There's a place for every iPad in the current lineup. I could literally buy every model and size and find a use case to justify the cost. That says to me Apple has nailed the current iPad product family.
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All iPads If one iPad had to go?
- Thread starter jwolf6589
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It's a cheaper iPad Pro for people who don't need the bells and whistles.
Apple seems to be segmenting the iPads by price point. It's easy for anyone here to say "Let's just do away with this 1-2 models that I don't think I will ever need", but the point is that someone out there is the target market for it because it's a fit for their budget.
If Apple would drop an iPad they would drop whichever made them the least amount of money which is hard to know for us.
Personally I don’t see much use in the normal iPad or the iPad Air for myself, at those sizes I’d just by the 11” Pro for anything else than making home automation wall screens. But I think Apple needs cheaper models from a business perspective.
Personally I don’t see much use in the normal iPad or the iPad Air for myself, at those sizes I’d just by the 11” Pro for anything else than making home automation wall screens. But I think Apple needs cheaper models from a business perspective.
Many companies use the regular iPad for field service techs as I have seen them often.
I feel the iPad lineup could do with a bigger shake up than removing one product. This is my personal preference for what an iPad lineup would look like.
I want to preface that I understand others will have very different viewpoints and that’s okay.
iPad (9.7 or 11)
The 9.7 is similar to Steve Jobs original vision and takes the place of the Mini. Both models have the same specs which would be the A-series chip, 128gb storage (starting), 6GB RAM, and Apple Pencil 2nd generation. This is for customers who want a tablet first experience and are using it to consume content.
iPad Pro (12 or 14)
Both Pro models are exactly the same from a spec point of view unlike the current iteration. M-series chip, 256gb (starting), 8-32GB RAM, and Apple Pencil 3rd generation (new pencil release). This is for customers who are using iPads to achieve professional content.
I want to preface that I understand others will have very different viewpoints and that’s okay.
iPad (9.7 or 11)
The 9.7 is similar to Steve Jobs original vision and takes the place of the Mini. Both models have the same specs which would be the A-series chip, 128gb storage (starting), 6GB RAM, and Apple Pencil 2nd generation. This is for customers who want a tablet first experience and are using it to consume content.
iPad Pro (12 or 14)
Both Pro models are exactly the same from a spec point of view unlike the current iteration. M-series chip, 256gb (starting), 8-32GB RAM, and Apple Pencil 3rd generation (new pencil release). This is for customers who are using iPads to achieve professional content.
For those that want a book size iPad the Mini is perfect and the regular iPad does not replace it.
Yep, I think it makes sense for Apple to sell from a business standpoint it but I’d probably never consider buying one for normal usage. My wife wanted a 10th gen iPad as her YouTube machine though.
I use my Mini often to watch movies as it's a much better experience than a phone. However when it comes to watching the evening service at church I usually will pick my apple TV or my Mac since they have larger screens.
The current iPad is similar to the iPhone 13 lineup. Two regular models in different sizes (iPad Air and iPad mini), two pro models (iPad Pro 11" and 12.9") and an SE model (the 10th-gen iPad). What annoys me though are the inconsistencies in the lineup, mainly because they aren’t updated at the same time (unlike the iPhone).
Interesting people say the Air because it’s kind of the real spiritual successor to the original iPad line and should really be the entry level model and definitely stay. Apple introduced a cheaper line below it and named that ‘iPad’ in 2017.
Personally I think the iPad is the product that should go, the poor selling massively overpriced 10th Gen model. I think everything else has its place in the lineup.
Personally I think the iPad is the product that should go, the poor selling massively overpriced 10th Gen model. I think everything else has its place in the lineup.
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One of the ones that could be gotten rid of without removing a size option from consumers. The smaller Pro and base iPad have increased in screen size twice without the larger Pro moving, so there’s definitely too much concentration in the ‘mid’ size now. If there needs to be two sizes of Pro, then I’d bring back the 9.7” in the new form factor, so that there’s a more portable option for those thst need/want the Pro features.
The Air could eventually become the base iPad for a future year without much product development being needed, now that that’s also in the ~11 space - new colours and moving the camera.
The Air could eventually become the base iPad for a future year without much product development being needed, now that that’s also in the ~11 space - new colours and moving the camera.
I feel like if you're going to have an iPad Air it should actually live up to the name. My 9.7 iPad Pro was replaced by my 11" iPad Pro but it was a bigger jump in size and weight than I would have preferred. I also had a second generation iPad Air and loved its' size and weight. A genuinely lighter and slightly smaller iPad Air would be welcome. That being said, it will probably be a long time before I'm in the market for any iPad now. The 11" M1 iPad Pro, weight aside, does everything I need and will continue to do so, probably for a decade or more.
The one thing I do wish would change is the construction of all iPads. Swapping out the battery should be as easy as doing it on a MacBook Pro. The environmental impact of these devices is terrible - they are basically disposable in the long run.
The one thing I do wish would change is the construction of all iPads. Swapping out the battery should be as easy as doing it on a MacBook Pro. The environmental impact of these devices is terrible - they are basically disposable in the long run.
What?????? Do you have the Mini 6??????? It's a BIG improvement over the previous model.
Apple used to make Macbook's where one could swap out the battery and change the RAM.
The new base iPad 10.9 inch iPad makes no sense. For a little bit of money you can get the better iPad Air. If you want to save money, the iPad 9th gen is still a fantastic value especially considering some retailers are selling it for $269. I just don't see where the iPad 10th gen fits in the lineup.
Whole-heartedly disagree. For many people the 11 in Pro is our preferred size for its portability and its power. Up until 2021, mini led was not a thing in iPad Pros. 12.9 has always been considered unwieldy for the bulk of iPad users at its introduction. Sure a use case has emerged but primarily as a stationary device. So putting the 11 in on chopping block bc of the mini led seems a little shortsighted especially considering there is a $300 dollar price separation between the 11 & 12.9. Many of us prefer our Liquid Retina over the mini led because of increased battery life afforded and/or it serves no major upgrade. IPad Air should get the Axe imho because of its proximity to the 11, and with the M1, its parity. Seems redundant.
Whole-heartedly disagree. For many people the 11 in Pro is our preferred size for its portability and its power. Up until 2021, mini led was not a thing in iPad Pros. 12.9 has always been considered unwieldy for the bulk of iPad users at its introduction. Sure a use case has emerged but primarily as a stationary device. So putting the 11 in on chopping block bc of the mini led seems a little shortsighted especially considering there is a $300 dollar price separation between the 11 & 12.9. Many of us prefer our Liquid Retina over the mini led because of increased battery life afforded and/or it serves no major upgrade. IPad Air should get the Axe imho because of its proximity to the 11, and with the M1, its parity. Seems redundant.
Totally agree with this, but my solution would be to keep the 11" Pro and level its specs up to match the 13". For me, a 13" iPad is just too big. I get why they work for some people, but 11" is about the sweetspot for a "full-size" iPad for me. (I mainly use a mini.)
Since the redesign of the base-level iPad, I'd lose the Air if you had to cut one from the line up, but I suspect they sell very well among people who want something more premium than the entry level but don't need Pro specs. It is a bit of a silly inbetweeny device though.
So you DEFINITELY disagree with those that want the Mini gone. I also have a Mini and LOVE it.
iPad Pro 11" for me.
The iPad Air is pretty much the same size so that's covered and I don't think the rest of the hardware is enough incentive (at least for me) to get an 11" iPad Pro. If I had/wanted to get a Pro again, I'd go for the 12.9" (which is also the largest I'd personally get since I already find it quite unwieldy when held VS lying on the desk).
Having said that, I consider 11" to be the ideal size - both in terms of using without accessories and with Apple Pencil/Magic Keyboard.
The iPad Air is pretty much the same size so that's covered and I don't think the rest of the hardware is enough incentive (at least for me) to get an 11" iPad Pro. If I had/wanted to get a Pro again, I'd go for the 12.9" (which is also the largest I'd personally get since I already find it quite unwieldy when held VS lying on the desk).
Having said that, I consider 11" to be the ideal size - both in terms of using without accessories and with Apple Pencil/Magic Keyboard.