Apple typically generates roughly 10% of its revenue from the iPad, which was a popular item during the early days of the pandemic but also suffered from supply shortages
San Francisco, NFAPost:
Apple Inc. launched its first fully redesigned entry-level iPad in five years and new Pro models, updating a tablet lineup that the company increasingly sees as a productivity tool.
The latest iPad Pro adds the M2 chip used in recent Mac computers, the company said Tuesday in a statement. That product represents the Pro model’s first upgrade in a year and a half. The company also introduced a cheaper Apple TV set-top box with 4K video support.
Apple typically generates roughly 10% of its revenue from the iPad, which was a popular item during the early days of the pandemic but also suffered from supply shortages. The latest models should give the tech giant a fresh enticement as it nears the holiday season and copes with shaky consumer spending.
With the Pro model, first introduced in 2015, Apple has sought to make the device a compelling replacement for a laptop. The Cupertino, California-based company offers a Magic Keyboard with a built-in trackpad that works with the iPad. And it has developed an interface called Stage Manager that’s meant to ease multitasking, though that feature has received tepid initial reviews.
The new iPad Pro runs 15% faster than last year’s model, which had the M1 chip. The latest Pro models will continue to come in 11-inch and 12.9-inch screen-size configurations and retain the same basic design as the products released in 2018, 2020 and 2021.
Beyond the new chip, which first debuted in the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro in June, changes to the new iPad Pros are minimal. The company is adding a new Apple Pencil stylus feature that lets the pen work while above — but not touching — the screen, as well as support for ProRes video recording, a more advanced format.
The 11-inch model will continue to cost $799, while the 12.9-inch version stays at $1,099. But the price can reach as high as $2,399 with the largest screen size, 2 terabytes of storage and 5G connectivity.
The entry-level iPad, meanwhile, is getting a fresh look. It has a new design with flat edges, matching the iPad Pro, iPad Air and iPad mini. For the first time, the entry-level model gains a USB-C connector, replacing the Lightning port. That move will unify Apple’s iPad connector strategy, increase data transfer speeds and meet an upcoming requirement from the European Union.
The new entry-level iPad costs $449, an increase from the $329 price of the previous model. Given that higher price, Apple is retaining last year’s model at $329 to offer consumers a lower-budget option.
The new model also moves the front-facing camera to the horizontal side of the device, adds an A14 Bionic chip, comes in colours like blue and yellow, and supports a redesigned Magic Keyboard attachment. The new iPads will go on sale for preorders Tuesday, with the products reaching stores on Oct. 26.
The iPad was a hot seller for Apple when the pandemic forced consumers to spruce up their home offices. That helped extend a rebound for a product that had seen sales slow in the latter half of the 2010s.
The new Apple TV costs $129, a price cut from $149, and includes a faster A15 chip. The company has also doubled the built-in storage to 64 gigabytes and 128 gigabytes. It’s also now selling distinct models with either Wi-Fi-only or Wi-Fi a physical Ethernet port for connecting to the web.
Bloomberg News reported last week on Apple’s plans to update the iPad Pro, entry-level tablet and Apple TV box. The company is also planning to announce new versions of the MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips later this year.
Apple is looking to eventually push its tablet deeper into the home with a plan to turn the device into a smart hub and speaker. The approach would be similar to what Google is doing with its upcoming Pixel Tablet, Bloomberg News reported.
Apple also has been working to fine-tune Stage Manager, the iPad’s multitasking software, after a glitchy debut in the beta version of iPadOS 16. Apple said the software, which includes the new interface, will be formally released on Oct. 24.
The feature is designed to let users run multiple apps on the same screen at once, similar to a Mac or PC. But testers of the software found it suffered from bugs and a muddled interface. Apple has pledged to make improvements and delayed a mode that can work with external monitors until later this year.
The iPad Pro was last updated in April 2021, when Apple shifted to using its new Mac chips inside of the tablets.
