At today’s Apple education event in Chicago, Apple debuted a new 9.7-inch iPad with support for the Apple Pencil with pricing starting at $329. The revamped iPad also sports a Retina display, the A10 Fusion chip and advanced sensors that help deliver immersive augmented reality, and all-day battery life.
“iPad is our vision for the future of computing and hundreds of millions of people around the world use it every day at work, in school and for play. This new 9.7-inch iPad takes everything people love about our most popular iPad and makes it even better for inspiring creativity and learning,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Product Marketing, in a press release. “Our most popular and affordable iPad now includes support for Apple Pencil, bringing the advanced capabilities of one of our most creative tools to even more users. This iPad also has the power of the A10 Fusion chip, combined with the big, beautiful Retina display, advanced cameras and sensors that enable incredible AR experiences simply not possible on other devices.”
The Apple Pencil’s advanced sensors measure both pressure and tilt, and provide accuracy and low latency for activities from note taking to illustration in apps like Notability, Pages, Numbers, Keynote and Microsoft Office. Its palm rejection technology even makes it possible to rest your hand on the screen while you use Apple Pencil.
The new iPad features the Apple-designed A10 Fusion chip with 64‑bit desktop-class architecture, delivering 40% faster CPU and 50% faster graphics performance for seamless multitasking and graphics-intensive apps, according to Joswiak. The front- and rear-facing cameras offer low-light performance and HD video recording for document scanning, moviemaking and FaceTime calls.
The new 9.7-inch iPad features an aluminum unibody construction and wireless that can purportedly deliver two times faster cellular data connection. With an Apple SIM, customers can connect to wireless data plans right from their device when traveling in more than 180 countries and regions.
The iPad comes in silver, space gray and a new gold finish and starts at an Apple retail price of $329 for the 32GB with Wi-Fi model and $459 for the 32GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model at apple.com and Apple Stores. It is also available through Apple Authorized Resellers and select carriers (prices may vary). For more information, visit apple.com/ipad.
The Apple Pencil is available for purchase separately for $99. However, schools can purchase the iPad starting at $299 (US) and Apple Pencil for $89. They’re available to order today and start delivering to customers and arriving in stores later this week in more than 25 countries and regions.
Smart Covers for iPad are available for $39 (US) in charcoal gray, midnight blue, (RED), white and pink sand at apple.com and Apple Stores. Every customer who buys iPad from Apple will be offered free Personal Setup, in-store or online, to help them set up email and iMessage, download apps from the App Store and more. Anyone who wants to start with the basics or go further with their new iPad can sign up for free Today at Apple sessions at apple.com/today.
