When I see the word “Air” on an Apple product, I assume two things: It will be thin and light. You can’t really assume that with the just announced iPad Airs. For one thing, both the 11-inch and 13-inch sizes are heavier and thicker than both iPad Pro models.
View the specification comparison tables.
The 11-inch Air weighs 1.02 pounds, while the 11-inch Pro weighs 0.98 pounds. The 13-inch Air weighs 1.36 pounds, while the 13-inch Pro weighs 1.28 pounds. It’s not just the weight either. Both iPad Pro sizes are also thinner.
During the “Let Loose” event, the iPad Air was described as the not-quite-entry-level iPad with Pro features filtered for a broader audience (also not quite as expensive, but not really a budget device either). So middle class. Now is that the meaning of Air?
Maybe for iPads, but that’s not the case with MacBooks. The Air is still the entry-level device, being thinner and lighter compared to the MacBook Pro lineup, which leads to my other point: Apple’s lineup is becoming increasingly confusing as more and more configurations are introduced.
The point of branding is so that your customers know what they are getting. What makes the nickname Air so special is that it conveys a feeling of lightness. Airiness, if you will. But if the Air isn’t your thinnest, lightest iPad, why not just make it the 11th generation iPad and keep the 10th generation as a budget option? Apple does this all the time with iPhones. This happened when the 10th generation iPads were introduced!
I understand that Apple customers are familiar with and generally love the Air branding – and that you can’t really call this an iPad Mid. But words have meaning! If Apple means that this is a mid-range iPad, there are certainly marketing geniuses who could have found a clever word for it.
But Apple also tried to convince us all that this iPad Air comes in purple. It’s really more of a lilac when we’re feeling generous. (I’ve already had a beef with Apple over the definition of “purple,” but I’m still upset about it.) Sometimes Apple just misses the mark when it comes to naming it—like when it named the heavier, thicker iPads “The Air.” I realize the iPad Airs are hundredths to tenths of a pound. I’m arguing about a millimeter thickness at most. The average person probably won’t notice too much in person. But it is the principle of the matter.