Is the new iPad some kind of April fools prank?

[ThatiPhoneKid]

have Apple really just held an event for an iPad which has the same camera and slightly and when I say slightly I mean slightly better processing performance, I know it now supports an Apple Pencil but it will cost schools and average consumers $99 to get the Apple Pencil... I’m just speechless they never even dropped the price, they claim to care about education, they just want schools to buy their iPads because no one else will.

 

[The Game 161]

have Apple really just held an event for an iPad which has a downgraded camera and slightly and when I say slightly I mean slightly better processing performance, I know it now supports an Apple Pencil but... I’m just speechless they never even dropped the price, they claim to care about education, they just want schools to buy their iPads because no one else will.

well they have dropped the price for schools..it's 299

 

[ThatiPhoneKid]

well they have dropped the price for schools..it's 299

Schools got a $20 discount on iPads before, I think they should have priced this at $260 for schools.

 

[kt87]

Schools got a $20 discount on iPads before, I think they should have priced this at $260 for schools.

Now it's a $30 discount

 

[JPack]

This thing just cut 50% off the price of the 9.7" iPad Pro and outperforms it. It was only two years ago the 9.7" iPad Pro was selling for $599. For Apple, this is a big move.

iPad (2018) will be cannibalizing the 10.5" product until summer when the refresh comes out. Even with Face ID, I think many will settle for the $329 product.

 

[Adelphos33]

have Apple really just held an event for an iPad which has a downgraded camera and slightly and when I say slightly I mean slightly better processing performance, I know it now supports an Apple Pencil but... I’m just speechless they never even dropped the price, they claim to care about education, they just want schools to buy their iPads because no one else will.

Is the camera downgraded from the 2017 model?

 

[BarracksSi]

have Apple really just held an event for an iPad which has a downgraded camera and slightly and when I say slightly I mean slightly better processing performance, I know it now supports an Apple Pencil but... I’m just speechless they never even dropped the price, they claim to care about education, they just want schools to buy their iPads because no one else will.

"Downgraded" from what? The earlier non-Pro iPad?

(btw, why do I think you titled the thread to be clickbait... and why did I click on it?...)

 

[Adelphos33]

This thing just cut 50% off the price of the 9.7" iPad Pro and outperforms it. It was only two years ago the 9.7" iPad Pro was selling for $599. For Apple, this is a big move.

iPad (2018) will be cannibalizing the 10.5" product until summer when the refresh comes out. Even with Face ID, I think many will settle for the $329 product.

Honestly, if I bought the 10.5" iPad Pro for use as a "generic iPad," this product launch would upset me

 

[erik001]

have Apple really just held an event for an iPad which has a downgraded camera and slightly and when I say slightly I mean slightly better processing performance, I know it now supports an Apple Pencil but... I’m just speechless they never even dropped the price, they claim to care about education, they just want schools to buy their iPads because no one else will.

I agree. A snoozer of a up date. Could of saved the money they used for the 'show' and cut the cost of the ipad more. Innovation would of been making the ipad extra durable, a Tonka tough Ipad for kids.

Also what's the point of 'Pro' nomenclature now? All the same gut's just bigger screens.

 

[ThatiPhoneKid]

Is the camera downgraded from the 2017 model?

Yes 8mp now or 12mp
[doublepost=1522168527][/doublepost]

I agree. A snoozer of a up date. Could of saved the money they used for the 'show' and cut the cost of the ipad more. Innovation would of been making the ipad extra durable, a Tonka tough Ipad for kids.

Also what's the point of 'Pro' nomenclature now? All the same gut's just bigger screens.

I couldn’t agree with this more

 

[JPack]

Is the camera downgraded from the 2017 model?

No, the camera remains the same at 8 MP.

The only thing that's been downgraded is the battery from 32.9 Whr to 32.4 Whr. But that's negligible. The capacity is still bigger than the 10.5" iPad Pro and blasts it out of the water in terms of value.

The really unhappy campers are the owners of 9.7" iPad Pro. This iPad (2018) performs better at half the cost.

 

[Jetcat3]

I’d much rather have a 2016 9.7” iPad Pro than this! For the laminated display, anti-reflective coating, and True Tone alone! Not to mention 1.4 MM thinner and lighter. Heck, the Air 2 doesn’t look all that bad compared to this. This was straight disappointing, as if they aren’t even trying now. Why not remove some bezels? Can you not throw in an A10 into the Mini 4 at least?

 

[ThatiPhoneKid]

No, the camera remains the same at 8 MP.

The only thing that's been downgraded is the battery from 32.9 Whr to 32.4 Whr. But that's negligible. The capacity is still bigger than the 10.5" iPad Pro and blasts it out of the water in terms of value.

Sorry just checked yeah, the new iPad has the same camera as last years one so I guess the only new upgrade with this iPad is Apple Pencil support which you will need to pay a further $99 to get the Apple Pencil

 

[joeblow7777]

This thing just cut 50% off the price of the 9.7" iPad Pro and outperforms it. It was only two years ago the 9.7" iPad Pro was selling for $599. For Apple, this is a big move.

iPad (2018) will be cannibalizing the 10.5" product until summer when the refresh comes out. Even with Face ID, I think many will settle for the $329 product.

True. It's not so bad when you consider that this is basically the iPad Pro of a couple of years ago.

 

[NT1440]

The standard iPad is clearly not meant to be the "gee whiz" device going forward, that's the entire point of the Pro line.

Also, an A9 to A10 is quite a significant leap. I have no idea where the OP got the nerve to say it's a "slightly and when I say slightly I mean slightly better processing performance" jump. 40% CPU and 50% GPU jumps are nothing to sneeze at.

 

[Newtons Apple]

To me this is about what I expected. Was not sure about being able to use the pencil but we know now.

Still very happy with my 10.5 and waiting for September.

 

[rui no onna]

I’d much rather have a 2016 9.7” iPad Pro than this! For the laminated display, anti-reflective coating, and True Tone alone! Not to mention 1.4 MM thinner and lighter. Heck, the Air 2 doesn’t look all that bad compared to this. This was straight disappointing, as if they aren’t even trying now. Why not remove some bezels? Can you not throw in an A10 into the Mini 4 at least?

This iPad is $329. Iirc, the Pro 9.7 started at $599 for 32GB (I think I paid ~$1100 for mine, 256GB LTE) and even out-of-warranty replacement costs $379. Of course the older Pro was a nicer, more premium device (for its time).

 

[Adelphos33]

The standard iPad is clearly not meant to be the "gee whiz" device going forward, that's the entire point of the Pro line.

Also, an A9 to A10 is quite a significant leap. I have no idea where the OP got the nerve to say it's a "slightly and when I say slightly I mean slightly better processing performance" jump. 40% CPU and 50% GPU jumps are nothing to sneeze at.

The problem is that relative to the tech offered in this iPad, the iPad Pro is a bit overpriced today

 

[ThatiPhoneKid]

The standard iPad is clearly not meant to be the "gee whiz" device going forward, that's the entire point of the Pro line.

Also, an A9 to A10 is quite a significant leap. I have no idea where the OP got the nerve to say it's a "slightly and when I say slightly I mean slightly better processing performance" jump. 40% CPU and 50% GPU jumps are nothing to sneeze at.

The 2017 iPad actually had the a9x chip

 

[rui no onna]

The 2017 iPad actually had the a9x chip

Nope. A9 only same as iPhone 6s/6s+/SE. The 2016 Pro 9.7 had A9X.

 

[NT1440]

The 2017 iPad actually had the a9x chip

The percentage jump cited by Apple is still directly from the previous generation chip, so again 40% CPU and 50% GPU gains.

 

[ThatiPhoneKid]

Nope. A9 only same as iPhone 6s/6s+/SE. The 2016 Pro 9.7 had A9X.

I apologise yes, the 2017 did have the a9 chip, I’m still struggling to see why this iPad is such a major upgrade to last years 9.7 iPad, if they included the Apple Pencil I would maybe understand but if schools want to enjoy this iPad as intended they will have to pay $398 per iPad for Apple pencil use

 

[Newtons Apple]

I apologise yes, the 2017 did have the a9 chip, I’m still struggling to see why this iPad is such a major upgrade to last years 9.7 iPad, if they included the Apple Pencil I would maybe understand but if schools want to enjoy this iPad as intended they will have to pay $398 per iPad for Apple pencil use

It is an entry level iPad with pencil support. That is about what most expected.

It will sell very well, especially to one who has never owned an iPad before.

Schools will go for the $299 for sure.

 

[ThatiPhoneKid]

It is an entry level iPad with pencil support. That is about what most expected.

It will sell very well, especially to one who has never owned an iPad before.

Schools will go for the $299 for sure.

But surely Apple should start coming up with some new ideas, I mean, the same design for how many years?

 

[rui no onna]

I apologise yes, the 2017 did have the a9 chip, I’m still struggling to see why this iPad is such a major upgrade to last years 9.7 iPad, if they included the Apple Pencil I would maybe understand but if schools want to enjoy this iPad as intended they will have to pay $398 per iPad for Apple pencil use

There are plenty of consumers who would like Pencil support but were unwilling to pay $599-649 for the Pro models. I expect this greatly appeals to that segment.

As for schools, I reckon it's still a tough sell versus a $200-250 Chromebook which includes keyboard.

Honestly, I'd get one for running iOS 11 since I'm keeping my Pro 9.7 on iOS 10.