The next-generation 9.7-inch iPad “Pro” will be the first full-sized iPad to be priced higher than the usual $499, reports 9to5Mac’s Mark Gurman. The 9.7-inch iPad Pro will start at $599, but the catch is that Apple has allegedly decided to drop the 16 GB storage option, so the higher price will be compensated by increased storage.
Apple currently sells the iPad Air 2 at a starting price of $499 USD for the 16 GB model. The next storage option is 64 GB, which retails at $599, so this means the $599 iPad Pro will retain only half of the storage you get for the same price with the earlier model. The aforementioned iPads are Wi-Fi-only models.
There will also be a 128 GB storage version and, of course, the usual LTE cellular models.
According to 9to5Mac, the new version won’t replace the iPad Air 2 Apple currently sells, which will likely remain in the product line a starting price of $499. Instead, Apple will discontinue the original iPad Air.
The 9.7-inch iPad Pro is said to feature a four-speaker system just like its bigger, 12.9-inch brother, a Smart Connector, an A9X chip and more RAM. Interestingly, this tablet will include a 12 MP iSight camera with 4K video recording capabilities. Apple is expected to unveil the new iPad alongside the 4-inch iPhone (SE) on Monday at 10 a.m. Pacific time.
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Will be interesting to see the CDN prices. Also remember to factor in the $130 Pencil.
Right now, the entry iPad Pro in Canada has about a 31.5% exchange rate. So if $599 USD is true, using the same rate it would be about $788 CAD, or say $799 rounded up.
ugh. i really hadn’t done the math recently. a starting price of $800 + $130 for a pencil has pretty much priced this right out of my budget. 🙁
edit:
i just compared the canadian and us apple stores. the $599 air 2 is $659 in canada. i really hope they adopt that pricing model, as that would probably make the difference in whether i buy or not.
I don’t think they will. We have had lower pricing on the Air2 for a while. The Cdn$ prices across all iPads will probably see an increase due to the exchange rate.
The Air3 or 9.7 iPad Pro or iPad Pro Mini will probably see a price difference of 30% between Cdn and US pricing. That is my prediction.
I wonder if they are going to jack up the prices across the board then? Will the air 2 become more expensive as well on Monday? If so I don’t see this helping sagging iPad sales. (Although I’m sure the Canadian market means zip to them anyway)
They increased the prices of the iPhone 6 last winter. I can see the correcting the Air 2 price. They don’t seem to care.
Sigh 🙁
I guess that means anyone who wants an iPad 2 should in fact buy one this weekend rather than wait to see what gets released Monday. (At least then you have the option to return)
It sucks… the optics of a $100 price hike on an 18 month old device isn’t great.
Yes, best option is to buy an Air2 now and see what happens on Monday.
Unfortunately it is all exchange rate related.
Don’t forget to add in a Keyboard case or a separate case with a Smart Cover, of course priced separately unlike the old combined Smart Cover for the Air 2. The additional costs add up along with the tax.