iPad Predictions for 2019 (or 2020?) 10" iPad

[EugW]

I see it as being linked to which Apple Pencil the device supports.

The original Pencil requires a Lightning connector to charge it whereas the Pencil 2 requires the additional Smart Connector, which will increase the cost.

I'm currently iPadless although I used to have a 10.5" Pro. I liked True Tone, but it was hardly essential. I didn't really notice the benefits of Pro Motion.

I immediately noticed the lack of a laminated display when helping a family member out with their iPad Air, but I don't think it's a deal breaker.

I agree with you on Face ID. In terms of features, having four speakers would rank ahead of that for me.

Good point on the Apple Pencil.

The laminated display with anti-glare coating is a nice thing to have, but the benefit is partially lost on me because I put a tempered glass screen protector on all my iPads.

As for the speakers, 99% of the time I use headphones anyway, so it's less of a priority for me, and I see the speaker count as a real world cost measure and differentiating feature between the consumer and pro lines, that people actually understand. Most people don't understand the point of a laminated display or Pro Motion, and barely understand/care about True Tone.

 

[EssModelsRule]

That would be a no-sale for me. In fact, I’d buy nothing at all. Not a 2018 model with only 2 GB RAM, and not a new 10” at twice the price.

Let me expand on my comment to cover my guess on the full lineup after the 10" is revealed.

$299 - Mini 5 w/ A11, 3GB, 32GB storage, Pencil 1 support, Mini 2 chassis and unlaminated display
$349 - 2019 9.7" with A11, 3GB, no other changes from 2018 model except maybe a slight camera upgrade
$599 to $649 - 10" iPad Air as described initially. This is the sweet spot. It'll weigh less than a pound, slightly smaller footprint than the 9.7", be thin with laminated display and have a modern Pro-like chassis with squared edges. I want.
$799+ - current Pros

I'm not spending $800 on an iPad, period. Not with the current software. But I value such things as a thin, light enclosure and laminated display so I don't want a 9.7" regardless of price, and I don't think I'm alone in that regard. A 10" midrange model would sell really well I suspect.

 

[EugW]

Let me expand on my comment to cover my guess on the full lineup after the 10" is revealed.

$299 - Mini 5 w/ A11, 3GB, 32GB storage, Pencil 1 support, Mini 2 chassis and unlaminated display
$349 - 2019 9.7" with A11, 3GB, no other changes from 2018 model except maybe a slight camera upgrade
$599 to $649 - 10" iPad Air as described initially. This is the sweet spot. It'll weigh less than a pound, slightly smaller footprint than the 9.7", be thin with laminated display and have a modern Pro-like chassis with squared edges. I want.
$799+ - current Pros

I'm not spending $800 on an iPad, period. Not with the current software. But I value such things as a thin, light enclosure and laminated display so I don't want a 9.7" regardless of price, and I don't think I'm alone in that regard. A 10" midrange model would sell really well I suspect.

In that scenario, I’d buy the US$349 9.7” with 3 GB RAM and A11. Best bang for the buck by a long shot. For the extra “pro” features you describe for a 10”, I would not pay more than US$499 at the most.

FWIW, the iPad Air 2 with laminated display and triple-core CPU debuted at $499 five years ago, and then was available for much cheaper in various sales at third party retailers the following year.

 

[EssModelsRule]

In that scenario, I’d buy the US$349 9.7” with 3 GB RAM and A11. Best bang for the buck by a long shot. For the extra “pro” features you describe for a 10”, I would not pay more than US$499 at the most.

FWIW, the iPad Air 2 with laminated display and triple-core CPU debuted at $499 five years ago, and then was available for much cheaper in various sales at third party retailers the following year.

Part of the upcharge for the 10” is for 64GB base storage vs. 32 for the 9.7”, so an extra $200 or so for the pro-like features seems reasonable to me.

Yeah, I’d want this hypothetical 10” iPad day one but would try to wait until Microcenter or somebody put it on sale. Scored my 10.5” Pro from them for $499 and have seen it briefly as low as $449.

 

[jerryleejr]

I see it as being linked to which Apple Pencil the device supports.

The original Pencil requires a Lightning connector to charge it whereas the Pencil 2 requires the additional Smart Connector, which will increase the cost.

I'm currently iPadless although I used to have a 10.5" Pro. I liked True Tone, but it was hardly essential. I didn't really notice the benefits of Pro Motion.

I immediately noticed the lack of a laminated display when helping a family member out with their iPad Air, but I don't think it's a deal breaker.

I agree with you on Face ID. In terms of features, having four speakers would rank ahead of that for me.

What are you using in lieu of an iPad? Just curious as I’m about to be sans iPad as well...

JJ
[doublepost=1548636732][/doublepost]My prediction
New iPad mini same chassis no bezel all screen. Face ID usb-c bump in ram and a processor one below the current pro line.
10” iPad same direction as the mini

This will give separation and allow an entry level jumping on point for students/family members as well as those that want a bigger screen without the pro price...

JJ

 

[AJB1971]

What are you using in lieu of an iPad? Just curious as I’m about to be sans iPad as well...

JJ

Predominantly I use my MacBook Pro. When that isn’t available, or if it’s not convenient, I use my iPhone.

I tend to be fairly adaptable, but I must admit that going iPadless has been even easier than I expected. It really depends on how and what you use your iPad for.

My main reason for going iPadless was what I called app regression. There are more details available in the following post and the thread might be of interest to you -
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...eliminating-ipad.2151096/page-2#post-26753976

I’m currently considering purchasing a seventh generation iPad when that's released although I’ll probably wait a while to get a decent discount.

 

[EugW]

I don't think I'd be happy with an iPad mini. With an iPhone 7 Plus, I can watch TV shows, but I prefer to have a bigger screen, and the iPad mini doesn't quite cut it. If I'm going bigger, I may as well go with a full 10" iPad. Still very portable and nowhere near as "large" as my 12" MacBook (which I don't need carry every day). The 10" iPad is the sweet spot for me as the bridge device between my iPhone and my MacBook.

BTW, the kids' foam case for my iPad Air 2 arrived today, but will stay empty until I can get a 2019 model to replace it for myself. If the 10" model comes with a little less bezel and about the same weight, with 3 GB RAM and a faster CPU/GPU, it will be perfect for my needs.

The last two iPad releases were at the end of March. If in March again this year, that's just two months from now, which would be good timing for me, and just in time for my birthday. The kids will just have to look at that empty iPad Air 2 foam case until then.

 

[HarryWild]

Rumor has the new 10” as a “budget” model iPad! That means 2-3 year components inside, minimum RAM and A11 inside.
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I don't think I'd be happy with an iPad mini. With an iPhone 7 Plus, I can watch TV shows, but I prefer to have a bigger screen, and the iPad mini doesn't quite cut it. If I'm going bigger, I may as well go with a full 10" iPad. Still very portable and nowhere near as "large" as my 12" MacBook (which I don't need carry every day). The 10" iPad is the sweet spot for me as the bridge device between my iPhone and my MacBook.

BTW, the kids' foam case for my iPad Air 2 arrived today, but will stay empty until I can get a 2019 model to replace it for myself. If the 10" model comes with a little less bezel and about the same weight, with 3 GB RAM and a faster CPU/GPU, it will be perfect for my needs.

The last two iPad releases were at the end of March. If in March again this year, that's just two months from now, which would be good timing for me, and just in time for my birthday. The kids will just have to look at that empty iPad Air 2 foam case until then.

You will be sorry not to try out the Mini!

 

[Crazy Badger]

Remember, this is the entry device use by just about all education establishments, and Apple won't want to price them out.

Exposing kids to Apple products in the classroom pays dividends in the long run.

 

[EssModelsRule]

Rumor has the new 10” as a “budget” model iPad! That means 2-3 year components inside, minimum RAM and A11 inside.

Maybe I missed it, but I haven’t seen any rumors that specified this thing is being specced to hit a ~$330 price point. It’s an important price point for sure, but I hope they leave that to the 9.7” and give this rumored 10” some premium features. Even if rumors are saying this is the new “budget” model, that’s what they said about the XR too...

 

[EugW]

According to this developer:

iOS 12.2 references new devices which appear to include both Smart Keyboard and Pencil support.

These new devices aren't specifically labelled as iPads, but do include both a front and back camera, so he deduces these are the new consumer iPads (and not iPad Pros which were already updated just 3 months ago).

https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith/status/1090331814500143104

"It's hard to glean much information about J210/J211, and J217/J218, the upcoming iPad models. It seems like both iPad sizes support a Smart Keyboard and Pencil"

Later on he comments that they seem to include Touch ID. There is no reference to Face ID.

---

These were my original predictions:

My predictions for a new non-Pro 10" iPad:

2019 release (or at latest 2020)
New design, with smaller bezel
4G LTE option. No 5G support
3 GB RAM (or 4 GB if we're lucky)
Starts at 32 GB RAM, with 128 GB option
No headphone jack
Apple A11 Bionic
8-bit display, 264 ppi IPS Retina, not P3 and not TruTone, and with no anti-reflective coating
USB-C connector
Supports Apple Pencil 2nd generation
Improved rear camera with 4K HEVC recording
No home button
Face ID
Two speakers
Bluetooth 5.0
Gold, Silver, Space Gray

Update:

My predictions for a new non-Pro 10" iPad:

2019 release, running iOS 12.2
New design, with smaller bezel
4G LTE option. No 5G support
3 GB RAM (or 4 GB if we're lucky)
Starts at 32 GB RAM, with 128 GB option
No headphone jack
Apple A11 Bionic
8-bit display, 264 ppi IPS Retina, not P3 and not TruTone, and with no anti-reflective coating
USB-C connector
Smart Connector
Supports Apple Pencil 2nd generation
Improved rear camera with 4K HEVC recording
Home button with Touch ID
Two speakers
Bluetooth 5.0
Gold, Silver, Space Gray

 

[EssModelsRule]

My predictions for a new non-Pro 10" iPad:

2019 release, running iOS 12.2
New design, with smaller bezel
4G LTE option. No 5G support
3 GB RAM (or 4 GB if we're lucky)
Starts at 32 GB RAM, with 128 GB option
No headphone jack
Apple A11 Bionic
8-bit display, 264 ppi IPS Retina, not P3 and not TruTone, and with no anti-reflective coating
USB-C connector
Smart Connector
Supports Apple Pencil 2nd generation
Improved rear camera with 4K HEVC recording
Home button with Touch ID
Two speakers
Bluetooth 5.0
Gold, Silver, Space Gray

Think they'll maintain current pricing or go up a little with these specs? Maybe in this scenario this is $399 and the Mini 5 takes over the $329 slot. Still an unlaminated display?

 

[EugW]

Think they'll maintain current pricing or go up a little with these specs? Maybe in this scenario this is $399 and the Mini 5 takes over the $329 slot. Still an unlaminated display?

My guess is unlaminated display for both the iPad and the iPad mini, with the iPad at $349, and mini at $299, unless they increase the base storage.

 

[EugW]

Bloomberg: New iPads spring 2019

Apple plans to release an updated version of its lower-cost iPad with a roughly 10-inch screen and a faster processor as early as this spring, according to people familiar with the plans. That device is expected to retain the Lightning port, according to one of the people. The company is also readying a new, cheaper iPad mini, its smallest tablet that hasn’t been updated since 2015, the people said.

 

[EssModelsRule]

Can somebody help me understand how iPad model numbers work? We know they filed seven new ones in the Eurasian database recently. Does each specific iPad size require only two model numbers (to differentiate Wifi and cellular versions)? If that’s correct, let’s assume the Mini 5 and the new 10” are four of the seven new model numbers. What are the other three? Or please enlighten me if I’ve got this all wrong.

 

[Falhófnir]

Can somebody help me understand how iPad model numbers work? We know they filed seven new ones in the Eurasian database recently. Does each specific iPad size require only two model numbers (to differentiate Wifi and cellular versions)? If that’s correct, let’s assume the Mini 5 and the new 10” are four of the seven new model numbers. What are the other three? Or please enlighten me if I’ve got this all wrong.

I think there's sometimes a couple of versions of the cellular for different markets or CDMA vs GSM or that sort of thing which would explain why there's too many variants for the two models.

 

[EssModelsRule]

I think there's sometimes a couple of versions of the cellular for different markets or CDMA vs GSM or that sort of thing which would explain why there's too many variants for the two models.

Ah, that makes sense, thanks.

In light of that new (to me) information, I have to revise my prediction:

2018 9.7” soldiers on unchanged
Mini 5 gets A10 and 2GB to match the 9.7” specs, $279 to $299
2019 10” iPad Air prediction remains the same, selfishly because that’s the one I’d want.

 

[PeterJP]

I was so close to ordering a 2018 iPad when I found the rumour about the 10" 2019 version. I'm hoping for a simple cpu+3gb upgrade with smaller bezels in the same form factor.

USB-C would be brilliant to reduce the number of chargers (hoping iPhones also get USB-C sooner rather than later) but I don't think that will happen. Pencil 1 needs Lightning and Pencil 2 makes the device more expensive and less of a step down from the pros.

This will be my first iPad. I tried one about 5 years ago, but iOS wasn't flexible enough for me back then, being used to an Android phone with a custom ROM. Most of what I couldn't do back then, is now quite standard. Having a mac also helps. I might move on to an iPhone later on, if only they weren't priced so outrageously...

 

[EugW]

I was so close to ordering a 2018 iPad when I found the rumour about the 10" 2019 version. I'm hoping for a simple cpu+3gb upgrade with smaller bezels in the same form factor.

USB-C would be brilliant to reduce the number of chargers (hoping iPhones also get USB-C sooner rather than later) but I don't think that will happen. Pencil 1 needs Lightning and Pencil 2 makes the device more expensive and less of a step down from the pros.

This will be my first iPad. I tried one about 5 years ago, but iOS wasn't flexible enough for me back then, being used to an Android phone with a custom ROM. Most of what I couldn't do back then, is now quite standard. Having a mac also helps. I might move on to an iPhone later on, if only they weren't priced so outrageously...

What do you want to do on the iPad?

FWIW, I cannot do real work on an iPad of any kind, Pro or not, even with an external keyboard. The app support for what I do just isn’t there, and part of that is because of the lack of mouse/trackpad support.

So for me, the iPad Pro really would just be used like a regular iPad for content consumption, but with some nicer multimedia features and a sleeker design. For real work I use my 12” MacBook, or my dual screen 27” iMac.

 

[PeterJP]

What do you want to do on the iPad?

FWIW, I cannot do real work on an iPad of any kind, Pro or not, even with an external keyboard.

It would be my device for during my commute and during meetings, i.e. notetaking, mails, research (browsing). I'm currently doing that on my phone, which is the size of an iPhone 8 plus. I can do most things I need to do and I always have the phone with me anyway. But because of the screen size, I'm always bending towards it and getting neck strain.

I tried working on my 13" MBP using the phone's hotspot but it's cumbersome. Most trains I commute on either have no table or are too cramped to use it comfortably. The 12" macbook sounds nice, but my 13" is still okay so I don't feel like replacing it.

I think the simpler OS may actually be a boon for the simple job I want to use it for. I'm trying out working with an Android tablet on my lap as we speak (borrowed one from my son) and while I haven't yet found the ideal position, it is both less cumbersome than my MBP and more readable than my phone. I can keep this tablet for a while for testing, so no hurry. If I get used to the workflow and the iPad 7 looks cool, I'll get one.

 

[tps3443]

BTW, the China Times report states it will be a true 10" or slightly bigger design, not 9.7", due to the form factor change.

Why not buy in to the older Pro model iPads? You could stay 1 generation behind, easily buying a 2nd gen iPad Pro 10.5” and save some money. There are plenty of brand new ones available on eBay.

 

[Falhófnir]

BTW, the China Times report states it will be a true 10" or slightly bigger design, not 9.7", due to the form factor change.

Not doubting this, but it just seems really odd to go to the expense of completely redesigning the enclosure but keeping the older home button design and for a gain of .3 of an inch? On a display of this size that’s a minuscule difference.

 

[tps3443]

Not doubting this, but it just seems really odd to go to the expense of completely redesigning the enclosure but keeping the older home button design and for a gain of .3 of an inch? On a display of this size that’s a minuscule difference.

Why don’t they use the 11” and 12.9” Pro bodies, with lower resolution, 60hz panels, with lower spec components?

 

[dgdosen]

My gut says that Apple will ditch the home button and put Apple Pencil 2 support on the new devices.

I think the home button goes away because that would simplify the manufacturing of these things a bit (IMO). Probably won't be replaced with Face ID (as noted)... Maybe an "in screen sensor"?

I think they'll support the Pencil 2 because they'll want that additional $30 in revenue. If the new Pencil 2 was named "Pencil Pro" instead, I'd see them keeping two pencils.
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Not doubting this, but it just seems really odd to go to the expense of completely redesigning the enclosure but keeping the older home button design and for a gain of .3 of an inch? On a display of this size that’s a minuscule difference.

I agree with this too! Apple's built millions of iPads - I'm sure they're making sure any updates of the 'non-pro' version are less complicated and cheaper to manufacture. Hopefully for us, that translates into slimmer bezels all around... Maybe like the Xr.

 

[Falhófnir]

Why don’t they use the 11” and 12.9” Pro bodies, with lower resolution, 60hz panels, with lower spec components?

I guess they could, though I don’t know how much lower they could go with the resolution and retain a reasonable @2x retina image (things would start to look huge if you go too low). I think the rounded corners also bump up the cost of the panel so they probably won’t want to use them for cost reasons.

If they do change the chassis up, a similar design but just ditching the home button and reducing the forehead and chin bezels is what I could see them doing. Ultimately I’m still not 100% convinced it won’t be the same formfactor with a new chip again though...