It has not been three months since it was possible to start enjoying the benefits of the eighth generation iPad and the ninth generation is already beginning to be glimpsed, which will also be known as iPad 9 or iPad 2021. This tablet is part of the line Apple‘s entry to this product, being the cheapest and most basic model in terms of benefits and it does not seem that this is going to change, although we will see more changes than those seen in the last two years.
iPad 9 expected in March
While there have been previous launches in March for this range, in recent years Apple had used to launch its entry-level iPad models in the fall. As pointed out now from some sources close to the company, the launch of the next generation could occur in the month of March, only 6 months having passed since the launch of its predecessor. If so, they would be about to go into production, so the design and performance of this equipment would already be more than closed.
Possible leaked specs
Apple is used to making specific renovations in its range of iPad leaving the design of these end up being inherited by its cheaper versions. The iPad Air have been inheriting functions from the iPad Pro and the entry iPad for their part have been doing the same as the ‘Air’. What is being said now is that the model that is launched in March 2021 will share much of the specifications of the ‘Air’ model of 2019, but with slight improvements.
It would carry inside an A13 Bionic chip identical to that of the iPhone 11, this being the main difference with the aforementioned iPad Air 2019 that equipped an A12. Otherwise it would inherit a 10.5-inch screen leaving behind the current 10.2. It would maintain the classic design of Apple tablets with the iconic Home button in the center with integrated Touch ID. Again it would be compatible with the first generation Apple Pencil and accessories such as the Smart Keyboard. It will be necessary to see if there are variations in storage capacity, since currently there are versions in 32 or 128 GB. As for price, nothing has been rumored, but nothing suggests that they can rise from the current 379 euros base.
Design “all screen” for 2022?
The iPad Pro 2018 design fell in love with iPad lovers and convinced those who weren’t. The reduction of edges with the elimination of the Home button was the biggest change in the history of these tablets, something that the successors ‘Pro’ of this 2020 and the ‘Air’ model of the current generation inherited. The basic iPad is already the only one with a classic design and although the change does not seem so urgent due to the type of approach it has, they will end up adopting that optimized design one day.
If we take into account what was mentioned in previous lines regarding the design inheritances of this iPad, we could see in 2022 or 2023 the first entry iPad with a design similar to that of the iPad Air 2020. Obviously this is not official, since this is in the end an unwritten rule, but it would not be unreasonable. It is logical that in the end the company reserves the big changes for the models with better performance and higher prices.