The iPad Air is all that is wrong with Apple tablets

With the surprise update to the iPad mini at the California Streaming event, Apple’s tablet line now has a solid range of offerings across the board, from the base ninth generation iPad to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. At first glance, it seems like there is something for everyone, but take a closer look and the cracks start to appear.

The high end and low end of the range have been pretty clearly defined: no one looking for a $ 329 iPad is seriously looking at the high-end iPad Pro, or vice versa. In the middle, however, things get spongier, especially when it comes to the iPad Air. Part of the reason is that the tablet lineup is disjointed, as Apple’s update schedule for the different models has varied significantly over the past two years.

Will 2022 offer Apple the opportunity to align its tablets? Maybe, but if so, you have to make some tough decisions first.

Time after time

Apple updates iPhones and Apple Watches in the fall on a regular basis like clockwork. Sure, there is sometimes an off-cycle spring version like the iPhone SE or the purple iPhone 12, but when it comes to New models, you can count on them in September (or, rarely, in October). It’s no surprise why: The holiday shopping season is consistently Apple’s biggest quarter, and the iPhone is its biggest product.

The iPad, on the other hand, has always been a bit more dispersed, with its progression more like the Mac. Last year we had an iPad Air update (fall 2020), an iPad Pro update (spring 2021), two basic iPad updates (fall 2020 and fall 2021), and an update iPad mini update (fall 2021).

But aside from splitting the product line up to debut at different times, they’re also on different refresh cycles. For example, the basic iPad has been updated every fall since September 2019, and the iPad Pro has been updated twice since spring 2020, but the iPad Air and iPad mini had not been updated. updated from March 2019 until their most recent updates in September 2020 and September 2021, respectively.

Apple can, of course, update its products on a schedule that suits it best, but by releasing new iPad models a few times a year, that means the lineup is still uneven. somewhere.

Apple

Desynchronized

When the fourth-generation iPad Air came out last fall, it was in a special position. With its A14 processor, it far surpassed the A12Z in the state-of-the-art iPad Pro, and it was cheaper, to boot. Likewise, the Air added many features that were previously exclusive to the Pro, like support for the Magic Keyboard and the second-generation Apple Pencil, as well as a USB-C connector. While its storage options were more limited and cameras less good, its price of $ 749 for a 256GB model was $ 150 cheaper than the slower 11-inch iPad Pro at the same storage capacity.

The iPad mini is now in a similar situation. Basically, it looks like it really wants to be an iPad Air mini, having acquired similar features like the integration of the second-generation pencil, Touch ID on the home button, and a USB-C connector. But it also outperforms the Air in several ways, such as its A15 processor, 5G support, and a better front camera with Center Stage.

Even though the mini isn’t in bargain territory, it’s still $ 100 cheaper than the Air it outperforms. Obviously, if screen size is the determining factor, there is simply no substitute, but for those who don’t mind a smaller screen and don’t need the convenience of a removable keyboard. , it is reasonable to ask why they should spend more in order to get less.

The air over there

All of this raises a question about the future of the iPad Air. It appears to be intended to be somewhere between the ninth generation iPad and the iPad Pro, just in the “midrange” of the range. And yet, its price is decidedly geared towards the Pro side of the market, its price tag $ 100 more than the $ 499 at which the “standard” model has generally resided.

Apple

And that’s for a paltry 64GB, the same starting storage as a ninth generation iPad. (One level of storage, it should be noted, which Apple removed from its iPhone 13 line this year.) The only other storage option for the Air is 256GB, which adds $ 150 to the price. $ 50 more will get you access to a 128GB iPad Pro.

In short, the iPad Air feels like it’s out of reach and out of time. With no redesign rumors this year, it suggests that a new Air is more likely to appear this spring. The question is whether Apple will decide to keep its prices where they are or to position it again as the modern iPad for most people.

But with these phased updates, Apple can be doomed to still having its lineup of tablets somewhat disorganized. This may be a bonus for Apple, in terms of promoting more expensive models and weighting the price upwards, but it doesn’t appear to benefit consumers looking for a modern iPad at one. reasonable price.