iPad 5 Rumored Changes, Image courtesy Macrumors
Apple hasn’t formally announced the iPad event widely expected to occur on October 22nd, but there is fair certainty Apple will release updated an iPad and iPad Mini in time for the holidays. After the ups and downs of the iPhone 5S/5C event, we thought it would be fun to look at what we hope, expect, and plan to buy.
So Judie, Dan, Carly, and myself set out to answer four basic questions based on rumors we have heard and what we have been waiting to buy. Here we go!
What Would You LOVE to See Apple Announce?
Mike:
- Retina iPad Mini2 with A7x and 2GB RAM
- Thinner, lighter smaller 9.7″ iPad 5 with updated specs including A7x processor and 2GB RAM
- Updated Haswell Macbook Pros
- Updated iPod Nano with iTunes Radio integration
- Updated iPod Touch with iPhone 5s stuff
- Keyboard cover for iPad (a la Surface) that doesn’t suck
- Pricing changes in iPad line to compete aggressively – specifically differential for memory and LTE
- Immediate Mavericks availability at $9.99
Dan:
- I would love to see an iWatch. We won’t.
- I would love to see an iPad with the ability to split the screen and run two apps at once. We won’t.
- I would love to see the inclusion of NFC. We won’t.
- I would love to see TouchId on the new iPads. (I seriously LOVE it on the iPhone.) We won’t… this year.
- I would love to see a new 9.7″ iPad that is thinner and lighter. We will and I will buy.
Carly:
- Retina mini with base storage bumped from 16gb to 32gb.
- Colors like the 5C.
Judie:
- Retina iPad Mini2 with A7x, 2GB RAM, and 128GB memory
- Thinner, lighter smaller 9.7″ iPad 5 with updated specs including A7x processor, 2GB RAM, and 256GB memory
- Updated Haswell Macbook Pros – I’ll buy a 13″ that day, if so!
What Do You EXPECT Apple to Announce?
Mike:
- Thinner, lighter smaller 9.7″ iPad 5 with updated specs including A7x processor and 2GB RAM
- Retina iPad Mini2 with A6x and 1GB RAM
- Haswell MBPs introduced a week later with no fanfare
- Identical pricing structure
- A way-too-long presentation with too few new things
Dan:
- 9.7″ iPad that is thinner, lighter and more powerful
- Gen 2 iPad mini that bumps the specs but does not go NFC
Carly:
- Updated specs, probably a retina mini
- Thinner and faster big iPad
- Basic MacBook Pro updates but nothing mind-blowing
- Nothing shocking, more incremental upgrading
Judie:
- Thinner, lighter smaller 9.7″ iPad 5 with updated specs including A7x processor and 2GB RAM, maxed out at 128GB
- Retina iPad Mini2 with A6x and 1GB RAM, still maxed out at 64GB
- Haswell MBPs quietly introduced a week later
- Identical pricing structure
- A way-too-long presentation with too few new things
What One Rumored Item Do You Expect to Be an ‘Insta-Buy’
Mike:
- 9.7″ iPad 5, LTE version, probably 64GB version (maybe 32GB)
Dan:
- The 9.7″ iPad that is smaller and lighter will be in my cart as soon as pre-order is available
Carly:
- 4G iPad Mini – A price drop makes it ‘insta-buy’, but I plan to buy one anyway
Judie:
- Retina iPad Mini2 64GB (although I would prefer 128GB) — I am really looking forward to a mini with a retina screen!
What Changes Would Stop You From Buying That Item?
Mike:
- If pricing actually INCREASES
- If it doesn’t have A7 or 2GB RAM
Dan:
- If the battery life on the 9.7″ drops significantly I may not buy
- I will only swap out my iPad mini if the spec bump is truly significant
Carly:
- Price increase
- Non-retina, not terribly improved mini
Judie:
- If pricing on the mini or the 13″ MBP retina actually increases
- If the iPad mini doesn’t have retina, A7, or 2GB RAM
Conclusions:
A couple of things are clear – first, our expectations are that Apple will again have a thin and narrow product presentation. Also, while we all have pet iPad models and variants that we intend to get – it is Apple’s business to lose, and we fear they might. As I noted when talking about the Kindle Fire HDX, the memory and LTE differentials for iPads stand out more and more each passing product cycle. At this point we simply expect more of the same, but if Apple actually INCREASES the pricing schemes, they might lose sales that are otherwise assured.
So what are you expecting and hoping that Apple will deliver? Do you have any planned purchases?