This story isn't that different than when the iPad Air was first announced in 2019 - it really brought into focus the value of the iPad Pro 11". Currently, the iPad Pro still has a lot going for it and if the rumor updates happen then it will have:
- M2 chipset
- 11" mini-LED display with ProMotion (vs 10.9" standard display)
- 5G mm vs standard 5G
- Thunderbolt port vs only USB-C
- Face ID
Honestly, the only one of those that I think matters for 95% of users is the display. The iPad is all about the display, so having a meaningfully better screen is a big deal. Still, all of the above is kind of a moot point for use cases like
@rui no onna because it's tops out at 256GB. Plus, if you spec it up to 256GB, you're only $50 away from the iPad Pro (albeit at 128GB).
I think the iPad Air is an awesome device, but I still think it's a bit too expensive if Apple wants it to be the mainstream iPad. Personally, I want the best display possible and at least 512GB storage, so I'm still in the iPad Pro camp.