I’ve always been a big fan of aphorisms. They act like tiny subroutines that help me guide my life. For example, there is “measure twice cut once”, which I try to keep in mind when working in the workshop. Another phrase from the workshop that works is “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When it comes to my puppy, “give him a few centimeters and he will go a kilometer”. It’s winter, so remember to tell the kids, “don’t eat yellow snow”.
Then there are the nuggets of wisdom that Mr. Spock from Star Trek has shared over the years (which seem strangely prescient today).
- “Without followers, evil cannot spread.”
- “Insufficient facts always invite danger.”
- “The needs of many outweigh the needs of a few, or one.”
Over the years, I have also developed my own set of aphorisms. Six cups of coffee can be too much. And my favorite, especially at this time of year: never buy an iPad in January.
Besides that: Which iPad model should you buy?
It never fails for a friend or another to come to me in January asking which iPad to buy. They didn’t win one at Christmas. They are trying to plan their new year and want to make some changes or updates. But January is a terrible time to buy an iPad, just as August is a terrible time to buy an iPhone. New ones are just around the corner.
Statistics confirm this. The following graphics tell the story.
Take a look at this first chart. This represents all of the iPad ads since the first was launched in 2010. As you can see, most iPads were announced in October or March, with a slight advantage in March. When I count iPads, I am counting unique models (such as an iPad, iPad Air and iPad mini), but not model variations (such as those that have mobile capability versus those that don’t).
Chart: ZDNet / David Gewirtz
What this chart shows us is that iPads are usually announced in March. But the evidence from the March announcements is even more compelling in this next chart.
Chart: ZDNet / David Gewirtz
Note that over the years, the months when Apple announced iPads tend to be earlier in the year. For the past five years, there has always been an announcement in March. In the past three years, Apple has also made an autumn announcement of the iPad.
When you think about it, it makes sense. Apple announces the basic (less expensive) models in October, just in time for the Christmas gift. Apple announces Pro models in March, when the annual corporate budget dollars are still relatively fresh, the silly season and the resulting holiday spending hangover has passed and the new heat in terms of powerful Pro models is brought to life in an exciting way. spring event.
A few months ago, Apple announced the 8th generation iPad (in September) and the 4th generation iPad AIr (in October). But Apple has not yet updated its Pro models.
The newest iPad Air (launched in October) is running the same A14 Bionic CPU as the current generation of the iPhone 12. Meanwhile, the two most recent models of the iPad Pro (the 11-inch and the 12.9-inch) are still running the A12z chip.
Given how much Apple has focused on its iPad and iPadOS solution, it is a very fair assumption that Apple will update the iPad Pro models (and perhaps the iPad mini) to a variant of the A14 chip.
Given that Apple made iPad launches every March for the past five years, there is a good chance that Apple will host an event in March – probably to announce the new iPad Pro models. Unless the pandemic ends this by some reason, which is doubtful because Apple has eliminated three limited events from Apple’s pandemic, we can be quite confident that they will maintain their standard this year as well.
So, as the aphorism says, it’s January. Don’t buy an iPad in January, especially if you want a Pro model. Most likely, new ones will be available in March.
What do you expect from a new iPad? Did you get one for the holiday or gave one as a gift? Are you hoping to buy a new Pro model if they announce in March? Let us know in the comments below.
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