iPad iPad Air 3 or MacBook Air 2018?

[dantracht]

What are your thoughts between the two? Light work, mostly for browsing, streaming. I’m selling my 2017 iPad Pro 12.9 and was all set to get the Air 3 because I prefer the smaller size, but for the same price, or close, I can get a Macbook Air 128gb at micro center. The only difference is 256gb for the iPad Air vs 128gb for the MacBook Air, but I never store much on the devices itself so the storage size doesn’t bother me.

Which would you choose?

Thanks in advance!

 

[mollyc]

I suppose it really depends on your use case. I got rid of my iPad mini 2, and instead of getting a new mini or even a full sized iPad, I got the MBA last week. I love it so far. I much prefer a real keyboard over trying to type on a screen, and for the types of things I like to browse and stream, I'd rather have a computer.

 

[sracer]

Those two devices are so different I can't see how one could make a reasonable decision between them without a more detailed look at how you intend to use a device. Are there any specific use cases you have in mind?

If you'll be using it in the same manner as your 12.9 Pro, then the Air 3 seems to be the logical choice. If you would like to do desktop-y things with the device, then the MBA makes sense.

 

[dantracht]

Those two devices are so different I can't see how one could make a reasonable decision between them without a more detailed look at how you intend to use a device. Are there any specific use cases you have in mind?

If you'll be using it in the same manner as your 12.9 Pro, then the Air 3 seems to be the logical choice. If you would like to do desktop-y things with the device, then the MBA makes sense.

Thanks for chiming in! I would use either for similar purposes: emails, some work, browsing, streaming, music, that sort of thing, nothing too labor intensive, I have an iMac for that sort of thing. I would get the Air with the Smart Keyboard as well.

Hope that helps.

 

[sracer]

Thanks for chiming in! I would use either for similar purposes: emails, some work, browsing, streaming, music, that sort of thing, nothing too labor intensive, I have an iMac for that sort of thing. I would get the Air with the Smart Keyboard as well.

Hope that helps.

ah, got it. If you have an iMac then it makes the choice easier... the iPad Air 3. You should also get the Citrix X1 mouse and install Jump Desktop (remote desktop software) on both your iMac and Air 3. The Air 3 + Smart Keyboard + X1 Mouse connecting to your iMac will give you the portable desktop functionality that you'd have with an MBA.

I'm doing this with my 2018 iPad (and iMac at my home office) and it has eliminated the NEED for a MBA (but I recently bought a new 2017 MBA because it was a killer deal and I love the older model).

 

[mollyc]

ah, got it. If you have an iMac then it makes the choice easier... the iPad Air 3. You should also get the Citrix X1 mouse and install Jump Desktop (remote desktop software) on both your iMac and Air 3. The Air 3 + Smart Keyboard + X1 Mouse connecting to your iMac will give you the portable desktop functionality that you'd have with an MBA.

I'm doing this with my 2018 iPad (and iMac at my home office) and it has eliminated the NEED for a MBA (but I recently bought a new 2017 MBA because it was a killer deal and I love the older model).

I have an iMac and now the MBA. I do not miss an iPad at all. I have my phone for anything that is app only. I know most people prefer the iPad, and some use one exclusively. But I'm happy I switched over.

 

[AutomaticApple]

What are your thoughts between the two? Light work, mostly for browsing, streaming. I’m selling my 2017 iPad Pro 12.9 and was all set to get the Air 3 because I prefer the smaller size, but for the same price, or close, I can get a Macbook Air 128gb at micro center. The only difference is 256gb for the iPad Air vs 128gb for the MacBook Air, but I never store much on the devices itself so the storage size doesn’t bother me.

Which would you choose?

Thanks in advance!

Get the iPad Air 3.

 

[petvas]

I wanted to write that you should get a MacBook Air but since you already have an iMac, get the iPad.

 

[zipur]

Beware

 

[dantracht]

Thanks all, seems to me the air for the win!

 

[tps3443]

Isn’t this a downgrade in performance? The iPad Air 3 is excellent for the money and all. But, your losing some features that your now sold iPad Pro 2017 had.

Less ram, no pro-motion display, no quad speakers, a few other things too I’m sure.

 

[dantracht]

Isn’t this a downgrade in performance? The iPad Air 3 is excellent for the money and all. But, your losing some features that your now sold iPad Pro 2017 had.

Less ram, no pro-motion display, no quad speakers, a few other things too I’m sure.

True, but I found the size to be too big.

 

[Mainsail]

I am a bit confused. An iPad Air with 256 GB storage is $650 full retail. The best deal that I have seen for a 2018 MBA 128GB was a Best Buy flash sale for $950. Almost 50% more expensive....so not really the same price. Also, the base iPad Air with 64 GB is $500, which is more equivalent to 128 GB of storage on a Mac. IPad operating system and apps just don’t require as much space as a Mac. So, $500 vs $950 is more of an apples to apples comparison.....the MBA is almost twice the price. Finally, I suspect there will be some great deals on the iPad Air later in the summer.

Also, just to echo other folks’ warning: beware of the butterfly keyboard on the MBA!

 

[dantracht]

I am a bit confused. An iPad Air with 256 GB storage is $650 full retail. The best deal that I have seen for a 2018 MBA 128GB was a Best Buy flash sale for $950. Almost 50% more expensive....so not really the same price. Also, the base iPad Air with 64 GB is $500, which is more equivalent to 128 GB of storage on a Mac. IPad operating system and apps just don’t require as much space as a Mac. So, $500 vs $950 is more of an apples to apples comparison.....the MBA is almost twice the price. Finally, I suspect there will be some great deals on the iPad Air later in the summer.

Also, just to echo other folks’ warning: beware of the butterfly keyboard on the MBA!

Apologies. Was factoring in the cost of a Smart Keyboard as well to the cost of the air. Micro center near me has the 128gb MBAir for $200 off.

 

[Mainsail]

Apologies. Was factoring in the cost of a Smart Keyboard as well to the cost of the air. Micro center near me has the 128gb MBAir for $200 off.

Got it. So, I would say $500 (IPad Air 64 GB) + $160 (ASK) vs $1,200 (2018 MBA) - $200 (Discount).....$660 vs $1,000. Unless you really want 256 GB on the iPad, but I think that would be overkill if you can get by with 128 GB on the MBA.

Finally, the Apple Keyboard Case is very expensive, and there are a lot of folks that have had problems with these cases. There are 3rd party options that much less expensive, so it’s worth looking around. Of course, cases and keyboards are very individual things.

 

[dantracht]

Got it. So, I would say $500 (IPad Air 64 GB) + $160 (ASK) vs $1,200 (2018 MBA) - $200 (Discount).....$660 vs $1,000. Unless you really want 256 GB on the iPad, but I think that would be overkill if you can get by with 128 GB on the MBA.

Finally, the Apple Keyboard Case is very expensive, and there are a lot of folks that have had problems with these cases. There are 3rd party options that much less expensive, so it’s worth looking around. Of course, cases and keyboards are very individual things.

Thanks. Still sounds like overall, the iPad is the best choice.

 

[zipur]

Just get both and find a need forward one. They fit different areas of life.

 

[dantracht]

So after thinking about it, sleeping on it overnight.....my final decision was to purchase.....NOTHING!

I'm going to keep my 2017 12.9" pro and save my money to see what the next pro might be like next year. It's still a great device, despite the occasional screen stutter, and I'd rather hang onto it for the extra storage, ram, camera, pro motion, etc, etc. I doubt I'll see any difference in speed.

Thanks everyone for your help, opinions, and input! Have a great weekend all.

 

[sracer]

So after thinking about it, sleeping on it overnight.....my final decision was to purchase.....NOTHING!

I'm going to keep my 2017 12.9" pro and save my money to see what the next pro might be like next year. It's still a great device, despite the occasional screen stutter, and I'd rather hang onto it for the extra storage, ram, camera, pro motion, etc, etc. I doubt I'll see any difference in speed.

Thanks everyone for your help, opinions, and input! Have a great weekend all.

I still recommend getting the X1 mouse and Jump Desktop. Accessing your iMac from a 12.9 Pro is terrific. (I used my 12.9 Pro to do that... it was wonderful)

 

[dantracht]

I still recommend getting the X1 mouse and Jump Desktop. Accessing your iMac from a 12.9 Pro is terrific. (I used my 12.9 Pro to do that... it was wonderful)

Thanks, I'll check it out.