Also external display support and Apple magic keyboard compatibility.
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iPad Air 6 Rumored to Launch in October as Only iPad Refresh of 2023
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Ive still got an ipad air 4 and magic keyboard… going strong. The only thing I feel I really missed when the ipad air 5 released was the jump to 8 GB of RAM… which likely means a far longer run of iOS updates… and certain software uses.
My air 4 is still super fast and awesome… great screen, speakers and accessories such as the magic keyboard.
I just wish, if they continue to tout it as a laptop ‘replacement’, that they focus on iPad OS instead of the hardware… For example, Samsung DEX is really cool, and I wish ipads could do similar… even with only a select few apps (window resizing, window management… maybe a Mac OS-like desktop to really improve productivity)
M2 for most people would just be overkill….
My air 4 is still super fast and awesome… great screen, speakers and accessories such as the magic keyboard.
I just wish, if they continue to tout it as a laptop ‘replacement’, that they focus on iPad OS instead of the hardware… For example, Samsung DEX is really cool, and I wish ipads could do similar… even with only a select few apps (window resizing, window management… maybe a Mac OS-like desktop to really improve productivity)
M2 for most people would just be overkill….
The iPad Air's sell more units than the Pro's so that alone is a reason to be in the line up. For the vast majority of general Apple consumers (Not MR members) the iPad Air is the best bang for buck iPad to buy in terms of features, Performance and price. It fills the same role for consumers as the Macbook Air does.
The iPad pricing ladder works best for them with three versions. If you want more than 64GB it quickly points you to the 128 GB Pro.
Short-stroking is a thing and vendors will provide custom FW to allow customers to do as they will. But it's hard to disguise a part number when iFixIt starts snooping.
Ya that's exactly what it is. Strips out the features nobody cares about or needs for a cheaper price.
They don’t tout it as a laptop replacement and they never have. Where do people get this idea from? Just because they call it a computer doesn’t mean it’s a laptop replacement because it’s not a laptop. ”What is a computer?” was meant to show the power of the device as something beyond just a toy, which was the attitude of many people at the time of the ad campaign. When people were looking for a new computer, they only looked for a laptop or desktop. Apple wanted people to think of iPads, too. It is a computer, just not a laptop.
People have misunderstood their marketing slogan ever since. It is NOT a laptop replacement. Just as a laptop and desktop cannot replace the other for certain features while others overlap, the same goes with a tablet. If you love instantaneous touch response, you get a tablet. If you’re more comfortable always using a mouse and keyboard, get yourself a laptop or desktop. If you need serious power, you get a desktop. You’re never going to get an M2 Pro or M2 Max in a tablet form just because it would run too hot just as an M2 MacBook Air can’t handle the most serious workloads. The three types of computers are tiered going from tablet -> laptop -> desktop, and you get what’s right for you.
But a tablet will never be a 100% replacement for a laptop or desktop simply because of physics. The sooner people disabuse the notion that Apple ever intended the iPad to be a laptop replacement, the less resentment they’ll have due to unrealistic expectations. Apple insists on touch-first because they DON’T want it to be a laptop and want the iPad to be its own thing. They’re not ignoring iPadOS, but putting what they think is important in it. Just because it doesn’t do everything just like macOS, people get angry about it. Put macOS on a tablet and most people will throw it out a window due to a touch-hostile user interface and poor battery life. What’s the point of buying a tablet with macOS when you have to permanently tether it to a keyboard and mouse? It’s no longer a tablet. But yet they sell close to 40 million tablets a year because a lot of people like tablets and don’t want a laptop. Apple also coincidentally sells about 40 million Macs a year.
You can do desktop-like things on an iPad, too. That doesn’t mean it’ll replace one. The M2 is not overkill, especially when people replace their iPads roughly every five years, unlike a phone’s typical 2-year cycle, but people never think forward to what power is needed in five years. The 2018 iPad Pro’s A-12X is reaching end-of-life and can’t handle the most advanced features. In five years, is the M2 going to be usable? For those who want to run higher-end apps and games, you get the M-series. For instance, if you were to get DaVinci Resolve for iPad, it can’t do more than 1080p video on an A-series. If you want 4K, you get an M-series. Apple decided for Final Cut to not bother with A-series rather than cripple it to 1080p.
The reason the iPad Air and iPad Pro haven't moved the camera to landscape orientation whereas the base iPad has is because the magnetic charger assembly for the Apple Pencil 2 takes up that space - there's just no way to fit a camera in there. If you look at any iPad Pro/Air teardowns it's surprising that the charger assembly takes up the full area of the bezel. The regular iPad still uses the first generation pencil with the ridiculous USB-C to Lightning adapter so it's a non-issue.
Oh I get that part. Apple’s doing very well with things at the moment. 🤪
I was thinking from the consumer standpoint and, more specifically, just miss a simpler lineup that was “basically” two tiers: consumer & prosumer. Made it pretty easy for customers to select a device.
Again, Apple is doing pretty well with it’s more confusing offerings. As much as I might want them to, I do not expect they’ll clean up their offerings.
As you were. 😜
And that’s the way I like it.
It’s like complaining that a screwdriver can’t replace a hammer. Different strokes for different tools.
I genuinely don’t understand the “it’s just a cheaper pro with fewer features” and “it’s just a more expensive base with more features” comments…
is this the first consumer item people have bought? Never had to choose what model Toyota sedan or toaster oven fit your budget and feature wants?
is this the first consumer item people have bought? Never had to choose what model Toyota sedan or toaster oven fit your budget and feature wants?
The iPad mini 6 was released September 14, 2021, very likely to see a iPad mini 7 soon IMHO. Makes more sense.
I hope you’re right. I’m hoping Apple is simply being extremely tight-lipped about this and springs a pleasant surprise upon us.
I am using ipad for work waiting for new macbook air. It is plain terrible as a work device and while it can replace a macbook no one would wish so. Sending file attachment on ms teams is an exercise involving multiple trips to files app alone. Extremely inefficient. It is generally same as working on iphone.
Hoping to see some new colours for the iPad Air
I agree except the tool maker apparently wants to sell us a screwhammer.
I love my Air 3 and will upgrade only when it no longer supports iOS updates. The Air definitely has a place as a mid-range model for those who don't need the Pro features or screen, but who want similar performance and more fun colors. Hope the new models have surround speakers, the 2 bottom speakers on my Air 3 aren't enough.
They could use less material though and in theory retain the weight and strength which would allow for more components / recessed camera lenses / bigger battery within the same dimensions.
By all accounts, the Air 5 is thin enough already - when you can very lightly press on the back (just from normal holding) and see your finger press on the screen!
I think Apple will change the camera location, but in the pro first. A few thoughts, first the current Gen Apple Pencil is multiple years old, 5 I think? A redesign AP with charging connections moved to each side of the camera could be done. I also believe Apple had to delay the camera relocation because of R&D/supply chain issues incurred from Covid protocols in China. We didn’t see much new design changes throughout the pandemic lockdown years. it seems Apple changed the “easiest“ iPad as sign of things to come. I think we’ll see the camera moved on the pro relatively soon.
I enjoyed reading your reply… i had to put in the laptop replacement comment in as it always gets to people
