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imho, regular ipad is of the least priority for apple. so they will keep ipad 8 for some time.

as for ipad 9...
apple's public image force their products to evolve. ipad can not go yet another iteration with non-laminated screen in 2021. so if we imagine an ipad 9 with a13/4 gb ram/64 Gb storage/laminated screen/better selfie-camera we have already surpassed Air 3 by a huge spec up margin, and Air 3 have being sold for 500 USD with its 3Gb RAM/A12. it is still possible that apple will keep ipad unchanged with a minor spec-up of either more RAM (4Gb) or a better SoC (A13), but it's just to little of improvement to be bothered with as they have a bunch of ipad pros and air 4.
so my guesstimate we not gonna get ipad 9 anytime soon. it's either 3Gb RAM/A12/32 Gb 330 USD ipad 8 or 4Gb/A14/64 Gb 600-560 USD Air 4 for now.
 
maybe, but it will be like an underwhelmed air 3 from 2019, which is awkward to call an upgrade in 2021. imho it's too little of an upgrade to be bothered with and it will also raise the price anyway. air 3 was 50% over the ipad price for just a laminated screen and more storage.
 
I’m not sure when they will update the entry level iPad but they will as likely have one around as they have a Pro line on the other end of the scale.
 
my personal take is that apple gonna keep ipad 8 for another year or two and then will just ditch it althogether to keep ipads in line with macbooks with just air and pro models. regular ipad is already outdated (though still capable nonetheless) and it's like a third leg in apple's tablet line-up.

apple could have just reissue air 3 as ipad 9 but they wouldn't have kept 330 USD price tag anyway.
 
No, Apple is 100% going to update the base iPad this year, very likely in September, they haven't skipped a single year since they introduced in 2017.
There is nothing wrong with Apple to make an Air 3 with the same chip but different specs (my guess is that they will keep the 32GB storage, and increase RAM to 4GB. Rationale? with 32 instead of 64 many more people would buy 128, while 4GB will probably become the new minimum requirement going forward for some iPadOS 15 features or pro Apps).
Air 3 is discontinued, it doesn't matter anymore...
By the way a new mini is rumoured to come in September too...
 
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yeah, and they were on hiatus for 5 years prior to 2017.
so we will see after 4 months if you are right or wrong about your "100%").. until then ill keep my doubts
 
yeah, and they were on hiatus for 5 years prior to 2017.
so we will see after 4 months if you are right or wrong about your "100%").. until then ill keep my doubts
there was no 329 regular iPad before 2017, so it doesn't matter
you will see iPad 9 coming this year
 
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there was no 329 regular iPad before 2017, so it doesn't matter
you will see iPad 9 coming this year
This. I find it interesting that many of the people who predict a frequent update to the iPad Mini (that hasn't had a frequent update cycle) are the ones saying that the current entry level iPad will not be updated for a few more years (though it has a 1-1.5 year upgrade cycle).

And just like the iPad Mini, the base iPad isn't necessarily for general consumers. The iPad Mini is primarily targeted at vertical markets. The base iPad is primarily targeted at elementary schools, though because of the low base price it is also appealing to general consumers. This is one way that Apple is slowly regaining ground in that market that it has lost to chromebooks.

I too expect to see an iPad 9 this year. It is most likely to be an 8th gen body with upgraded internals. (consistency in form-factor is important for those who deploy large numbers of devices) But on the off-chance that it takes on the Air chassis, I'll immediately run out and get an iPad 8... that chassis offers so many more benefits for my uses than the Air and Pro.
 
It probably will get the A14 this year and keep the same design and storage.
unlikely... it should keep the A12 but change the design
They have shown a clear pattern of chip and design rotation and this year it's the design turn.
Instead do not expect and Air 5 this year.
 
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