Apple’s new iPad lineup is overwhelming, confusing, redundant and overwhelming

Apple to Release Tuesday New iPadsThis will provide us with plenty of topics to discuss for the weeks ahead. The new iPad Pro, the 10th generation, is a complete overhaul that brings it in line to the Air and mini. With an M2 CPU and Wi-Fi 6,E, the iPad Pro will be the fastest tablet ever created. In simple terms, Apple’s new tablets are its strongest ever, bringing more options for consumers at both ends of the spectrum.

The purchase of an iPad is more difficult than ever. Apple now offers five iPad line options starting at $329 and ending at more than $2,000 Here’s how the models break down:

• iPad (9th generation, 64GB): $329
• iPad (9th generation, 256GB): $479
• iPad (10th generation, 64GB): $479
• iPad mini (64GB): $499
• iPad (10th generation, 256GB): $599
• iPad Air (64GB): $599
• iPad mini (256GB): $649
• iPad Air (256GB): $749)
• iPad Pro (11-inch, 128GB): $799
• iPad Pro (11-inch, 256GB): $899
• iPad Pro (11-inch, 512GB): $1,099
• iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 128GB): $1,099
• iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 256GB): $1,199
• iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 512GB): $1,399
• iPad Pro (11-inch, 1TB): $1,499
• iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 1TB): $1,799
• iPad Pro (11-inch, 2TB): $1,899
• iPad Pro (12.9-inch, 2TB): $2,199

And those prices don’t even account for the cellular options, which add $200 to the iPad Pro, $150 to the 10th-gen iPad, iPad Air, and iPad mini, and $130 to the 9th-gen iPad.

Although there are many options, they can be overwhelming. You can purchase a new iPad with 32GB storage or 64GB storage on an iPad Air, 64GB storage on an iPad Air, 64GB storage on an iPad mini, 64GB storage on an iPad mini, or a 9th-gen iPad, which has 256GB and cellular connectivity.

The features are where things get confusing. Consider these facts about Apple’s iPad lineup:

• Three different iPads have the exact same 11-inch display.
• The 10th-gen iPad doesn’t have the anti-reflective coating that was introduced in 2014.
• Each iPad Apple sells a different processor.
• The only iPad with a landscape-orientated selfie camera is the 10th-gen iPad.
• The iPad Pro is more Bluetooth-friendly (5.3) than both the 10th-gen iPad (5.2) and the iPad Air and mini (5.5)
• The iPad mini is the only model that doesn’t support any of Apple’s keyboard cases.
• The 10th-gen iPad still doesn’t support the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil.

You will need to look at nearly 20 different options before you can decide which tablet you want. Most buyers probably couldn’t tell the difference between the 10th-gen iPad’s unlaminated display and the iPad Air’s laminated display or feel the speed of an A15 versus an A13. How can consumers make smart buying decisions when they have to create a spreadsheet and explainer to understand the differences?

And who’s the iPad Air for now? It has an M1 processor and second-gen Apple Pencil support, but if you’re a user who needs those features, you should consider the 11-inch iPad Pro. And if you’re not, you should just get the 10th-gen iPad and save $150. What about the iPad mini? Is it worthwhile to spend $50 on the iPad mini? Continue readingYou might prefer the 10th-gen iPad because it has a smaller screen and a slightly faster processor. 

And then there’s the issue of updating. The 10th-gen iPad only just released, so we don’t know how often it will be updated, but we do know about the other lines:

iPad:Last update September 2021, next update March 2023

iPad AirLast update March 2022; Next update September 2023

iPad ProLast update October 2022; Next update expected March 2024

The iPad mini may be coming out soon, so if you’re thinking of buying an iPad in February, keep in mind that it might be updated. The iPad Air will be updated in the coming months if you are looking for one this summer.

Although the new iPad was meant to simplify purchasing options, it has only made things more complicated. And it gives the impression that Apple still doesn’t quite understand what to do with its tablet lineup, so it continues to throw more and more at the wall to see what will stick. At some point consumers will stop trying to figure this out.