Comparison: Which 9.7" iPad is right for you?

AppleInsider · April 19, 2017 12:14AM

In the market for a new 9.7-inch tablet? Having trouble deciding between the all-new 2017 iPad and the older but more powerful iPad Pro? AppleInsider breaks down the pros and cons of each model in this video comparison.

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How to get the best deal on a new iPad
Shoppers can easily save money when purchasing an iPad or iPad Pro by taking advantage of instant discounts at Apple authorized resellers. Those opting for a 9.7-inch iPad Pro, for instance, can save $30 to $130 on different colors and capacities. In fact, the 32GB 9.7-inch iPad Pro (Wi-Fi + Cellular) in Rose Gold is currently marked down to $599.00 ($130 off) at B&H with free expedited shipping and no sales tax on orders shipped outside NY and NJ. For many shoppers outside those two states, this equates to $188 in savings compared to paying full price with tax at the Apple Store.

Prefer the 2017 iPad? Adorama and B&H, both Apple authorized resellers, are now shipping the brand-new devices with free shipping and no tax collected on orders shipped outside NY and NJ. MacMall also has units in stock at $5 to $10 off, although the reseller does collect sales tax in all applicable states.

For the best deals on Apple's entire iPad lineup, be sure to check out AppleInsider's dedicated deals page. And to compare prices instantly across a variety of resellers, visit AI's Price Guides.

Soli · April 19, 2017 12:38AM

OT: Why don't just call them the 8", 10", and 13" iPads? Why do we need to state a tenth of an inch when there's more than an inch between them? We don't do it with the Macs. Would anyone be confused by which iPad category was being discussed if the title was: Comparison: Which 10" iPad is right for you?

levi · April 19, 2017 12:47AM

Just purchased a refurb Air 2. Looking for an affordable media player/e reader

virtua · April 19, 2017 11:09AM

When are the new pros coming out would be a better topic.

macgui · April 19, 2017 12:16PM

I've an Air 2 and Mini 2 when they shipped. I'll wait for updates later this year before I consider what to do. Ideally it would be a 9.7" iPad Pro and the latest 7.9" iPad with Touch ID. Plans subject to change.

GeorgeBMac · April 19, 2017 12:24PM

So, the only meaningful differences between the pro and the regular IPad is:   Price and lack of a keyboard on the regular -- and, oh yeh, the lack of a stylus on the regular.

Apple is about to unleash the new pro line.   It will be interesting to see how they upgrade them.   If it stays as simply a conventional tablet, upgrading the CPU/GPU will mean little because they are already powerful enough for any current use -- same with the other 'stuff' like the screen & camera...

The real question is:   When will Apple fulfill their promise and make the pro into a laptop killer by adding a mouse and file system.   The current pro design appears to be intentionally throttled back as Apple has limited it to only a keyboard and stylus.

macplusplus · April 19, 2017 12:43PM

GeorgeBMac said:

So, the only meaningful differences between the pro and the regular IPad is:   Price and lack of a keyboard on the regular -- and, oh yeh, the lack of a stylus on the regular.

Apple is about to unleash the new pro line.   It will be interesting to see how they upgrade them.   If it stays as simply a conventional tablet, upgrading the CPU/GPU will mean little because they are already powerful enough for any current use -- same with the other 'stuff' like the screen & camera...

The real question is:   When will Apple fulfill their promise and make the pro into a laptop killer by adding a mouse and file system.   The current pro design appears to be intentionally throttled back as Apple has limited it to only a keyboard and stylus.

When you add a mouse and file system it becomes a laptop, not a laptop killer.

GeorgeBMac · April 20, 2017 2:49PM

macplusplus said:

GeorgeBMac said:

So, the only meaningful differences between the pro and the regular IPad is:   Price and lack of a keyboard on the regular -- and, oh yeh, the lack of a stylus on the regular.

Apple is about to unleash the new pro line.   It will be interesting to see how they upgrade them.   If it stays as simply a conventional tablet, upgrading the CPU/GPU will mean little because they are already powerful enough for any current use -- same with the other 'stuff' like the screen & camera...

The real question is:   When will Apple fulfill their promise and make the pro into a laptop killer by adding a mouse and file system.   The current pro design appears to be intentionally throttled back as Apple has limited it to only a keyboard and stylus.

When you add a mouse and file system it becomes a laptop, not a laptop killer.

LOL... Sorry, that just isn't true... If I said "replace the tablet functions with laptop functions" it would be. But I didn't.

Why do Mac users feel so threatened by tablets serving a dual role?

k2kw · April 20, 2017 2:52PM

macplusplus said:

GeorgeBMac said:

So, the only meaningful differences between the pro and the regular IPad is:   Price and lack of a keyboard on the regular -- and, oh yeh, the lack of a stylus on the regular.

Apple is about to unleash the new pro line.   It will be interesting to see how they upgrade them.   If it stays as simply a conventional tablet, upgrading the CPU/GPU will mean little because they are already powerful enough for any current use -- same with the other 'stuff' like the screen & camera...

The real question is:   When will Apple fulfill their promise and make the pro into a laptop killer by adding a mouse and file system.   The current pro design appears to be intentionally throttled back as Apple has limited it to only a keyboard and stylus.

When you add a mouse and file system it becomes a laptop, not a laptop killer.

They should definitely do this ASAP. But I'm doubtful that Apple is as ready for this as the market is.

I would love to see 9.7inch and 12.9 inch iOSBooks with a 360 hinge (weight 1.5 and 2.0 lbs respectively).

A design like the Porshe laptop would be even better but won't happen because this would cut into MacBook Sales.

Apple should have an iOSbook because iOS has a much stronger APP store. Hook more people into Services.

RUKidg · April 20, 2017 10:30PM

You can get the iPad online at staples.com for $299 for the 32 GB version & $399 for the 128 GB version (with free shipping).

GeorgeBMac · April 21, 2017 12:46PM

k2kw said:

macplusplus said:

GeorgeBMac said:

So, the only meaningful differences between the pro and the regular IPad is:   Price and lack of a keyboard on the regular -- and, oh yeh, the lack of a stylus on the regular.

Apple is about to unleash the new pro line.   It will be interesting to see how they upgrade them.   If it stays as simply a conventional tablet, upgrading the CPU/GPU will mean little because they are already powerful enough for any current use -- same with the other 'stuff' like the screen & camera...

The real question is:   When will Apple fulfill their promise and make the pro into a laptop killer by adding a mouse and file system.   The current pro design appears to be intentionally throttled back as Apple has limited it to only a keyboard and stylus.

When you add a mouse and file system it becomes a laptop, not a laptop killer.

They should definitely do this ASAP.    But I'm doubtful that Apple is as ready for this as the market is.
I would love to see 9.7inch and 12.9 inch iOSBooks with a 360 hinge (weight 1.5 and 2.0 lbs respectively).
A design like the Porshe laptop would be even better but won't happen because this would cut into MacBook Sales.
Apple should have an iOSbook because iOS has a much stronger APP store.    Hook more people into Services.

I think it would be more viable, useful and functional to simply hook a phone or tablet up to an external keyboard, mouse and screen. That way the core of the device (motherboard, cpu, gpu, communications, memory & storage) remain and simply get hooked up to external peripherals that expand its physical capabilities...

The IPhone is a good example: its primary constraint a this point is its small screen and lack of external input devices. But it has plenty of power otherwise.

Comparison: Which 9.7" iPad is right for you?

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