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Warped9

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Oct 27, 2018
1,723
2,415
Brockville, Ontario.
Even though I am critical of the 10th gen iPad, primarily its price point. I am seriously considering buying one.

I recently bought a 9th gen iPad (64GB) on a Black Friday sale as a Christmas present for my mother. Her current 7yr. old one works, but it’s gotten creaky even for just the few games she likes to play. The 9 will perform far better and the 10.2 screen will be a step up over her 9.7.

For myself I presently have an iPad Pro 10.5. It still works well, but I’m beginning to notice the battery seems to drain faster than before. It ain’t gonna get any better.

I considered 64GB 9th gen, but that would be a step down in screen size and I don’t want that. I was (maybe still am) considering a 5th gen M1 iPad Air with 64GB, but I find $799 CAN rather steep for an iPad for my needs. Mind you I do get a ten percent staff discount from work and I can get about $60-$70 CAN as a trade-in for my 10.5 Pro that could lessen the sting.

On the other hand along comes the 10th gen iPad at $599 CAN, which has is essentially an iPad Air lite without the M1 or laminated display yet would still be a major upgrade over my 10.5 Pro. Add staff discount and trade-in and it looks a lot less steep for my needs.

Decisions, decisions…


Thoughts anyone? Anyone else weighing or have weighed this choice? Anyone have a 10th gen iPad and how do you like it?
 
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Shirasaki

macrumors P6
May 16, 2015
16,263
11,764
I feel you dont need Apple Pencil, and keyboard is not much of a concern. In that case, iPad 10 is good for your use case. Don’t worry how other folks compare it against other iPad (even though it has worse value compared to iPad Air 5th gen and iPad 9), just get it and enjoy it.
 

Lioness~

macrumors 68040
Apr 26, 2017
3,408
4,247
I would go for the M1 iPad Air one if I were you. No doubt.

I would’ve bought that one too if I wanted a bigger one. I was thinking about it. But the Mini won for me as I had one earlier, and like the format.
 

rkuo

macrumors 65816
Sep 25, 2010
1,308
955
Even though I am critical of the 10th gen iPad, primarily its price point. I am seriously considering buying one.

I recently bought a 9th gen iPad (64GB) on a Black Friday sale as a Christmas present for my mother. Her current 7yr. old one works, but it’s gotten creaky even for just the few games she likes to play. The 9 will perform far better and the 10.2 screen will be a step up over her 9.7.

For myself I presently have an iPad Pro 10.5. It still works well, but I’m beginning to notice the battery seems to drain faster than before. It ain’t gonna get any better.

I considered 64GB 9th gen, but that would be a step down in screen size and I don’t want that. I was (maybe still am) considering a 5th gen M1 iPad Air with 64GB, but I find $799 CAN rather steep for an iPad for my needs. Mind you I do get a ten percent staff discount from work and I can get about $60-$70 CAN as a trade-in for my 10.5 Pro that could lessen the sting.

On the other hand along comes the 10th gen iPad at $599 CAN, which has is essentially an iPad Air lite without the M1 or laminated display yet would still be a major upgrade over my 10.5 Pro. Add staff discount and trade-in and it looks a lot less steep for my needs.

Decisions, decisions…


Thoughts anyone? Anyone else weighing or have weighed this choice? Anyone have a 10th gen iPad and how do you like it?
Don't they have sales on the M1 iPad Air in Canada?
 

MBAir2010

macrumors 604
May 30, 2018
6,975
6,354
there
Is there a big ($120ish) different between the 10th and 9th editions?
besides the M# chip, size, connection and display.
 

BeatCrazy

macrumors 603
Jul 20, 2011
5,123
4,480
Is there a big ($120ish) different between the 10th and 9th editions?
besides the M# chip, size, connection and display.
Keep in mind, the 10th gen doesn't have a Mxx chip, it has the A14, so no Stage Manager.

I don't think they display is a huge difference. I have a 9th gen, have seen the 10th gen in-store, and I own both 11" and 12.9" M1 iPad Pros.

If you can find a 9th gen for ~$260, you can add the Logitech Combo Touch keyboard (~$90 new, via ebay), and you have a very competent device for under $400 all-in.
 

jm31828

macrumors 65816
Sep 28, 2015
1,394
896
Bothell, Washington
The 10th gen is on sale right now at Costco here in the US for $389- at that price it makes some sense.
I was comparing it to the air 5 at the store today snd just don’t see a difference in the displays.
 
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Warped9

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Oct 27, 2018
1,723
2,415
Brockville, Ontario.
I haven’t seen the M1 iPad Air on sale anywhere in Canada. I have zero interest in an Apple Pencil or a keyboard case. I just don’t use my iPad that way.

No matter how you cut it I’m looking at a $200 price difference between the 10 and the Air.
 

FeliApple

macrumors 68040
Apr 8, 2015
3,684
2,088
It’s a tough decision, I can see why: The Air 5 is too expensive, the iPad 9th gen is a step down in screen size, and the 10th-gen iPad has a couple of drawbacks.

Echoing @Digitalguy’s recommendation, what do you think about a refurb Air 4 or 4th gen iPad Pro? You get the screen perks at a decent price, with no 10th gen drawbacks.

I find the full screen really cool coming from a 9.7-inch iPad Pro (which I still have), to an Air 5. Perhaps you really appreciate that, too. Maybe you don’t, and that’s another factor to consider. Is the full screen something you value?

Also, are you absolutely sure about the trade-in? Apple really under values those devices. I wouldn’t give a perfectly working 10.5-inch iPad Pro to Apple for $50 if it was avoidable in any way. iPads last a very, very long time if taken care of, and it always remains usable for some tasks.
 
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Warped9

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Oct 27, 2018
1,723
2,415
Brockville, Ontario.
My 10.5 Pro is in mint shape and the online Apple trade-in evaluation says it's worth $70 CAN. If I trade it in through work I expect to get about ten bucks less for it, but then I get my ten percent staff discount off the new device.

iPad Air 5 = $799.99 - $80 - $60 = $659.99 (+ tax)
iPad 10th Gen = $599.99 - $60 - $60 = $479.99 (+ tax)

Actually that Air 5 would cost me significantly less than what my Pro 10.5 cost me new even before adjusted for inflation. That Pro was an indulgence on my part.
 

WilliApple

macrumors 6502a
Feb 19, 2022
984
1,427
Colorado
Normally I would recommend the iPad X to kids or for those that don’t want an Apple Pencil. If you are one of those people, then the iPad X is for you.

Today a kid was asking his dad for an iPad 9 at an Apple Store for Christmas, and I told him that the iPad X is better.

I have seen so many bad complaints about certified refurbished and used, so don’t go there.
 
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Tripps9000

macrumors regular
Dec 27, 2021
216
309
i would just go with the iPad 10 you will get a usbc port a new design new cameras and many other things. 😁
 

WilliApple

macrumors 6502a
Feb 19, 2022
984
1,427
Colorado
Did you also offer the dad to pay the $120+ difference that it takes to upgrade to the 'better' iPad?
I am Gen Z myself, and I get Apple Products for Christmas every year. If I can get Apple Products for Christmas every year, I guarantee that this father can also give an iPad X, which is very low compared to my Christmas list this year.
1670210761360.png
 

Warped9

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Oct 27, 2018
1,723
2,415
Brockville, Ontario.
^^ Is that what you expect to get or you hope for one or two things off that list? Thats not an inexpensive wish list.

These days I don’t ask for any materiel gifts for Christmas. I hope for good food and Christmas goodies, getting together with people and getting to play an old-fashioned Santa to make people smile.

Even when I was young I was never really one to expect or want much for Christmas. I usually hoped for one particular thing and anything else that happened to be under the tree was nice, but mostly gravy. My favourite all time Christmas gift is likely from 1971 when I got my first model kit of the starship Enterprise and the companion kit of the Klingon battle cruiser. I was on a real high that year…

Uh, sorry, didn’t mean to get off track.

I checked out a comparison of the M2 Pro 11, the M1 Air and the iPad 10. It really is an incremental step up from each model to the next. There really isn’t that much separating the 10 and the Air just as there isn’t much separating the Air and the Pro. Just as the 10 is a detuned Air the Air is largely a detuned Pro.

Hmm…
 
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rkuo

macrumors 65816
Sep 25, 2010
1,308
955
^^ Is that what you expect to get or you hope for one or two things off that list? Thats not an inexpensive wish list.

These days I don’t ask for any materiel gifts for Christmas. I hope for good food and Christmas goodies, getting together with people and getting to play an old-fashioned Santa to make people smile.

Even when I was young I was never really one to expect or want much for Christmas. I usually hoped for one particular thing and anything else that happened to be under the tree was nice, but mostly gravy. My favourite all time Christmas gift is likely from 1971 when I got my first model kit of the starship Enterprise and the companion kit of the Klingon battle cruiser. I was on a real high that year…

Uh, sorry, didn’t mean to get off track.

I checked out a comparison of the M2 Pro 11, the M1 Air and the iPad 10. It really is an incremental step up from each model to the next. There really isn’t that much separating the 10 and the Air just as there isn’t much separating the Air and the Pro. Just as the 10 is a detuned Air the Air is largely a detuned Pro.

Hmm…
The jump from 10th gen to Air is from a mobile class SoC to a desktop class one … with double the RAM and full I/O. I just don’t see the 10th iPad justifying its price until it gets more of a discount deeper into its lifecycle.
 

TorbenIbsen

macrumors regular
Feb 22, 2021
176
153
Even though I am critical of the 10th gen iPad, primarily its price point. I am seriously considering buying one.

I recently bought a 9th gen iPad (64GB) on a Black Friday sale as a Christmas present for my mother. Her current 7yr. old one works, but it’s gotten creaky even for just the few games she likes to play. The 9 will perform far better and the 10.2 screen will be a step up over her 9.7.

For myself I presently have an iPad Pro 10.5. It still works well, but I’m beginning to notice the battery seems to drain faster than before. It ain’t gonna get any better.

I considered 64GB 9th gen, but that would be a step down in screen size and I don’t want that. I was (maybe still am) considering a 5th gen M1 iPad Air with 64GB, but I find $799 CAN rather steep for an iPad for my needs. Mind you I do get a ten percent staff discount from work and I can get about $60-$70 CAN as a trade-in for my 10.5 Pro that could lessen the sting.

On the other hand along comes the 10th gen iPad at $599 CAN, which has is essentially an iPad Air lite without the M1 or laminated display yet would still be a major upgrade over my 10.5 Pro. Add staff discount and trade-in and it looks a lot less steep for my needs.

Decisions, decisions…


Thoughts anyone? Anyone else weighing or have weighed this choice? Anyone have a 10th gen iPad and how do you like it?
Why not just get a new battery for the 10.5 iPad Pro? Because the 10 gen iPad and iPad Air 5 is really not an upgrade, except for a newer processor. And, for the iPad Air 5 there are 8 GB RAM vs the 4 GB you have in your 10.5. So that is an upgrade. But not one you really need.

Your 10.5" Pro has ProMotion and 4 speakers. The other models do not. - The 10th gen iPad does not even have the wider color display. The 10.5" has a higher nits than the two other models (600 vs 500).
 

Digitalguy

macrumors 601
Apr 15, 2019
4,643
4,469
I have seen so many bad complaints about certified refurbished and used, so don’t go there.
You are confusing Amazon certified refurbished, which basically means used (and verified to work), and Apple refurbished, which basically means new (again totally new battery, totally new screen, totally new body). These are 2 completely different worlds. It's unfortaunte people confuse them and give this kind of advice....
 

Digitalguy

macrumors 601
Apr 15, 2019
4,643
4,469
My 10.5 Pro is in mint shape and the online Apple trade-in evaluation says it's worth $70 CAN. If I trade it in through work I expect to get about ten bucks less for it, but then I get my ten percent staff discount off the new device.

iPad Air 5 = $799.99 - $80 - $60 = $659.99 (+ tax)
iPad 10th Gen = $599.99 - $60 - $60 = $479.99 (+ tax)

Actually that Air 5 would cost me significantly less than what my Pro 10.5 cost me new even before adjusted for inflation. That Pro was an indulgence on my part.
I understand trade-in is easier, but $70 for a 10.5 is extremely low, you could get 2-3 times more selling it yourself...
 

Warped9

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Oct 27, 2018
1,723
2,415
Brockville, Ontario.
I like the bigger screen within a similar size chassis. The 10’s A14 or the Air’s M1 should be a decent step up from my 10.5’s A10X. Weight wise they’re all very close. It should be a decent upgrade in every way except audio where my 10.5 Pro has four speakers while the 10th gen and Air have two. Too bad the Pro 11in. is essentially $1000 CAN because it does have four speakers.

Yes, trade-in is less hassle. But I could also go the route I used for my last two iPhones of selling them on consignment. A guy I know runs his own little computer repair shop and sells some stuff as well. I told him what I wanted for my devices and whatever he got above that was his. Both phones were in mint condition with all the accessories and an Otterbox case. I was satisfied so I guess I could do the same with this iPad Pro although my Targus case is a bit worn.
 
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rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,916
13,260
The iPad 10th gen has 4GB RAM same as your Pro 10.5.

While A14 vs A10X is quite an improvement, RAM remaining at 4GB isn't particularly good if you're expecting to get 5 years useful life with great performance out of the new iPad.

I have an iPad mini 6 and if Apple released a mini 7 with 6GB+ RAM, I would upgrade in a heartbeat.
 

FeliApple

macrumors 68040
Apr 8, 2015
3,684
2,088
I like the bigger screen within a similar size chassis. The 10’s A14 or the Air’s M1 should be a decent step up from my 10.5’s A10X. Weight wise they’re all very close. It should be a decent upgrade in every way except audio where my 10.5 Pro has four speakers while the 10th gen and Air have two. Too bad the Pro 11in. is essentially $1000 CAN because it does have four speakers.
Full screen then, great. There’s a pretty large difference between the iPad 10th Gen and the Air 5, in RAM, specs, and everything. If you can, I’d recommend the Air 5. If you update iOS, RAM starts being important.

Regarding speakers, yes, the difference is quite significant. I upgraded from the 9.7-inch iPad Pro to the iPad Air 5, like I said, and the Pro’s speakers are significantly better, even though it’s the 1st-gen, small iPad Pro. The Air’s speakers aren’t bad, but the Pro’s sound fuller, louder.
 
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