Apple unveiled a new batch of iPads and an updated Apple TV 4K today. Instead of the customary fanfare of a livestreamed ceremony, the new equipment was unveiled via three news releases. That makes sense, for the most part, as the new iPad Pros and Apple TV 4K don't introduce many significant improvements, while the brand-new iPad essentially emulates the iPad Air, albeit with certain concessions.
Nevertheless, new is new, and Apple's online shop is already accepting pre-orders for all of the upgraded gadgets. Here's a short synopsis of what's new, how much everything costs, and how you can pre-order everything revealed today in case you're considering upgrading to a new tablet or high-end media streamer.
11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros with M2
The new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros models are slightly more recognizable thanks to an internal change; both tablets now use Apple's M2 SoC, which is also in the most recent MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. Once more, space gray or silver finishes are choices for both smartphones. The new iPad Pros are currently available for pre-order and will be available in retailers starting on October 26.
When we evaluated those M2 Macs, we discovered that the M2 offered a pleasant performance improvement over the M1, albeit you'll probably need to go much beyond simple tablet uses to notice a significant difference in real-world use. It should be more future-proof nonetheless for individuals who desire a tablet for intense jobs like video editing.
Additionally, the new Pros will support Bluetooth 5.3, WiFi 6E networks with faster speeds, and, in Apple's words, "additional 5G networks throughout the world." There is also a new "hover" capability for users of second-generation Apple Pencils that allows the tablets to detect the pen up to 12mm away from the display, comparable to previous Samsung smartphones and tablets. According to Apple, this will let you see the possible markings before you actually use the pen.
But that's pretty much all. The 12.9-inch model continues to be the only one with a brighter and more colorful Mini LED screen, while the 11-inch model has a less brilliant (by comparison) LED display. Both tablets continue to support refresh rates up to 120 Hz. The design is virtually the same, as are the ports, cameras, accessory compatibility, and overall functionality. Strangely, Apple has chosen to leave the 10th-generation iPad alone in having a front camera, limiting that function to the more costly Pro versions.
Despite their high price, only the most devoted iPad users will likely be able to afford the Pro tablets, which should continue to be the best tablets in Apple's portfolio. Again, the 12.9-inch model will start at $1,099 for the same amount of storage as the 11-inch device, which will start at $799 for 128GB.
Additionally, you may upgrade to 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB of storage. The RAM included in the 1TB and 2TB variants is also doubled from 8GB to 16GB in these configurations. These will set you back $899, $1,099, $1,499, and $1,899 for the 11-inch model, respectively. These increase to $1,199, $1,399, $1,799, and $2,199 for the 12.9-inch Pro. It will cost an additional $200 to add cellular service to whichever option you choose.
Apple TV 4K (3rd gen)
By switching from the slower A12 Bionic SoC from 2018 to the faster A15 Bionic processor unveiled last year and found in the iPhone 13 line of phones and the most recent iPad Mini, the new Apple TV 4K also gains a speed boost. In addition to the standard Dolby Vision HDR, the set-top box also supports HDR10+ playback, and the bundled Siri Remote now charges USB-C rather than Lightning. The box itself is physically 50% lighter and a little bit slimmer.
The pricing is the biggest (and most welcome) change, with the new Apple TV 4K starting at $129 for 64GB of storage. The rest is virtually unchanged from before. Even while it's still quite a bit more costly than an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max or a Google Chromecast, this is a welcome reduction over the previous model's $179 starting price and 32GB of storage. (However, in recent months, there have been a lot of sales on that particular item.)
A variant with 128GB of storage is available for $149 if you want additional capacity for Apple Arcade games and similar applications. For some smart home devices, this version also provides support for the Thread mesh networking protocol and a Gigabit Ethernet connector.
Although Apple states November 4 will be the release date, the new Apple TV 4K is now available for order at Apple's online shop. It's also important to note that the business has discontinued the Apple TV HD, which only supported 1080p, along with the launch of the new streamer.
Apple iPad (10th gen)
The most major upgrade to the devices introduced today is the 10th generation iPad. There are four finishes to choose from right away: blue, pink, silver, and yellow. Prices for a 64GB device start at $449, while a 256GB model starts at $599. For $599 and $749, respectively, you can add cellular access to those amounts of storage. According to Apple, the tablet will be on sale on October 26.
The 10th-generation iPad substantially resembles the iPad Air in terms of design. Similar to other 10.9-inch IPS displays, it has a dazzling maximum brightness rating of 500 nits and a clear 2,360 x 1,640 resolution. The design has a USB-C connector, a Touch ID sensor included in the sleep/wake button, flatter edges, smaller bezels, and no separate Home button. The battery still has a rating of up to 10 hours of WiFi web surfing and video streaming.
Apple claims that the device's wide-angle 12MP camera, up from the 8MP sensor in the 9.1-generation, 10.2-inch iPad, can capture 4K video and make use of the company's "Center Stage" frame-centering technology. Notably, the front-facing camera is situated along the tablet's landscape border, making it especially convenient for group video conversations. The gadget also supports WiFi 6, and the cellular model supports 5G networks. It eliminates the 3.5mm headphone jack, much as previous current iPad models.
The 2020 iPad Air and the iPhone 12 line of phones both used Apple's A14 Bionic system-on-a-chip, which now powers the next iPad. This should be a useful improvement over the A13 Bionic CPU present in the 10.2-inch iPad and provide more than adequate processing power for the majority of uses, although it will still be behind the iPad Air's M1 chip by a few ticks. Additionally, the new iPad's display is still not laminated, leaving a tiny air gap between the picture and the glass layer that covers it, and it only works with the first-generation Apple Pencil rather than the second-generation pen that features more practical magnetic charging.
Apple is releasing a $249 Magic Keyboard Folio cover for the 10th-generation iPad, which appears to function similarly to the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air and Pro but adds a 14-key function row and doesn't allow the tablet to "float" over the top of the keyboard instead using a built-in kickstand.
Apple claims that it will continue to offer the 9th-generation iPad at the same $329 MSRP (although this price is typically lower online) for individuals who choose a less expensive, but outdated, choice.