Every new year we expect a new iPad from Apple. The year 2021 appears like it won’t follow this trend, as reports begin to emerge about when and how Apple plans to update its least expensive tablet.
We anticipate a new iPad 2021 model, the 9th generation of Apple’s popular tablet, this year. And while we’ve got tremendous cause to expect a new iPad, it seems as if Apple’s got a tight rein over the rumor mill at the moment, as not much has been leaked regarding a new model thus far.
The 8th-gen iPad was launched recently in September 2020, so it’s still pretty new, especially when you consider the lengthier refresh periods that Apple generally employs for its tablets.
But we’ve noticed a few reports claiming that Apple aims to refresh its standard tablet before 2021 breaks into two, but no announcement regarding that surfaced as of April 20. We expect that the new iPad will be announced at Apple’s Spring product announcement on April 20, but this turned out to be untrue. The prominent rumors seem to be about whatever CPU Apple chooses to install in the iPad 2021. Moving from the A12 in the iPad 10.2in (2020), it’s predicted that the new iPad 2021 will arrive with an A13 Bionic chip.
What date should we expect iPad 9?
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Both cnBeta and Mac Otakara think we could see a 9th-gen iPad in the first half of 2021. Cubeta forecasts a spring 2021 launch. Although this could look somewhat soon, it might be one of the reasons it has a new design with reduced bezels.
However, one cannot predict the release dates of the iPad, as Apple has been launched over the last few years between March and September. Here are the latest few models:
- 5th gene iPad: March 2017
- 6th gene of iPad: March 2018
- 7th gene of iPad: September 2019
- 8th generation iPad: September 2020
With an iPhone 13 or Apple Watch 7, September or October 2021 appears most likely to reflect a rumor about the introduction of the iPad 2021.
New design for iPad
A rumor that Apple is adjusting the new model’s design based on the old iPad Air generation seems to be gaining steam. Apple is preparing to debut the ninth generation of iPad just a few months after the new 10.2″ entry-level tablet sale. According to Techradar, the latest information state that the new iPad 2021 would sport a larger screen with a more modern chipset and a reduced starting pricing.
What are the New Specs we can expect from the iPad?
Chinese tech source Cubeta indicates that Apple will increase the RAM to 4 GB, start with 64 GB of storage and match with the iPhone 11 range A13 Bionic Processor and the existing iPhone SE. We saw these specs on Wccftech as well; thus, it looks like the rumors might be credible.
The increase in ROM is essential to the new iPad compared to the 32GB offered in the earlier generation of iPads which is just too small for a tablet. Even the cheapest Android cellphones are available with at least twice the capacity. So, we expect an upgrade in the capacity.
What is the expected price?
An iPad pricing leak says that it might be the most affordable iPad we’ve ever seen and that the slate might cost only 299 dollars in the US, which is around 220 pounds, or AU$4000.
In recent years, pricing has been relatively consistent concerning the iPad basic level. Here is how they lined up:
- 5th generation iPad: $349
- 6th generation iPad: $329
- 7th generation iPad: $329
- 8th generation iPad: $329
As you can see, over the last few generations, the iPad has fluctuated between $300 and $350.
Along with the idea that Apple could strike the magical price point of 299 dollars, we would be shocked whether it succeeded in achieving that figure, particularly considering its profit margins. However, most individuals would like a basic daily iPad to make a great deal if it did.
New Leaks and Rumors iPad (2021)
According to Macworld, the initial rumor we received about the iPad (2021) came with the Bionic A13 chipset that we saw in the iPhones 11, together with the RAM 4GB. The leak also stated that the tablet has a 10.5-inch display that is 0.3 cm larger than the previous one.
It also stated its 64GB of storage in its cheapest version, a significant step up compared to the 32GB now available on the old iPads.
We’d be glad to see that Apple won’t wait a year to update the A12 on the iPad 2021, as it did in several prior generations when keeping the A11 chip.
A bigger screen also makes sense since it offers a more significant cause for upgrading. The iPad rose to a 10.2-inch screen in the 7th and 8th gene models. Compare to the last two years from a panel of 9.7 inches in the 6th gene model in 2018.
A second leak replicated all the same information, adding the above pricing data. It also advised that the body of the iPad should be lighter and slimmer than that of the tablet.
The rumor that this iPad will be very slim has been spreading over the Internet. Also, other stories say the design of this new iPad has the pupils in mind. The design will have features that will be specifically designed to fit the needs of students.
It is predicted that the 2021 iPad will maintain both the Home, Touch, and Lightning Port (rather than Face ID and USB-C seen on the iPad Air and iPad Pro models).
Conclusion
The 6th generation iPad has an A10 Fusion CPU that had been in the iPhone 7 series a couple of years previously. Then in 2019, the same chip was used on the 7th-gen iPad, which was quite different from the more powerful silicone utilized in other iPads and iPhones.
As you can see, we don’t know much about the upcoming iPad yet. Therefore, you should keep reading articles often; when additional news becomes available, we shall also update this article.
But for now, you may want to check out the best iPad available now and their prices to see the best one for you and the one you can afford.
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Last updated: July 21, 2021
“What date should we expect iPad 9?
Both cnBeta and Mac Otakara think we could see a 9th-gen iPad in the first half of 2021. Cubeta forecasts a spring 2021 launch.”
–yea… no