iPad iPad 8 buy now or wait?

[Mokiwi]

Is it worth buying the iPad 8 now or waiting for the rumored spring upgrade?
In need of upgrading from my current iPad Air 1st/2nd gen(???). It has been absolutely brilliant and only now on it's last legs. The latest Air is too expensive so hoping the 8 would suffice and last potential years. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[0128672]

I traded in my 12.9 iPad Pro towards the M1 Macbook Air (which I love), but after a couple months found I missed having an iPad for some games. I picked up the iPad 8th gen 128GB on sale at Walmart, and I'm delighted with it. The display quality, size, sound and speed are all great and I'm not missing any pro features.

I did consider the new iPad Air but for my needs, it's too expensive.

Buy now or wait really depends on your current needs.

 

[Mokiwi]

Thanks for the reply. I don’t play games, will only use it for the web, shopping, Netflix, Skype and the occasional power point/ word document. I guess there is no guarantee that any new iPad in the spring would be the same price. For my needs perhaps the 8 would be sufficient.

 

[AutomaticApple]

Is it worth buying the iPad 8 now or waiting for the rumored spring upgrade?
In need of upgrading from my current iPad Air 1st/2nd gen(???). It has been absolutely brilliant and only now on it's last legs. The latest Air is too expensive so hoping the 8 would suffice and last potential years. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I’d wait until March or April. The new iPad might have thinner bezels.

 

[*~Kim~*]

The alternative would be a refurb 8, though I don’t know what the wait time for that would be. I’m after one for a relative but I haven’t even seen any refurb 7th gens in the UK yet.

The base iPad is unlikely to be upgraded in the Spring - the current one isn’t 6 months old yet.

Bear in mind that the 8th gen doesn’t get free Microsoft Word as it’s just above the screen size cut off. You’d need an Office 365 sub unless you can get it through your organisation.

 

[Mokiwi]

AutomaticApple, Thinner bezel is a good point-thanks but not a deal breaker for me. Performance is more important.

Kim, I was surprised about an upgrade rumor. Though it was worth inquiring about though. As for a refurb, I have reservations. I think I would prefer something new. Hopefully it will last a few years.

 

[gorskiegangsta]

I'm in the same boat. Only thing preventing me from pulling the trigger is the rumor that the next iPad will be 1.2mm thinner, meaning a potential addition of a laminated display, which would be a huge upgrade and definitely worth an extra month's wait until Apple's March event.

 

[snipr125]

I'm in the same boat. Only thing preventing me from pulling the trigger is the rumor that the next iPad will be 1.2mm thinner, meaning a potential addition of a laminated display, which would be a huge upgrade and definitely worth an extra month's wait until Apple's March event.

Yes the next ipad will probably be housed in the same chassis as the Air 3/10.5 Pro with the same A12 bionic chip, with hopefully the same laminated display. However it might not have a laminated display as schools use these extensively and Non laminated displays are easier to replace.

Like Kim said, the Ipad 8 was only released in Sept/Oct last year, so less than 6 months, so refresh this March looks unlikely.

OP, if you need an Ipad 8 urgently get it as you should be able to get it cheaper in the US. Its a solid, very powerful ipad with its A12.

 

[Mokiwi]

If the iPad 8 was upgraded to a laminated display and thinner bezel with the A13 chip as rumored, wouldn’t that make it pretty much the same as the iPad Air 4? There would be no need for folks to spend the extra cash on an Air!

Snipr124, it isn’t urgent, shipping to my part of the world would negate any cost saving plus Amazon seems to sell mostly Renewed products.

 

[snipr125]

I've seen some rumours that the Ipad 9 would have have the A13 bionic in the 10.5" Air 3 chassis, with some also saying it would drop down to £299 with 64 base storage. Personally, i think a device should be developed to be as good as it can be, not just to fill a price point in a product line up. I suppose the Air 4 will still have its larger 10.9 display, A14, and USB C connectivity to differentiate it.

 

[gorskiegangsta]

@snipr125​

Interesting point about current iPad 8 display repairability for education, but I'm not sure that'll hold Apple back if they can simplify their supply line and cut costs by reusing Air 3 components. Plus, the iPad 8 refresh was relatively minor so a spring refresh might still be possible.

@Mokiwi​

Assuming the iPad gets the display, A13, and 64GB storage upgrades, the iPad Air 4 still has the benefit of a newer design as well as a better display, SoC, RAM, front/rear cameras, I/O, and pencil support. But I agree, addressing all the iPad 8's shortcomings in one cycle is extremely unlikely, especially considering the base iPad has been absolutely killing it in the tablet market since its 2017 reboot.

 

[DevinNj]

Just saw this: https://pocketnow.com/apple-reporte...-to-launch-new-ipads-and-possibly-airtags-too
I'd like to see a new Mini myself

 

[limesmoothie]

I've seen some rumours that the Ipad 9 would have have the A13 bionic in the 10.5" Air 3 chassis, with some also saying it would drop down to £299 with 64 base storage. Personally, i think a device should be developed to be as good as it can be, not just to fill a price point in a product line up. I suppose the Air 4 will still have its larger 10.9 display, A14, and USB C connectivity to differentiate it.

I'd buy the heck out of that. Would be a steal.

 

[Digitalguy]

@snipr125​

Interesting point about current iPad 8 display repairability for education, but I'm not sure that'll hold Apple back if they can simplify their supply line and cut costs by reusing Air 3 components. Plus, the iPad 8 refresh was relatively minor so a spring refresh might still be possible.

@Mokiwi​

Assuming the iPad gets the display, A13, and 64GB storage upgrades, the iPad Air 4 still has the benefit of a newer design as well as a better display, SoC, RAM, front/rear cameras, I/O, and pencil support. But I agree, addressing all the iPad 8's shortcomings in one cycle is extremely unlikely, especially considering the base iPad has been absolutely killing it in the tablet market since its 2017 reboot.

That's not how Apple works. Apple went to the trouble of making the air 4 10.9 instead of reusing the 11in pro components...
I also wouldn't be so hopeful for 64GB at the base model... since that's the same as the current air. I am afraid it will still start with 32GB, the same A12 and only the bigger 10.5 screen (possibly laminated, but not necessarily). Apple seem to like to go 2 years with the same SOC for the base iPad... Expect un upgrade in 2022

 

[james10in]

Plus the possibility of using same chasis in 10.5 , hence causing white spot as happened in 10.5 pro nd Air 3

 

[snipr125]

That's not how Apple works. Apple went to the trouble of making the air 4 10.9 instead of reusing the 11in pro components...
I also wouldn't be so hopeful for 64GB at the base model... since that's the same as the current air. I am afraid it will still start with 32GB, the same A12 and only the bigger 10.5 screen (possibly laminated, but not necessarily). Apple seem to like to go 2 years with the same SOC for the base iPad... Expect un upgrade in 2022

Digitalguy, i agree with you, but some of the rumours do say the ipad 9 may have 64gb base storage with the A13 in the Air 3 chassis. Seems to good to be true i agree. I personally think the ipad 9 will have the A12 like the ipad 6 and 7 both had the A10.

New iPad (2021) announced at iPhone event

Here's everything you need to know about the brand new 9th generation iPad announced by Apple on 14 September.

www.google.co.uk

 

[Digitalguy]

Digitalguy, i agree with you, but some of the rumours do say the ipad 9 may have 64gb base storage with the A13 in the Air 3 chassis. Seems to good to be true i agree. I personally think the ipad 9 will have the A12 like the ipad 6 and 7 both had the A10.

New iPad (2021) announced at iPhone event

Here's everything you need to know about the brand new 9th generation iPad announced by Apple on 14 September.

www.google.co.uk

Last years there were rumours saying that iPad 8 would get 64 and air 128 and I was saying no way, they have to separate the 3 lines and upsell you the 128GB for the base iPad and that's what happened... even despite the air going up in price...
What could happen, instead, is 4GB RAM with the iPad 9, that already happened with the 7 and will not impact marketing, since most people don't even know how much RAM iPads have...
It also means that Apple, in the future, can move on with more RAM hungry stuff, without impacting current devices...

 

[DexBell]

Is it worth buying the iPad 8 now or waiting for the rumored spring upgrade?
In need of upgrading from my current iPad Air 1st/2nd gen(???). It has been absolutely brilliant and only now on it's last legs. The latest Air is too expensive so hoping the 8 would suffice and last potential years. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

The 8 just came out literally 5 months ago. There wont be an update until at least Oct.

 

[sracer]

Is it worth buying the iPad 8 now or waiting for the rumored spring upgrade?
In need of upgrading from my current iPad Air 1st/2nd gen(???). It has been absolutely brilliant and only now on it's last legs. The latest Air is too expensive so hoping the 8 would suffice and last potential years. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

The only reason to wait buying an iPad 8 is for a sale. As soon as a sale hits, jump on it. IMO, it is the best value of all the iPads (Pro and non-Pro).

 

[Hoff]

Personally I'm looking to buy the 8 before it goes away. Because I actually want a headphone jack.

 

[rui no onna]

Personally I'm looking to buy the 8 before it goes away. Because I actually want a headphone jack.

There's also the fact that the design is not prone to the white spot problem like on the 10.5" iPads.

 

[mikiee]

I got my iPad 8 in Nov. for $286 shipped from Amazon. Very happy with it and really don't know why I would want one of the more expensive models. Would be nice to have more than 32 GB though.

 

[Hoff]

There's also the fact that the design is not prone to the white spot problem like on the 10.5" iPads.

I don't know about white spot problem. I take it that's on the Air 3 as well?

 

[Jxdawg]

FYI a leaker mentioned the March 16th event was canceled/nixed.

FWIW I have the 8 and it use it for Word/Excel Docs, internet browsing, COD Mobile (very graphics intensive), and Logos Software (RAM intensive reference program). I have zero issues with either of these tasks on my 8. Even if a new iPad is released soon (doubtful) you will still have a fantastic device on your hands.

 

[AutomaticApple]

FYI a leaker mentioned the March 16th event was canceled/nixed.

Not on March 16th, but a different date in March is still up in the air.