All iPads Is buying a new iPad worth it for an Air 3 owner?

[OldCorpse]

I own the iPad Air 3. I basically use it as a substitute for a laptop - even though I also have an M1 MBP. So, web surfing, word processing, online bill pay, youtube videos and so on, nothing super intense.

I use it with an Apple Keyboard and Pencil.

However I’m not 100% happy with the ipad. One is a minor limitation in that I really want speakers on both sides like in the Pro models. The bigger issue is that I find my iPad frequently unresponsive - often I need to click several times on links to activate them, and often I have issue with youtube or online videos where I can’t get the videos to play or to stop, i.e. the play and stop buttons don’t work, or work only after many attempts. Also, I find that my iPad simply freezes randomly and I have to completely power off and restart.

The problem is that I don’t know why I’m having these issues. I have NOT had them for the first few months of ownership. So I don’t know if the hardware is failing, or if it’s a iPadOS issue, or app issue (Safari, Youtube) or what.

If it’s a hardware issue, then a solution might be a new 11” iPad Pro - I don’t want the 12” as that’s too big for me. Also I really like the ASK keyboard and what to keep using it. The 11” iPad Pro would also have the advantage of speakers on both sides, so that’s a plus.

Then again, it might not be a hardware issue, so getting a new 11” iPP might not solve those, and then I’d just have a new 11” iPP - so that’s where my question comes in. Even if the new 11” iPP doesn’t solve the issue I experience, then is the new iPad an upgrade in general for someone who owns the Air3 with my use case?

In other words, is the 11” iPP a noticeable and tangible upgrade over the Air3? TIA!

 

[rui no onna]

I own the iPad Air 3. I basically use it as a substitute for a laptop - even though I also have an M1 MBP. So, web surfing, word processing, online bill pay, youtube videos and so on, nothing super intense.

I use it with an Apple Keyboard and Pencil.

However I’m not 100% happy with the ipad. One is a minor limitation in that I really want speakers on both sides like in the Pro models. The bigger issue is that I find my iPad frequently unresponsive - often I need to click several times on links to activate them, and often I have issue with youtube or online videos where I can’t get the videos to play or to stop, i.e. the play and stop buttons don’t work, or work only after many attempts. Also, I find that my iPad simply freezes randomly and I have to completely power off and restart.

The problem is that I don’t know why I’m having these issues. I have NOT had them for the first few months of ownership. So I don’t know if the hardware is failing, or if it’s a iPadOS issue, or app issue (Safari, Youtube) or what.

If it’s a hardware issue, then a solution might be a new 11” iPad Pro - I don’t want the 12” as that’s too big for me. Also I really like the ASK keyboard and what to keep using it. The 11” iPad Pro would also have the advantage of speakers on both sides, so that’s a plus.

Then again, it might not be a hardware issue, so getting a new 11” iPP might not solve those, and then I’d just have a new 11” iPP - so that’s where my question comes in. Even if the new 11” iPP doesn’t solve the issue I experience, then is the new iPad an upgrade in general for someone who owns the Air3 with my use case?

In other words, is the 11” iPP a noticeable and tangible upgrade over the Air3? TIA!

Considering your current Air 3 is behaving problematically, then yes, I’d say it’s a tangible upgrade. I believe the aforementioned screen unresponsiveness might be related to the white spot issue as well.

Personally, I don’t notice too much performance difference between the Air 3 and M1 iPP 11. However, that’s because they’re primarily used for single focus tasks, I frequently force close background apps and since that screen size isn’t really used for multitasking, I’m not overly bothered by refreshes.

 

[1BadManVan]

I would say there is an issue with your Air 3, there’s no reason for it to behaving that way with the A12 chip. I have 3 Air 3’s in my house heavily used by our kids for YouTube, Roblox and Minecraft while FaceTiming their friends in the background and they don’t miss a beat.

So while there something going on with yours, I still love my M1 pro. The biggest notice for me is the 120hz screen and the quad speakers. But the Air 3 is definitely a powerful machine still

 

[NoelWalker]

The fact we can all agree on is that your iPad is faulty and requires either a replacement or repair. I assume the problems you have described either comes from weird iPadOS bug or the not-so-great performance from your Air.

Since you mostly use your iPad as a content consumption device and light web browsing, and you want stereo speakers, I suggest you getting a refurbished 2018 iPad Pro 11”. You get a modern design, ProMotion, 4 speakers, better performance (A12X or Z whatever inside is still a beast), a new battery, and a lower price than a brand new M1 iPP.

The only thing you will miss out is the Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil 1 you’re currently using since iPP has a different design than your Air, but I guess getting the 2nd gen Pencil and a keyboard folio, a 3rd party case or a stand can solve the problem. I believe the upgrade in experience worths the cost.

 

[Isengardtom]

I had the iPad Air 3 too and that freezing issue happened occasionally too. Never had that on my 2020 11”pro and 2021 12.9”
I wonder if it’s not a general problem with the device itself

The 11 pro is definitely an upgrade with a nicer design, better speakers and camera’s, higher base storage and an M1 which will make the device last a lot longer, especially for your use cases. Only thing you loose is the headphone jack and you need to update the Apple Pencil and keyboard.

 

[Isamilis]

I own the iPad Air 3. I basically use it as a substitute for a laptop - even though I also have an M1 MBP. So, web surfing, word processing, online bill pay, youtube videos and so on, nothing super intense.

I use it with an Apple Keyboard and Pencil.

However I’m not 100% happy with the ipad. One is a minor limitation in that I really want speakers on both sides like in the Pro models. The bigger issue is that I find my iPad frequently unresponsive - often I need to click several times on links to activate them, and often I have issue with youtube or online videos where I can’t get the videos to play or to stop, i.e. the play and stop buttons don’t work, or work only after many attempts. Also, I find that my iPad simply freezes randomly and I have to completely power off and restart.

The problem is that I don’t know why I’m having these issues. I have NOT had them for the first few months of ownership. So I don’t know if the hardware is failing, or if it’s a iPadOS issue, or app issue (Safari, Youtube) or what.

If it’s a hardware issue, then a solution might be a new 11” iPad Pro - I don’t want the 12” as that’s too big for me. Also I really like the ASK keyboard and what to keep using it. The 11” iPad Pro would also have the advantage of speakers on both sides, so that’s a plus.

Then again, it might not be a hardware issue, so getting a new 11” iPP might not solve those, and then I’d just have a new 11” iPP - so that’s where my question comes in. Even if the new 11” iPP doesn’t solve the issue I experience, then is the new iPad an upgrade in general for someone who owns the Air3 with my use case?

In other words, is the 11” iPP a noticeable and tangible upgrade over the Air3? TIA!

I have battery problem on my Air 3 (battery health has been quite low). I bought iPP M1 11 for its better chip, better screen and better writing. Also, the price is good (diff ~$120 with Air 4).