It’s never been more difficult to decide which new iPad to buy

Apple on Tuesday launched new iPads that may give us a lot to speak about for weeks to return. The brand new Tenth-generation iPad is a whole redesign that brings it in step with the Air and mini, and the brand new iPad Professional is the quickest pill ever made, with an M2 processor and Wi-Fi 6E. In easy phrases, Apple’s new tablets are its strongest ever, bringing extra choices for shoppers at each ends of the spectrum.

However shopping for an iPad can also be extra complicated than ever. Apple now has 5 completely different iPad traces beginning at $329 and going all the best way as much as $2,000-plus. Right here’s how the fashions break down:

• iPad (Ninth era, 64GB): $329
• iPad (Ninth era, 256GB): $479
• iPad (Tenth era, 64GB): $479
• iPad mini (64GB): $499
• iPad (Tenth era, 256GB): $599
• iPad Air (64GB): $599
• iPad mini (256GB): $649
• iPad Air (256GB): $749)
• iPad Professional (11-inch, 128GB): $799
• iPad Professional (11-inch, 256GB): $899
• iPad Professional (11-inch, 512GB): $1,099
• iPad Professional (12.9-inch, 128GB): $1,099
• iPad Professional (12.9-inch, 256GB): $1,199
• iPad Professional (12.9-inch, 512GB): $1,399
• iPad Professional (11-inch, 1TB): $1,499
• iPad Professional (12.9-inch, 1TB): $1,799
• iPad Professional (11-inch, 2TB): $1,899
• iPad Professional (12.9-inch, 2TB): $2,199

And people costs don’t even account for the mobile choices, which add $200 to the iPad Professional, $150 to the Tenth-gen iPad, iPad Air, and iPad mini, and $130 to the Ninth-gen iPad. Nor does it account for the truth that 64GB of storage isn’t actually sufficient for a tool that’s purported to be a “laptop.”

So whereas choices are positively good, they will also be overwhelming. If in case you have $600 to spend, for instance, you may get a brand new iPad with 256GB of storage or an iPad Air with 64GB of storage, an iPad mini with 64GB of storage, or a Ninth-gen iPad with 256GB of storage and mobile connectivity. And all of these fashions have completely different screens, completely different processors, and completely different shade choices.

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That’s the place it actually will get complicated. Think about these details about Apple’s iPad lineup:

• Three distinct iPads primarily have the identical sized 11-inch show.
• The Tenth-gen iPad doesn’t have the anti-reflective coating that was launched in 2014.
• Each iPad Apple sells has a unique processor.
• 64GB of storage is simply too little and 256GB of storage is an excessive amount of for many customers.
• The Tenth-gen iPad is the one mannequin to have a selfie digicam in panorama orientation.
• The iPad Professional has newer Bluetooth (5.3) than the Tenth-gen iPad (5.2) and the iPad Air and mini (5.0).
• The iPad mini is the one mannequin that doesn’t help any of Apple’s keyboard instances.
• The Tenth-gen iPad nonetheless doesn’t help the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil.

So not solely do you should wade by means of almost two dozen choices when deciding which pill to purchase, however you even have to contemplate small variations within the varied lineups that may not be apparent to informal shoppers. Most patrons in all probability couldn’t inform the distinction between the Tenth-gen iPad’s unlaminated show and the iPad Air’s laminated show or really feel the velocity of an A15 versus an A13. How are shoppers purported to make a sensible shopping for choice when they should make a spreadsheet and an explainer simply to determine the completely different options?

And who’s the iPad Air for now? It has an M1 processor and second-gen Apple Pencil help, however when you’re a consumer who wants these options, you need to think about the 11-inch iPad Professional. And when you’re not, you need to simply get the Tenth-gen iPad and save $150. And what in regards to the iPad mini? Is it value spending $50 extra than the Tenth-gen iPad for a smaller display screen and a barely higher processor? 

After which there’s the difficulty of updating. The Tenth-gen iPad has solely simply been launched, so we don’t understand how typically will probably be up to date, however we do know in regards to the different traces:

iPad mini: Final replace in September 2021; subsequent anticipated replace March 2023

iPad Air: Final replace in March 2022; subsequent anticipated replace September 2023

iPad Professional: Final replace in October 2022; subsequent anticipated replace March 2024

So when you purchase an iPad subsequent February, you must think about that the iPad mini could be up to date quickly. In order for you one in the summertime, there’ll in all probability be an iPad Air replace proper across the nook.

The brand new iPad was purported to simplify shopping for choices however it solely muddled the lineup additional. And it gives the look that Apple nonetheless doesn’t fairly perceive what to do with its pill lineup, so it continues to throw increasingly more on the wall to see what is going to stick. And sooner or later, shoppers are simply going to cease attempting to determine it out.