iPad Base iPad 9th gen or discounted Air 4 for casual use

[slimeynick]

Hi everyone,

Apologies if this has been done before, but I couldn't find a similar thread comparing the base iPad 9 to the 2020 iPad Air now that the latter can be had for quite a saving if you shop around.

I'm iPad-less and have been since 2019 after selling my original iPad Air.

I'm now looking for a new iPad to complement my iPhone 12 and M1 Macbook Air. I'd be using an iPad for light stuff - reading on the sofa/bed, watching sport/documentaries/TV while cooking, emails, possibly note taking - only. As a result, I had looked only at the base iPad here in the UK. However...

I'm visiting Bangkok soon and there's quite a substantial saving to be had on the base iPad (£270 there vs £320 here) and the Air 4 can be had for around £350 (vs £499 here). The base iPad can be had direct from Apple or official retailers while the Air 4 would be bought from MBK, a kind of mecca of cheap tech. I bought my original iPad Air from MBK when I lived in Bangkok and know that their stuff is legit and new, albeit without giving you the guarantee that you get when buying direct from Apple.

I'm much more drawn to the aesthetics of the Air 4 (the base iPad looks practically no different to the iPad I bought back in 2013) and the slightly newer chip of the Air 4 suggests to me that it'll be supported just as long if not longer by Apple than the base iPad, despite it being an older device. Center Stage and the cheaper price tag are the only major pros over the Air 4 for me for the base iPad 9.

I may buy a pencil for whichever iPad I buy down the line to use for taking notes in meetings at work, but this isn't essential to me. A keyboard is not needed either as I'll use my Macbook Air for any serious work. The only peripherals I'd be buying as a necessity would be a case to protect it from drops and scratches.

With all that being said, is the Air 4 worth the extra 22% cost over the base iPad? Or would I be better off, given my pretty limited needs, saving that bit of extra cash and just getting the iPad 9th gen?

Once again, apologies if this has been asked a million times before.

 

[Zazoh]

I have MacBook Air (M1) I use for work for personal computing I use Gen 9 iPad. I went from iPad Pro, Air, Mini back to Gen 9 over the course of the years. Mini was too small. I really don't see that much of a difference between my Gen 3 Air and the Gen 9.

Everyone that comes after me is going to say get the Air. And, you will likely experience FOMO and wish you had the Air, so get the Air few - only a hundred dollars these days is two dinners for four. But you really only need the Gen 9, but get the Air ... hahah

Lamination and speakers will be sited. But I can't see or feel the difference with lamination unless side by side. And anytime I listen to my iPad I use my AirPods.

 

[Aceroller]

Get the Air for the lamination and speakers.

 

[Username-already-in-use]

That price on an Air 4 is a great deal. I’d do it for landscape speakers, A14, 4GB RAM, laminated screen and Pencil 2 compatibility.

 

[MrSky]

Hmm you should see how much you can get the iPad mini 6 over there . It’s should be big enough for your needs while having a smaller size. A15, have center stage , have flash, support Apple Pencil 2.

 

[TechRunner]

Given those options/prices, I would splurge for the Air.
Let us know which way you go!

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

The laminated screen alone would do it for me. Everything else is a bonus.

I picked an Air 4 over the iPad 8, simply because I thought the latter felt really cheap build wise. I don't know if the iPad 9 has the same issue.

 

[slimeynick]

Seems like the Air 4 is the better deal then, though that comment about the Mini also has me thinking too!

 

[snipr125]

Seems like the Air 4 is the better deal then, though that comment about the Mini also has me thinking too!

Good luck with your choice, just remember that you cant really go wrong with any of them, ipad 9, air 4th Gen or the Mini 6th gen. All great ipads in general.

 

[slimeynick]

I picked up the space grey Air 4. Roughly £400 with a case after tax deductions. Just need to get a screen protector now.

Came very close to getting the base iPad but the price difference for the form factor of the Air really made it a steal.The mini was roughly the same amount and I toyed with that a bit but really pleased with the Air.

 

[1BadManVan]

I picked up the space grey Air 4. Roughly £400 with a case after tax deductions. Just need to get a screen protector now.

Came very close to getting the base iPad but the price difference for the form factor of the Air really made it a steal.The mini was roughly the same amount and I toyed with that a bit but really pleased with the Air.

You made the right choice. The newer chip and extra ram will help future proof the device, the speaker layout is superior as well for content consumption.

Congrats

 

[scupking]

I wonder if the iPad 10th gen will get the m1 but keep the same design as the 9th gen.

 

[slplss]

I picked up the space grey Air 4. Roughly £400 with a case after tax deductions. Just need to get a screen protector now.

Came very close to getting the base iPad but the price difference for the form factor of the Air really made it a steal.The mini was roughly the same amount and I toyed with that a bit but really pleased with the Air.

Naked screen $1400 M1 Pro user here, not a single visible micro scratch when reflecting the screen against light after a year. Same goes for the antique iPad 2 and iPad 3 gen, which I used completely naked. Meanwhile, everyone else around me using mobile devices is cracking their screen protectors about once a month. What the…

 

[slimeynick]

Ha. I’ve always used screen protectors on my portable devices. A few quid for a bit of peace of mind.

Naked screen $1400 M1 Pro user here, not a single visible micro scratch when reflecting the screen against light after a year. Same goes for the antique iPad 2 and iPad 3 gen, which I used completely naked. Meanwhile, everyone else around me using mobile devices is cracking their screen protectors about once a month. What the…

 

[Zazoh]

No device is future proof. Tech devices are disposables. I get about 3 years out of them. (Update every other release)

 

[rui no onna]

No device is future proof. Tech devices are disposables. I get about 3 years out of them. (Update every other release)

True but you can get longer useful life with higher end devices (e.g. iPad Pro 9.7 6 years vs iPad 6th gen 4 years).

If you’re just buying the base models, it’s likely better to just get the regular ~$300 iPad and upgrade more often. If you go for extra storage and cellular, then it could be worth it to buy higher end and keep it longer particularly if you’re not in the habit of reselling.

$609 iPad 9th gen 256GB cellular + $609 iPad 12th gen 256GB cellular = $1218 total + tax

vs

$899 iPad Air 5th gen 256GB cellular = $899 total + tax

That said, I don’t think the Air 4 will be significantly longer lived than the 9th gen. Granted, the extra year or two is likely worth the £80 difference.