All iPads Will the 2021 iPads have a base storage of 128GB?

[Hexley]

I ask this as the 2020 iPad Pro's base model has 128GB of storage.

Will all the 2021 iPads sport a base storage 128GB as well?

I could imagine all the 2020-older iPads sticking to 64GB.

The 2021 iPad 10.2" could be bumped up from 32GB to 64GB while maintaining price point.

I find it amazing that tablets may one day have more storage and RAM than typical notebook or desktop.

Having said that I wish all my past iPads and iPhones had double

I'm fine with 64GB but 128GB or 256GB would be sheer luxury.

 

[acorntoy]

No. Apples top tier devices will have 128GB iPad Pro, iPhone pro. The next step down will have 64GB. I see the base iPad sticking at 32GB, 128GB as it helps differentiate It from the ones above it, 64GB might be possible however.

 

[AutomaticApple]

I see the base iPad sticking at 32GB

I can see it being bumped up to 64GB.

 

[acorntoy]

I can see it being bumped up to 64GB.

I was a bit hesitant with that as I could maybe see it too. Especially if they dont intend to upgrade the processor etc. Either way I think it’s safe to say that it won’t have 128gb as the original poster was asking.

 

[Digitalguy]

They'll probably turn the 2021 base model into a 2019 ipad air, even if I wouldn't bet on them upgrading the 32GB storage, for a simple reason. Apple strategy with lower end ipads is to create a gap. That's why there is no 64GB entry level or 128GB ipad air. Apple is basically saying: you either get low storage and will have to upgrade earlier or you jump all the way to 4 times the storage and pay $100 and $150 respectively for the privilege. Either way Apple wins.

 

[Richard8655]

I also see it as 32gb or more likely 64gb. I hope not higher as I don't need more, and am not crazy about the potential increased cost. The basic model fills the affordable niche for users without heavy storage or processor needs, and should stay that way IMO.

 

[*~Kim~*]

Unless the Pro base moves up to 256 and the Air (and possibly Mini, if Apple continue positioning it as similar to the Air rather than the iPad) to 128GB, the iPad isn’t getting 64.

If Apple are as rumoured going to update the Mini in the first half of 2021, I imagine it will be to mirror the Air and as such 128GB won’t happen until at least 2022. I wonder if they would in the Mini, as those using Minis for things like order taking in hospitality aren’t going to want to pay a higher base price for 128, and could more see them doing 32/256 or selling 2 generations of Mini concurrently, rather than 128/512 only.

I could imagine the Pro base going to 256 next year however, as a way to give something extra alongside a likely higher starting price for Mini LED (think it’ll be more than the £100 that went onto the Air) and trying to entice 2020 Pro users to upgrade.

 

[EugW]

I expect the 2021 9th generation iPad (if there is one) to be 32 GB base.

From a practical point of view, even in 2020 with iOS 14 / iPadOS 14, there is no need for anything more than 32 GB for a light user. Since the iPad's big target is the lower cost segment of the market, going to 64 GB isn't going to help it sales, because it would mean higher pricing.

BTW, I bought a 2019 128 GB cellular iPad 7 for the wife. Most of the time it has like 10 GB usage. The only times it approaches 32 GB is when we download Netflix shows for traveling.

As for the Pros, I don't see them going to 256 either. I'd say for 2021, it's the same as this year:

32 GB iPad
64 GB iPad Air
128 GB iPad Pro

I personally will be getting a 128 GB iPad Pro, assuming they release an 11-12" model with mini-LED and 5G.