iPad Pro iPad 3rd gen refurb fromApple still worth it?

[badsimian]

So I have a 10.5” iPad Pro and want to get the bigger one for reading newspapers and magazines. I can’t really afford a new one but saw a refurb 12.9” 3rd gen on the Apple UK site for £579. It doesn’t seem like a big difference between that and 4th gen and I’m assuming it should come with a 100% battery plus warranty so should be good for years right? Would you get one or try for cheaper second hand?

My usage is mostly reading newspapers, magazines, websites and video watching.

 

[Digitalguy]

The main difference is RAM and storage. What storage model is the one you saw?

 

[badsimian]

256GB

 

[badsimian]

I guess I’m wondering if I should be buying a four year old model at this point. It’s not “cheap” exactly.

 

[CharlesShaw]

Regardless of model, price, or seller, unless you've previously owned or tried the 12.9" iPad Pro (with the content you enjoy, sitting or lounging as you do now with the 10.5"), I would strongly suggest buying from a source that allows returns. Mountains of comparisons have been and are still being written and recorded on YouTube, but until you spend a few days with the larger size you won't know if it's right for your needs or not.

 

[Digitalguy]

2018 vs 2020 the only big difference is RAM, with 2020 you get more RAM and less reloads. Probably an additional year or 2 of support but keep in mind that even the first gen pro is still supported and so, at the very least the 2nd gen should get iPadOS 17 and the 3rd gen iPadOS 18, but given that the iPad 8 (with A12 and 3GB RAM) came with iPadOS 14 and should get at least 5 years of updates so until iPadOS 19, I don't see A12X getting any less, so iPadOS 19 until the end of 2026 is the bare minimum (which is 8 years, and the first gen pro is getting 8 years too... like the air 2). So you are covered with updates for at least another 4 years, and it's not like apps are going to stop working or even being updated in 2027, it generally takes a few years before some apps cannot be updated (and even they they don't stop working before a few additional years later, they are just not the latest version)
So really it's more of how much reloads are an issue for you...

 

[badsimian]

That’s a great response thanks. Reloads really aren’t an issue now on my 10.5 so don’t think they would be in the future