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kaardowiq

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 20, 2018
366
171
Zürich, Switzerland
Hey,

my iPad Air 1 battery runs only 30minutes when fully charged. A replacement would cost around 120$. A new iPad 2020 would cost 290$ here. I’m fine with the Air 1, even with the old iOS and performance is still fine for me.

Would you just replace the battery or replace the full device? Does it make sense to replace the device, now? Or should I still wait for a 2021 device?
 

azentropy

macrumors 601
Jul 19, 2002
4,138
5,665
Surprise
I wouldn’t invest much $ into the original Air. That said the battery for those is pretty inexpensive if you have some skills to be able to do it yourself.
 

Frankras

macrumors regular
Mar 9, 2012
222
153
Get the 8 gen iPad or Air 4. If your happy with Air 1 then you will be happy with either of them.
 

iterva

macrumors 6502
Jun 16, 2013
397
289
Sweden
Hey,

my iPad Air 1 battery runs only 30minutes when fully charged. A replacement would cost around 120$. A new iPad 2020 would cost 290$ here. I’m fine with the Air 1, even with the old iOS and performance is still fine for me.

Would you just replace the battery or replace the full device? Does it make sense to replace the device, now? Or should I still wait for a 2021 device?
Just did a quick search on Amazon and there seems to be battery replacements available for around ~30 USD. For that price i might replace it..If i have the patience and some knowledge/ability to follow instructions.

Otherwise i would just go ahead and replace the whole thing with a new one for 290. But 120 for a replacement is too high imo.
 

0128672

Cancelled
Apr 16, 2020
5,962
4,783
You could also check the Apple Refurb Store in your country to see if an iPad that might suit your needs becomes available. It’s another way to save on a device, and Apple’s refurbishment process includes a new outer shell and battery.
 

kaardowiq

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 20, 2018
366
171
Zürich, Switzerland
Thank you all for your opinions… yes, could take a 3rd party replacement at lower costs than 120$, but all my 3rd party replacements (including 3GS, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, X…) in the past had problems… Issues after several weeks, non working charging, sudden outages or non working Touch ID, etc. Therefore I‘d only let it swap at Apple to avoid this problems. I think I just take the new iPad 2020 for 290$ - should do the next 5 years hopefully. Only used for viewing Photos from iCloud, browsing, chatting iMessage and Phone (via handoff from iPhone) and some office works in Numbers…

@WildSky Thanks for the hint with the refurb store, just took a look, but the cheapest one is 449$ in our country.
 

Digitalguy

macrumors 601
Apr 15, 2019
4,655
4,488
I have the same problem with the mini 4, which is a more capable device, but I still decided to let it die, not worth it...
 

AutomaticApple

Suspended
Nov 28, 2018
7,401
3,378
Massachusetts
Hey,

my iPad Air 1 battery runs only 30minutes when fully charged. A replacement would cost around 120$. A new iPad 2020 would cost 290$ here. I’m fine with the Air 1, even with the old iOS and performance is still fine for me.

Would you just replace the battery or replace the full device? Does it make sense to replace the device, now? Or should I still wait for a 2021 device?
Just buy a new device. For anybody, it'll easily be worth the extra money compared to just repairing the dying iPad Air 1.
 
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