Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPad mini, iPad Air, iPad Air 2 for 5 years now iPad Air 3. Pros are too expensive for me plus overkill when I just use iPads as a consumption device.
 
I’ve been updating yearly or any new release since 2013. I wonder if there actually will be a 2019 iPad Pro or not. I will upgrade if the RAM is bumped up. All I’ve ever wanted is 8GB, but I’ll take 6GBs and then probably go dark from looking up Apple news so I can just enjoy the iPad and not be tempted to upgrade just for cameras or small bumps.
 
I’ve been updating yearly or any new release since 2013. I wonder if there actually will be a 2019 iPad Pro or not. I will upgrade if the RAM is bumped up. All I’ve ever wanted is 8GB, but I’ll take 6GBs and then probably go dark from looking up Apple news so I can just enjoy the iPad and not be tempted to upgrade just for cameras or small bumps.
With Gurman chiming in, it seems more likely than it did a couple months ago. I actually am most curious about RAM. Apple doesn’t really seem to increment RAM very quickly, but I also wonder how much benefit iPadOS might see from increasing the RAM (basically wondering if that might be a reason for them to give the RAM a bump or not.)
 
I used to do the annual upgrade starting with the first iPad but slowed down since the original Air. Given the big first-year depreciation, I upgrade to every other year to last year’s model. The new design or size is the biggest draw for me. The past 4 years have been Air, 1st-gen 12.9 Pro, 1st-gen 10.5 Pro, and now looking to get 1st-gen 11 Pro. Never paid more than $600 for the 256GB model (once with LTE). Typically resold for $300-400. I feel like I get $100/year worth of value to keep doing it. This year is going to be a little more expensive because it’ll be my first USB-C device and I’ll need to buy extra cables, chargers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rui no onna
I used to do the annual upgrade starting with the first iPad but slowed down since the original Air. Given the big first-year depreciation, I upgrade to every other year to last year’s model. The new design or size is the biggest draw for me. The past 4 years have been Air, 1st-gen 12.9 Pro, 1st-gen 10.5 Pro, and now looking to get 1st-gen 11 Pro. Never paid more than $600 for the 256GB model (once with LTE). Typically resold for $300-400. I feel like I get $100/year worth of value to keep doing it. This year is going to be a little more expensive because it’ll be my first USB-C device and I’ll need to buy extra cables, chargers.
That was definitely a bummer last year--I had a pretty good collection of lightning adapters for HDMI, USB, etc. I decided to limit my USB-C cable purchases to just the couple that Apple had new on their website, and I still haven't really used either of them for much, so that was probably a wise decision. I did, however, just buy a new SanDisk 500 GB external USB-C drive in anticipation of iPadOS coming out. I'm going to use it to offload Affinity projects and free up space on my iPad.
 
I upgrade when I start to notice my current model is slowing down. Usually after an OS update, that for some mysterious reason (Sarcasm) seems to leave older models lagging in misery.
 
I upgrade when I start to notice my current model is slowing down. Usually after an OS update, that for some mysterious reason (Sarcasm) seems to leave older models lagging in misery.
The last time that happened it was with 1GB devices and IOS 9 in 2015, it hasn't happened since and depending on how Apple optimizes IOS and leaves behind older devices might not even happen anymore...
 
My iPad runs iPad OS great, it has some glitches but no slowdown or any performance issues. Honestly feels faster and more like the new Pros were meant to have it in the first place.

I am going to have an extremely hard time fighting my OCD at not getting the rumored update. *first world problems.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Richard8655
My iPad runs iPad OS great, it has some glitches but no slowdown or any performance issues. Honestly feels faster and more like the new Pros were meant to have it in the first place.

I am going to have an extremely hard time fighting my OCD at not getting the rumored update. *first world problems.
iPad is the product I have the most trouble resisting updates. It’s an expensive habit.
 
Interesting thread to read! I bought my first iPad last year September so it is too early for me to upgrade it. I do hope that I will be able to use the iPad I have for at least 2 or 3 years. We will see how it will hold up. Based on my usage the RAM would be the first to cause issues. I have issues even now with reloading apps and tabs so I would not be surprised for this to get worse. Nevertheless I still hope that I will be able to use it for at least another 2 years and half. To be honest I do not think that I will be with this machine for say 5 years. Realistically I don't see it happening. But hey if I manage that would be a nice surprise.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigMcGuire
Not very often, I soldiered on with an iPad 3 right up to the release of the first iPad Pro, at which point I couldn't resist the larger screen so treated myself. I might go for a 4th gen 12.9 when it puts in an appearance, for the smaller form factor and ProMotion :)
 
Lol, Apple cured me of that affliction last year when pricing for top storage LTE jumped by over 50%. :p

The iteration in the iPad Pro era has been rapid, but has to slow down at some point. IF new Pro models are released this fall, I have a hard time believing we’re going to see another dramatic form factor change. But if there is one, I’m sure I’ll have this one on Swappa. I have a problem.
 
The iteration in the iPad Pro era has been rapid, but has to slow down at some point. IF new Pro models are released this fall, I have a hard time believing we’re going to see another dramatic form factor change. But if there is one, I’m sure I’ll have this one on Swappa. I have a problem.
Yeah. I doubt we’ll see a dramatic design change for years to come unless some new feature were to necessitate it. This style is the biggest change the iPad has ever seen.
 
Yeah. I doubt we’ll see a dramatic design change for years to come unless some new feature were to necessitate it. This style is the biggest change the iPad has ever seen.
Another thing I thought about today—another redesign would probably force an Apple Pencil redesign too, since the charging mechanism is dependent on the shape of the iPad.
 
iPad is the product I have the most trouble resisting updates. It’s an expensive habit.
Right?!? *we’ll just have to talk each other down any time we think we need to buy the next one, lol. ;)
It never was like this until 2014. I used to stress about collectibles and stuff, but the I discovered how cool these gadgets were and I was hooked.
lol
 
I’ve gone from iPad 3-iPad mini 2-iPad pro 9.7 so every couple of years or so. However I’m still DD an iPad Pro 9.7. It’s battery is getting weak and only lasts about 5 hours or so but it still does everything that I need it to do and supports all of iOS 13s features. I will probably upgrade in the winter or early spring. I’ve been contemplating getting the battery serviced and see if that can bring new life into it but I’m not sure. Also every time I use one of the new iPad pros I can see how it can improve my workflow a lot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NewWaveGuy
I’ve gone from iPad 3-iPad mini 2-iPad pro 9.7 so every couple of years or so. However I’m still DD an iPad Pro 9.7. It’s battery is getting weak and only lasts about 5 hours or so but it still does everything that I need it to do and supports all of iOS 13s features. I will probably upgrade in the winter or early spring. I’ve been contemplating getting the battery serviced and see if that can bring new life into it but I’m not sure. Also every time I use one of the new iPad pros I can see how it can improve my workflow a lot.
What’s DD?
 
I’ve gone from iPad 3-iPad mini 2-iPad pro 9.7 so every couple of years or so. However I’m still DD an iPad Pro 9.7. It’s battery is getting weak and only lasts about 5 hours or so but it still does everything that I need it to do and supports all of iOS 13s features. I will probably upgrade in the winter or early spring. I’ve been contemplating getting the battery serviced and see if that can bring new life into it but I’m not sure. Also every time I use one of the new iPad pros I can see how it can improve my workflow a lot.
Can the battery be replaced? My 9.7” Pro especially has much worse battery life than it used to. But when I dug around, I couldn’t find any evidence that anyone actually replaces iPad batteries as a service.
 
Can the battery be replaced? My 9.7” Pro especially has much worse battery life than it used to. But when I dug around, I couldn’t find any evidence that anyone actually replaces iPad batteries as a service.
Apple does for $99. I don't think they actually replace the battery though. I think they just give you a refurb replacement.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.