iPad Pro 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 256gb cellular+wifi $450 @ Best Buy 'refurb'

[Digitalguy]

Yeah, that's pretty decent assuming it really is in mint condition. Same device is $709 on Apple refurb without the Smart Keyboard.

Thanks! I didn't ask to try it because I was in a hurry, but I might go back tomorrow and ask them to let me try it in the store so that I can check if it's really in good condition... (it was behind a glass)
I am hesitant to ask them to let me plug it into a laptop to check the battery health, but I don't know if they would allow me to do that...

 

[Ludatyk]

guys I thought I might use this thread instead of opening a new one, today I saw a 2018 12.9 pro 256GB WIFI with smart keyboard for $699 in a local shop, it's not new but supposedly "mint condition" and with 1 year warranty. Do you think it's a good deal?

I'd say it's a good deal... especially coming from the 1st gen iPP. With your potential use cases... I suppose you will be adding an Apple Pencil to the mix?

I am hesitant to ask them to let me plug it into a laptop to check the battery health, but I don't know if they would allow me to do that...

I can't really recall what exactly the battery health was when I had my 2018 iPP, but I used it heavily... bought it about a month or two after released.

Never had issues with battery life.

 

[Digitalguy]

I'd say it's a good deal... especially coming from the 1st gen iPP. With your potential use cases... I suppose you will be adding an Apple Pencil to the mix?


I can't really recall what exactly the battery health was when I had my 2018 iPP, but I used it heavily... bought it about a month or two after released.

Never had issues with battery life.

They have a used pencil 2 for $60 which can be bought separately but, assuming I buy the iPad, I already have a pencil 2 for my 2018 11in pro (by the way I bought the pencil used for the same price back in 2019). I am not selling any iPads for now if I buy this, it would be added to the mix. I wonder how easy is to just use one for both... I guess pairing is much faster (just attach it) than previous gens... So one pencil for multiple iPad could work fine... I guess...
The main hesitation I have is the 4GB RAM (while my 11pro has 6, since it's 1TB). With my 2015 and 2017 ones I have not had issues (contrary to the 9.7 pro), even my mini 5 with 3GB is fine, because I continually move from one size to the other, so I don't do tons of things on one at the same time... Still, I am worried that iPadOS might become more bloated over time and 4GB will start to reload too much....

 

[Ludatyk]

With my 2015 and 2017 ones I have not had issues (contrary to the 9.7 pro), even my mini 5 with 3GB is fine, because I continually move from one size to the other, so I don't do tons of things on one at the same time... Still, I am worried that iPadOS might become more bloated over time and 4GB will start to reload too much....

Oh, you have a team full of iPads.

Not sure what you mean by bloated... but I'm guessing you are referring to it becoming sluggish. Well, I'm currently using iPadOS 15... the same multitasking system is still in placed, with some added features to it. But judging on how you plan on using the 2018 iPP... I don't see how you should be concerned.

 

[rui no onna]

Oh, you have a team full of iPads.

Not sure what you mean by bloated... but I'm guessing you are referring to it becoming sluggish. Well, I'm currently using iPadOS 15... the same multitasking system is still in placed, with some added features to it. But judging on how you plan on using the 2018 iPP... I don't see how you should be concerned.

I reckon it's more about memory footprint than being sluggish. Memory management pretty much tanked going from iOS 12 to iPadOS 13.

 

[Digitalguy]

I reckon it's more about memory footprint than being sluggish. Memory management pretty much tanked going from iOS 12 to iPadOS 13.

Exactly, the 9.7 pro (2GB RAM) wasn't reloading as much on IOS 12 as on 13 and 14...
I am not worried about speed, even my 10.5 pro is fast enough for me (the 2015 pro struggles a bit with heavy sites like youtube and gmail, which I use more than the apps themselves... but otherwise is fine).
So my worry is that iPadOS 1X (X=6, 7, 8, 9...) would take more RAM...
The deal is good, but I wonder if I should skip it and wait for a deal on a 2020 one, which has 6GB and is still just as light.... Even 128GB would be fine, since I would be using the 1TB 11 pro as the storage tank for my documents etc and airdrop from there if necessary...
I am not in a hurry since I have many iPads, but the deal is tempting...
The main use for me would be for things where the 11pro is a bit cramped and the 2015 is a bit too slow (occasional safari youtube, occasional lumafusion, reading some PDFs/Word) and travelling with one less lightning device to care about (all my devices are USB C except some of my iPads and airpods...)

 

[iFlame]

My 12.9" Magic Keyboard order officially canceled as the next day was minutes from starting. Its been quite a ride!

Hopefully stock just suddenly comes back in again for both the iPad and the MKB listings somehow for us to do a round two!

 

[Digitalguy]

I went to the store, tested the battery, it was 96%, I got it with the pencil, $750 for the 256GB wifi + smart keyboard + pencil 2. I am confident enough that even if I find a good deal on a 2020 one, I can easily get rid of this without losing too much... and the difference in weight with the M1 one is noticeable.... I know it shouldn't be much, but apparently at this way I can definitely feel it...

 

[crashnburn]

I think one person got an iPad. Some got the Magic Keyboards. The rest of us just got the clock run out on us until all our orders auto-cancelled (both iPad and MKB). I'm still monitoring both links and I haven't seen the "Sold out" switch to "Add to cart" in at least three weeks now.

A couple on slickdeals got their iPads as well

I wonder what price BB gets them for from Apple?

What kinda margins do the retailers run from Apple?

 

[Porterhouse]

Based on the reviews, two buyers got the refurbished iPad Pros within the last month, though they could overlap with the slickdeals people.

 

[Porterhouse]

Looks like BB has nixed the iPP deal again. They’ve raised the price to $1079.99–-even though there’s still (allegedly) no inventory.

 

[BeatCrazy]

What kinda margins do the retailers run from Apple?

Depends on the product line, but usually no more than 10%. There are other "volume" commitment metrics that companies can hit to get additional cost savings. As a general rule, iPhones have zero (to negative) margin.

 

[ozshadow]

I guess since this thread has grown to cover lots of sale prices, Microcenter had the wifi 2020 11" Pro 256GB brand new for $649 for in store pickup if you are near one.

 

[Ludatyk]

Looks like BB has nixed the iPP deal again. They’ve raised the price to $1079.99–-even though there’s still (allegedly) no inventory.

They even raised the price of the MK 12.9 from $100 to $315... my guess those open box models will be slotted into refurbished categories...

 

[tekchic]

Yuck, I see the more expensive prices now too. In the past three weeks, I haven't seen it ever go back in stock at all. It'll be interesting to see if it goes in stock at this price. Apple refurb store doesn't even have them to sell, either.

 

[Ludatyk]

What I find interesting is having two somewhat identical MKs for open box... the black 3rd/4th generation model and the 5th generation model.

I wonder what are the plans for these open box prices... eventually BB will have to take a huge lost on the older generation, no one will pay for the older model at that price point. Older model open box is $311 compared to $300 for newer model.

If I was BB... I would have refused to take on the newer models, Apple really put them in a bad position. There's so many open box older MKs in my area... along with newer ones too.

 

[iFlame]

What I find interesting is having two somewhat identical MKs for open box... the black 3rd/4th generation model and the 5th generation model.

I wonder what are the plans for these open box prices... eventually BB will have to take a huge lost on the older generation, no one will pay for the older model at that price point. Older model open box is $311 compared to $300 for newer model.

If I was BB... I would have refused to take on the newer models, Apple really put them in a bad position. There's so many open box older MKs in my area... along with newer ones too.

Funny you mention this, the main Deal of the Day today is now a decent discount on brand new last generation Magic Keyboards!

 

[rhinosrcool]

Funny you mention this, the main Deal of the Day today is now a decent discount on brand new last generation Magic Keyboards!

That's not too bad. I am one of the lucky few who got one for $99.00 (see my pics on page 2?). It's really an excellent keyboard and the touch pad is nice. Also, it's easy to remove for tablet use.

For me, the $349 price was way too steep. I don't think we'll see the $99.00 deal, again (now, it will probably come back ?). So, this $199.00 deal looks like the best deal.

 

[Ludatyk]

Funny you mention this, the main Deal of the Day today is now a decent discount on brand new last generation Magic Keyboards!

I knew it was coming! Just yesterday they knocked off $20... and they had plenty in stock. I think now those models will sell... BB had to do something when the latest model looks identical to the previous model.

For me, the $349 price was way too steep. I don't think we'll see the $99.00 deal, again (now, it will probably come back ?). So, this $199.00 deal looks like the best deal.

I'm still undecided... I already have a dock/stand and keyboard. The price is definitely better than it was before... I can pick up am open box model for $183. But yeah.. we won't ever see $99 deal, that was a glitch in the system. As of now, refurbished models are going for $179.

 

[tekchic]

I saw that deal last night! At this point I'm probably going to just upgrade to a 14" MacBook Pro later this year (yes, Apple? It's coming out this fall?)

Next year I'll go big with a 2021 12.9" 512gb and MKB I think. MKB is SO pricey but it really looks like a perfect solution.

 

[tekchic]

Prices are back down again on those same two ridiculous links (the iPad and MKB). I think they are just doing it to mess with me at this point.

 

[rhinosrcool]

Well, the low prices are back (just after I said that they weren't coming back ?). Whether or not anyone gets something at the low prices is another story...

 

[Porterhouse]

I swear, BB is trolling MR and this thread.

ETA: There’s a new review posted one day ago, but the owner has had it for 2 months.

 

[scoobysnax]

Deal question: Would you buy a like new 4th gen Silver IPP 12.9 1TB + Cell for $1,200 (incl tax)?

 

[rui no onna]

Deal question: Would you buy a like new 4th gen Silver IPP 12.9 1TB + Cell for $1,200 (incl tax)?

Warranty? If I can't get AC+, probably not.