Yes, price is key. That would be crazy to bump it up by $150 and create such a huge price gap between the Air and current entry level iPad. ($649 - $329)
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
All iPads Why not iPad Air 4 instead of iPad Pro 11?
- Thread starter satchmo
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Yes, price is key. That would be crazy to bump it up by $150 and create such a huge price gap between the Air and current entry level iPad. ($649 - $329)
I feel that the iPad Airs are rebranded iPad Pros from 2017. I do not like the home button, nor the battery 'white spot' common for that model of iPad Pro 10.5.
Yes the chance of the Air 4 getting the A13 is quite high as this chip is slightly faster than the A12 in the Air 3, however like you said, the $650 price changes things a bit.... which means there is a chance it could get the A14 due to the higher price. Due to the pandemic things have changed somewhat, so Apple could use the Air 4 instead of the delayed iphone 12 to introduce the A14 chip and its technical abilities (neural engine improvements etc).
I never heard this before. That’s good info, and actually changes my desire for an A14X device. I may actually pick up this Air 4 (or an equivalent Mini, if it gets released simultaneously), as long as the specs are solid enough.
Other users have reported similar for the iPad 5th gen (A9) and iPad 6th/7th gen (A10).
The Air 3, I can get ~16 hours onscreen time with my typical usage (mostly reading and text heavy web browsing). The Pro 10.5 only gives me around 8 hours nowadays (likely ~10-12 hours back when it was brand new).
Consider the fact that the iPhone SE2 has a 7Wh battery and the 11 Pro Max 15Wh while iPads (9.7-10.5") have ~30 Wh. The A13 (and upcoming A14) were designed for phones with much smaller batteries than an iPad so it's to be expected they use less power compared to performance-oriented X/Z chipsets.
Of course, the bigger display uses a lot more power particularly at high brightness. I typically have my iPad set to 0-15% brightness and sometimes even have Reduce White Point enabled. Someone who uses higher brightness settings, games or watches videos would likely have very different battery life compared to what I get.
Just as I thought, nothing new was released 8th September.
I'm pretty sure new models come later than usual due to Covid..
I'm pretty sure new models come later than usual due to Covid..
I don't think there will be many changes in the new Air if it will be the same price as before. I bet it is either in the current Pro type of chassis with about the same internals as the current Air3. If they bump up the price then maybe some CPU/memory upgrades could come too, but I honestly do not expect Air 3 being anywhere the same as Pro 2018 or 2020 models. I think rumors about huge improvements are years ahead of what is really coming to market soon and actual product will have small incremental updates.
If they bump up the base storage and include a USB-C port that will be enough for me.
I know that many are hoping for the next air to be more like the new pro models but to me the best fit for it is in between, with select features from the pro lineup but not all. Moving to rear mounted smart connector and pencil 2 support drives up overall package price due to the higher cost of those peripherals. I’m hoping that the newer air doesn’t go that route fully, particularly with the smart connector which will make it a deal breaker as an upgrade for my wife’s air 2 (she simply does not want a folio or rear case at all). Thats just me though, definitely in the minority.
I'm new here, I was going to buy an iPad Pro 11 2020 but I'm now waiting for the event to see what they announce.
Now, stupid question time, if they release the new iPad Air with the same form factor and whatnot as the current iPad Pro 11 but with a newer processor (A13, possibly A14), which would be updated for longer? The iPad Pro or the new iPad Air?
I would guess the new iPad air since the processor is newer but if they stick with 3GB of ram for the Air, the Pro would probably still get the edge.
I know it's all just guesswork but I wanted some more opinions, I would like to buy something that's supported for atleast 3 more years
(Sorry for the bad english, I hope it's clear enough)
Now, stupid question time, if they release the new iPad Air with the same form factor and whatnot as the current iPad Pro 11 but with a newer processor (A13, possibly A14), which would be updated for longer? The iPad Pro or the new iPad Air?
I would guess the new iPad air since the processor is newer but if they stick with 3GB of ram for the Air, the Pro would probably still get the edge.
I know it's all just guesswork but I wanted some more opinions, I would like to buy something that's supported for atleast 3 more years
(Sorry for the bad english, I hope it's clear enough)
I too would love a base storage bump to say 128gb, but that really encroaches on iPad Pro territory.
They might keep it at 64gb to keep the cost down.
A 256gb option priced higher would force one to decide whether a 128gb base iPad Pro is worth it.
If the Air gets an A14, it could be supported longer than the A12X/Z. If the Air only gets A13, it might be supported the same length as the A12X/Z. It’s sort of an unknown.
We actually haven’t seen Apple stop support for any iPad Pro thus far. The very first iPad Pro from 2015 is still supported on the latest iPadOS. That device has A9X with 4GB RAM, so it could see support longer than all the other A9 devices, since they only have 2GB RAM. We don’t know yet.
RAM has been the deciding factor before. The iPhone 6/6 Plus lost support, but the Mini 4 and Air 2 haven’t yet. They all have a version of the A8 chip, but the iPads have 2GB RAM, while the phones only had 1GB RAM.
The next devices to definitely lose support will be the Air 2 and Mini 4 probably next year. I don’t know if they’ll retire the A9 devices too. I guess it depends on how demanding iOS/iPadOS 15 turns out to be. But I’d say even an A12 has 3-5 years left, so the latest iPad Pros and the supposed upcoming iPad Air 4 should all be fine for quite some time.
Just my two cents, for what it’s worth.
I looked at the current Air, 11" and 12.9" Pros yesterday. For me, I don't need Apple Pencil. I don't need better speakers. I have never used an iPad as a camera. I need the multitasking that my old Mini 2 can't do as it tops out on iOS 12.x.x.
Looks like the new Air (4) still won't have the 11" Pro screen, RAM, speakers, or as good of a camera, but will be similar in other regards. I for one don't want FaceID in an iPad. I would prefer a Sleep/Wake button or under screen TouchID but do like the idea of an iPad without large top and bottom bezels.
And my case would likely be the cheaper than the Apple version Logitech Combo Touch or Folio Touch, whichever fits the iPad I get.
Looks like the new Air (4) still won't have the 11" Pro screen, RAM, speakers, or as good of a camera, but will be similar in other regards. I for one don't want FaceID in an iPad. I would prefer a Sleep/Wake button or under screen TouchID but do like the idea of an iPad without large top and bottom bezels.
And my case would likely be the cheaper than the Apple version Logitech Combo Touch or Folio Touch, whichever fits the iPad I get.
it won’t even have 4GB. Apple will use 2-3GB on the cheaper and mid-range iPads but 4-6GB (possibly 8GB) will be high end.
Anyhoo, the iPads will probably be the iPad Air and iPad 8... both jump to new iPad Pro design or one does And the other jumps to 10.5” screen size. The new iPads will both pack the A12 as they can’t have an iPad Pro A12X processor (nor one newer than the A12Z)... that means Apple made an $800 7-month old iPad, obsolete after 6+ months, and it’s made obsolete by a $329 iPad or $500 iPad Air 4. That’s seems like maybe a bad business move, lol.
So if we don’t (which I’m like 91% sure we won’t) get iPad Pro 5s this fall, we’ll get iPad Air 11” and iPad 8 with 10.5” display and A11 or A12 processors.
Then in Fall 2021 we’ll get the iPad Pro 5 with A15X processor, as the iPad schedule is 1 and 1/2 year updates. COVID will clear up enough to where things will be crazy and hectic but more like holiday shopping hectic..
I agree about the smart connector. It should stay on the side like the iPad 7 and air 3. I don’t have the logitech keyboard yet but I could add it with my current case without taking the case off. Just dock it when I need it.
Thank you for the answer, it makes a lot of sense. I guess we'll see during the event.
This is exactly what I predict too. I don't think they would just throw us a Pro 2018 rebadged as Air 4 nearly for half price. They will just make small incremental updates yearly, so maybe within few years Pro 2018 hardware finds its way (mostly) in Air.
I've seen so wild rumors every year about something mindblowing coming out and sold cheap and it has never happened. If I recall correctly it was already years ago when it was rumored we will get iPhone SE with iPhone 5s case with huge display. We are still waiting for that! Even the current SE is more or less just iPhone 7, and I guess the rumored 5.4" model is the closest thing that matches the rumor of huge display model in 5s type chassis but even that won't be called SE and definitely not PRICED as SE.
So I read these wild rumors we see every year like horoscopes. Sometimes there will be one or two things that look like they happened as horoscope said.
I don't think that any "current" iOS device has just 2GB of RAM anymore, but I think that you might be right that the non-Pro iPads may stick to 3GB. And I might be a rare exception in this case, but that doesn't really bother me. I have a 3rd gen Air right now and RAM limitation has never been an issue for me. I use my ipad for a lot of things, but multitasking on iOS has never felt that natural or necessary to me, so I seldom even use 2 apps in split screen. Nor do I keep more than 3 or 4 tabs open in my browser at once. This isn't because of lack of RAM, I just don't like the clutter, so to speak.
So while I of course wouldn't say no to more RAM, not having it is far from a deal breaker for me right now.
I think the Air 4 will get 4gb of RAM. Otherwise it'll be a difficult sell to get people to upgrade. Apple typically bumps up specs and keeps prices the same. They can't just give it the same A12 processor. It'll get bumped to A13 which will still be slower than an A12z.
Current iPad Pros are all still better equipped with 6gb, more cameras and 4 speakers, etc. and will likely be completely overhauled in the spring of 2021 to micro-LED and an A14x chip.
Usually we expect more than we get from Apple. Of course that is half the fun
My prediction, if I was forced to bet on it right now:
iPad 8 identical to iPad 7 but with A12.
iPad Air 4 will have the Pro 11” design but with a 10.8” screen. A12 and 3GB RAM.
The (hopeful) maybe’s would be A14 in the Air 4 (debuting the new chip on this iPad because of the delays on the new iPhone) and 4GB RAM.
I think an A12 Air 4 would be a disappointment, but they might just try to justify the price premium over the base model with the new design and better (TrueTone, laminated) screen.
My prediction, if I was forced to bet on it right now:
iPad 8 identical to iPad 7 but with A12.
iPad Air 4 will have the Pro 11” design but with a 10.8” screen. A12 and 3GB RAM.
The (hopeful) maybe’s would be A14 in the Air 4 (debuting the new chip on this iPad because of the delays on the new iPhone) and 4GB RAM.
I think an A12 Air 4 would be a disappointment, but they might just try to justify the price premium over the base model with the new design and better (TrueTone, laminated) screen.
BTW, iPad Pro 11” cases on amazon are already claiming compatibility with the “new 10.8” iPad Air 4” in their descriptions.