Apple replaces iPad Air 2 with A9-equipped 9.7-inch iPad starting at $329
As part of a spate of announcements, Apple on Tuesday revealed a new 9.7-inch budget iPad, beginning at $329 and equipped with an A9 processor.
The tablet comes with 32- and 128-gigabyte storage options, and like most iPads a choice between Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular configurations. Silver, gold, and space gray colors are available. Prices can range up to $559 for a cellular-equipped 128-gigabyte tablet.
"New customers and anyone looking to upgrade will love this new iPad for use at home, in school, and for work, with its gorgeous Retina display, our powerful A9 chip, and access to the more than 1.3 million apps designed specifically for it," Apple PR head Phil Schiller said in a prepared statement.
The product also has an 8 megapixel rear camera -- without flash -- and a 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, enough for 720p video.
Other features include support for Touch ID and the international Apple SIM format, which can make it easier to switch data plans. Active battery life is rated at about 10 hours, the same as the 9.7- and 12.9-inch iPad Pros. Likewise its display has a 2048-by-1536-pixel resolution, matching the 9.7-inch Pro.
Online orders will open on Friday, March 24 at Apple, although select Apple authorized resellers are accepting 9.7-inch iPad pre-orders now. Deliveries and retail sales will only begin the following week, but to over 20 regions, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.K.
Denmark, India, Mexico, Norway, Russia, Turkey, and various other markets will get the product in April. Brazil, Taiwan and others will follow from May onwards.
Apple is also selling polyurethane Smart Covers for $39, in colors including gray, white, blue, pink, and (Product)Red.
The tablet comes with 32- and 128-gigabyte storage options, and like most iPads a choice between Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular configurations. Silver, gold, and space gray colors are available. Prices can range up to $559 for a cellular-equipped 128-gigabyte tablet.
"New customers and anyone looking to upgrade will love this new iPad for use at home, in school, and for work, with its gorgeous Retina display, our powerful A9 chip, and access to the more than 1.3 million apps designed specifically for it," Apple PR head Phil Schiller said in a prepared statement.
The product also has an 8 megapixel rear camera -- without flash -- and a 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, enough for 720p video.
Other features include support for Touch ID and the international Apple SIM format, which can make it easier to switch data plans. Active battery life is rated at about 10 hours, the same as the 9.7- and 12.9-inch iPad Pros. Likewise its display has a 2048-by-1536-pixel resolution, matching the 9.7-inch Pro.
Online orders will open on Friday, March 24 at Apple, although select Apple authorized resellers are accepting 9.7-inch iPad pre-orders now. Deliveries and retail sales will only begin the following week, but to over 20 regions, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.K.
Denmark, India, Mexico, Norway, Russia, Turkey, and various other markets will get the product in April. Brazil, Taiwan and others will follow from May onwards.
Apple is also selling polyurethane Smart Covers for $39, in colors including gray, white, blue, pink, and (Product)Red.
Comments
I still don't know why Apple insists on charging so much more for the mobile data enabled model. 5 years ago $130 was reasonable, but today that should be a bit more reasonable.
I was going to say that I think $329 is a bit greedy and that $299 would have been more appropriate, but you're right that during the holidays/black friday/etc. the going "discount" for this will be $299, without a doubt. Always gotta leave room for that all important "discount".
Seriously, since you have no idea of the costs involved, for you to say that Apple is greedy, is nonsense.
apple supports its mobile products with upgrades for a full 4 years, whereas Android makers support theirs for 18 months - if you buy a flagship model. Most never get upgraded at all. There's about 1.2 million true iPad apps in the store, vs a tiny number for Android. Apple's service is the highest rated.
i mean, why do you think Apple can do this? It's because they charge a little more. And I say a little, because when you consider all that above, plus the significantly better performance and build quality, the price differential is just that - little. Samsung's newest Tab S3 costs $499, but its performance is no better than this one. Is that greedy?
We can expect to see new "pro" models later this year (hopefully still in Spring, as I really don't think cramming everything into the holiday quarter can work, but who knows). If they can make those really desirable, then it should help keep the ASP's up while also bringing innovative features and new uses to the line.
Technically, I get it, the Pencil requires a screen that runs twice as fast for motion accuracy. If the hardware necessary to make that work is expensive to manufacture, that makes sense.
As a user, it's absurd that only professionals doodle or buy moleskine notebooks.