Nearly three years since its launch, Apple has finally discontinued the iPad 2 and has relaunched the fourth generation iPad in its place.
According to the Apple Store website, the fourth generation iPad is available in Wi-Fi and cellular variants for $399 and $529 respectively. Both variants are available with 16 GB of storage unlike the iPad Air which is available in 32 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB as well. As noted by The Verge, this relaunch means that all iPads available in the market will feature the new Lightning connector leaving only the iPhone 4S with the older 30-pin connector which could also be discontinued soon.
The fourth generation iPad was the second iteration of the iPad with a Retina display launched along with the iPad mini in 2012. With the relaunch of the iPad with Retina display, Apple has continued its strategy of using older generation devices to fill various price points instead of launching cheaper variants.
Earlier today it was also reported that Apple has launched an 8 GB variant of the iPhone 5c in Europe in order to counter the declining marketshare in the region. The iPad with Retina display can also be seen as a similar move to counter the rise of the Android tablets with better specifications at cheaper prices.
Source: Apple Store via The Verge