This wintertime has been pack with supposition about the future directions of the iPad product line , but nobody guessed that 2017 ’s first iPad announcement would bewhat we saw on Tuesday : An unexpected return of the original iPad line and the discontinuation of the iPad Air . The move was scarcely exciting in terms of technology , but it could prove to be a smart and strategical one for the iPad as a whole .
The curious case of the fifth-gen iPad
Lately Apple ’s been keeping old product on its price list , at reduced prices , so as to hit client who do n’t require ( or ca n’t afford ) to bear top dollar bill for cutting - edge tech . An elision was last year ’s iPhone SE , which roll a gang of modern technical school into a new , low - priced iPhone .
The newfangled iPad is a lilliputian like the iPhone SE , I suppose . It ’s a “ novel ” mathematical product that ’s made from pieces of tech from late Apple proucts , wave together into an iPad that can bear a $ 329 Mary Leontyne Price tag . It ’s not quite cutting edge — its A9 processor is the same as the one found in the iPhone 6s — but it ’s a step up from the A8X processor found in the iPad Air 2 .
In fact , in many path the new iPad is a follow - up not just to 2012 ’s quaternary - generation iPad ( Apple is calling this simulation the fifth - generation iPad ! ) , or to 2014 ’s iPad Air 2 , but to 2013 ’s iPad Air . The equipment ’s processor is a major footmark up from the original iPad Air , but the two devices seem to divvy up the same organic structure , more or less . Like the original iPad Air , the young iPad is thicker and heavier than the Air 2 , and features a covert with no lamination or anti - glare covering . ( And forget about the P3 color gamut and dependable - tone displayof the iPad Pro , as well as the Smart Connector and Apple Pencil backup . )
Essentially , the new iPad is a bit like Benjamin Button : It ’s a causa where the iPad Air line is senesce backward , reverting to its old name and even a previous screenland and industrial pattern . In accuracy , the new iPad looks like an upgraded original - model iPad Air . Is it exciting to take a three - yr - previous iPad and upgrade some of its internals ? No , it ’s not .
Lower the price, expand the market
But this is n’t a intersection Apple made to excite citizenry on features . It ’s made to contend on damage , and Apple competed on price by building a fresh iPad on the base of the iPad Air , with its cheaper screen , cameras , and other components .
of late there ’s been a lot of talk about how Apple has stand by as Chromebooks have become incredibly successful in the Department of Education market . It ’s hard not to see the new iPad as Apple ’s lineal reaction to those challenges . At $ 329 ( in reality less than that , due to education discount ) , the iPad is at least in the ballpark with Chromebooks , specially nicer touchscreen models .
Apple has never been the dispirited - cost drawing card in any market . Its goal has always been to get within hail distance of the competition and then compete on quality and long - condition value . I ’m not sure if this is aswift solidus that solves the competitive balancebetween iPads and Chromebooks in schools , but it ’s definitely an attempt by Apple to be more competitive overall .
Just as it did with late iPad announcements – Apple seems to have coordinate with Logitech on some accessory release . It ’s no conjunction that Logitech ’s Modern Rugged Combo line is a series of iPad keyboards and casesdirectly direct the education market .
If Apple had just need to address the education market place , though , it could ’ve herald a special education version of the iPad and call it a day . But this raw iPad is uncommitted for everyone , and it seems likely that this is an attempt by Apple to prove out the market place to see if a downcast - cost iPad can help ameliorate overall iPad sales .
The new iPad does n’t need to lead to an avalanche of iPad upgrades from sr. models . It just call for to exist , a modern ( not old ! ) low - priced sheer - jane iPad for mass who want a newer example . With its A9 processor , this iPad should be supported by iOS upgrade and app update for year to come .
The average selling price of the iPad has drop in Apple ’s last two financial quarter , even with the existence of the iPad Pro at the gamey end . This suggests that , especially during the vacation , people were embracing the lowest - priced iPads in the line . By publish a new - ish iPad at $ 329 , Apple ’s catering to that requirement .
It ’s a move that may not make technical school enthusiast like you and me excited , but it might sell a lot of iPads . And an inflow of fresh iPad purchase is just the kind of excitement the iPad product logical argument needs right now .
