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Best iPad for College Reading?

Best iPad for College Reading?

  • iPad 6th gen

    Votes: 22 37.3%

  • iPad Pro

    Votes: 34 57.6%

  • Surface 3

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • iPad Air 1

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • iPad Air 2

    Votes: 3 5.1%
  • Total voters
    59
Christian 5G

Christian 5G

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 16, 2010
1,081
744
Orange County, CA
I am switching from physical books to online books this semester and being Apple fan I have been browsing around for an iPad that can simply do few tasks I need and primary one is to read the books and maybe just some light tasks like watching a show and some browsing. Also, not really need the pro with pen for notes, but it could come handy.

Buying used, so the price range is under $300 and these below fit my budget

Here are my options I have narrowed down to:
iPad 6th gen
iPad Pro
iPad Air 1 or 2 (leaning towards the air 2 for the most part)

I know it all comes down to me, but I need to have a great screen to read on and my MB Pro is not very convenient trying to read laying down.
Other options I'm considering is the Surface 3 because I might be able to run the flash for some online HW.

Thanks for your input.
 
Since you’re trying to accomplish something with essentially no budget, the obvious choice is the 2018 iPad. It’s the best you’ll get for the price, because you quite simply won’t get a Pro for $300, the Surface 3 is dated and was trash at launch, let alone now, and the Air models are terribly dated as well.

The iPad 2018 model is the only logical choice.
 
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The higher res the better, so my vote is for the iPad Pro.

Also, Apple Pencil is great for marking up documents. I teach at the university level and use this combination daily.

If budget is #1 concern, get used from Swappa.
F500509E-F37E-43A8-90BE-D64DC25E33BE.jpeg
 
Last edited:
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Christian 5G said:
I am switching from physical books to online books this semester and being Apple fan I have been browsing around for an iPad that can simply do few tasks I need and primary one is to read the books and maybe just some light tasks like watching a show and some browsing. Also, not really need the pro with pen for notes, but it could come handy.

Buying used, so the price range is under $300 and these below fit my budget

Here are my options I have narrowed down to:
iPad 6th gen
iPad Pro
iPad Air 1 or 2 (leaning towards the air 2 for the most part)

I know it all comes down to me, but I need to have a great screen to read on and my MB Pro is not very convenient trying to read laying down.
Other options I'm considering is the Surface 3 because I might be able to run the flash for some online HW.

Thanks for your input.
Click to expand...
For your purposes, the 2018 iPad (which supports the Pencil 1 and the Logitech Crayon). Not only is it far less expensive than the iPad Pro, but cases are cheaper and have a wider variety of options, the Pencil 1 is cheaper than the Pencil 2 and you have the choice to get the Logitech Crayon (similar to the Pencil 1 but without pressure sensitivity) for as low as $50.
 
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Thank you all, just pulled the trigger on 2018 "used" iPad on eBay.
It was quiet a war on eBay with bidding but I won the 2018 iPad (Gold) (32GB) WIFI+Cellular for $239. Judging by pics, iPad is in excellent condition and shipped with everything (box, accessories, charging cables, etc...)

Is this a good deal?
 
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Christian 5G said:
Thank you all, just pulled the trigger on 2018 "used" iPad on eBay.
It was quiet a war on eBay with bidding but I won the 2018 iPad (Gold) (32GB) WIFI+Cellular for $239. Judging by pics, iPad is in excellent condition and shipped with everything (box, accessories, charging cables, etc...)

Is this a good deal?
Click to expand...
Congrats! Yes, it certainly sounds like a good deal.
 
Yeah, if you are on a budget go with the 2018 ipad all the way. However, if you can wait until next month, Apple will most likely be updating the regular ipad along with the ipad mini. Might be worth the wait. Even if you don’t buy one of the new ones, the current ones should become even cheaper.
 
My daughter chose the iPad 6 with Apple Pencil 2 for her doctoral research. I let her check out my 12.9” Pro and would have bought one had she thought that’s what she needed.

Her eyes are much younger than mine.
 
mikehalloran said:
My daughter chose the iPad 6 with Apple Pencil 2 for her doctoral research. I let her check out my 12.9” Pro and would have bought one had she thought that’s what she needed.

Her eyes are much younger than mine.
Click to expand...

Is the apple pencil 2 working with the iPad 6th generation? What I found on the Apple website is the original apple pencil is the only one that worked with the 6th gen iPad, so I bought the 1st gen pencil but curious to know if the 2nd gen works.
 
dgreening said:
Is the apple pencil 2 working with the iPad 6th generation? What I found on the Apple website is the original apple pencil is the only one that worked with the 6th gen iPad, so I bought the 1st gen pencil but curious to know if the 2nd gen works.
Click to expand...
No, the 2nd Gen doesn't work. The 2nd gen also requires a magnetic charging port that they 6th gen iPad doesn't have.
 
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TheGenerous said:
Textbooks for college can be found in the secret places of the internet, and they're in DJVU format. That's all the OP needs as "best iPad for college"
Click to expand...
Sweet. I love cutting legs out from under my friends who are authors! Generally teachers don’t get paid nearly enough, so it’s nice to know that students are undermining the other way many of us make end’s meat.
 
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TheGenerous said:
yeah, it's amazing!
...and don't forget about solution books
Click to expand...
That, honestly, doesn’t bother me. Often I get textbooks that include the answers. If my students would rather take the shortcuts than do the work, they’re only cheating themselves. It’ll also be plain to see when exam time rolls around.
 
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sracer said:
For your purposes, the 2018 iPad (which supports the Pencil 1 and the Logitech Crayon). Not only is it far less expensive than the iPad Pro, but cases are cheaper and have a wider variety of options, the Pencil 1 is cheaper than the Pencil 2 and you have the choice to get the Logitech Crayon (similar to the Pencil 1 but without pressure sensitivity) for as low as $50.
Click to expand...

Can you tell me where I might find a Logitech crayon for $50? I really want to just TRY one, and I’d like them for my grandkids instead of the Apple pencils, but don’t want to pay full price.
 
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Christian 5G said:
I am switching from physical books to online books this semester and being Apple fan I have been browsing around for an iPad that can simply do few tasks I need and primary one is to read the books and maybe just some light tasks like watching a show and some browsing. Also, not really need the pro with pen for notes, but it could come handy.

Buying used, so the price range is under $300 and these below fit my budget

Here are my options I have narrowed down to:
iPad 6th gen
iPad Pro
iPad Air 1 or 2 (leaning towards the air 2 for the most part)

I know it all comes down to me, but I need to have a great screen to read on and my MB Pro is not very convenient trying to read laying down.
Other options I'm considering is the Surface 3 because I might be able to run the flash for some online HW.

Thanks for your input.
Click to expand...
iPad Pro.
 
AutomaticApple said:
Mainly the higher resolution and support for the Apple Pencil 2.
Click to expand...

You did read the price range that the op has in mind, right?
In that range you won’t get a functioning iPad Pro that can support Apple Pencil version 2. In addition the op mentioned that the Pencil is of secondary interest.
 
AutomaticApple said:
Of course I did.

Secondary interest is different from no interest.
Click to expand...

Then maybe keep the recommendation relevant to the topic. Main point was a sub 300 budget. To suggest an iPad Pro that supports pencil 2 means suggesting a 2018 Pro third generation which is clearly out of budget.

Not to mention that the op already stated they purchased an iPad already hence further posts don’t really help anymore.
 
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