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9.7-inch iPad Pro to start at higher $599 price, come in 32 GB & 128 GB capacities

With the iPad Pro name and features, the new 9.7-inch iPad will be Apple’s first to come with a starting price higher than $499. The smaller iPad Pro will start at $599 and include 32 GB of storage, according to sources. The $599 base configuration is for a WiFi-only model, while higher-priced versions with 128 GB of storage and the ability to connect to LTE cellular networks will also be offered. Apple will announce the new iPad at its event on Monday, March 21st.

While the $599 starting price for the smaller iPad Pro is higher than any 9.7-inch iPad before it, the 32 GB of storage does help balance out the pricing as the current $499 iPad Air 2 includes 16 GB of storage. The 9.7-inch iPad Pro model will not replace the iPad Air 2 line, which will remain in Apple’s tablet portfolio for a likely $499 price, sources say. Supply of the original iPad Air is dwindling at resellers, indicating a likely discontinuation. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro and the iPad mini 4, which both launched last fall, will not be updated at this event.

As we first reported, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro will include many of the same features as the larger version from last year. The device will include a design that features four stereo speakers around the sides, a “brighter” display that supports the Apple Pencil, a  Smart Connector for a new proportionally-sized Smart Keyboard, and an A9X processor with more memory. One hardware difference will be that the 9.7-inch version will include a 12 megapixel camera and 4K video recording, not an 8 megapixel sensor.

Be sure to read our full, updated roundup ahead of Monday’s event. 

Image created by Michael Steeber

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Comments

  1. PhilBoogie - 8 years ago

    Should the 128GB version come in at $699 it’ll be a freaking steal. Definitely be picking one up. Cellular, as always, since you need to reconnect to your Personal Hotspot if you let the iPad fall asleep. Not that I use it ever, but when you do it’s kind of annoying. So, cellular. It also has the GPS chip inside, which may come in handy one time.

    • Stetson - 8 years ago

      For the 12.9″ iPad Pro jumping from 32GB to 128GB is a $150 option. So if the 9.7″ iPad Pro is $599 I would expect the 128GB to be $749 and the 128GB + Cellular (+$130) to be $879.

      • PhilBoogie - 8 years ago

        That would make sense; I buy that!

    • peteostro - 8 years ago

      Wouldn’t the 64 be $699, 128 $799?

      • PhilBoogie - 8 years ago

        Yeah, I was wrong on that, though I do think @Stetson is right in saying it may be $749, when looking at the RAM price difference on the 12.9″ iPP.

  2. applegetridofsimandjack - 8 years ago

    That’s just too expensive. And iPhones should start at 32GB, iPads at 64GB.

    • PhilBoogie - 8 years ago

      Don’t forget where we were all coming from. Remember the beginning of 2010? Everyone thought it would be called the iSlate. It would have an ODD and the price would start at $999. Now look at how cheap tech really is. And it has gotten dirt cheap: people used to pay several thousands of dollars for just a memory upgrade, a small upgrade.

      • applegetridofsimandjack - 8 years ago

        Look at all other companies. They don’t charge 750€ for a 16GB device.

      • PhilBoogie - 8 years ago

        Valid point. I would say though it’s quite impossible to compare other companies products to the iPad, because of the software. Oh, and the service the manufacturer gives its clients.

        Then there’s the lack of viruses, the lack of drag in the GUI, the lack of usefulness in the millions of pixels the human eye cannot distinguish, the lack of fast charging that is of no use, the lack of…oh, who am I kidding: we cannot compare these tablets by any means.

      • tomi2711 - 8 years ago

        The main difference in cost is due to the processor. The Intel Core M processor in the Macbook has an average price of $350. The A9X in the current iPad Pro arround $40.
        That’s $300 more, arround the price difference between an iPad Pro and a Macbook. When we all predicted a $999 iPad, we missed the point about how cheap ARM processors were, and how much Intel took from every processor sold.

    • Don’t be surprised to see the iPhone 7 Plus / Pro move to the 32GB, 128GB, and possibly 256GB storage tiers. I still the 4.7″ iP7 will remain 16GB, 64GB, 128GB

      • Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 8 years ago

        Yeah, I really do hope they increase storage and RAM and don’t increase pricing. I’m all for that. I also think at some point, they might have to add Micro SD slots (I hate them for myself), but for those that are thinking of taking fairly long 4K videos on a smartphone, they are almost going to have to do something to allow for huge storage.

    • PMZanetti - 8 years ago

      Good thing they don’t have to ask you. Not that I expect a generic blogger to know anything about pricing or finance, but it’s a damn good thing they don’t employ people like you who would just as soon sink the company, so that cheap people can get their hands on iPads.

      • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

        Apple is greedy when it comes to storage and ram and always has been. The cost difference between 16,32,64 GB is very minimal.

        Apple’s profit margins is make 89% of the margins in smartphones. So Apple
        Is the one for chat is cheap.

        Most of us here have middle or
        Too tired storage capacity of iPads
        And iPhones. The argument is for the average consumer. 16 GB is simply not enough memory.

        Take the iMAc for example. It costs $200 for 16 GB of ram but charge $600 for 32 GB. 2 8 GB sticks vs 4 8GB sticks is triple the price.

      • Tom@L (@Wild_hunt_) - 8 years ago

        be prepared for more sales slowdown. Then dont cry about AAPL going down again.

  3. 89p13 - 8 years ago

    People will be screaming about the price increase – but if the feature set includes all the iPad Pro’s (processor and abilities) – IMO, it’s a great upgrade to the non-Pro line.

    I do love the speed and features that I have in my Pro – but to have them in a 9.7″ format – with the reduced weight – that’s a keeper.

  4. Apple continues to get more arrogant w/ their pricing model. This storage/pricing game is pathetic.

    • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

      The storage pricing has always been outrageous for Apple.

      It’s why Apple now 80 of the profit margins of the smartphone market.

      Wonder how many people have purchased a 16 GB iPhone or and switched to Android, because of the poor experience based on the storage.

      What gets me is they keep Increasing camera,add 4K video, add Live Photos, but keep 16 GB storage.

      • Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 8 years ago

        I agree with the first statement. Your second statement has to do with the other companies aren’t charging the same markup, which isn’t Apple’s problem or have anything to do with Apple.

        Now, look at the following numbers.

        Apple, as a WHOLE, operates the business on a 40% Gross Margin. They retain about a 24% Net profit to Gross sales.

        Now, look at Microsoft, they are operating their company at a 60% Gross Margin and only retaining 13% Net Profit. Obviously, Microsoft sells mostly software, which is typically 90%+ Gross Profit, because they aren’t really mfg anything other than a box with some literature inside that may come with a CD, or they are simply allowing you to install digitally where they don’t even ship anything.

        I have no idea what their specific markup is on any of their products because I don’t actually know what their costs to mfg each product really is. NO ONE outside of Apple actually knows either, it’s all speculation based on assumptions, but most of them are probably off by a certain amount.

        Apple has to maintain a 20% Net Profit or something in that range. If they don’t, the analysts rip upper management and they might get pressure from their institutional investors to cut costs, which typically means lay offs, or they might be looking for a new CEO, etc.

        HP has gone though a bunch of CEO’s in the last 20+ years, and they just did a restructuring, they are trying to figure out how to get that company back to decent profitability. and no matter what they do, they can’t. Dell had to go private because their financials sucked so badly. Lenovo has to buy more companies, MOTOROLA mobility and IBM Servers, because they have to add more revenue/profits, but they still don’t make much profit. Acer has gone through 3 CEO”s in a few months, and their sales/profits are dropping at a rate of about 30% to 40% every year, quarter by quarter. I wouldn’t be surprised if Acer either gets sold off or goes out of business. ASUS hardly makes any money. HTC, LG hardly make any money.

        It all has to do with their gross margin and their abilities to actually keep the gross profits.

        As an Apple customer I’m not thrilled with the prices they charge for RAM, I’ve been always put off about it, but I bought 3rd party RAM to lower my out of pocket expense and I regretted it because the 3rd party RAM sucked. It typically got very flaky after about a year and it causes crashes, downtime due to it eventually stops working. I don’t typically get RAM problems with Apple products. That’s something I can say positive about it. But I agree, I think they are over charging for it. I think they should charge the same MSRP that their RAM suppliers have listed as MSRP. The thing is, most of the 3rd party RAM suppliers end up discounting the crap out of their product as part of their chip dumping because they made far more than the market demand, and we just get used to those prices.

        I’m in total agreement over 16GB being the entry level, they should have raised it to 32GB a long time ago. I think all of the members of upper management should be given a 16GB model for them to use and see what happens, but they don’t use the 16GB model, they use the 128GB models, so they probably don’t even know what others have to deal with. :-)

        I have only bought 16GB iPhones and iPads, and I have to keep them slim and trim. It’s hard to do, but it can be done. I think they still keep those models is because there are, believe it or not, a ton of corporations that use them for very simple tasks and they don’t need anymore than that. think about a restaurant server that only has an app to process meal orders. That’s the only app they use. They don’t take photos or videos, play music, etc. etc. the simply use one app, and a very simple one at that. They cater to a bunch of corporations that simply don’t need them and I think that’s why they still offer them, as stupid as it is.

    • Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 8 years ago

      Apple runs their business at a 40% Gross Profit margin, so cost of goods sold is about 60% of Gross Sales. their Net Profits is about 20 to 24% of gross sales. That’s what these high tech hardware based companies should be at. If you look at every PC mfg and Smartphone mfg, they are not even close to where Apple is at. It’s not that Apple’s overcharging, it’s that everyone else is undercharging since they don’t have the same Gross margin or Net Profits. HP is being run into the ground, hence all of the repeat layoffs. They operate their business at 25% Gross Margin and retain only about 5%, which is why their stock price is in the gutter, they’ve had a revolving door of CEO’s, they split off the PC/Printer division from the rest of the company and the reason why IBM, Compaq, and others have had to sell off their PC business. In the world of Windows, they have too many models of products, too many mfg competing for market share and in order for them to do that, they run their respective companies like shit because they simply don’t know how to manage their respective businesses.

      Yeah from a consumer’s perspective, their prices are higher than others, but that’s because the others are priced at much lower margins, hence why the others can’t make any money. Now, if Apple simply threw in 32GB or 64GB for their entry level models and they didn’t change the MSRP, then Apple would probably drop from 40% Gross margin, to more like 35% Gross margin and instead of making 20% to 24% Net Profits, they would be more in the 15% to 19% Net Profits and their stock price would also go down as a result, and they might get a lot of pressure from their institutional shareholders to cut costs, which means layoffs, which Apple doesn’t want to do either.

      It’s hard being on both sides on this one, but you have to understand the dynamics involved. I do agree, I think selling 32GB as the baseline is probably more realistic and not having to increase MSRP.

      Yeah, NAND memory has fallen, but the prices on their new Screen technology I don’t think has, I think it’s gotten more expensive due to either increased screen resolutions or other added features like 3D touch or the technology behind the Pencil and how the screen is designed. I also have no idea if their processors are more expensive as well.

      It’s really difficult to really understand everything since we aren’t sitting around with actual costs to make each product they’ve made over the years, we only go by guesstimates, which aren’t 100% accurate.

  5. Apaches911 - 8 years ago

    I would be rather annoyed by this! I want a 64gig wifi model. Will be interesting to see if this is BS.

  6. Apple’s got a tough time already getting people to upgrade iPads. A price hike for the option to pay another $100 for a stylus is madness.

    • you’re paying $100 more for: a more advanced higher refresh rate screen, Pencil capability, a much faster A9X processor, 4GB of RAM, Smart Connector, 32GB of base storage, and possibly a higher resolution screen. That’s worth $100. What I would like to have seen is the iPad Air 2 get a price decrease to $399 starting price.

      • rogifan - 8 years ago

        Air 2 won’t get a price reduction because it’s easier to get someone to spend $100 more than $200. If the Air 2 was $399 fewer people would pony up $200 more for the Pro.

      • The iPad Air 2 brought a much faster processor, more ram, thinner body, just like the iPad Pro does, it’s just a freaking yearly upgrade, but the “big” difference is the iPad Pro name. It’s just getting sad, although I don’t know who’s worse: Apple or the lame fanboys that defend every decision.

      • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

        The Air 3 would have gotten the same A9x chip and ram, the only additional thing you get is smart connector and 4 speakers.

      • tomi2711 - 8 years ago

        The iPad Air 3 would have been this iPad Pro 9.7″. But Apple found a way to charge you $100 with a marketing stunt of including “Pro” in the name of the product.
        As in the past years Apple couldn’t produce a meaningful update to the iPad lineup, and after 6 years is nothing more than a big iPhone, they went with what they are best at: marketing.
        It is still not working. iPad sales were 25% down yoy in the last report. I hope this trend accelerates so they might actually do something about it, like for starters, make iOS a real tablet OS and not just a blown app phone OS.
        I like Apple, I never wanted them to fail at something. But this is a first. If failing is what they need to stop all this lazy shit. I hope they get it.

      • Tom@L (@Wild_hunt_) - 8 years ago

        I hope they fail also. This is getting annoying day by day.

  7. IMO $499 is already too expensive for the older 16GB variety. $599 would be an amazing price point for a Pro with 128GB and GPS/LTE hardware, leaving 499 for a Wi-Fi-only 32GB model.

  8. Nigel Spier - 8 years ago

    Long time Apple supporter and user since 1987, so let me get that out of the way. Apple stinks under Tim Cook and they are headed for obsolescence if they don’t get their you know what together soon. The greatest innovation to come from Apple under Tim Cook is “bigger and smaller”. Yawwwwwwn. Not to mention that with every iteration of their OS and new Apps. features that used to be intuitive and make other offerings look pre-historic in function, have become either cryptic or non-existent altogether, leaving nothing but the most basic of form and function behind. Get rid of Cook and give us a real CEO who can inspire and lead. Cook is a number cruncher and was meant to be a transitional CEO. Wake up Apple, before you become as relevant as a 9 inch Apple Pro. Give me a break!!!!

    • tomi2711 - 8 years ago

      Totally agree. Long time Apple follower. Apple is now running on fumes of what used to be the best tech company out there. It probably still is, but fumes will run out if you don’t keep the fuel burning.
      They just keep playing the big/small shit managing to increase the price of the products in the process. Want the iPad not to suck? Give it a proper operating system.
      The bugs in every OS currently out there are just overwhelming. One of the biggest tech companies out there and can’t manage to get a software not to suck. Why would Apple need to decide between adding features or improving software quality? Use that ginormous pile of cash and hire some engineerings and fix the OSes.

    • focher - 8 years ago

      Can you provide a recommendation? Every time I see the assertion made to replace Cook, it’s made in a vacuum without any hint whatsoever of exactly who exists that should be the replacement.

      • Tom@L (@Wild_hunt_) - 8 years ago

        Elon Musk would suit quite well but he wont take AAPL’s helm even if he was offered.

  9. Florin D. (@FDraghia) - 8 years ago

    They’re expensive, but people will still wait in the line to buy them

    • tomi2711 - 8 years ago

      People aren’t waiting in lines to buy an iPad since the first iPad came out.
      After using it they realized that the it was nothing more than a big iPhone and they didn’t care anymore.
      As Apple doesn’t know how to fix it, they are adding the Pro suffix hoping people don’t realize they are buying the same with a different name.
      In a few years, when people again find out they were once again tricked not even the Pro shit will save them.

      • PhilBoogie - 8 years ago

        Thanks for the laughs!

      • Tom@L (@Wild_hunt_) - 8 years ago

        ipad sales have been declining year over year for many years now. Not sure where you guys see the lines. They are mostly there for window shopping.

  10. ChrisJano (@ChrisJano) - 8 years ago

    Sounds interesting, I hope they add more Apple Pencil features, that would be great!

  11. rogifan - 8 years ago

    Keeping the Air 2 at $499 for 3 years running is ridiculous. Sounds like the 9.7″ Pro is just an addition to an already crowded lineup. Unless the Air 1 is phased out.

  12. philips9179 - 8 years ago

    Take away the keyboard and it’s just a spec upgrade on the iPad Air 2. There’s nothing here to justify a ‘pro’ name. No file system, and no pro level apps. i think adding a keyboard is useful but takes away something from what a tablet is supposed to be. Should be making more use of voice and handwriting recognition.

  13. where is the force touch?

  14. Daniel (@agentd5417) - 8 years ago

    I own three iPads. iPads adoption is contracting, so lets raise the price? Sorry, needs to start at $499 or under. Take Android tabs head on. Lets go for the adoption rate. 32Gb should be phased out with 64GB. Memory is SOOOOOO cheap, no excuse. Tried of carrying water for Apple. Been a fanboy since 2006 its been a pleasure, but I’m out.

  15. just-a-random-dude - 8 years ago

    Apple was known for the simple lineup and now they are just splitting everything into three lineups per platforms, the purchasing experience is now a nightmare because certain features are reserved for a specific size like the iPhones.

    It wouldn’t be a problem if all three has a consistent spec with the screen size as the only option that is different. That way, you pick a size, not go through all three to figure out what is missing.

    • focher - 8 years ago

      Really? Remember the iPod? Eventually it was segmented into the Shuffle, mini, Classic, and Touch. Ah yes, the “good ole days” … that never existed.

  16. Haven (@havenyoung) - 8 years ago

    If this is true, then it’s almost exactly what I predicted the lineup would be when we first knew it would be a smaller Pro instead of Air 3

  17. golfersal - 8 years ago

    Sorry but Apple will never make a run at this market with these kind of prices.
    What makes this even worst is that the entry level Ipad at 32 GB is too small and you have to pay a premium to jump all the way up to 128GB which is too much for some. The entry level Ipad should be 64GB and call it a day. We are probably just a year away from the next jump to 256GB in storage.

    I own a Ipad Pro and love it for it’s size. Wouldn’t spend the money if this was 9 inches instead of 12.

  18. Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 8 years ago

    Well, it looks like we don’t even have to bother listening to or watching the Monday event since all of the information is here a couple of days in advance. How much RAM does it come with? 2GB or 4GB?

  19. Graham J - 8 years ago

    Apple has generally kept their prices for a given model the same while adding features. Each successive model has a newer chip so the A9X is what you’d get anyway. I agree with bumping the minimum flash to 32GB (as every single review points out, guess they finally listened) but Apple’s fiction of that costing $100 is ludicrous to uphold in 2016. Stylus support should be trickling down without price increases as it will be cheaper for them to standardize on one panel for all models.

  20. taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

    Is the 128 GB model the only one with cellular?

    • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

      If they are going with only 2 storage capacities and increasing the price by $100 they should make all models
      Cellular. Making all models cellular would also allow carriers and Apple to offer installment or lease pricing for all iPads and allow customers to upgrade iPads more frequently.

    • aces99 - 8 years ago

      I

    • aces99 - 8 years ago

      It looks like it. Which is totally ridiculous. You shouldn’t have to buy the top tier 128GB just to get LTE cellular. What about the people that want cellular but only need 32GB. I think Apple is going to loose lots of sales by going this route. I was all ready to get get the new iPad Air 3/Pro but if the rumours are true I will be looking at other options.

      • What would you suggest? I have a MS Surface Pro but I need Android or iOS for a particular APP for the tablet….

  21. Tom@L (@Wild_hunt_) - 8 years ago

    not going to upgrade to the new model. I am sure many are reluctant to spend $100 more for the usual upgrade. Next what? iPhone 7 starting at $750 for the new feature upgrade?

  22. Liam Deckham - 8 years ago

    Why no 256 GB option?

    • Nic Buhrman - 8 years ago

      They’re saving that for the iPad Pro Edition which is made of solid gold and costs $15,000

  23. taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

    Apple has the pricing for storage right on the Apple TV. It starts at 32 GB and only costs $50 more for 64 GB.

  24. reactionsok - 8 years ago

    this is apple’s plan to turn around the ipad? what dont we know?

  25. Because everyone loves a higher price on a product with stagnant sales.

  26. Im not especially price sensitive in general and specifically about Apple products. But if they think they are going to impact the slide in iPad sales with more expensive iPads they are wrong.

  27. iali87 - 8 years ago

    “he 32 GB of storage does help balance out the pricing as the current $499 iPad Air 2 includes 16 GB of storage” Are you serious?

  28. Mary Ann E - 8 years ago

    my question is will the airpad 2 go down in price ???

  29. Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 8 years ago

    How much RAM are the new iPads going to come with? 2GB or 4GB? If they also increase the RAM, then the price increase is more justified. I think the new screens are probably more expensive to deal with the Pencil.

  30. adammpe - 8 years ago

    I have been waiting for Ipad Pro 9.7 because of Apple Pencil, but that price (+100$ for pencil) is quite shocking. It should contain 64GB or cellular to be worth.

  31. Carlos Shabo - 8 years ago

    but for $100 more i can get the actual iPad Pro since its on sale EVERYWHERE.

    i dont like this movie. if it was 64gb for $599 thats a different story.

  32. What would you suggest? I have a MS Surface Pro but I need Android or iOS for a particular APP for the tablet…. Some ASUS one? Or something else…I did research and wanted the iPad Air 3 / Pro. But at that price and storage option that is beyond ridiculous. Expandable storage at least! Seriously how hard is it to slot in a 1/4″ micro SD card slot…You can put 32/64GB U3 cards in there easy for actual USE of the 4k capabilities.

    Recommendation?