New Apple iPad wants to play the affordability game, again

Apple has updated its tablet line-up with a new iPad. Dubbed as just the iPad, the new device comes in a cellular and a non-cellular variant and will be available in silver, gold and space gray colour options. The 32GB + WiFi model will cost Rs28,900, while the cellular variant with 32GB storage is priced at Rs39,900. The iPad also has a 128GB variant which starts at $429 (approximately Rs28,093) in some countries.

In the Apple hierarchy, the new iPad replaces the iPad Air 2, and is positioned at a more affordable price point when compared with the 9.7-inch screen iPad Pro tablet which is currently selling at a starting price of Rs49,900.

The new iPad is expected to be available in India in April.

The new iPad is not compatible with the accessories of the iPad Pro such as Apple Pencil and the Smart keyboard.

How it compares with iPad Pro 9.7

The new iPad looks a lot like the iPad Pro 9.7 and has a similar aluminium exterior. However, it is heavier and thicker as well. Its WiFi only variant tips the scales at 469g and the cellular version weighs 478g. In comparison, the iPad Pro’s WiFi variant and cellular models weigh just 437g and 444g, respectively.

Though the width and the height remain the same, the new iPad looks a bit thicker at 7.5mm. The iPad Pro at 6.1mm is one of the thinnest tablets we have ever come across.

The iPad Pro is also available in rose gold colour, which isn’t yet an option with the new iPad.

The common ground

Not much has changed in terms of the display. The iPad also has a 9.7-inch Retina display with screen resolution 2048x1536p and pixel density of 264 ppi. The display also carries a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating. The only thing missing in the new iPad is the anti-reflective coating of the iPad Pro 9.7’s display.

Apple claims the battery back-up on the new iPad will be similar to the iPad Pro, which means it’ll be close to almost 10 hours for web browsing on WiFi and up to 9 hours on cellular data. Also, the new iPad runs iOS 10 like the iPad Pro.

The other difference

The major differentiator between the two tablets is the hardware that powers the two. The new iPad runs on Apple’s third-generation 64-bit A9 chip with the embedded M9 co-processor, whereas the iPad Pro runs on a slightly faster 64-bit A9X third generation chip with the M9 co-processor in tow.

The 8-megapixel camera on the new iPad has an aperture size of f/2.4 and can record full HD (1,920x1,080p) videos at best. The iPad has a 12-megapixel camera with an aperture of f/2.0 and can record 4k (3,840x2,160p) videos.

At its current price, the new iPad will be competing against the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 T819 (Rs39,900), which also offers a 9.7-inch display with same screen resolution, offers 32GB storage with the option to add more via microSD cards, runs Android 6.0 and supports cellular networks.