The 9.7-inch iPad Air 2 is no more, as Apple has introduced the 9.7-inch iPad with a few upgrades and a lower price of just $329(for the entry model). For that entry-level price you get 32GB of storage and WiFi connectivity, while $429 gets you 128GB of storage with WiFi. The new iPad will also come in a cellular model starting at $459. I should also note that this is not a Pro model and does not feature a Smart Connector or Apple Pencil compatibility.
With that being said at $329 this is shaping up to be a solid entry-level iPad, especially with the faster A9 Chip with 64-Bit architecture on-board and an embedded M9 chip for motion. You still get a 9.7-inch IPS LED 2048 X 1536 with 264 pixel per inch display. It has a 32.4 Watt battery inside that should last for 10 hours with use. Apple has included a 1.2-megapixel Facetime camera on the front and opted for an 8-megapixel camera on the back with no flash.
The new 9.7-inch iPad is quite thin at just 7.5-millimeters and weighs in at just over a pound. It is of course running iOS 10 with Apple Pay support since Touch ID is in the Home Button. It will come in your choice of Silver, Gold, or Space Gray.
Apple’s new 9.7-inch iPad will land both in-stores and online on March 24th. Online orders for the device will kick off from Apple’s Online Store at 8:01AM PST on March 24th.
