How can you tell the difference between the 3G and 3GS except for speed?

Do you know off the top of your head the difference between the MacBook and MacBook Pro at the time? Would you have known then?

Jobs passed the day the iPhone 4S was released and they were selling the 3GS, 4 and 4S. I’m sure he had something to do with the lineup. The 4 and the 4S were indistinguishable from the outside and the 4S and was only faster.

As far as iPads…

iPad - $350, slowest processor, worse screen of the three iPads

iPad Air - $799, higher price, faster processor (M3), more memory, better screen (anti reflective coating), choice of larger screen

iPad Pro - $1199, higher price, better screen with higher refresh rate and slightly higher resolution, better processor (M3 vs M4), better camera, faster USB C, Face ID, better speakers.

The MacBook and MacBook Pro used to be immediately distinguishable from each other because one was made of plastic, and the other was aluminum. I'm not suggesting it should've remained that way, but it was clear to the consumer which one was which. The Air/Pro laptop lineup is still rather distinct to this day.

I won't defend how fragmented the iPhone lineup has gotten around the 3GS/4/4S, but the iPad is much worse, because again it's not immediately obvious which one is better without a comparison tool.

And the iPad Pro and iPad Air is distinguishable by TouchID vs FaceID and a better screen and smaller bezels. By looks, how are you suppose to tell the difference between two all screen devices?

The iPad Pro vs iPad Air seem distinguishable from each other, yes, but there's the iPad (A16) and mini muddying the lineup.

For example, the mini costs more than A16 iPad yet lacks a landscape center stage camera — but also has features the even more expensive Air doesn't, like true tone flash on the 12MP camera.

The iPad lineup is a mess, and spending more money can lead to getting less features. The iPhone lineup is pretty messy too, but the iPad situation is particularly terrible, and sales peaked years ago.

You can look at the Mini and tell whether you want a smaller iPad. Miniaturization has come at a premium forever.

And would you propose that Apple doesn’t offer a cheap iPad for bulk purchases and kids? A lot of computing devices are the same externally and distinguished by slower processors and less internal features.

I would propose a lineup where spending more money won't result in less features.

Between the iPad -> iPad Air -> iPad Pro, which one gives you less features as you spend more?

Why exclude the mini when it's part of the lineup?