Think about making a product that requires you to create two extra merchandise slightly than with the ability to use two completely good ones you have already got. That’s what Apple did with the Tenth-generation iPad.
In the present day, the corporate announced a new version of the Apple Pencil. This isn’t a next-generation mannequin, however a less expensive, much less feature-rich model of the $129 Apple Pencil 2 that has been available on the market for some time now. The “new” Apple Pencil misses out on wi-fi pairing and charging, stress sensitivity, the flexibility to Double Faucet to alter instruments, and free engraving.
What it does get is a USB-C port, which is able to enable the brand new pencil to cost with the Tenth-generation iPad, iPad Air, and iPad Professional. Why does it want this USB-C port? Properly, that has every part to do with the Tenth-generation iPad and its lack of assist for wi-fi pairing and charging for the Apple Pencil. Up till now, customers have had to make use of the 1st-generation Apple Pencil with a Lightning to USB-C dongle as a way to pair and cost their pencil with their iPad.
This product shouldn’t even should exist
Whereas that is actually an enchancment for Tenth-gen iPad customers in comparison with the 1st-generation Apple Pencil, it’s a product that shouldn’t even have needed to exist. As a substitute of making a brand new Apple Pencil as a way to appease Tenth-generation iPad prospects, Apple ought to have simply added the best options to the iPad itself to assist the corporate’s current equipment.
The USB-C Apple Pencil isn’t the one accent that Apple has needed to create as a way to make the Tenth-generation iPad make sense. The corporate additionally determined to forgo compatibility with the present Magic Keyboard or Sensible Keyboard Folio keyboards for the iPad and, as an alternative, created the Magic Keyboard Folio for the Tenth-generation iPad.
The sacrifices that Apple accepted with the Tenth-gen iPad — possible as a way to attain a worth level it felt it wanted to — has created a complicated accent lineup that offers prospects a worse product expertise. The USB-C Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard Folio shouldn’t even exist. Apple ought to have made the brand new base mannequin suitable with the present Apple Pencil, Magic Keyboard, and Sensible Keyboard Folio.
Certain, this might have resulted in prospects having to pay a bit extra for a setup, nevertheless it’s not a ton — particularly when you concentrate on how a lot the “cheaper” merchandise truly are. A tenth-generation iPad with the brand new USB-C Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard Folio is available in at a base worth of $780 — hardly a “finances” setup. What if Apple made it suitable with the higher and already current Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard? That might be $100 extra. $100. That’s it.
The iPad itself may want a worth bump, so possibly it will find yourself being an additional $150. Whereas that’s notable, it doesn’t actually seem to be a deal breaker for somebody who’s already paying $780 for a worse expertise. Apple is already in a shedding battle in comparison with Google’s Chromebook right here, so it’d as effectively embrace that it’ll are available in at the next worth level.
I’m additionally confused as to why Apple took this strategy contemplating its environmental objectives. For an organization that’s centered on the setting, it certain is capturing itself within the foot and complicating its product lineup for the sake of perceived worth for its prospects. This, little doubt, additionally requires an even bigger influence on the setting as a way to assist the manufacturing of all of those equipment.
As a substitute of fixing the Tenth-generation iPad with a brand new mannequin that provides assist for higher equipment just like the $129 Apple Pencil and the $299 Magic Keyboard, the corporate seems to be doubling down with the USB-C Apple Pencil. I hope this doesn’t final and that the corporate makes an Eleventh-generation base mannequin iPad that resets all of this complexity.
It will likely be higher for everybody, particularly the poor Apple Retailer staff who want to clarify the distinction between THREE Apple Pencil fashions now. Good lord. Talking of which, when you’re making an attempt to determine which one is best for you, we put together a comparison that breaks it all down.
