Looks like the rumours about Apple releasing new products this week came true. The company released a new 9.7-inch iPad today, replacing the iPad Air 2 (plus more announcements, which we have coming).
This new iPad with upgraded A9 (previously A8X) comes with a brighter Retina display and cheaper starting price, available at $449 in Canada for the 32GB WiFi model in silver, gold or space gray. The Wi-Fi + Cellular model is available in 32GB for $619 CAD.
“iPad is the world’s most popular tablet. Customers love the large, 9.7-inch display for everything from watching TV and movies, to surfing the web, making FaceTime calls, and enjoying photos, and now it is even more affordable,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.
This new 9.7” iPad includes 10 hour battery life, 8MP FaceTime and HD cameras, Touch ID, weighs 469 grams. It does not have a fully laminated display or antireflective coating like other iPad models and does not support Apple Pencil or Keyboard.
Polyurethane Smart Covers for this new 9.7” iPad are available for $49 CAD in charcoal grey, white, midnight blue, pink sand and (RED).
Apple says preorders for these new 9.7-inch iPads begin Friday, March 24 in Canada, along with the US, Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
Denmark, India, Mexico, Norway, Russia, Turkey and other countries and regions will get the new iPad in April, while Brazil, Taiwan and other countries and regions will launch in May.
If you recall, one year ago Apple dropped the price of the iPad Air 2 by $50 in Canada to start at $499 CAD for the 16GB model. Now, it appears an even better upgrade is available for cheaper for those who don’t need an iPad Pro. Who’s getting one?
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Wow this is a great deal! Thanks Apple!
It’s actually pretty good. I likey.
I think its downgrade from Air 2 considering its thicker and has no laminated screen.
why is it cheaper…?? hummm
Becouse its same thickness as original iPad Air and does not have laminated screen like AIr 2!!!
If I didn’t already have an iPad Air 2, I would’ve strongly considered it.
Good price, my iPad Air one is getting old. Im buying one this summer.
I’m still rocking an iPad Air right now. Well, it’s actually been taken over by our toddler. But I hear ya about its age. I rarely use the thing but it still does the job.
I mean, its fine… but obviously not as fast as it was 3 years ago… I’m going to do the contrary and give the Air to my mom and buy me a new one aha… She’s still rocking the ipad 2 but it’s getting on her nerves.
I know what my Son is getting for his birthday 😀
Dad of the year!!
I’m still gonna wait for the next pro. My iPad Air is doing perfectly fine
Been waiting for a new iPad to upgrade my original Air. This seems underwhelming.
$49 for a shitty cover? That’s obscene.
Very interesting but I’m still perfectly fine with my iPad Air 2. Run fine, and I have the latest and greatest camera in my iPhone 7. Personally wouldn’t consider upgrading to that.
It’s great starting point for the iPad.
I’m just disappointed that we have nothing new for the iPad Pro… Especially for the 12.9 who’s already 1.5 year old and behind the iPad Pro 9.7″.
I’m so waiting to upgrade my 9.7 for a new 12.9… but nothing yet…
Could we still have an event in spring or that was it until WWDC? …
Oh well… time will tell
“It does not have a fully laminated display or antireflective coating like other iPad models” and it’s thicker than before. I guess this is the way they are going to make the “Pro” models look better.
Nah – gotta say the Mini is a better, more useful size for me. Bigger iPads are neither fish nor fowl – not really a convenient, portable size and not really capable nough (despite the Apple hype