$329 For an iPad, I'll Take It

            They say, something is only worth as much as you’re willing to pay for it. Apple is lucky in this regard, because for a very long time, people have been willing to pay quite a bit more for their products than similar offerings from their competitors. Take the new MacBook Pros for example, they start at $1499, and at that price, it’s basic. Microsoft just unveiled a new laptop with near similar features and dimensions for only $999. You get the point, Apple is pricy.

            For the last seven years, this has been the case for the iPads. They’re more expensive than Android tablets, but at least any iPad you buy is premium, and people have been willing to pay the price. Still, Apple’s strategy for the most part has been to release more expensive, yet more capable iPads almost every year. Maybe you can’t say the same for the iPad Mini, but it’s much smaller and typically comes with a slower processor and lower screen resolution. So, the iPad Pros have fallen right in line with more expensive, and more capable tablets, starting at $599 and going all the way to $1,129. The downside for Apple, is that people aren’t willing to pay those prices like they used to, and so iPad sales have started falling, mostly due to their high prices.

            Still, iPad Pros can do quite a bit more than previous iPads, like more comprehensive video editing, you can connect a full keyboard, and even the ridiculously priced Apple Pencil ($99). The odd thing is Steve Jobs was well known for hating the use of an external stylus, opting to make the iPhone and iPad touch only. All of this makes me wonder, who would buy an iPad Pro to replace a computer anyways? After all, anything that can be done on an iPad Pro can be done on a computer, and it’s certainly more convenient. But, not everything that can be done on a computer can be done on an iPad Pro. So, why pay the price for the iPad Pro? After all, most people, myself included, use iPads for fun, like videos, light gaming, and Facebook. After all, iPads are for fun, not for serious tasks, and those who do more serious work will stick to a traditional computer anyways. 

            Apple’s solution to sell more iPads was simple, strip down the iPad and cut the price, all the way down to $329 in fact. If you read other reviews online, you’ll notice that most everyone comments on this iPad not being premium, or being too plain with a lack of features. But, before we go any further, let’s compare the cheaper model to the iPad Pro, starting with the screen. Both are 9.7-inch retina displays with a resolution of 2048x1356, good enough for YouTube. They both come with 32 GBs of memory, have similar color options, and weigh within .07 pounds of each other. The only thing it cannot do is shoot videos in 4K (but can in 1080p) and its camera is 8 mega pixels instead of 12. Like anyone shoots videos or takes pictures with iPads anyways. Basically, all of this was to say you would hardly know the difference of a $599 iPad Pro and a $329 iPad (simply called the latest model). So, why on earth would you pay a $270 premium, and is this iPad really stripped down? Absolutely not.

            My advice for anyone looking for a new tablet would be to go for it. I just bought one myself and I love it. It does everything I want it to do, and much more, and it certainly feels like a premium product, because let’s face it, it is! For all the features on this new iPad, I was willing to pay the price, and I do not regret it.