On May 7, Apple Held The iPad Event Of The Decade. This Is Why It's So Important.
Pay attention.
On October 30, 2018, Apple broke the tablet world.
The 2018 iPad Pro changed everything. It was our first step into a world where an iPad could be a computer. Looking back, it completely changed the trajectory of the iPad.
I think May 7, 2024 will be almost as important. Here are 7 reasons why:
A Pricing Shift 🤑
The iPad Pro is meant for pros.
In 2018, I don't think people understood this. Even now, I see students around me using iPad Pros to check their emails and play the occasional game.
With the price increases and inclusion of fancy display tech, Apple is creating a gulf between the Air and the Pros.
The 11" iPad Pro starts at $999. The 13" iPad Pro starts at $1299. That is unbelievable.
I doubt many students will pay that much for an iPad. Especially if you add an Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard on top.
Instead, I think Apple wants to drive more casual users to the iPad Air. And that goes into my next point.
The 13 Inch iPad Air 💨
The 13 inch iPad Air is for consumers who want a big iPad but don't need an iPad Pro. And I think it's going to be the next big thing.
From 2018 until now, everyone's been focused on the iPad Pros. I think it's gradually going to shift to the iPad Air. And I think that's what Apple wants.
At the $799 price point, I think the 13 inch iPad Air is meant to take some of the users who would go for a base iPad Pro. Combined with the price jumps with the Pros, this makes sense.
Personally, the 13" Air will be my next iPad. I realized that I do not need the power of a Pro, yet the size is incredibly appealing.
I'm excited.
M4 🏎️
I think it's pretty cool that the iPad got an M4.
Everyone who's saying Apple will never turn the iPad into a computer is probably right. But for everyone who disagrees, this is a pretty cool sign.
Keep in mind: no Mac has received an M4 chip yet. For us iPad fans, that's pretty cool.
A 10x Better Magic Keyboard ⌨️
Apple listened when we complained about the Magic Keyboard.
And I'm pleasantly surprised: they listened to users and kept the price the same.
The new Magic Keyboard is thinner, lighter, and has a bigger trackpad. While it sucks that they couldn't make a Magic Keyboard SE, the changes are still great to see.
The Apple Pencil Finally Makes Sense ✏️
Before last Tuesday, the Apple Pencil lineup was confusing.
You had the first generation Apple Pencil and the second generation Apple Pencil. But then, there was a third Apple Pencil that was technically the third generation but worse than the first generation. This was the case despite the fact that the first generation has basically been the exact same for nearly a decade.
It was more confusing than my computer algorithms class (and that's saying something).
But with the release of the Apple Pencil Pro, everything (sort of) falls into place.
With the older iPads, you have two options: the first gen and second gen Apple Pencils, depending on what iPad you have.
For future iPads, the pencils are split into two categories: a normal version (Apple Pencil USB-C) and a pro version (Apple Pencil Pro).
My guess is that future versions of the iPad will support both options, giving users more choice.
The Landscape Camera 🌅
This is a small one, but it's still cool to see.
Apple changed the camera position to the long side of the iPads. It's a sign that more and more people are using their iPads horizontally (like computers) instead of vertically (like phones).
Again, pretty cool to see.
The AI Push 🤖
Throughout the event, Apple continuously emphasized AI.
Everything, from software to hardware, connected to the AI narrative. This is the first time (to my knowledge) that Apple has emphasized AI to such an extent.
It's an indicator of where Apple is headed. Their insane focus on AI is a sign of what's to come.
Final Thoughts
This event was pretty cool.
While there weren't any groundbreaking revolutions, it was cool to see a variety of awesome changes. I'm excited for the future of the iPad.
Thanks,
Adi
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Best part is the Air Force exchange put the iPad Pro (M2) on a crazy sale the week before the new iPads which let me finally grab the 256 gig 13” Pro that I have coveted since my kid got one of the first big iPad pros. I finally feel like Ender Wiggen with my portable desk on my lap containing all the world’s knowledge at my fingertips. (Yeah, I know, the 11” Air was fine, but for use on the lap, the 13” is entirely next-level). I basically got one of the new iPad Airs with FaceID and the extra memory for about the same cost as a new 13” Air.