iPad Does a 12" entry-level iPad interest you?

[satchmo]

This can be applied across Apple's lineup, but why do smaller iPads receive lower performance specs.

At one point, Apple went against this trend with the iPad mini, and iPhone XS.
But it seems they're moving into the opposite direction with the iPhone 12 mini.

I would love a 12" entry-level iPad with an A12 chip.
But I suspect Apple knows these lower-end models really perform quite well enough for 80% of the market. Having such a product would effectively kill the iPad Pro market.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Having such a product would effectively kill the iPad Pro market.

The iPad Pro still has ProMotion, significantly better graphics, edge to edge display, etc, compared to the budget iPad.

 

[satchmo]

The iPad Pro still has ProMotion, significantly better graphics, edge to edge display, etc, compared to the budget iPad.

Of course, but that's why it would be priced accordingly. Think current 8th gen, but only larger.

Even the new iPhone 12 will come with a larger 6.1" non-pro.

 

[PlayUltimate]

Interest? Perhaps. Will Apple do it? Nope. Apple has always been very good at pricing and product differentiation. Adding extra options to a base model is not in any business' interest. Only Apple exception, that I recall, was the old iBook and iBook 14" (which had the same screen resolution as the 12")

 

[Digital Skunk]

I agree with PlayUltimate. If the price increase from adding a larger screen and possibly larger battery is too close to the base 12.9" then Apple won't do it.

In the end, there isn't much separating most of the iPad lineup as it stands, and most users may get confused about the difference between the iPad, iPad Air, and iPad Pro if each of them had a 12" version to go along with the other sizes.

Also, like PU mentioned, back in the iBook/PowerBook days Apple there was a lot more separation of specs, and if you wanted an Apple 17" model you had to fork over $3300 ... period. There was no 16"/17" iBook or 17" PowerBook with base specs.

The reason back then was almost the same argument, by the time Apple put the display and battery and case together you were inching ever so close to another model. A 16" iBook would've weighed a TON with the polycarbonate case and would be near the 15" PowerBook in price.

 

[ayuchan]

Nope doesn't interest me and seems to confuse the ipad range even further.

 

[Ungibbed]

I would say no, it’s like having a V6 Mustang. All the show and none of the go.

A12 you mentioned, sure. But by that time you combine everything you want in a base iPad, you already have what is almost a 2018 iPad Pro 12.9”. might as well buy one of those and call it a day.

 

[muzzy996]

My thought - if one wants a cheaper 12.9 they should just buy a refurbished pro if they can. A 2 generation old iPP is arguably equal if not better in some ways to any base model that would come out.

 

[KittyKatta]

i think the larger iPad isn’t the ideal iPad size for the general consumer.

The big ipad is heavier, awkwardly balanced and the interface is poorly optimized. It really is meant for a market that has a need for an oversized iPad, not for the average person.

(BTW. i use a 12.9 and i love it when i need a bigger screen but often times i wish i was on an 11 or a mini)

 

[Falhófnir]

Kind of? The existing Pro has crept up in price from when it was launched, if it does go even higher with the next release it would probably really take it out of consumer iPad pricing altogether (I think currently the $999 base model with 128GB is still reasonable if a little pricey for 'iPad use' rather than being a main machine).

Unfortunately, Apple have always linked larger size with more powerful internals, and they aren't shy about charging for more power so if you want the larger screen size you get sucked into paying the premium whether you want the extra power/ features or not.

If the size options grow any further (say from 11" and 12.9" to 12" and 14") I'd probably be happy to drop down to the 12" if it was priced from $899 or so. I'd probably rather that than a cheaper 12.9" missing features like quad speakers, ProMotion, Mini LED etc.

 

[satchmo]

I think some of you are missing the premise. The idea is not encroach on iPad Pro territory. Like I said, the A12 is ideal for general users.

Sure the current iPad Pro is in a weird space with the Air leapfrogging it with an A14 chip. But let assume the iPP will get a A14x or higher and other bells and whistles such as mini-LED.

This entry level iPad would be offered at 10.2" and 12" (both using A12)
Consider with the Air going up $100 in price, there's now an unusually large gap between it and the base iPad.
Yes, it may be heavier, unlaminated display, and perhaps not as premium.

But this isn't targeted to pros. It's for families to share watching Netflix etc.
With more online schooling, this larger tablet would also challenge many cheap 13" Windows laptops and Chromebooks.

 

[Crow_Servo]

Sure, why not. Doesn’t interest me, but neither do any base iPads. For those who want a larger display with medium performance and less cost than a Pro or Air, it would probably be perfect.

 

[hirsthirst]

there's no market for it.

many consumers are already baffled by the current lineup & multiple generations - most buy on price or just choose a Pro as "give me the best".

 

[ejin222]

I'm someone that doesn't need all the Pro features, but purchased the 12.9 solely based on size. If Apple offered a non-Pro version of the 12.9 (or bigger!), then I would get that instead of the Pro. If there was a 12.9 Air, I would've gotten that over the Pro.

 

[KittyKatta]

But this isn't targeted to pros. It's for families to share watching Netflix etc.

No User Profiles = No Family Sharing

The iPad would be a fantastic shared family device but Apple won’t allow it. My 2nd iPad is a iPad Mini that i’ve been “sharing” with my kid. The process of signing in and out and the merging of data has caused chaos for both of us. These simply aren’t meant to be shared.

With more online schooling, this larger tablet would also challenge many cheap 13" Windows laptops and Chromebooks.

Im assuming you don’t have kids ?. The ipad is an amazing companion device for older students but for the “cheap windows” and chromebook market then it’s been awful. Our school originally recommended iPads but now they say they are “incompatible and difficult for the student and staff” so they’re giving Chromebooks to any iPad users and things are so much smoother.

Hopefully the ARM transitions brings Apple back to the EDU market because iPads just aren’t cutting it as solo education tools.

 

[doboy]

Why stop at 12”? How about 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 ... Everyone has their own definition of perfect size. There’s already too many iPads with similar sizes, although most are between 10.2-11”.

 

[rui no onna]

Why stop at 12”? How about 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 ... Everyone has their own definition of perfect size. There’s already too many iPads with similar sizes, although most are between 10.2-11”.

Frankly, I'd prefer it stay at 12.9. Waiting for apps to support a new resolution is a pain.

 

[macdogpro]

It wouldn’t cut it for production cost per market ratio in Apple’s point of view.
Larger display also needs bigger battery and GPU power to match the resolution.
My guess that kind of product will creep on the cost of 11” iPad Pro. Even more expensive than an Air.

The current iPad dimension, despite variations in display diameter, is always a note book size or a hand book size. That is what Apple always consider as the perfect tablet size since the original iPad in 2010.

So the larger 12,9 inch display is targeted for the Creative Professionals who needs larger canvas for serious work.

The iPad Mini I believe is for portability.

So I don’t think Apple would make larger regular iPad, nor many people desire for such.
I also agree for this particular wants, You’d better get the older generation of 12,9” Pros such as the refurb 2018 12,9” Pro. Still faster than the current iPad 8 by far.

 

[Zazoh]

Should be 3 sizes, each with an Air and a Pro model. And yes, I’d buy the biggest air.

By the way, I really dislike the Pro designation. It lost all meaning when they made a pro phone model.

 

[AJB1971]

I suspect the larger iPad is too much of a niche market for Apple to consider offering another model at the moment.

The same is probably true of the iPad Mini. At one stage they were selling the Mini, Mini 2 and Mini 3 at the same time (admittedly there wasn’t much difference between the 2 and 3), but now they only offer the Mini 5.

They could have rebranded the 2nd generation Pro 12.9 as an Air after they launched the 2018 Pro models, which is effectively what they did with the 10.5 Pro becoming the Air 3. The fact they didn’t do that suggests they didn’t think the market would have been big enough for it or they felt it would have had a negative impact on sales of the new 12.9 Pro model.

It’s also worth remembering that the base iPad is targeted at the education sector, but a larger version would surely be too expensive for that market.

The iPhone 12 Mini, or whatever they call it, is probably going to be a very significant model for Apple over the next few years. It will almost certainly form the basis of a future iPhone SE and that alone will justify the investment in the new form factor.