From CNET: This fall's iPads are launching a little later this year, and the cheapest one's getting more expensive. Apple on Tuesday announced updates to its iPad and iPad Pro lineup, and the entry-level iPad has finally gotten a redesign with USB-C to match the rest of the lineup, but with a price hike to $449 and up. The new iPad also now comes in four colors, familiar-looking blue and silver, and also very bold yellow and pink versions.
The iPad Pro, meanwhile, has gotten a spec bump to the company's latest M2 processors. The iPad Pro lineup was last updated in spring 2021 with M1 processors and 5G support, while the entry-level iPad was updated last fall.
The 10th-gen entry-level iPad adds an A14 chip and USB-C, and arrives Oct. 26 -- it can be preordered now. But it doesn't work with the Pencil 2: Instead, it uses the Pencil 1 with a USB-C adapter. The entry model doesn't have a Smart Connector, but it has a new optional Magic Keyboard Folio accessory with a kickstand that costs a steep $249. The price of the iPad's also gone up: The entry-level Wi-Fi model costs $449 (£499, AU$749), and only comes with 64GB of storage; there's a step-up 256GB model for $150 more that almost feels mandatory.
The increased cost of the most affordable iPad isn't a welcome change in a bad economy, but Apple is still selling last year's entry iPad model (which starts at $329).
The new iPad Pro gets an M2 chip and a new hovering Pencil 2 feature that activates before the stylus touches the screen, and added millimeter wave 5G support in the cellular model. It's available on the same day, Oct. 26. The 11-inch model with 128GB of storage starts at $799 (£899, AU$1,399), and the 12.9-inch starts at $1,099, but it costs an extra $200 to upgrade to the cellular model this time. (Storage tiers go from 128GB to 2TB.)
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