Apple replaced the iPad Air 2 by an updated iPad and remodeled the pricing structure somehow confusing.
iPad as iPad Air 2 successor thicker and heavier, therefore cheaper
The iPad Air 2 has been replaced by Apple by a simply iPad named model. This does have the dimension as the iPad Air (first generation) and is therefore about one millimeter thicker and a few grams heavier but still brings a 9.7″ display to the table. This shall be a bit brighter, loses its antireflective coating though, which was greatly appreciated by everybody owning the Air 2 machine. The technical updates bring a faster A9 processor, Touch ID and a 8 Megapixel camera.
Surprisingly, the price point was lowered: the 32 GB model costs $329, the 128 GB variant is yours for $429. Models with cellular module cost $130 more. It seems Apple wanted to lower the price for the “normal sized” iPad before a major update and has therefore used a brighter and cheaper, but thicker and heavier display without coating. The current processor is faster, yes, but the higher weight, glossy display and thicker size is more a step back.
iPad mini 2 discontinued, iPad mini 4 only in 128 GB configuration
Apple discontinued the iPad mini 2 and simplified the iPad mini 4 a lot: you can only one model with 128 GB. Absurd: it is almost the same price as the new iPad’s 128 GB variant, which therefore has a brighter display (without anti-reflective coating) and the newer and faster processor and graphics.
This is absurd. What shall I do now?
You would like to have a good 9,7″ iPad? Buy an iPad Air 2 on sale. These machines do have the better display overall because of the antireflective coating, are lighter, thinner and do have more than enough computing power (A8X chip). For everyday use they are just perfect.
Buy iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4 on sale.
All of you who thought that the iPad mini would be the entry model in the iPad range: that is not true anymore. As you can order only the top specced 128 GB model now, here is our advice: Do buy the iPad mini 4 models on sale. But beware: models with 32 or 64 GB must be a lot cheaper than $399.
Search for iPads on sale: Amazon
