Apple has launched a new version of the 9.7″ iPad, the most popular in the range and with pricing starting at $329 (32GB Wi-fi only) and $459 (32GB Wi-fi + cell model). The new iPad uses Apple’s A9 processor and is down in price from $399 for the Air 2. A 128GB version costs $429. The iPad has a 2048 x 1536 IPS LCD display (264 ppi) which is brighter (although we couldn’t find a spec for that) and has an oleophobic coating to resist fingerprints, although it seems to have lost the anti-reflective coating that was on the Air 2 and is on the Pro. The camera is an 8mp device and the facetime version can capture 1.2mp stills. Apple claims a battery life of 10 hours from a 32.4W lithium-polymer battery and the OS is iOS10.
The connector remains an Apple Lightning unit, needing an adaptor for USB, rather than Type-C
Analyst Comment
This new iPad replaces the Air 2 and is slightly thicker and heavier but some analysts see a potential problem of this tablet robbing sales from the i{Pad Pro, which costs $599, although Apple is expected to upgrade that model soon. It looks as though Apple has seen that the tablet market is reacting better to reasonably priced systems, now, with less interest in the premium side, so it’s better to push pricing down. At these prices, the tablet should sell well. (BR)
