I waited impatiently, checking websites daily, all in anticipation of when Apple would announce its latest iPads. The reason? I had decided it was time to ditch the idea that an iPad could replace a laptop and get rid of my old one in favor of something newer, but simpler.
This is, I understand, not exactly a ringing endorsement. But after trying and failing to use an iPad Air as a laptop, I upgraded to a new MacBook Air, which, if it wasn’t so expensive, I would wholeheartedly recommend.
But this week, when Apple actually announced new iPads, I and others in the tech world were mostly a bit taken aback. Via a press release, Apple announced a new, redesigned basic iPad and new iPad Pros, each accompanied by questionable choices by Apple.
Even if it’s temporary, it feels like Apple has lost its way when it comes to the iPad. Once the most exciting computer on the market, the current lineup looks both confusing and confusing, and what once seemed like the future of computing looks, at least for now, like an afterthought.
The new base iPad has some attractive features; Apple eventually ditched the home button, bringing it in line with the rest of the lineup. The camera, rather than being awkwardly positioned on the left side of the device, is now in the middle at the top where people wanted it. It also comes in a classic Apple color mix, which is fun.
Additionally, there is a new keyboard case, which has both a kickstand and a proper clickable keyboard that also detaches, making the device much more convenient for everyday work.
What’s far less appealing, however, is the new price, which starts at C$599.
For a device that millions of people hand over to their toddler or child, that’s absurdly high.
Worse still, the keyboard that turns it into a basic computer costs $329, and the combo of the two now costs over $900.
It used to be easy to recommend the iPad as a cheap alternative to a full-featured laptop for a student or someone with basic needs. But now you can get a full-featured, much more capable Windows laptop for a whole lot less, or a MacBook Air M1 for just $200 or $300 more.
It’s true that Apple has kept the older base model iPad in its lineup, so parents anxious to replace a cracked iPad still have a cheap option.
But that puts the new model in a strange no-man’s land, neither cheap enough to be an entry-level PC, nor capable enough to be a true laptop replacement.
On this last point, Apple has made some progress to make iPadOS more productive. But after testing both my own iPad for a few years and a newer iPad Pro with the upcoming iOS16, it just doesn’t perform well enough. There are too many times when the user hits a snag or hiccups when trying to do something beyond the basics. And Apple’s new Stage Manager feature, a new multitasking mode that only works on high-end devices but not the new base iPad, has even engaged Apple boosters such as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman feeling skeptical; the feature has been buggy and clunky and has been trimmed ahead of its launch next week.
These high-end iPad Pros were also updated this week, but very strangely they don’t get the benefits of the base model. The camera is always on the left side of the device. The excellent screen of the larger 12.9-inch model didn’t come on the smaller 11-inch. And the very expensive iPad keyboard that works with the iPad Pro doesn’t have the function keys or detachable nature of the cheaper model.
Yes, that’s right, they now incorporate Apple’s very powerful M2 chip. But the previous M1 model was already mastered. Adding more powerful tech won’t really help because it’s not performance that’s holding the iPad back; it is the operating system.
If that wasn’t enough, they’ve gone up in price, starting at $1,099 for the 11-inch and an absolutely jaw-dropping $1,499 for the 12.9-inch model.
It’s a bit of a mess.
It’s plausible that Apple may be crippled by COVID-related supply issues, or that this messy lineup will be cleaned up next year when the new iPad Pro design and technology are both finalized. and available.
In the meantime, the iPad is much harder to recommend than it once was.
At prices like these, I, and perhaps many others, will be waiting for the iPad to make sense again.
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