Best upgrade option for my iPad Air 2?

[007 Junior]

So I was very looking forward to yesterday’s announcement. My iPad Air 2 is getting slower and will not get iOS16. Also, the battery is draining due to its age. The 10th generation iPad looked promising from all the leaks, with its square design and edge to edge screen at the same low price point of 329 euros. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out to be that way. The screen isn‘t laminated (like my Air 2) and the price is way higher then I was expecting. It’s just not gonna cut it.

Luckily, I found out that some big retailers in my country are still selling the 9th generation iPad at its original price of 329 euros (instead of 439 euros by Apple). They are also still selling the Air 5 for 665 euros instead of 789 euros. I’m not sure what to do now. I feel like a have to make a decision quickly, before the prices at the big retailers go up too. But I just can’t decide between the Air 5 and the 9th gen iPad.

I use my iPad only for browsing the web, social media, YouTube, Netflix and Spotify. I‘m hardly using it for games and do not store files on it. The current 64GB I have in my Air 2 is more than enough for me. I’m looking for a device that will be supported for the next 8 years with a good screen and great battery life. The M1 in the Air 5 seems more future proof and the screen is gorgeous, but it still comes at double the price of the 9th gen.

What would you guys advice?

 

[Shirasaki]

8 years is a long time, and who knows if your demand will change after then. What’s sure is demand of hardware will go higher whether you like it or not, including storage requirements. As such, I recommend you go ipad air 5th gen 256GB model if you can afford it. iPad Pro May be overkill tho that 120hz feels awesome in day to day use.

 

[rui no onna]

If it were me, Air 5. Less so for M1 and more for the 8GB RAM.

When the Air 2 was released, 2GB RAM was the highest RAM on iPad.

Right now, I believe the iPad 9th gen has the lowest RAM (3GB) available amongst Apple's iPhone/iPad lineup. That's not gonna do it any favors in terms of future upgrades.

Frankly, even my iPad mini 6 with 4GB RAM is very prone to reloading and occasional website glitches until I force close some background apps.

 

[Herbit]

I'm also still on the Air 2. Best value for an iPad, ever! I will wait until we get OLED. No OLED = no buy.

 

[MobiusTech]

2022 M2 iPad Pro 12.9-Inch 2TB Cellular with Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil 2nd Gen or bust.

 

[KFridman]

I'm in the same boat with my Air 2. I think I've narrowed down my replacement choices to the Air 5 and the new iPad. What keeps me wondering is the anti- reflective display and lamination. The Air 2 is the only iPad I've ever used so I haven't had one without these two features. I'm thinking I'll wait a little bit until I can compare both at the Apple store near me.

 

[FeliApple]

If you were to tell me that you won’t update iOS then an iPad 9th Gen could be in the realm of a possibility, for you want to update for many years, with 3GB of RAM? No, that will be a major bottleneck. I’d recommend the Air 5. For basic use, the iPad 9th gen is and will be great (if kept on iPadOS 15), otherwise you will need more RAM.

 

[007 Junior]

I'm in the same boat with my Air 2. I think I've narrowed down my replacement choices to the Air 5 and the new iPad. What keeps me wondering is the anti- reflective display and lamination. The Air 2 is the only iPad I've ever used so I haven't had one without these two features. I'm thinking I'll wait a little bit until I can compare both at the Apple store near me.

Yeah, just the knowledge that the screen of my newly bought iPad would be a downgrade over my old one is turning me off. Big retailers are currently still maintaining the 'old' price for the Air 5, which is about 76 euros more expensive than the new iPad. For that price, you'll get the laminated display, as well as the M1-chip and more RAM. Seems like a reasonable deal to me.

 

[007 Junior]

I'm also still on the Air 2. Best value for an iPad, ever! I will wait until we get OLED. No OLED = no buy.

OLED and 120Hz were on my wishlist too, but with the current pace of updates to the iPad-lineup I don't think we'll be seeing those features in an iPad Air or budget iPad anytime soon.

 

[007 Junior]

If it were me, Air 5. Less so for M1 and more for the 8GB RAM.

When the Air 2 was released, 2GB RAM was the highest RAM on iPad.

Right now, I believe the iPad 9th gen has the lowest RAM (3GB) available amongst Apple's iPhone/iPad lineup. That's not gonna do it any favors in terms of future upgrades.

Frankly, even my iPad mini 6 with 4GB RAM is very prone to reloading and occasional website glitches until I force close some background apps.

Haven't thought about the RAM at all, but that's a good point you're making. I remember the struggle my parents had with their iPad 2 at the time, while my iPhone 6S had no problems while on the same chip, but because of it having more RAM.