All iPads Advice Needed: Which iPad is best?

[BeautifulWoman_1984]

Hey guys,

Sorry to be making a thread about this as I don't want to be putting extra burden on this forum, but I really trust the users in the MacRumors community for advice.

I have an iPad Mini 3 from 2015 that needs replacing as the "Home Button" is barely responsive.

My needs for new iPad:
--Bigger screen
--Access to new iPad OS
--I use my iPad 95% of the time indoors where there's no sun reflection
--I don't need much performance as my current iPad Mini 3 is powerful enough except, but I need more RAM as my iPad Mini 3 only has 1GB of RAM.

Thank you so much!

 

[AutomaticApple]

Hey guys,

Sorry to be making a thread about this as I don't want to be putting extra burden on this forum, but I really trust the users in the MacRumors community for advice.

I have an iPad Mini 3 from 2015 that needs replacing as the "Home Button" is barely responsive.

My needs for new iPad:
--Bigger screen
--Access to new iPad OS
--I use my iPad 95% of the time indoors where there's no sun reflection
--I don't need much performance as my current iPad Mini 3 is powerful enough except, but I need more RAM as my iPad Mini 3 only has 1GB of RAM.

Thank you so much!

Are you able to wait a month? There might be a new redesigned iPad Air around the corner (considering how the manuals have already been printed).

Alleged iPad Air 4 Manual Depicts All-Screen Display With Touch ID Built into Power Button

Photos of an alleged leaked manual for an unreleased iPad Air have emerged on social media this morning suggesting Apple's next middle-tier iPad...

www.macrumors.com

 

[ericwn]

If you can wait until later this year, at least the Air might get a replacement.

All iPads are of course more powerful these days than your older model is, so in theory even the entry level will be sufficient.

 

[limesmoothie]

The current Air is excellent, but it is definitely waiting a few weeks to get a look at the new Air. Also a new model means that if you want the existing Air 3, the models will be heavily discounted - take a look at the Apple Refurb store where they will all end up!

 

[BeautifulWoman_1984]

Thank you for your replies AutomaticApple, Eric and Limesmoothie!

What makes the iPad Air so special? Is is that the iPad Air screen is better for outdoor use than the regular 10.2" iPad?

These are the links I've been reading:

iPad Air

iPad Air features an 11- or 13-inch Liquid Retina display, M2 chip, Apple Intelligence, landscape front camera and support for Apple Pencil Pro.

www.apple.com

iPad 10.9-inch (10th generation)

iPad has an all-screen design, A14 Bionic chip, landscape front camera and four colours. Works with Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard Folio.

www.apple.com

EDIT:
Buying a refurbished iPad isn't an option for me.

 

[James Godfrey]

The iPad Air is a great iPad with a lot of pro features but for a budget friendly price...

My opinion on the iPads at the moment are:

iPad - Great for when price is a huge factor in your buying decision, more catered as a gift for the kids, or when you need an iPad that you don’t mind getting knocked about, don’t care about screen quality etc...

iPad Mini - Great if you want a tablet which is ultra portable, and especially if your into iBooks etc... bit like a kindle replacement.

iPad Air - If you want more out of your iPad, and plan to do more work on it such as typing up documents, spreadsheets etc... but don’t want to fork out a huge amount of money.

iPad Pro 11” - If your not bothered about cost and you want the best tech, best camera, screen, sound and most powerful processors available, potentially a laptop replacement, depending on your needs.

iPad Pro 12.9” - Again if you’re not bothered about cost and you want the best tech, this could easily be a laptop replacement now (depending on your needs).

I hope this helps... as you can see the iPad Air is a great middle ground for most people... it all just depends on your needs and if your looking to replace your laptop/MacBook or not... and what specifically your going to use it for.

 

[James Godfrey]

And to answer your question because the iPad Air has a laminated screen and the iPad doesn’t at the moment the iPad Air will be better for outdoor use, the standard iPad screen will feel more hollow when tapping etc aswell.

I would seriously wait a couple of weeks before buying as the next gems of both these models might be with us in a couple of weeks.

I have the current iPad Air, bought not so long ago, and I bought it because it has a headphone jack which I require, as I need to keep it on charge whilst hooked up to a speaker system plus I am predicting the current generation iPad Air will be the last air with the headphone jack.

 

[rui no onna]

The iPad Air is a great iPad with a lot of pro features but for a budget friendly price...

My opinion on the iPads at the moment are:

iPad - Great for when price is a huge factor in your buying decision, more catered as a gift for the kids, or when you need an iPad that you don’t mind getting knocked about, don’t care about screen quality etc...

iPad Mini - Great if you want a tablet which is ultra portable, and especially if your into iBooks etc... bit like a kindle replacement.

iPad Air - If you want more out of your iPad, and plan to do more work on it such as typing up documents, spreadsheets etc... but don’t want to fork out a huge amount of money.

iPad Pro 11” - If your not bothered about cost and you want the best tech, best camera, screen, sound and most powerful processors available, potentially a laptop replacement, depending on your needs.

iPad Pro 12.9” - Again if you’re not bothered about cost and you want the best tech, this could easily be a laptop replacement now (depending on your needs).

I hope this helps... as you can see the iPad Air is a great middle ground for most people... it all just depends on your needs and if your looking to replace your laptop/MacBook or not... and what specifically your going to use it for.

Very well put.

I'd like to mention that the basic iPad will work equally well for the tasks mentioned for the iPad Air. The iPad Air just provides a nicer experience. Maybe better longevity. They both have 3GB RAM and I don't know how much of an impact A12 vs A10 would have on future iOS versions.

That said, it should be noted that the 32GB base storage on the entry-level iPad could feel pretty cramped nowadays. System uses ~5GB and Other is easily another ~5GB or more. Add in the pre-installed apps and you're looking at 10-15GB used capacity before you even add any of your own stuff.

 

[AutomaticApple]

I would seriously wait a couple of weeks before buying as the next gems of both these models might be with us in a couple of weeks.

Yeah, whatever you do, please wait a month or so before making your decision.

 

[ericwn]

Thank you for your replies AutomaticApple, Eric and Limesmoothie!

What makes the iPad Air so special? Is is that the iPad Air screen is better for outdoor use than the regular 10.2" iPad?

These are the links I've been reading:

iPad Air

iPad Air features an 11- or 13-inch Liquid Retina display, M2 chip, Apple Intelligence, landscape front camera and support for Apple Pencil Pro.

www.apple.com

iPad 10.9-inch (10th generation)

iPad has an all-screen design, A14 Bionic chip, landscape front camera and four colours. Works with Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard Folio.

www.apple.com

EDIT:
Buying a refurbished iPad isn't an option for me.

Apple have a comparison page here https://www.apple.com/au/ipad/compare/

The Air is a solid mid of the field product and pretty nice to work with. Good specs, good screen.

 

[Thoradin]

I spent a long time deliberating on which iPad to buy recently. The comment from @James Godfrey above lays out pretty much my thoughts on the matter and has been worded a lot better than I would have managed.
I eventually settled on the Air 3, though the Pro 11 was my initial draw to the purchase of my first iPad. The delivery delays, unnecessary camera/lidar upgrades and price for the Pro were hurdles I felt weren’t worth overcoming. Also I got offered an amazingly good deal on a 4G Air 3 right as I had decided it was the model for me, which pushed me over into buying slightly quicker than anticipated.

 

[james10in]

I am kinda in the same position, I ve never used anything from apple ecosystem apart from iphone 6 which I used for a couple of years, occasionally uses macbook pro which my sister has..

I am in my college and want something for note taking,reading stuff so I am holding on to the release of base ipad, If i go with Air then I won't be able to get that expensive pencil which I want badly..

I ll manage with the base ipad (although if air 4 launches and air 3 gets a significant price cut then i ll ditch the base variant for the air 3 and get the pencil as well..


I am targeting mid-late October when I might actually get the ipad because of several reasons,
First here India Apple is going to start its online portal next month and rumours are that they might start students discount as well and the refurbished ipads selling as well, plus the festive season starts here in India mid oct and runs for a month so all the websites provide some serious discounts on the products..

 

[limesmoothie]

If anyone's getting the Air 3, I'd really recommend having a look at the new Logitech keyboard cases with the trackpad. They make the Air a real pleasure to use, and provide excellent protection if you're on the go.

 

[rui no onna]

I am in my college and want something for note taking,reading stuff so I am holding on to the release of base ipad, If i go with Air then I won't be able to get that expensive pencil which I want badly..

If it's only for note taking and not artwork, I highly recommend the Logitech Crayon instead of the Apple Pencil 1.

I have both AP1 and Crayon and for taking down notes, they both work equally well. I find the Crayon is better since it's compatible with all 2018 iPads and newer (including iPad Pro 2018 and 2020) and it charges with normal Lightning cable.

I lost the Lightning adapter that came with my AP1 so I've just been charging it by plugging in to the iPad. It feels like I'm gonna break the darned thing (or my iPad) if I bump into it wrong.

 

[james10in]

If it's only for note taking and not artwork, I highly recommend the Logitech Crayon instead of the Apple Pencil 1.

I have both AP1 and Crayon and for taking down notes, they both work equally well. I find the Crayon is better since it's compatible with all 2018 iPads and newer (including iPad Pro 2018 and 2020) and it charges with normal Lightning cable.

I lost the Lightning adapter that came with my AP1 so I've just been charging it by plugging in to the iPad. It feels like I'm gonna break the darned thing (or my iPad) if I bump into it wrong.

yeah, the exact same thing is being suggested by almost every youtuber who used logitech crayon.
I ll most probably going to get the crayon tbh, it is $95 here and apple pencil gen 1 costs $115 here..
the best part with crayon is that I can use it with any ipad moving on which means even if I change the ipad i wont have to spend on pencil again unlike gen 1, which will turn garbage because i have this feeling that once apple is done away with lightning port from Air or Mini then there is no going back.. so yeah crayon it is..

lol but i am eagerly waiting for the launch day now.

 

[Digitalguy]

At this point the best is to wait until September. Anyway, do yourself a favor and don't buy the Air 3.... The new entry level ipad is coming in a couple of weeks with the same A12 and will be virtually as good as the air 3 for quite a bit less. Non laminated is not a big deal and it's what you have now.... Let alone the fact that some air 3 are starting to developing screen issues like the old 10.5 pro. The air 4 is going to be a much better device but contrary to the entry level, which is coming in September via a website refresh 100%, the air 4 might not come before 2021, and it could be more expensive than the air 3 ($650 based on some rumors...)

 

[Marlon DLTH :)]

I agree with almost everyone here. The best option is to wait, both entry-level iPad and the iPad Air will be updated next month.

 

[BeautifulWoman_1984]

Thank you all for your replies!

Will the new iPad Air not have a headphone jack because I'll need a headphone jack...

So, just to be clear, the benefit of buying the iPad Air is that the screen works much better outdoors? I currently use my iPad Mini 3 indoors 95% of the time...

 

[AutomaticApple]

Will the new iPad Air not have a headphone jack because I'll need a headphone jack...

You'll just have to wait and see.

So, just to be clear, the benefit of buying the iPad Air is that the screen works much better outdoors?

It has an anti-reflective coating, but that is far from the primary benefit of the iPad Air 3.

 

[BeautifulWoman_1984]

You'll just have to wait and see.

It has an anti-reflective coating, but that is far from the primary benefit of the iPad Air 3.

Thank you for your reply AutomaticApple.

Performance isn't an issue for me.

I'm trying to see the benefit of buying the iPad Air over the regular iPad as both of these have about the same screen size. Isn't the iPad Air's biggest strength when it's being used outside because of the anti-reflective coating? Is the iPad Air's screen much better when used indoors compared to the regular iPad?

This is what I'm comparing:

iPad 10.9-inch (10th generation)

iPad has an all-screen design, A14 Bionic chip, landscape front camera and four colours. Works with Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard Folio.

www.apple.com

iPad Air

iPad Air features an 11- or 13-inch Liquid Retina display, M2 chip, Apple Intelligence, landscape front camera and support for Apple Pencil Pro.

www.apple.com

 

[cdcastillo]

Thank you all for your replies!

Will the new iPad Air not have a headphone jack because I'll need a headphone jack...

So, just to be clear, the benefit of buying the iPad Air is that the screen works much better outdoors? I currently use my iPad Mini 3 indoors 95% of the time...

Yes, and that is also slimmer and offers better "feel" when drawing with the pencil.

 

[Thoradin]

The benefit of the air is the better processor, slightly bigger laminated screen, double storage, better more accurate colours onscreen and a better FaceTime camera.

 

[Digitalguy]

The benefit of the air is the better processor, slightly bigger laminated screen, double storage, better more accurate colours onscreen and a better FaceTime camera.

Yeah, and probably the only important benefits are the better processor and more storage, which you don't care anyway. Screen differences are even less important. So the budget ipad is the best choice for you, just wait for the new one in order to get the same performance as the current air 3....

 

[slimejester]

Hey guys,

Sorry to be making a thread about this as I don't want to be putting extra burden on this forum, but I really trust the users in the MacRumors community for advice.

I have an iPad Mini 3 from 2015 that needs replacing as the "Home Button" is barely responsive.

My needs for new iPad:
--Bigger screen
--Access to new iPad OS
--I use my iPad 95% of the time indoors where there's no sun reflection
--I don't need much performance as my current iPad Mini 3 is powerful enough except, but I need more RAM as my iPad Mini 3 only has 1GB of RAM.

Thank you so much!

Wait for the 8th gen iPad coming later this year. Should be a great update at the lowest price possible for a new iPad.

 

[james10in]

Acc to Jon Prosser there is a website update due on 8th September, so expect the launch of Base or Air or Both on that day.. 7 days from today maybe