iPad Future of low-cost iPad?

[iStorm]

Apple currently sells the 9th generation for $329 (usually on sale for $270 elsewhere), and the 10th gen for $449. My mom is in need of a new iPad soon, and likes the $270 price point. The 9th generation is fine for her needs, but what I don't like about it is that it's already two years old now. We'll likely wait until at least Black Friday to see what deals there are...and just in case Apple surprises us with new models this month.

If Apple were to refresh the iPad with the A15 (or even A16 chip), do you think the 10th generation would then drop to the $329 price point? What do you all think the future of the low-cost iPad is?

 

[Hrududu]

Probably depends on how Apple sees their future in education. They're losing ground heavily to Chomebooks in schools due to repairability, entry cost, and management. Google just took it to the next level announcing they're going to support ChromeOS updates for 10 years on Chromebooks. The 9th gen still exists primarily to be the cheap "legacy" style iPad to give Apple some kind of sniff in the education space, but they could just as easily concede the battle for Ed and cease to provide anything under $450. iPad Mini was supposed to be cheap, and sure isn't anymore. Apple killing iPhone mini and ignoring the SE basically showed us how they feel about selling a "cheap" entry level iPhone.

 

[AJB1971]

I do expect the pricing of the 11th-generation iPad to be less than its predecessor, but not as low as the 9th-generation model. My guess would be $379-$399 for the consumer market, and that's assuming they discontinue the 'classic' version.

 

[MarkNewton2023]

Apple currently sells the 9th generation for $329 (usually on sale for $270 elsewhere), and the 10th gen for $449. My mom is in need of a new iPad soon, and likes the $270 price point. The 9th generation is fine for her needs, but what I don't like about it is that it's already two years old now. We'll likely wait until at least Black Friday to see what deals there are...and just in case Apple surprises us with new models this month.

If Apple were to refresh the iPad with the A15 (or even A16 chip), do you think the 10th generation would then drop to the $329 price point? What do you all think the future of the low-cost iPad is?

Generally when new generation comes, the previous one is discounted. I am not sure if the 10th price is dropped to the $329 the price point when 11th generation is released. It is a mystery on how low cost iPad future will be. Only Apple knows. Let us wait and see😊

 

[Isengardtom]

I could see them extend it one more year. I do think next year it will definitely go if only just for it not having USB-C.

 

[sack_peak]

2022 iPad A14 Bionic will turn 1yo in less than 2 weeks. It would likely get a A15 Bionic or A16 Bionic chip upgrade. Unlikely to get 8GB RAM.

Any iPad I'd keep up to 1 decade and replace with the model released months later.

 

[JPack]

The first $329 iPad was launched in 2017. It can't be $329 any more. Even iPhone SE (launched in 2016 for $399) is now $429.

 

[teohyc]

Apple is not gonna sell cheap stuff. If they do, they will hold back many features or just give you old specs.

 

[sracer]

Apple currently sells the 9th generation for $329 (usually on sale for $270 elsewhere), and the 10th gen for $449. My mom is in need of a new iPad soon, and likes the $270 price point. The 9th generation is fine for her needs, but what I don't like about it is that it's already two years old now. We'll likely wait until at least Black Friday to see what deals there are...and just in case Apple surprises us with new models this month.

If Apple were to refresh the iPad with the A15 (or even A16 chip), do you think the 10th generation would then drop to the $329 price point? What do you all think the future of the low-cost iPad is?

I expect to see the 9th gen iPad continue to sell for another year (most likely two). It has replaced the ipad Mini 5 in many vertical markets.

I don't expect the 10th gen to drop in price but to quickly disappear when the 11th gen is released. The 11th gen will most likely stay at the 10th gen price level with the possibility of a $30 increase.

It doesn't matter how old an iPad model is when Apple first released it... what matters is when they discontinue it. The fact that the 9th gen continues to be actively sold means that the clock of obsolescence hasn't started to count down. This is because Apple has a track record of "x" number of years support after a model ceases to be sold.

One thing to factor in when considering getting the 9th gen vs 10th or 11th, is the cost and availability of accessories. Accessories for the 9th gen are significantly less expensive than the 10th gen. There are some genuine bargains to be had as companies look to clearance out their stock on accessories for this "old" model.

 

[JPack]

It doesn't matter how old an iPad model is when Apple first released it... what matters is when they discontinue it. The fact that the 9th gen continues to be actively sold means that the clock of obsolescence hasn't started to count down. This is because Apple has a track record of "x" number of years support after a model ceases to be sold.

While that’s very true for hardware repairs and replacement, for software support, it’s entirely dependent on the device’s launch date. We've seen this to be true for Mac and iPhone.

 

[sracer]

While that’s very true for hardware repairs and replacement, for software support, it’s entirely dependent on the device’s launch date. We've seen this to be true for Mac and iPhone.

Can you provide an example where Apple discontinued selling an iPad model that then received less than 2 years worth of software updates?

 

[hippopotamusglorypig]

I think it would be very funny (and maybe not even totally imprudent) if Apple were to release both an 11th gen iPad as well as a second generation iPad gen 9. I'd certainly find it the more compelling option.

 

[JPack]

Can you provide an example where Apple discontinued selling an iPad model that then received less than 2 years worth of software updates?

For software support, the clock starts ticking when the product is launched.

iPad (2021) is the first time in recent history where Apple continued selling an old iPad model. There is no direct evidence of shorter software support with iPad (2021) yet. But with other Apple products, it is clear software support is based on product launch date rather than when the product is discontinued.

With Mac, the evidence is clear. We saw 21.5-inch iMac being sold through 2021. It can't run Sonoma today.

Some Macs are getting fewer updates than they used to. Here’s why it’s a problem

Dropping old Macs can be justified, but some are dying before they should be.

arstechnica.com

We've seen Watch 3 continue to be sold in 2022 even though it does not support watchOS 9.

 

[GMShadow]

iPad Mini was supposed to be cheap, and sure isn't anymore. Apple killing iPhone mini and ignoring the SE basically showed us how they feel about selling a "cheap" entry level iPhone.

iPad mini was supposed to be small, not cheap. Even at $329 it was far more than most small tablets - Google was charging $199 for the Nexus 7 the same year.

As for OP, I've been of two minds on this, but I expect Apple will simply discontinue the 9th gen and set the price on the 11th gen to $379 or so. Stays below that $400 marker while acknowledging that the newer model costs more to build.

 

[Digitalguy]

For software support, the clock starts ticking when the product is launched.

iPad (2021) is the first time in recent history where Apple continued selling an old iPad model. There is no direct evidence of shorter software support with iPad (2021) yet. But with other Apple products, it is clear software support is based on product launch date rather than when the product is discontinued.

With Mac, the evidence is clear. We saw 21.5-inch iMac being sold through 2021. It can't run Sonoma today.

Some Macs are getting fewer updates than they used to. Here’s why it’s a problem

Dropping old Macs can be justified, but some are dying before they should be.

arstechnica.com

We've seen Watch 3 continue to be sold in 2022 even though it does not support watchOS 9.

That's true and Apple has been showing that it's (software) supporting base iPads for 6 years, so iPad 9 should get iPadOS 20 as its last OS. (see my predictions here https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/predictions-for-ipados-updates-over-the-next-8-years.2391411/). Hardware support is a different story and it doesn't always matches with software support and it's generally 5 years after the product is discontinued... Generally hardware support is longer, but not always... iPad pro 10.5 will lose hardware support (= become vintage) in March 2024 but will still be supported with software at least until September if not one more year... But, for instance, after the end of hardware support, Apple may stop doing battery services or other repairs.
Conversely, iPad mini 4 lost software support over a year ago but is still supported till March 2024.
In the case of iPad 9 hardware support may be longer than software support (which will likely end in September 2028)

 

[rhaezorblue]

Has there been any news of a refreshed iPad coming out this month or next?

 

[Digitalguy]

Has there been any news of a refreshed iPad coming out this month or next?

not a base iPad

 

[rhaezorblue]

not a base iPad

Rats. My son needs a new iPad this year, he's been holding onto his iPad Air 2 for years but its barely able to function anymore. He basically only plays Magic the Gathering and Hearthstone games on it. 9th generation or 10th....
edit: Probably would go with the more pricey 10th generation since it has USB-C.

 

[Devvy]

For software support, the clock starts ticking when the product is launched.

iPad (2021) is the first time in recent history where Apple continued selling an old iPad model. There is no direct evidence of shorter software support with iPad (2021) yet. But with other Apple products, it is clear software support is based on product launch date rather than when the product is discontinued.

With Mac, the evidence is clear. We saw 21.5-inch iMac being sold through 2021. It can't run Sonoma today.

Some Macs are getting fewer updates than they used to. Here’s why it’s a problem

Dropping old Macs can be justified, but some are dying before they should be.

arstechnica.com

We've seen Watch 3 continue to be sold in 2022 even though it does not support watchOS 9.

They did something similar with the iPad 2 which they kept selling after the introduction of the iPad 3 (the first Retina one, with the old connector) - and then, when they introduced the iPad 4, the 4th gen replaced the 3 but they kept the iPad 2 in store (and even made a second-generation version of it with a smaller A5 chip).