All iPads Buying advice: New 9.7" iPad (32gb) or refurbished iPad Air 2 (64gb)?

[Howard2k]

Here - 9to5mac:

https://9to5mac.com/2017/03/22/2017-ipad-vs-ipad-air-2/

In terms of the power you’ll find inside the new iPad, it’s a notable step up from the iPad Air 2 originally introduced in 2014. The new iPad is powered by Apple’s A9 processor clocked at 1.85GHz. That’s the same processor that’s found in the iPhone SE, though it’s closed at 1.8GHz there.

 

[rui no onna]

Here - 9to5mac:

https://9to5mac.com/2017/03/22/2017-ipad-vs-ipad-air-2/

That's a mere 50MHz difference, not 500MHz. Less than 3%. Barely a blip on the radar.

 

[Howard2k]

That's a mere 50MHz difference, not 500MHz. Less than 3%. Barely a blip on the radar.

lol, good catch. Quite correct.

 

[Alonzozo]

It's too early to suggest one over the other. I would like to see one of these new iPads first-hand before making a decision.

Agree, I need to see how big the difference is between both screen qualities, I don't really think the difference in weight is that big of a deal. Has anyone had hands on it yet to confirm?

 

[FeliApple]

Agree, I need to see how big the difference is between both screen qualities, I don't really think the difference in weight is that big of a deal. Has anyone had hands on it yet to confirm?

Starts shipping March 24th (tomorrow)

 

[MrGimper]

Having owned both the Air 1 and the Air 2 I will say that I'd take the thinner/lighter/better screen Air 2 over the slightly faster new new 2017 iPad.

 

[Tazoawake2016]

I also voted for the 64GB iPad Air 2 because of the extra storage.

That said, I'd recommend making your decision after reading/watching some reviews of the new iPad. They should start popping from tomorrow. Who knows it might surprise the doubters and actually prove quite an improvement.

 

[rui no onna]

I also voted for the 64GB iPad Air 2 because of the extra storage.

That said, I'd recommend making your decision after reading/watching some reviews of the new iPad. They should start popping from tomorrow. Who knows it might surprise the doubters and actually prove quite an improvement.

This is an improvement performance-wise. I estimate CPU at 1.4-1.5x and GPU at 1.1-1.2x of Air 2. It's the trimmings (mainly display) where it falls short.

The thing is if clearance and refurb sales on Air 2 didn't exist, the new 2017 iPad would be an automatic recommendation to the more budget conscious. It's just the presence of $299 Air 2 32GB, $329-349 Air 2 64GB and $399 Air 2 128GB that muddies the waters a bit.

 

[Badrottie]

Nah, since Apple will need to continue supporting devices with 1 GB of ram (iPad Air, iPad Mini 2 & 3, iPhone 5s, 6 and 6 plus and 6th gen iPod touch) with iOS 11 (and many of them with iOS 12 as well) any device with at least 2 GB of ram (which the Air 2 has) should be fairly safe from a performance perspective for at least another 1.5 years and probably more...

2GB ram? Wow I didn't know Air 2 have more RAM! All I remember it has a powerful triple core CPU.

 

[BeatCrazy]

That's a mere 50MHz difference, not 500MHz. Less than 3%. Barely a blip on the radar.

The A8X is 1.5GHz vs. A9 @ 1.85GHz aka 23% bump in CPU. GPU gets a bump too.

 

[rui no onna]

The A8X is 1.5GHz vs. A9 @ 1.85GHz aka 23% bump in CPU. GPU gets a bump too.

We were talking about A9 1.85GHz iPad vs A9 1.8GHz iPhone.

A8X vs A9 clock rates are not directly comparable given at the same clock rate, I expect A9 will be faster in real-world tasks than the A8.

As I mentioned previously:

This is an improvement performance-wise. I estimate CPU at 1.4-1.5x and GPU at 1.1-1.2x of Air 2. It's the trimmings (mainly display) where it falls short.

The thing is if clearance and refurb sales on Air 2 didn't exist, the new 2017 iPad would be an automatic recommendation to the more budget conscious. It's just the presence of $299 Air 2 32GB, $329-349 Air 2 64GB and $399 Air 2 128GB that muddies the waters a bit.

 

[BeatCrazy]

We were talking about A9 1.85GHz iPad vs A9 1.8GHz iPhone.

A8X vs A9 clock rates are not directly comparable given at the same clock rate, I expect A9 will be faster in real-world tasks than the A8.

As I mentioned previously:

I agree with your CPU/GPU estimates on new iPad vs Air 2.

 

[Kisey]

Sort of in the same situation, except mom has an iPad Air. Best Buy is offering $150 for trade-in. Sill debating if I want to upgrade her to the new iPad ($329 w/$25 BB gift card) or iPad Air 2 ($285 open-box).

 

[KaliPaige]

My mom's got an iPad Air 2, and the laminated, less-reflective screen has been perfect for her eyes. If your mother has any kind of eye trouble then the Air 2 is the way to go, as the A8X was a stellar processor back then and is still a stellar processor now. Also, if she has any problems holding the heavier iPad 3, then the Air 2 will be much better as it's thinner and lighter than the new iPad.

 

[Mirascael]

Just ordered a refurbished Air 2 GB 64, which was merely 10 € more expensive than the new iPad 32 GB over in here in Germany.

The matte chamfered edges seem to be the only advantage of the new iPad in comparison with the Air 2.

 

[sracer]

Just ordered a refurbished Air 2 GB 64, which was merely 10 € more expensive than the new iPad 32 GB over in here in Germany.

The matte chamfered edges seem to be the only advantage of the new iPad in comparison with the Air 2.

Most likely the non-vibrating speakers are another advantage.

 

[aneftp]

Well. I'm trading in my 4 year old daughter's 64gb iPad Air (2013) model for Best Buy $25 plus $150 gift card promo for a 128gb iPad (2017) $429.

I figure it cost me $254 for "upgrade" from A7 processor to A9 processor. iPad 2013 is 2.5 years old.

So A9 should give me at least 2 plus more years of serviceable usage.

The A7 1gb ram is getting long in the tooth.

The trade in promo works for me.

I had gotten the iPad Air 2013 with a $100 target gift card promo in 2013 anyways.

 

[rui no onna]

Curious, is the new iPad gonna be available in retail stores tomorrow or is tomorrow just start of preorders?