Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

All iPads How often do users replace their iPads/iPad Pros ?

DD88

DD88

Suspended
Original poster
Jun 6, 2022
343
706
Currently own an 11” iPad Pro (2nd generation) with A12Z chip. This is my second iPad and I can’t remember how long my previous ipad Air lasted, it stopped working after about 4 years I think and actually stopped working after I started an update, which is why I’m hesitant to update as much now because of this. It was updating with the progress bar then the screen went black and didn’t ever turn back on. Pressing the power button just brought up a logo of a cable leading to a Mac I think then it just didn’t ever turn on even when plugged in and charging. I replaced it with the Pro and noticed it was just better in every way. Having said that, if I were to replace this current IPad Pro I have now with the upcoming M2 IPad Pro this year, would I notice any real differences?
i haven’t ever tried an M1 Ipad either. As long as my Pro works I can’t ever see me replacing it until I have to, possibly 2024 maybe?
How often do you keep your iPad for before replacing it for a newer model?
 
Well, the most recent change I made was when I sold the 2017 IPad Pro and bought the 2020 IPP (11”). It was not because the 2017 iPad stopped working. It was working just fine. But that model was plagued by what is reported here as the “white spot” problem - blemishes on the screen. My unit did not have that problem, but I was guessing it was only a matter of time till it surfaced. That would have driven down the value of the unit (I was trading into Apple and using the proceeds for the new unit). [Edit: I should also accept and mention the fact that I really liked - and still do like - the form factor of the 2020 11” IPP. That was also a factor - albeit a secondary one - that influenced my decision to upgrade.] So, I got my current 2020 IPP sometime in 2020. I don’t see any reason to change or upgrade it in the near future. My use of the iPad is heavy but not intensive. So, aside from the possibility that I may somehow damage the ipad, I see no reason why I should upgrade.

This being given, I would probably have a 4 year upgrade cadence (with many caveats).
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: MPclk2006
DD88 said:
Having said that, if I were to replace this current IPad Pro I have now with the upcoming M2 IPad Pro this year, would I notice any real differences?
i haven’t ever tried an M1 Ipad either. As long as my Pro works I can’t ever see me replacing it until I have to, possibly 2024 maybe?
Click to expand...

If your current iPad still serves you well, then might as well save the money now and get an even bigger upgrade in the future. There's always something new around the corner.


DD88 said:
How often do you keep your iPad for before replacing it for a newer model?
Click to expand...

When there are features on the new model I like or there are too many annoyances on my current device. I upgraded from the 2017 Pro when the reloads got to be too much and I saw the 2021 models weren't so anemic in terms of RAM.

I actually wish to upgrade my mini 6 (reloads again). Unfortunately, there's nothing better in that form factor.
 
  • Like
Reactions: I7guy, Student of Life and BhaveshUK
Every 5 years. I replaced my Mini 4 with a Mini 5, although I still use the Mini 4.
 
Roughly 4 years or so. Went from a 128gb iPad Air 2013 to a 512gb 10.5 iPad Pro 2017 to a 256gb M1 11 in iPad Pro 2021. Daily driver, consumption and games. Bought a 2020 12.9 1TB for productivity ONLY.
 
Seems to be about every 3½ years for me. Initially a quick jump from the original iPad to the iPad 2 in late 2011, then to the Air 2 in mid 2015, and finally the 11” Pro in late 2018. I guess that means I’m due for another one now, but can’t think of any reason I would want to replace my Pro any time soon.
 
I try to go as long as I can. Ideally I want at least 4 years unless it develops a fault or there is a compelling reason to upgrade.

The first ipad I owned was an iPad mini. I’ve owned every generation of ipad mini. However they have never been my main ipad.

The shortest I‘ve ever owned an ipad for is about 8 months. That was the ipad Air 1. I upgraded to the iPad Air 2 because I needed more storage. My iPad Air 1 only had 32GB and I upgraded to the 128GB iPad Air 2. I kept that for 2.5 years. I upgraded because a very small part display was coming away from the ipad. I suspect this was due to it being used by my husband or toddler at the time. They must have dropped it. It was perfectly usable but once I’d seen it I couldn’t un see it and it had to go. Then I purchased the iPad Pro 10.5 at launch.

I would have been happy to carry on using my 10.5 inch iPad Pro beyond the 3 years that I owned it. However one day when I was at work my husband let my kids use it and they damaged the charging port somehow. It then developed a fault where charging was finicky and would only charge if it was plugged in at certain angles. So that one had to go and I got my current iPad Pro 11 2018. I’ve had it for two years and it works perfectly. I keep it out of reach of my children and my husband has been told that if he lets them use it then he will be personally responsible for replacing it straight away. My kids have their own tablets to use and break and we replace and get them fixed under insurance.

I plan on keeping this ipad for at least another two/three years providing that it can still do what I need it to do and doesn’t develop any faults.
 
  • Like
Reactions: robotica, max2 and The-Real-Deal82
I bought the original iPad Pro when it first came out. Upgraded to the new one in 2021. My granddaughter is still using the original one. So for me, every 5 years.
 
I bought the standard (back then the only) iPad 2 when it launched, then the original iPad Pro 12.9” back in 2015, which I am still using. So i’m guessing an average of six years between upgrades?
 
As a multi-iPad person, I don't "upgrade", I just buy a new device and add it to the others. I only get rid of an iPad when I don't use it anymore, as long as it has some value left, I don't sell devices under $50, so a device with a dead battery or screen issue will not be sold.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rui no onna
My first ipad 2 lasted me a solid 4 years and after getting a macbook pro i gave it to my mother who used it for another 4+ years till the 512 mb ram became unusable.
My current ipad pro 10.5 is on 4rth year and is on ipad os 15.6. Maybe its the 4 gb ram, its still usable even though some reloading happens in safari and other apps. I plan to get a M2 iPad Pro 11 to go along with my M2 air next year some time.
 
I "upgraded" to the iPad mini 6 from the original first gen iPad last year, so 11 years between. Except I still use the original, so it's not really a replacement, but rather an add-on.
 
Every 2-4 years I would say

Had a 2017 12.9 until 2021 iPad Pro 11 m1
Had a 2016 9.7 pro I think for like 3 years until 2019 iPad mini 5 replaced it and 3.5 years with that one so far

I could easily see me getting 5 years with iPad Pro m1 11 but an oled mini iPad or something could throw a wrench in plans

Keeping my mini5 forever too regardless of when I upgrade from it. Stays in the collection
 
Had the iPad 3 September 2012 - April 19. During owning that there was a period of 2/3 years when I hardly used it and thought I wouldn’t get another. They are a lot more useful for getting things done than they were.
Mini 5 April 19 - Oct 21 when I got the Mini 6

Average 4.5 years but not really the whole story.
 
I’m still using an iPad Pro 9.7”. It’s still fine but I am planning to upgrade when the new models come out. I’ve typically kept my iPads 4-5 years I think.
 
I hand them down to family members so it’s not a bad thing. The 10.5 ipad pro holds a special place in my heart as my first pro. I love the 12.9 2018 pro, the iPad air 4 is not bad but not like the 10.5 pro. Not really a fan of the power fingerprint reader. Thats the next on the list to get handed down lol.
 
I’m planning to replace my month-old iPad 9 with an Air or a Pro when the battery starts going…I have no idea when that’s going to be though, the battery life on this thing is fantastic so I suspect I have plenty of time to save up!
 
I went from a iPad 3 (2012) to a 2017 iPP 12.9 so it must soon be time but there is no 14+inch with miniLED and SoC on 3nm and the 2017 works fine so I am in no hurry.

My kids went fro iPad2 (2011), to Air 1 (2013) to iPP in 2017. My youngest had to buy a 2021-M1 12.9 because she lacked screen real estate for her school work. My wife did add a 12.9 inch iPP to her 11 inch iPP in 2019 when starting her studies.

Can't believe it, dad buys the fewest iPad in the family! Need to remember that when "wife" negotiations starts.
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: rui no onna and Benlurks1010
I have had an iPad Mini 5 since it was released in early 2019, which means I have been using it heavily for 3 and a half years. I almost traded it in last fall for a Mini 6, but I didn't like the "6" for various reasons. I am likely to buy an iPad Air later this fall as my aging eyes now desire a bigger screen, and keep the Mini 5 as a secondary unit, as it still runs well. The "5" has been the longest-running iPad I have ever used (and the best), having been proceeded by the original Mini (almost 2 years), the Mini 2 (2.5 years), and the Mini 4 (2 years). Thus my iPad retention rate seems to average about 2-4 years.
 
In my case,I still have iPad 2 (and still use it sometimes) - it’s 10 years old, iPad Air 3 and 2021 M1. I would say around 5 years.
 
For me,

I got my first iPad 3 in 2012
Then upgraded to iPad mini 2 in 2014
Then 9.7" iPad Pro in 2016
Then 11" iPad Pro in 2018
Still hanging on to it. May upgrade later this year. Or maybe not. Will see what the next upgrade brings.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Benlurks1010
Still on iPad 5 (not Air 5 but gen 5!) and digging it. Have 2 of them and yes, at times a little slow in loading data, but otherwise satisfying all needs. 5 years since 2017 and still going strong. No issues whatsoever.
 
Last edited:
Bought my first iPad in spring 2019, it was 10.5 base Pro in silver on sale, loved everything about that thing, fast forward spring 2021, its warranty was about to expire and it had developed well know defect in the form of white spots, so I got it replaced within warranty for new/refurb and sold it off at a good price together with 1st gen pencil.
Waited for months like crazy for 12.9 M1 to be in stock(no Apple stores here), bought one in a 5G base spec in july/august 2021.
Now, if stage manager proves to be gimmick and no Mac apps get ported to run on over powered M1/M2 iPads, then I might sell my 12.9 M1, it wont be much, given I paid dearly for 5G version, but I might put the money towards rumored iPad 10, if it gets at least A14 and 4GB of RAM and the rest of the money, whats left after sale would go towards either M2 MBA or 14.2 MBP.
I dont regret spending all that money on my 12.9 M1, its a beautiful tablet, but certainly far, very far from being good value for the money IMHO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wallah
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back