What to look for in new iPads: Will bigger be better?
LOS ANGELES — Apple hopes to reverse a trend of declining tablet sales with the introduction Thursday of new iPads with more power and security features.
Sales of the iconic tablet, first introduced in 2010, are down 9% for the year, according to IDC, but Apple still leads in market share with 26.9%. Some 225 million iPads have been sold to date.
Analysts expect the new iiPads to include several new features:
— More power. Look for the A8 chip introduced in the new iPhone 6, to be included in the iPad, for faster processing.
— Bigger screen. The current two iPad models have screens of 9.7 and 8 inches. Look for a larger display, along lines of the new, bigger iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, which have larger displays than previous models.
— Colors. The new iPad is expected to be offered in multiple hues, including gold.
—Touch ID. Just like on the iPhone, the home button of the iPad is expected to have the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, to eliminate the hassle of typing in all those passwords. This could also tie into Apple's new Apple Pay system, expected to be introduced this month, to use your mobile device instead of credit cards.
Unlike smartphones, which consumers tend to replace every year two years, tablet sales in general have taken a hit because they don't get to replaced as often.
Tim Bajarin, an analyst with Creative Strategies, believes Apple can revive the line.
Even with lesser demand for iPads, the brand is still popular, he says. "If you want to bring in new customers, you need a better processor, bigger screen and better pricing," he adds. "All of that needs to be part of any new launch, to garner attention in the holiday season."
Last year, both Amazon and Google countered with tablets that sold for $250, half the price of the entry level full size iPad.
Apple will unveil the new iPads Thursday at 10 a.m. PT at a press event on the Apple campus.
Paste BN will be covering it live, so stick with tech.usatoday.com for the latest.
Follow Jefferson Graham on Twitter: @jeffersongraham.