Yesterday saw a media event where Apple showed the world it’s most advanced iPhones ever made, unveiled the Apple Watch Series 2 and also told consumers when to expect the rollout of iOS 10 and macOS Sierra among other announcements. It was easy to miss the fact that the company also quietly announced that it’s done away with lower storage options for a number of iPads while also lowering the price on the iPad Pro.
From big media event, to quiet iPad announcement
Apple made a number of announcements yesterday in addition to unveiling new products. Perhaps the most controversial, but expected, of which was the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack to be replaced by Lightning EarPods and the announcement of Apple’s upcoming wireless, Bluetooth AirPods that Twitter had a problem with nearly immediately.
Twitter users began claiming that they had already lost multiple pairs of the wireless AirPads well over a month before the new items go on sale for $159. An Australian government agency even went further calling the yet to be release product a choking hazard for children of parents who would buy the AirPads. It should be pointed out that the same agency also calls Apple’s present 3.5mm EarPads a strangulation hazard.
The UK’s Guardian newspaper perhaps had the most scathing attack on Apple’s new product with a headline reading, “Earth to Apple: wireless AirPod headphones are like a tampon without a string.”
While many lavished praise on the new design of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus which now makes each device waterproof as well as the introduction of ultra-powerful processor, many missed that Apple has killed the low storage options on many new iPads and lowered the prices on Apple’s iPad Pro.
New storage minimums, lower prices for iPad
When you make an announcement that your new flagship iPhone offerings will start with 32GBs of storage, you had better do something about the storage options on the larger iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 4. You simply can’t have these devices just offering 16GBs and consequently upgraded the storage of both devices to also begin at 32GB without changing the price point. 16GBs are just not enough for many to store their photos, videos, apps, music etc. (especially if using as a primary device). Each of these models will also offer as much as 128GBs for those who need it and are willing to pay for it.
Additionally, Apple lowered the price on all iPad Pro models. That means that iPad Pros in both display sizes as well as WiFi-only devices as well as those that feature LTE as a data option.
Let’s have a look at the new prices on the iPad Pros:
12.9-inch
- 32GB – $799
- 128GB – $899 (was $949)
- 256GB – $999 (was $1099)
- 128GB Cellular – $1029 (was $1079)
- 256GB Cellular – $1129 (was $1229)
9.7-inch
- 32GB – $599
- 128GB – $699 (was $749)
- 256GB – $799 (was $899)
- 32GB Cellular – $729
- 128GB Cellular – $829 (was $879)
- 256GB Cellular – $929 (was $1029)
The new pricing as well as the new storage options go into effect immediately on all new iPads purchased online or in any of Apple’s retail locations.
If you’ve just purchased one of the aforementioned iPads you’re likely out of luck but it would behoove you to try to return your device feigning ignorance of the new storage options as well as the slashed prices and just maintain that it’s “doing something weird” in the hopes of getting a refund or exchange.
