As part of its “Let Loose” event today, Apple has discontinued the ninth-generation base iPad. The 10th-generation iPad is now available for $349, significantly cheaper than its pre-event price point of $449.
The ninth-generation iPad was the last iPad model to still feature a Home button and the 3.5mm headphone jack and was released back in September 2021 at $329. The current entry-level iPad was announced in October 2022 and featured a new all-display design, a bigger display, no Home button, and a Touch ID sensor in the Power button.
Apple still kept the ninth-generation iPad after releasing its successor as the new model was priced at $449, a sharp increase from the earlier model’s $329 price tag. Many criticized Apple’s decision to keep both models around as it added unnecessary clutter to an already-confusing iPad lineup.
However, it now seems that Apple has figured out a way to discount the tenth-generation iPad’s price down to $349, allowing it to get rid of the older model. With this move, all iPads that Apple currently sells feature a modern design with a USB-C port and without the Home button.
The move also streamlines the iPad lineup, which has been constantly criticized for being too confusing, offering overlapping features at not-too-different price points. The current iPad lineup now looks like this:
- iPad Pro: 11-inch and 13-inch models at $999 and $1,299
- iPad Air: 11-inch and 13-inch models at $599 and $799
- iPad mini: 8.3-inch model at $499
- iPad: 10.9-inch model at $349
