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Bought

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 21, 2022
13
1
I would like to buy the base model iPad, the $329 model. My only concern is whether there’s going to be an update in September. I know that no one knows for sure, but is there a good chance that there would be an update? It’s only four months away and I don’t mind waiting. I would like to keep this iPad for a long time so it would be worth waiting a few months to get a model that will last longer.
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,917
13,261
Pretty sure it just updated this year so you’ll have at least another year

It was released September 2021 so it's actually mid-cycle now. It's still a decent iPad but if one's not in a hurry, maybe waiting for a refresh is better.

With the Air now sporting M1+8GB, the next basic iPad might finally get upgraded to 4-6GB RAM.
 
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Bought

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 21, 2022
13
1
It was released September 2021 so it's actually mid-cycle now. It's still a decent iPad but if one's not in a hurry, maybe waiting for a refresh is better.

With the Air now sporting M1+8GB, the next basic iPad might finally get upgraded to 4-6GB RAM.
I don’t mind waiting until this September as it’s only four months away. But I’d prefer not to wait until next September, 16 months is pushing it.
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,917
13,261
I don’t mind waiting until this September as it’s only four months away. But I’d prefer not to wait until next September, 16 months is pushing it.

Although there's no guarantee, Apple has been fairly regular with basic iPad releases.

2017 9.7 A9/2GB
2018 9.7 A10/2GB
2019 10.2 A10/3GB
2020 10.2 A12/3GB
2021 10.2 A13/3GB

If you don't want to take the risk though, the iPad 9th gen is pretty decent.
 
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Bought

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 21, 2022
13
1
But now since you let me know that I could get a new iPad mini for $400, I’m considering that. I like the smaller size and I believe it will give better performance.
 

Crow_Servo

macrumors 6502a
Feb 17, 2018
982
1,308
America
But now since you let me know that I could get a new iPad mini for $400, I’m considering that. I like the smaller size and I believe it will give better performance.
Yes, I doubt even the 10th gen iPad will equal the performance of the 6th gen Mini. The Mini is pretty solid.
 

jdb8167

macrumors 601
Nov 17, 2008
4,859
4,599
Yes, I doubt even the 10th gen iPad will equal the performance of the 6th gen Mini. The Mini is pretty solid.
Right, you pay a premium for the A15 in the iPad mini 6 compared to the A13 in the current iPad. The question is whether or not the next iPad will have an A14 or A15. I doubt that an A16 is in the cards. I could see Apple going with the same down clocked A15 for the next iPad that is in the current iPad mini.
 

Crow_Servo

macrumors 6502a
Feb 17, 2018
982
1,308
America
Right, you pay a premium for the A15 in the iPad mini 6 compared to the A13 in the current iPad. The question is whether or not the next iPad will have an A14 or A15. I doubt that an A16 is in the cards. I could see Apple going with the same down clocked A15 for the next iPad that is in the current iPad mini.
They only update one performance-related component each year for the base iPad. So either the processor or the RAM. Most likely it’ll be the RAM this year, since they’ve updated the processor two years in a row, but not the RAM these last couple years.
 
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