Earlier this month, 9to5Mac reported that Apple has been working on new iPad models, including two versions of the iPad Air – one to be an update of the current model and the other with different hardware, potentially with a larger screen. As the news was corroborated by other sources, we now want to know if you would be willing to buy a larger iPad Air.
Rumors hint at a new, larger iPad Air
9to5Mac’s sources have told us that Apple has been experimenting with two new versions of the iPad Air. Codenamed J507 and J508 (Wi-Fi and cellular versions), these models are likely to replace iPad Air 5 with a new chip. Since the current-generation Air is powered by M1, the new model will get M2. These models are in line with what Bloomberg reported back in June.
But Apple has also been working on another new iPad Air, this one identified as J537 and J538. These models are somewhat from the same family as the new M2 iPad Air, but the different codename suggests that there’s a more significant hardware difference between them.
For instance, the only iPad that currently has more than one version is the iPad Pro, as it comes in 11- and 12.9-inch models, so there are two models for each version. Something similar happens with the iPhone, which has a different identifier for the Pro and Pro Max versions. So, what is Apple planning for the iPad?
DigiTimes reported this week that Apple has been working on a new iPad model with a 12.9-inch screen that uses traditional LCD instead of mini-LED. Since the 12.9-inch iPad Pro has a mini-LED display and there are rumors about Apple switching to OLED in the future, it seems plausible to assume that this new 12.9-inch iPad with LCD display is a new iPad Air.
Would you buy one?
Top comment by Brian Marsh
Yes if it was priced low enough compared with the pro, The larger screen size is great, and I don't use any of the Pro features. So being able to save a few hundred would be ideal.
While some may argue (rightly) that the iPad lineup has become a mess, there’s plenty of room for a larger iPad Air, just as there’s room for the iPhone Plus. The iPad Air with a 10.9-inch display costs $599, while the 12.9-inch iPad Pro costs $1,099 – that’s almost double the price.
As explained by my colleague Chance Miller, a 12.9-inch iPad Air can be a great option for those who are looking for a big tablet for media consumption but don’t need all the features that the Pro models have to offer, such as the ProMotion display, Thunderbolt, or better cameras. That’s why Apple introduced a 15-inch MacBook Air this year.
Of course, having another iPad in the lineup could make things even more confusing for some people, but at the same time, Apple could discontinue the 9th-generation iPad (the one that still has a Lightning port) to balance the scales.
But what about you? Would you buy a larger iPad Air? Let us know in the poll and comments section below.
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