The iPad Air hasn’t been a very attention-grabbing product for a variety of years. Apple redesigned it in 2020 with the fourth era mannequin, and since then – it’s simply been spec bumps and small function upgrades. Nonetheless, I feel the subsequent refresh may very well be an excellent alternative to introduce a big function improve: Face ID.
Face ID has remained iPad Professional unique
Even though Face ID is now an 8 12 months outdated know-how, you’ll be able to nonetheless solely get it on the iPad Professional. That is in stark distinction to the iPhone lineup, the place non-Professional fashions have had Face ID since 2018, and now even the most affordable iPhone 16e consists of Face ID.
Just lately, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple can be debuting a brand new iPad Air mannequin subsequent spring – alongside a brand new finances iPad, iPhone 17e, and new Studio Show mannequin. Whereas not confirmed, the subsequent iPad Air will doubtless equip the M4 chip.
As talked about earlier, iPad Air has been a boring product for years. It’s been purely chip upgrades, small upgrades just like the Heart Stage digicam, and an introduction of a brand new 13-inch mannequin. That would change, although – with Face ID.
M4 mannequin ought to introduce Face ID
Apple has clearly been dragging their toes on introducing Face ID to extra iPad fashions. Why?
Effectively, I feel the most important cause was that earlier than the OLED redesign final 12 months – the iPad Air and iPad Professional had been extremely related. There was solely a $200 worth premium between the 2 fashions, and for probably the most half, you had been paying the premium for a 120Hz show, Face ID, and quicker silicon. For those who eliminated Face ID from the equation, there’d be a lot much less of a cause to pay the iPad Professional premium.
Now, with the iPad Professional – theres a $400 premium over the iPad Air, for a a lot thinner design (paradoxically), an unimaginable OLED show, entry to a extra premium Magic Keyboard, the choice for a nano-texture show, in addition to Face ID and 120Hz.
With all of these options on the desk, I don’t assume Face ID is including a lot weight to the record of explanation why somebody would purchase an iPad Professional. Now, you purchase the iPad Professional for the show, the thinner design, and extra premium iPad expertise.
Wrap up
All in all, I feel now can be an ideal time to introduce Face ID on the iPad Air. It’d give extra cause for somebody to buy a $599 iPad Air over the $349 base mannequin iPad, and it’d add some juice to the iPad Air line – a tool that’s largely been unchanged since 2020. It in all probability wouldn’t take away from iPad Professional gross sales in a manner that it beforehand would possibly’ve.
Would you improve your iPad Air if it gained Face ID? Tell us within the feedback.
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