Think about this before buying Apple’s cheaper devices

Apple announced several new products this week, including a cheaper version of the iPad and a new red shade for the iPhone. Consumers can now place their orders for the new devices.

However, if you’ve been thinking about treating yourself to something new and are intrigued by Apple’s announcements, here are some things to consider before you buy.

The strongest selling point for the new 9.7-inch iPad is its price. The tablet now starts at $329 (R4 000), which is $70 less than its previous price. It has a retina display and comes in three colours: gold, silver and space grey.

The new iPad appears to be a replacement for the iPad Air 2, so it’s best to think of it as a successor to that product – an in-between, easy-to-carry tablet for watching video and Web browsing. It is about 20% thicker than its predecessor but is still pretty trim at 467g.

The lower price tag comes with a few tradeoffs, however. It doesn’t have Apple’s latest processor but packs the same one from the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, meaning that it is a little slower than the latest iPhone.

As for the new red iPhone, deciding whether to pay $749 for it is almost entirely a cosmetic decision. The anodized hue is a headturner and benefits the Aids awareness campaign Red. Apple has already put a similar colour on its iPods.

If you’re really digging the colour or if you are an Aids research supporter, those are the reasons to buy.

There’s no difference in the actual hardware, so you won’t be upgrading anything apart from your style. – Washington Post