All iPads Why not iPad Air 4 instead of iPad Pro 11?

[satchmo]

Obviously we don't have the full details of the iPad Air 4 yet. But the leaks seem to point towards a very similar form factor to the iPad Pro 11.

Especially if it has 6gb of RAM, although I suspect it'll be 4gb.

But for many who don't need a fancy LIDAR camera, or 4 speakers, at $300 less (assuming same price), the Air might be a very viable option.

Are there any other benefits to a Pro model?

 

[acorntoy]

For me its the larger pros 12.9' screen.

Id take a cheaper 12.9 but there isn't one. If I was looking for a smaller tablet the Air would probably get my purchase.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Benefits include

1) MacRumors Forum prestige
2) Magic Keyboard
3) Apple Pencil 2
4) Chick Magnet

 

[IngerMan]

Rumor is the new iPad air will fit the new 11“ Magic Keyboard. Makes sense they want to sell many more MK.

 

[Marlon DLTH :)]

Obviously we don't have the full details of the iPad Air 4 yet. But the leaks seem to point towards a very similar form factor to the iPad Pro 11.

Especially if it has 6gb of RAM, although I suspect it'll be 4gb.

But for many who don't need a fancy LIDAR camera, or 4 speakers, at $300 less (assuming same price), the Air might be a very viable option.

Are there any other benefits to a Pro model?

It’s the same as almost every other Apple’s “Pro” product. The 11 Pro costs $300 more than the 11, and most people don’t see the benefits of the Pro models. The MacBook Pro is $300 more than the Air, and the difference isn’t big enough for most people.

The Pro models are just becoming niche products for those ones who care about those things, for example, LiDAR and 120hz, and they have the money to pay the difference. But yes, for most people the Air will be a better option.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Especially if it has 6gb of RAM

That would give it too much of an advantage.

 

[satchmo]

Rumor is the new iPad air will fit the new 11“ Magic Keyboard. Makes sense they want to sell many more MK.

I have not heard this rumour. If the exterior shape is near identical to the 11" Pro, it would be great for other accessory makers such as Logitech.

 

[spiderman0616]

This is not a question that a MacRumors thread can answer. The people who don't want/don't care about/can't afford the iPad Pro will tell you that it's not worth it. The people who appreciate the extra features and power that the Pro has will tell you that it's worth every penny.

I'm in the latter camp. I use my iPad Pro for absolutely everything, and was even fortunate enough this year to have the dough to move up to the 12.9" model. I have always loved the ProMotion screen, the quad audio, and the extra RAM and processing power. I use my iPad for productivity, creation, and consumption, so I'm always going to buy the best one I can afford.

That being said, I don't think it's necessary to pigeon hole any one iPad model into any one use case or type of user. I know lots of people who don't really do any intense computing in general and still buy the Pro models. They either just really love iPads and want the nicest one possible or they really like their media to look and sound the best it can without worrying about any slowdowns in performance for the foreseeable future. It's perfectly ok to buy a Pro even if you strictly use it as a tablet for media consumption. On the other hand, I still know a handful of people that are happily still using their iPad Air 2 from years ago.

All that being said, I would not be surprised (if rumors of a re-designed iPad Air are true) for Apple to do the following:
--Discontinue the 11" iPad Pro and replace it with the redesigned, slightly lower priced 11" iPad Air 4.
--Update the 12.9" Pro to a micro LED display and make that the only Pro model, design remains the same
--Continue spec bumping the base model with no design/price changes
--Continue spec bumping the iPad mini with no design/price changes

If the new iPad Air really takes on the same design and dimensions as the 11" iPad Pro, I have a feeling that sales of the 11" Pro are largely going to be cannibalized by the 11" iPad Air. It will all depend on internal sales data that none of us have. Apple may see value in keeping both around, or they may see more logic in just having one 11" size to remove confusion from the lineup.

One thing I do know though--an iPad Air redesigned to look like an iPad Pro does not mean it's "just as good". It might be just as good in all the main functionality, but there are reasons the Pro is called the Pro, and in my personal opinion, those reasons are not negligible and are worth the extra money I pay for the Pro.

 

[ofarlig]

I think the 11 Pro will still have an edge when it comes to better speakers, more RAM, FaceID, and 120 Hz screen.

That last point is enough for me to go for the Pro and is why I switched my 12.9” to an 11” last week.

 

[Crow_Servo]

I kind of feel it’s best to wait and see what happens over these next months to get a better idea how Apple is going to handle the Air/Pro going forward.

I want an 11” Pro, but I want it to have an A14X chip, so I can’t justify the current model. But if Apple decides that the next Air will replace the 11” Pro, we may never get a Pro that size with that chip. The Air might get an A14, but it probably won’t have more than 4GBs of RAM. All that might be okay for me, as long as the Air still gets quad speakers.

Just playing the waiting game right now. Not that I absolutely need a new iPad. My Mini 5 is serving me fine. I just can’t see myself watching movies on it, and I want it to have the best chip for games.

 

[spiderman0616]

I kind of feel it’s best to wait and see what happens over these next months to get a better idea how Apple is going to handle the Air/Pro going forward.

I want an 11” Pro, but I want it to have an A14X chip, so I can’t justify the current model. But if Apple decides that the next Air will replace the 11” Pro, we may never get a Pro that size with that chip. The Air might get an A14, but it probably won’t have more than 4GBs of RAM. All that might be okay for me, as long as the Air still gets quad speakers.

Just playing the waiting game right now. Not that I absolutely need a new iPad. My Mini 5 is serving me fine. I just can’t see myself watching movies on it, and I want it to have the best chip for games.

That's a really great point--I can actually see Apple keeping the very top end silicon ONLY in the 12.9" iPad Pro. That and the extra screen space would be enough on their own to justify a Pro purchase over an Air purchase. For the people that don't need that kind of horsepower or screen space, they couldn't care less which chip is in there as long as it lets them check Facebook and message people, so the Air or even the base model is where they would have gone anyway.

Some people will be angry if there's no 11" Pro model anymore though. That's a very popular model.

 

[Fishels]

I wonder if the air will retain the headphone jack? That would make the decision for me

 

[rui no onna]

That's a really great point--I can actually see Apple keeping the very top end silicon ONLY in the 12.9" iPad Pro. That and the extra screen space would be enough on their own to justify a Pro purchase over an Air purchase. For the people that don't need that kind of horsepower or screen space, they couldn't care less which chip is in there as long as it lets them check Facebook and message people, so the Air or even the base model is where they would have gone anyway.

Some people will be angry if there's no 11" Pro model anymore though. That's a very popular model.

I don't care much if the X/Z chipsets are limited to the 12.9" iPad Pro. However, I would be very unhappy if the mid-size model loses the 1TB option and if it sees a RAM reduction. 5G, 1TB and more RAM is pretty much my wish list before pulling the upgrade trigger.

It would also be disappointing to lose the LED flash and quad speakers but those aren't dealbreakers for me.

 

[KittyKatta]

There's the iPad ($250) iPad Air ($400) and iPad Pro ($800)

Considering the overlap in usage scenarios then I've always felt that the Pro side is extremely overpriced. That is my preferred model because I use the 12.9 but for most people then they wouldn't be missing out on much by going for the cheaper models. (You could buy 3x iPads for the price of one Pro. For some families that's a pretty big deal).

 

[mhd2100]

IMO Apple needs to start consolidating their convoluted iPad lineup. MacBook Air is the cheapest option to get into a portable MacBook, so why isn't it the cheapest option for the iPad too? Why do we need another basic iPad model beneath that?

I think the lineup should be visually based on a single screen-size for each model moving forward.
iPad Pro -> shrink slightly from 12.9 to 12 inches. 12.9 is a little unwieldy for a tablet. A14X CPU, ProMotion, Lidar, quad speakers. 8GB RAM.
iPad Air (or just 'iPad') -> 10.8 inches as predicted. A14 CPU. Dual speakers and promotion, dual camera setup. 6GB RAM.
iPad Mini (or 'iPad Air')->9 inches. A14 CPU. Dual speakers and promotion. Single camera setup. 6GB RAM.

Then having Wifi & cellular options for each. How much better is that in terms of a neat and tidy lineup? Have 'iPad' just as an ultra-cheap education option only for classrooms and not part of the official lineup for the general public.

 

[Shanghaichica]

There's the iPad ($250) iPad Air ($400) and iPad Pro ($800)

Considering the overlap in usage scenarios then I've always felt that the Pro side is extremely overpriced. That is my preferred model because I use the 12.9 but for most people then they wouldn't be missing out on much by going for the cheaper models. (You could buy 3x iPads for the price of one Pro. For some families that's a pretty big deal).

I agree they are overpriced. I can't really explain why I've had 2 pro iPads, except for liking the quad speakers.

 

[sonicrobby]

Let’s find out when they announce it
Depending on the differences, I may actually downgrade if there is a flush rear camera >.>

 

[ejin222]

I think the lineup should be visually based on a single screen-size for each model moving forward.
iPad Pro -> shrink slightly from 12.9 to 12 inches. 12.9 is a little unwieldy for a tablet. A14X CPU, ProMotion, Lidar, quad speakers. 8GB RAM.
iPad Air (or just 'iPad') -> 10.8 inches as predicted. A14 CPU. Dual speakers and promotion, dual camera setup. 6GB RAM.
iPad Mini (or 'iPad Air')->9 inches. A14 CPU. Dual speakers and promotion. Single camera setup. 6GB RAM.

So, the Mini would be bigger than the Air?

And I, for one, want a bigger iPad. Doesn't have to be a Pro. And on this forum, many have stated that this is a want as well.

 

[The1andOnly]

All that being said, I would not be surprised (if rumors of a re-designed iPad Air are true) for Apple to do the following:
--Discontinue the 11" iPad Pro and replace it with the redesigned, slightly lower priced 11" iPad Air 4.
--Update the 12.9" Pro to a micro LED display and make that the only Pro model, design remains the same
--Continue spec bumping the base model with no design/price changes
--Continue spec bumping the iPad mini with no design/price changes

That would be a nice lineup.

 

[bluespark]

It’s the same as almost every other Apple’s “Pro” product. The 11 Pro costs $300 more than the 11, and most people don’t see the benefits of the Pro models. The MacBook Pro is $300 more than the Air, and the difference isn’t big enough for most people.

The Pro models are just becoming niche products for those ones who care about those things, for example, LiDAR and 120hz, and they have the money to pay the difference. But yes, for most people the Air will be a better option.

Yep -- standard business school stuff: offer a more expensive option to those willing to pay more, no matter how minimal the actual benefit.

And it works: I fancy myself to be a pretty shrewd guy generally, but I am also the proud owner of an iPhone 11 Pro who knows he would have been perfectly satisfied with the 11.

 

[rui no onna]

Yep -- standard business school stuff: offer a more expensive option to those willing to pay more, no matter how minimal the actual benefit.

And it works: I fancy myself to be a pretty shrewd guy generally, but I am also the proud owner of an iPhone 11 Pro who knows he would have been perfectly satisfied with the 11.

Sounds like me with iPad storage. Top capacity or bust.

Mind, up to 256GB, I was struggling with not having enough but I reckon 512GB’s actually pretty workable.

 

[Tsepz]

Obviously we don't have the full details of the iPad Air 4 yet. But the leaks seem to point towards a very similar form factor to the iPad Pro 11.

Especially if it has 6gb of RAM, although I suspect it'll be 4gb.

But for many who don't need a fancy LIDAR camera, or 4 speakers, at $300 less (assuming same price), the Air might be a very viable option.

Are there any other benefits to a Pro model?

The A12X/Z chips are another advantage, they are more powerful than the A13.

 

[Achillias]

So when is the rumoured announcement.

 

[Robbosan]

It would want to better that Air 3, just sold mine and went back to a 2018 11" iPad pro. So much better.

 

[Marlon DLTH :)]

So when is the rumoured announcement.

September 7th or 8th.