Apple Announces New iPad Air and iPad Mini
- Paul Thurrott
- Mar 18, 2019
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83
Apple this morning announced a new 10.5-inch iPad Air, which oddly doesn’t replace the 9.7-inch iPad, and a new iPad Mini. Both products support Apple Pencil, but it’s the old version, not the one that shipped along with the new iPad Pros. Both also feature dated designs with big bezels.
“iPad continues to provide magical new experiences for a growing range of uses where it is the absolute best device, from playing games in augmented reality to note-taking and drawing with Apple Pencil, from streaming HD movies and editing 4K films to learning to develop apps with Swift Playgrounds,” Apple’s Phil Schiller allegedly said. “Today the iPad family takes two big leaps forward with an all-new 10.5-inch iPad Air that brings high-end size, features and performance at a breakthrough price, and a major upgrade to the 7.9-inch iPad mini, which also brings Apple Pencil, Retina display and the A12 Bionic chip to the many customers that love its compact size.”
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The new iPad Air augments last year’s 9.7-inch iPad, which remains in-market. It ups the screen size a bit to 10.5-inches and features an A12 Bionic chip, which is a big upgrade over the A10 Fusion chip found in its predecessor. Even better, the new display supports Apple’s excellent True Tone technology. The new iPad Air is compatible with Apple’s Smart Keyboard, suggesting that it may actually be replacing the 10.5-inch iPad Pro. It starts at $500 for a Wi-Fi-only model or $630 for versions with cellular data support. (The 9.7-inch iPad now starts at $330.)
The long-awaited new iPad Mini is perhaps a bit more interesting: It also features an A12 Bionic chip and True Tone, but in a smaller, 7.9-inch form factor that appears to be identical to its dated predecessor. The new iPad Mini starts at $400 for a Wi-Fi-only model, or $530 for Wi-Fi + cellular. Both will be available for purchase this week.
Both new iPads support the first-generation Apple Pencil, which is curious since Apple has shipped a superior second-generation version for its iPad Pro devices. This first-gen Apple Pencil still costs $100 for some reason.
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Conversation 83 comments
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dontbe evil
<blockquote><em><a href="#413372">In reply to feedtheshark:</a></em></blockquote><p>applefans</p>
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BrianEricFord
<blockquote><em><a href="#413372">In reply to feedtheshark:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Millions of people? What is your cutoff for when something is no longer a relevant product in the consumer marketplace?</p>
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skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#413460">In reply to Bob_Shutts:</a></em></blockquote><p>So you're a commercial airline pilot or do they just let you explore the cockpit whenever you fly?</p>
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dontbe evil
<p>overpriced fashion iToys</p>
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BrianEricFord
<blockquote><em><a href="#413429">In reply to Ugur:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>I like that you write this off as a product for your mom but don’t realize that almost everyone on the planet has a mom at which point your pessimistic anecdotal market suddenly becomes an enviable product market.</p>
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skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#413429">In reply to Ugur:</a></em></blockquote><p>I think the smartphone vs a tablet competition has always been a bit of a red herring and I don't think foldable phones will change that. </p>
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BrianEricFord
<blockquote><em><a href="#413500">In reply to skane2600:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Mostly, I like that the “iPad is a dud and I called it” crowd somehow thinks tablet/phone hybrids that are shitty, compromised versions of both form factors — for an OS that never successfully optimized for tablets — is going to be a wild success that turns the market on its head.</p>
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skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#413578">In reply to curtisspendlove:</a></em></blockquote><p>Most people today don't own phones in the $1,000 range, so even if foldable phone prices drop to that level, it will still be a luxury item. Over 75% of phones sold cost less than $700 and the highest percentage are phones costing less than $300.</p>
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provision l-3
<blockquote><em><a href="#413432">In reply to locust infested orchard inc:</a></em></blockquote><p>It does lack the originality of your fan fiction about how the U.S. court system works. </p>
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BrianEricFord
<blockquote><em><a href="#413432">In reply to locust infested orchard inc:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>I didn’t realize trolling came with spoiler alerts these days. Sort of sucks the wind out of it.</p>
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provision l-3
<p><em>"</em><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Apple’s Phil Schiller allegedly said"</em></p><p><br></p><p>…what? You are really floating the idea that Apple now makes up quotes by their executives? Or is this really Paul? .. Perhaps I should say Paul allegedly wrote this but could be Alex Jones. </p>
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provision l-3
<blockquote><em><a href="#413492">In reply to unkinected:</a></em></blockquote><p>I don't think that is it. I'm pretty sure he meant to say "Phil Schiller alleged" and this was a typo. I was just having fun with it.</p>
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provision l-3
<blockquote><em><a href="#413509">In reply to waclark57:</a></em></blockquote><p>"All words are made up." – Thor, Avengers Infinity War.</p>
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provision l-3
<blockquote><em><a href="#413458">In reply to MikeGalos:</a></em></blockquote><p>It's crazy right? They bumped up the number of models to exactly the same as they had last week. </p>
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provision l-3
<blockquote><em><a href="#413488">In reply to MikeGalos:</a></em></blockquote><p>I did read it. And here is the crazy part …. wait for it…. it replaced a different iPad in the line up …. that kept the actual count the same … mind blown right? Yay math! </p><p><br></p><p>I'm guessing Paul was too busy getting to the bottom of the mystery of who in Apple PR was making up fake Phil Schiller quotes to notice and report on the change that happened. </p>