After much speculations, Apple Inc. has today, unveiled some updates to Mac computers and iPads. The updates reflect what the team has been up to for a while, although some of these have been available in the iPhone lineup for a while now.
Reviewers have already indicated that we should expect a new version of Apple’s iPad Pro, a higher-end tablet computer that will compete with the Microsoft Surface. And today, we had it. Here are the features of the iPad Pro:
I think im gonna have to buy one. #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/3TyaLaPgiN
— Ray Wong (@raywongy) October 30, 2018
-A liquid retina display that stretches from edge to edge.
-Comes with Apple Pencil
-No Home Button
-25% less volume than its predecessor
-Face ID
-multicore workloads are 90% faster
-2x better graphics performance
The iPad Pro also has USB-C ports for up to 5K external displays and enables charging out to iPhones. You have a power bank there!
Introducing the most expensive Power-Bank EVER.#AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/Lpntm7S266
— Fabian Pimminger (@i_am_fabs) October 30, 2018
The iMac, iMac Pro, and 12-inch MacBook Pro also gained faster processors and upgraded internals. Here are the features of the New Mac Mini:
– All Flash storage
-30x faster graphics
-5 times faster processors with 4 core and 6 core options.
-Up to 64gb memory
-Up to 2TB SSD
The MacBook Air which presently goes for $999 now has a 13-inch screen with a higher pixel density than the current version’s 1440 x 900 resolution.
The event also introduced to us an updated version of Apple’s stylus, also called ‘Pencil’. The Apple Pencil presently costs $99 and is sold separately.
Apple Pencil now snaps magnetically to the side of the iPad Pro, pairs and starts charging wirelessly. When you tap the Pro with the pencil it wakes up and launches Notes. https://t.co/Tsrnltttvu #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/dcMkv5SN5y
— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) October 30, 2018
The pencil has made the “Photoshop for iPad” an experience every designer will want to have:
Photoshop for iPad#AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/0YV8wx1ckN
— YO•WARE (@yoware) October 30, 2018
Any reduction in prices?
Me when I see the prices of the new iPads #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/ASXzxcelVq
— nathan (@NathanR38) October 30, 2018
“With Apple, ‘cheap’ is always more expensive than everybody else,” says Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at Creative Strategies. Apple is likely to pick a price where “you don’t feel like you’re breaking the bank, but you don’t feel like you’re compromising your experience.”
iPad Pro 11" starts at $799. 64GB, 256, 512 and 1TB.
iPad Pro 12.9 starts at $999 with the same configurations.
Order today, available November 7th.
iPad Pro 10.5" sticks around.https://t.co/Tsrnltttvu #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/A0fmydcxaV
— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) October 30, 2018
The reason for this late update may be unknown. Recall that Apple had introduced the updates to iPhones and Apple Watches since September (as its custom is).
“They really wanted to show the world they haven’t forgotten about the iPad and the Mac,” an analyst was quoted to have said. What is evident, however, is that the bigger products are also a significant part of Apple’s numbers.
I feel like this is just another day when people are up in arms about prices from Apple. But we all know you'll still buy it. #AppleEvent
— Virginia Buechel 🔰 (@buewho) October 30, 2018
According to Reuters, both the iPad and MAC products have been recent causes of worry to Apple.
“In July when Apple reported its most recent quarter, the company had its worst quarter of Mac sales since 2010, with unit volumes down 13 per cent year over year. And iPad unit sales were up only 1 per cent versus a year earlier,” it reports.
But what are some of the responses?
I don't know how I feel about this #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/992pZuJO2F
— Mark Wright (@mrkwrght) October 30, 2018
Some peeps are evidently disappointed…
Nothing special abt the new MacBook Air… More expensive and simply updated internal hw and screen to match what everyone else is already selling. Moving along #AppleEvent
— Juelz (@jboogy212) October 30, 2018
🤔 So you’re telling me that my iPhone has Face ID but my MacBook can only have Touch ID? What a deal Apple #AppleEvent
— The Most Known Unknown (@King_Jwagner) October 30, 2018
What do you think?
Technext Newsletter
Get the best of Africa’s daily tech to your inbox – first thing every morning.
Join the community now!
