018 iPad Pro beats both on all fronts (except maybe battery life).

By the way, the 2018 iPad Pro 256GB Wi-Fi is $679 on Apple Certified Refurb. Certainly a better deal than a 256GB Air 3 at $649 MSRP.
 

FeliApple

macrumors 68040
Apr 8, 2015
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"Current" doesn't really mean much. Both iPad 10.2" (A10/3GB) and Air 3 (A12/3GB) are "current" but barring individual TouchID/FaceID preference, the 2018 iPad Pro beats both on all fronts (except maybe battery life).

By the way, the 2018 iPad Pro 256GB Wi-Fi is $679 on Apple Certified Refurb. Certainly a better deal than a 256GB Air 3 at $649 MSRP.
Yes, I agree that it “current” is a little pointless, that’s why I think that I’d end up getting a refurb 2018 at 549, at least as far as the current options go. Future upgrades may change the equation. 549 would be stretching what I’d like to spend (remember, I was just fine with the 9.7 iPad Pro until it was forced out of iOS 9 on September last year), but I think it’s the best option for now.
As I said, I’m not buying anything now, it’s just a thought I had after seeing that Apple had launched new iPads.
Also, buying the 10.2 because it’s cheaper doesn’t make sense having the 9.7 Pro, and the Air 3 at 499 makes no sense at all with the 11 Pro (2018) being 50 dollars more expensive. Let’s see what does Apple do with the replacement of the Air 3. That one might be a little more appealing.
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
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Also, buying the 10.2 because it’s cheaper doesn’t make sense having the 9.7 Pro, and the Air 3 at 499 makes no sense at all with the 11 Pro (2018) being 50 dollars more expensive. Let’s see what does Apple do with the replacement of the Air 3. That one might be a little more appealing.
In fairness, sales occur frequently enough in the US so typically, base iPad 7 is $249 and Air 3 is $399. At those prices, they're not too awful compared to the refurb 2018 Pro.

Mind, I actually like the Air 3. Probably best battery life among my current iPads.
 

FeliApple

macrumors 68040
Apr 8, 2015
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In fairness, sales occur frequently enough in the US so typically, base iPad 7 is $249 and Air 3 is $399. At those prices, they're not too awful compared to the refurb 2018 Pro.

Mind, I actually like the Air 3. Probably best battery life among my current iPads.
I generally buy at Apple Stores, I generally can’t risk anything going wrong because I can’t do anything in my country.
Maybe Best Buy is okay for buying if they have some kind of sale? Where do you buy it from?
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
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I generally buy at Apple Stores, I generally can’t risk anything going wrong because I can’t do anything in my country.
Maybe Best Buy is okay for buying if they have some kind of sale? Where do you buy it from?
Over the years, apart from Apple direct, I've bought from AT&T, Verizon, B&H Photo, Best Buy, Target and Amazon. Basically authorized resellers only.

The refurb 2018 Pro 11 64GB Wi-Fi for $549 is very good value, though.
 
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zorinlynx

macrumors G3
May 31, 2007
8,354
18,580
Florida, USA
The pricing has gotten a bit absurd. The new Pro and keyboard/trackpad case together are $1100, which is more money than the new Macbook Air which is a fully-featured notebook.

The iPad just doesn't offer enough to be worth that much, sorry. The non-Pro iPads are at least reasonable priced for what they do.
 

FeliApple

macrumors 68040
Apr 8, 2015
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The pricing has gotten a bit absurd. The new Pro and keyboard/trackpad case together are $1100, which is more money than the new Macbook Air which is a fully-featured notebook.

The iPad just doesn't offer enough to be worth that much, sorry. The non-Pro iPads are at least reasonable priced for what they do.
I agree, the iPad Pro used to start at a lower price, and even though it has been improved, 800 for the base model is outrageous, even more so when (if) you add accessories.

Apple’s probable defence is that they have the Air 3 for those who don’t need the Pro, but as I said earlier, I would like the new design when I upgrade, and there’s no way I’m paying 800 dollars. (I’m assuming that we are buying new, neither refurb nor used, where you can get some lower prices).

I am - as the title says - a little disappointed with the iPad’s current range as well. I think an updated, full-screen design of the Air 3 would be nice, even if they don’t add any of the new Pro’s features, it would be a great upgrade for people like me who want something new, but not at an insane price. This is not an outrageous request - Apple does that with the iPhone. They could totally offer something like that with the iPad. I hope they do. Now, if you ask me: “what exactly should they remove to entice people to buy the Pro and refrain from cannibalising the Pro”, I’d answer that I don’t know, but something similar to the iPhone 11 is both doable, and something Apple has proven to be capable of.
 
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rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
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I am - as the title says - a little disappointed with the iPad’s current range as well. I think an updated, full-screen design of the Air 3 would be nice, even if they don’t add any of the new Pro’s features, it would be a great upgrade for people like me who want something new, but not at an insane price. This is not an outrageous request - Apple does that with the iPhone. They could totally offer something like that with the iPad. I hope they do. Now, if you ask me: “what exactly should they remove to entice people to buy the Pro and refrain from cannibalising the Pro”, I’d answer that I don’t know, but something similar to the iPhone 11 is both doable, and something Apple has proven to be capable of.
iPhone 11 is $700 though and XR was $750 upon release. The $500 iPhones featured a 5-6 year old design.
 

FeliApple

macrumors 68040
Apr 8, 2015
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iPhone 11 is $700 though and XR was $750 upon release. The $500 iPhones featured a 5-6 year old design.
Yep, though as the base Pro is 800 and not 1000, and the iPhone 11 is 700, if I apply that to the iPad, I think that 600 or 650 isn’t an impossible price for something like that - it wouldn’t be linear, there’s no way it’ll be 500, I agree with you on that.

Would Apple be willing to risk cannibalisation? Charging 700 for an Air 4 is a little risky, and the lineup would be odd, offering only the standard iPad at a price point where a new buyer might give it a shot, or if that’s not the case, then the difference would be too high. It’s either the low-end version or more than double that? It doesn’t make a lot of sense, in my honest opinion.

I don’t think Apple will increase the price of the Air 4, the real question is what will they put into it. Perhaps a full-screen design, for Apple, is out of discussion at that price point, so they just do a spec bump and if you want the full-screen design just go for the Pro...
 

sunking101

macrumors 604
Original poster
Sep 19, 2013
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If Apple don't bring out a $400 iPad with slim bezels and no home button soon then even the faithful will begin to kick them to the kerb. They look like antiques next to Android tablets and Android phones.

Leave the monster multitasking capabilities, pen and six speakers etc for the Pros. All basic iPad buyers need is a good screen, a good processor and decent stereo speakers. All wrapped up in a modern looking chassis and perfectly achievable at current pricepoints. Would Steve Jobs still be peddling iPads that look like they were produced in 2014?
 

FeliApple

macrumors 68040
Apr 8, 2015
3,684
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If Apple don't bring out a $400 iPad with slim bezels and no home button soon then even the faithful will begin to kick them to the kerb. They look like antiques next to Android tablets and Android phones.

Leave the monster multitasking capabilities, pen and six speakers etc for the Pros. All basic iPad buyers need is a good screen, a good processor and decent stereo speakers. All wrapped up in a modern looking chassis and perfectly achievable at current pricepoints. Would Steve Jobs still be peddling iPads that look like they were produced in 2014?
Agreed, I think they could even charge 500 like the current Air 3 and it would be totally fine. I don’t think Apple will charge 400, it’s too low for their current scheme, but if they charge 500 they’d be improving the Air line at the same price. Remove a few things for tier differentiation and it’d be okay.
 
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ericwn

macrumors G5
Apr 24, 2016
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I believe that if there was a sufficient lack in sales on the entry level front, they would have updated the looks of these devices already. The fact that they haven’t so far tells me there is still enough sales in that segment.

The fancy looks of the Pro models is an incentive to upgrade for those who feel they need a more modern look.
 

sunking101

macrumors 604
Original poster
Sep 19, 2013
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I believe that if there was a sufficient lack in sales on the entry level front, they would have updated the looks of these devices already. The fact that they haven’t so far tells me there is still enough sales in that segment.

The fancy looks of the Pro models is an incentive to upgrade for those who feel they need a more modern look.
So long as people are buying it then the looks don't matter.
Hardly a move the old Apple would have made is it?
 

ericwn

macrumors G5
Apr 24, 2016
12,119
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So long as people are buying it then the looks don't matter.
Hardly a move the old Apple would have made is it?

Not sure what the old Apple would have been. Apple from years ago never lived in a mobile market that’s saturated or a tablet market where it’s the only significant player.

On top of that they never had a customer base this big in earlier years.

We live in fortunate times iPad-wise where we can get very capable entry level models as well as pretty cool top of the line products in the range.
 

WinterWolf90

macrumors 6502a
Jan 18, 2014
678
477
If Apple don't bring out a $400 iPad with slim bezels and no home button soon then even the faithful will begin to kick them to the kerb. They look like antiques next to Android tablets and Android phones.

Leave the monster multitasking capabilities, pen and six speakers etc for the Pros. All basic iPad buyers need is a good screen, a good processor and decent stereo speakers. All wrapped up in a modern looking chassis and perfectly achievable at current pricepoints. Would Steve Jobs still be peddling iPads that look like they were produced in 2014?

I'm in this boat. I don’t want a pro, but would like a better screen on the Air and a fuller screen. Holding onto my air 2 until I get that.
 
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Justanotherfanboy

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Jul 3, 2018
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Jesus wept...
If the OP spent the time & energy wasted on endlessly whining, moaning, complaining, and insulting Apple working on something productive instead, they could likely afford a Pro that ticks all their boxes & then some.
But then I guess they wouldn’t get that satisfaction of feeling like they’re somehow “lording over” Apple in that only they recognize the error of their ways, and could no longer bemoan the fact that their very specific (and super weird) want for a hodgepodge of some features from the cheap iPads married with some features from the Pros... all custom built for them alone & at an extremely low price, will never happen.
Lol.
 
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FeliApple

macrumors 68040
Apr 8, 2015
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Jesus wept...
If the OP spent the time & energy wasted on endlessly whining, moaning, complaining, and insulting Apple working on something productive instead, they could likely afford a Pro that ticks all their boxes & then some.
But then I guess they wouldn’t get that satisfaction of feeling like they’re somehow “lording over” Apple in that only they recognize the error of their ways, and could no longer bemoan the fact that their very specific (and super weird) want for a hodgepodge of some features from the cheap iPads married with some features from the Pros... all custom built for them alone & at an extremely low price, will never happen.
Lol.
Or, we just want Apple to offer something like they do on the iPhone.
 

PanAm-L1011

macrumors 6502a
May 29, 2010
637
534
Republic of California
Who makes a tablet decision based on a home button??

I know right. So dumb.
[automerge]1584889972[/automerge]
I didn’t say there are differences per use cases. I myself prefer TouchID. The convo was about who would exclusively choose a tablet over the presence of a physical home button, no matter it’s function.

Exactly, it’s really dumb to have that be the one deciding factor. Yes, I prefer my Face ID and love my iPad Pro, but I didn’t choose the Pro solely for Face ID and if I didn’t want the other pro features I would have gone with the regular line up. Any iPad, with or without a home button, is better than any Android tablet out there. Pure and simple.
 

Justanotherfanboy

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Jul 3, 2018
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Or, we just want Apple to offer something like they do on the iPhone.
Ummmm... you can buy a cheaper iPhone that has a bezel & a home button, or a more expensive one with neither. (Like the iPad choices)
What you CANNOT do is pick & choose rando configurations of some of the features of each, and a lowball price. That’s not reality. There are already plenty of SKUs... they’re not going to make 17 additional versions just so you guys have your super picky “perfect” iPad.
Just get over your huffy entitled selves already, choose one of the configurations that is available (even if it *gasp* has a feature you will never use), & get on with your life!
All the tired “If Apple doesn’t wake up & start offering the EXACT options that I personally want at the price I personally deem fit, they’ll fade into obscurity as a company” type of diatribe is mad tedious.
 

Justanotherfanboy

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Jul 3, 2018
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So long as people are buying it then the looks don't matter.
Hardly a move the old Apple would have made is it?
Lol, you revisionist history lot crack me up!!!

Is this the “old” Apple that brought out the iMac??
It had one design with a CRT for years, then another with a flat panel for years... their only misstep was offering the weird “floating screen” for one year.
Turns out: people actually do NOT want pointless form factors for visual change sake only.
 

FeliApple

macrumors 68040
Apr 8, 2015
3,684
2,089
Ummmm... you can buy a cheaper iPhone that has a bezel & a home button, or a more expensive one with neither. (Like the iPad choices)
What you CANNOT do is pick & choose rando configurations of some of the features of each, and a lowball price. That’s not reality. There are already plenty of SKUs... they’re not going to make 17 additional versions just so you guys have your super picky “perfect” iPad.
Just get over your huffy entitled selves already, choose one of the configurations that is available (even if it *gasp* has a feature you will never use), & get on with your life!
All the tired “If Apple doesn’t wake up & start offering the EXACT options that I personally want at the price I personally deem fit, they’ll fade into obscurity as a company” type of diatribe is mad tedious.
Or you can buy an iPhone with the new design for a little bit less, namely the iPhone 11 and the iPhone Xʀ. You are exaggerating... well, everything. Come on, you know you can get an iPhone that’s full-screen and cheaper, you know we aren’t asking for anything Apple isn’t already doing elsewhere (on the iPhone line). I honestly don’t understand why you find this so outrageous and so out of line with what Apple would do, as that’s not true. Apple is already doing what we want. Where? On the iPhone lineup.

We do not want “17 additional versions so we have our super picky perfect iPad”. We want one. A full-screen iPad with a few things missing compared to the Pro, at a reduced price.
 
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