Earlier today, we predicted that Apple had plans to bring the previously-released fourth-generation iPad back into production to replace the aging iPad 2. As expected, the fourth-gen iPad is now available once again on Apple’s website, this time with only a 16 GB capacity.
Aside from offering the single capacity choice, there aren’t any changes to the device. This model replaces the iPad 2, which has been around since the days of the 30-pin connector. The newer version includes Apple’s custom dual-core A6X processor, a 5 MP iSight camera, and 1.2 MP FaceTime camera. (Press release below:)
The iPad 4 is available at $399 for the Wi-Fi model, putting it at the same price as the previous iPad 2. The cellular model costs $529. Both are available on Apple’s website and in retail stores.
Apple Updates Most Affordable 9.7-inch iPad with Retina display, Improved Cameras & Enhanced Performance—Now Available Starting at $399
CUPERTINO, California—March 18, 2014—Apple® today announced iPad® with Retina® display replaces iPad 2 as the most affordable 9.7-inch iPad at $399 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model and $529 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model. The fourth generation iPad features the amazing 9.7-inch Retina display, the Apple-designed A6X chip, ultrafast Wi-Fi, a 5MP iSight® camera which also captures 1080p HD video, a FaceTime® HD camera, and support for LTE carriers worldwide,¹ all while delivering up to 10 hours of battery life.² iPad with Retina display comes with iOS 7, featuring hundreds of great new features, including Control Center, Notification Center, improved Multitasking, AirDrop®, enhanced Photos, Safari®, Siri® and iTunes Radio℠.³
“Now for $399 customers can get iPad with a stunning 9.7-inch Retina display, fast A6X chip, and 5MP iSight camera, offering a dramatic upgrade in power, performance and value compared to the iPad 2 it replaces,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The iPad line sets the gold-standard in mobile computing and all iPads have access to the largest and best ecosystem of more than 500,000 iPad optimized apps from the App Store.”
iPad customers have access to the revolutionary App Store℠, which offers more than one million apps to iPhone®, iPad and iPod touch® users in 155 countries around the world, and more than 500,000 apps are designed specifically for iPad. More than 65 billion apps have been downloaded from the App Store, which offers customers an incredible range of apps in 24 categories, including newspapers and magazines in Newsstand, games and entertainment, kids, education, business, news, sports, health and fitness and travel. The iLife® suite of creative apps, including iPhoto®, iMovie® and GarageBand®, and the iWork® suite of productivity apps, including Pages®, Numbers® and Keynote® are essential to the Apple experience and are now free, so more iPad users have access to these great apps that are optimized to support 64-bit technology and include hundreds of new features.
Pricing & Availability
iPad with Retina display models in black or white are available for a suggested retail price of $399 (US) for the 16GB Wi-Fi model and $529 (US) for the 16GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model for either AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile or Verizon. Smart Cover® and Smart Case for iPad with Retina display are available in dark gray for $39 (US) and $49 (US) respectively through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Authorized Apple Resellers. iPad Air™ with Wi-Fi models are available in silver or space gray for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model, $699 (US) for the 64GB model and $799 (US) for the 128GB model. iPad Air with Wi-Fi + Cellular are available for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model, $829 (US) for the 64GB model and $929 (US) for the 128GB model.
iPad mini™ with Retina display Wi-Fi models are available in silver or space gray for a suggested retail price of $399 (US) for the 16GB model, $499 (US) for the 32GB model, $599 (US) for the 64GB model and $699 (US) for the 128GB model. iPad mini with Retina display Wi-Fi + Cellular models will be available for a suggested retail price of $529 (US) for the 16GB model, $629 (US) for the 32GB model, $729 (US) for the 64GB model and $829 (US) for the 128GB model. Additionally, the original iPad mini is offered at $299 (US) for the 16GB Wi-Fi model and $429 (US) for the 16GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model for either AT&T, Sprint, T-mobile or Verizon.
¹LTE is available through select carriers. Network speeds are dependent on carrier networks. Check with your carrier for details.
²Battery life depends on device settings, usage and other factors. Actual results vary.
³iTunes Radio is available with iOS 7 in the US and Australia.
Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.
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Wow ! wonderful
Price has gone up tremendously in australia though! $130 more than the US and $100 more than the iPad 2 was here!!!! Thats ridiculous
No, blame your dollar.
You can’t blame the Australian Dollar here, it is the only iPad with the extra $30, plus there were no price changes when the Australian Dollar was worth more than the US$
Makes sense. It was odd that they were still marketing a model with the old 30-pin connector, almost two years after it was introduced. Margin wise they might be losing a bit per-unit. But overall I think they’ll find profit in this with consolidation.
The ipad 2 was way too obsolete to continue selling. Ipad 4 is not obsolete and is a powerful device. But at only $50 from the ipad air, it might only interest those buying in bulk.
one day im own an apple’4th generation you say,mmh not bad!
Same price in the UK!
It’s not magic! It’s Apple inovating again!
Personally I think Apple have ruined their pricing levels when the released the 5th Gen iPod Touch and iPad Mini.
They didn’t leave themselves enough room to play with in-between the top level and the bottom level of prices.
To make the 4th Gen iPad $529 in Australia is a stupid move, why the extra $30?
Has the Australian dollar fallen compared to the greenback?
Price has gone up for Malaysian Apple Store: MYR1199 for iPad 2 ($399 equivalent) has increased to MYR1449 ($479 equivalent)
apple USA website is showing the cellular model at 529 not 599 as per your article.
fixed, thanks
…and the Mac mini enters day 511 with not even a minor refresh.
Did the 4th gen iPad always have a FaceTime hd cam?
Only reason iPad 2 was still being offered was due to the slow acceptance of new devices in government. I wonder if this means the forth gen iPad has passed all the tested required for government. Also, schools loved the iPad 2. Since they were just using them for books and testing, they didn’t need anything more powerful. The iPad 2 still runs smoothly as long as you aren’t playing games on it.
this would make sense, as, I couldn’t see any other reason for Apple to have kept the iPad 2 when they released the iPad Air in the first place…the 4th gen iPad bumped to today’s pricing is what I expected back then, makes more sense to Apple’s way of doing things. …Plus, I thought they would have eliminated 30-pin connector devices last fall.
still too expensive. smells of iDesperation because they cant get screens. no new phone in 2 years, Samsung, htc taking the lead……WTF Apple?
“no new phone in 2 years”? Where did you get that idea? The newest iPhone 5s came out 6 months ago, and there will be a new iPhone released this fall.
I don’t see a good reason to buy this iPad instead of the mini retina at the same price. More cpu power, less weight. If you really want the 9.7” display iPad Air is just 100$ more, but you have the new design, is very light and is faster.
Of course it was a good move to offer the 4th generation instead of iPad 2, but I’d rather buy a mini (even the entry level for 299) if money is a problem.
If Apple can sell such a device for only $400, why can’t they bring down the iPhone 5c’s price?! It would be the best way to boost 5c sales.