A few months ago I published an article called Who will still buy tablets?, in which I wondered about the future of this type of product, whose sales have been declining for years. Among the many doubts exposed, I also advanced a proposal for Samsung and Apple, the two companies that have led the sector in sales and innovation: simplify the lineup.
There are currently five iPad models on sale, but the distinctions between the various devices are not always clear. If you want some suggestions on which model to choose, we recommend our page on the Best iPads, divided by needs.
A confusing lineup
At the moment the iPad lineup is confusing to say the leastwith many models available and many products that they overlap among themselves as an offering.
Those who are not particularly expert in the sector may struggle to decide between a 10.9″ iPad Air and an 11″ iPad Pro: in addition to the negligible difference of just 0.1″ there are other small variations between the two models, but not significant enough to steer the buyer towards an Air or a Pro.
Likewise, a buyer may struggle to understand because an iPad Air costs 200 euros more of a “basic” tenth generation iPad, considering that the aesthetic aspect is practically identical, the dimensions of the display as well, the cameras seem the same and even all the audio and connectivity part is the same (not for nothing, in our review we said that it is no longer a “basic” iPad).
And then there’s also last year’s basic iPad, with the old design.
The 9th generation iPad is still on sale and in many ways is also a sensible choice, but it still has the old, annoying design.
Among the differences between the “basic” iPad and Air there are also the accessories, which further complicate life: the basic model is compatible with the first generation Apple Pencil (but it needs adapterbecause the connector is now USB-C and no longer Lightning), the Air with the second generation Pencil, but both also work with the new Pencil with USB-C (which however does not support double tap and does not recognize pressure , unlike the first generation Pencil which, although older, has all the “main” functions).
In short, even on accessories there would be a lot to discussbut it seems that finally Apple is getting its act together with iPads.
Apple also wants to clarify
As reported by Mark Gurman, a well-known journalist from Bloomberg Apple expert, the Apple company will streamline its tablet lineup with upcoming launches.
The first step will be to increase the differences between the Pro and Air models: in particular, the next iPad Pro could have OLED displayrenewed design, the new M3 chips and a new Magic Keyboard.
The two Pro models (11″ and 13″) will therefore unequivocally be the absolute top of the range, but even the Airs will distance themselves mostly from the basic model: they will be available in two dimensions (10.9″ and 12.9″) and will have M2 chips.
The new iPad Air and iPad Pro could be presented in March 2024but the process of “simplifying” the lineup will end with the launch of the eleventh generation of basic iPad, which will put the 9th generation model out of sale, the last one left to have a Home button and important edges.
With the farewell to the 9th generation iPad, all models on sale will have uniformity in the form factor (without Home button and with gesture-based navigation) and, over time, Apple will also be able to slowly eliminate the first Apple Pencil model.
There will always be 5 models on sale (mini, base, base of the previous generation, Air and Pro), but the plan is to make the distinction between the various devices clearer, and we hope that this is also reflected in a greater price stratificationgiven that the price of the latest basic iPad has left many users dissatisfied.
Will all this be enough to revive the tablet market, or at least increase iPad sales?
