iPad Is the Ipad Air much better than the 9th gen?

[Sensamic]

Trying to decide between these two models in 64GB WIFI only version.

Basic ipad is 350$ and Air is 519% where I live. My main use will be web surfing. I come from a 6th gen ipad, which was becoming a bit slow, but still was great in most tasks.

I don't know if I will notice much difference between the two for basic tasks. I don't see myself buying the magic keyboard in the future, but I don't rule it out either if I get the chance and makes the experience better. Don't have a laptop (have an Imac 27), and want my tablet to be my main device for web navigation. Don't turn the imac much these days in my free time. Also have an iphone 12.

I'm trying to think in the near future also. I know the Airs design will age much better, and it has the A14 vs A13. The difference in RAM I think it's very little (just 1GB) and I won't use heavy intense apps.

Difference in price is like half the cost of the basic iPad, but the new 9th gen has nice specs for the price: storage bump to 64GB (just like Air), true tone, A13 and center stage.

Air will be more futureproof, and I want to keep the device for (hopefully) 5/6 years. Air will have more power in the future also, but will the difference be that big considering the difference in price against the ipad 9th?

 

[rui no onna]

CPU difference between A13 and A14 is just 20-30%. Extra RAM is kinda nice but honestly, if that's what I'm after, I'd just go up to the Pro with 8GB. Gets you 128GB storage, too.

For $170 difference between 9th gen and Air, it just costs a little more to upgrade again in a few years when the 9th gen stops being enough.

 

[Digitalguy]

Trying to decide between these two models in 64GB WIFI only version.

Basic ipad is 350$ and Air is 519% where I live. My main use will be web surfing. I come from a 6th gen ipad, which was becoming a bit slow, but still was great in most tasks.

I don't know if I will notice much difference between the two for basic tasks. I don't see myself buying the magic keyboard in the future, but I don't rule it out either if I get the chance and makes the experience better. Don't have a laptop (have an Imac 27), and want my tablet to be my main device for web navigation. Don't turn the imac much these days in my free time. Also have an iphone 12.

I'm trying to think in the near future also. I know the Airs design will age much better, and it has the A14 vs A13. The difference in RAM I think it's very little (just 1GB) and I won't use heavy intense apps.

Difference in price is like half the cost of the basic iPad, but the new 9th gen has nice specs for the price: storage bump to 64GB (just like Air), true tone, A13 and center stage.

Air will be more futureproof, and I want to keep the device for (hopefully) 5/6 years. Air will have more power in the future also, but will the difference be that big considering the difference in price against the ipad 9th?

the iPad 9 has much more value than the air, but as I said in another thread, value is subjective, it depends how much the design, USB C and pencil 2 are important to you. In terms of specs, the air is not much more future proof, speed is almost the same, RAM is still relatively low. As rui no onna said if you want a future proof device the 11 pro offers a ton more for only $200 more, so has much more value for money than the air 4...

 

[Sensamic]

Yeah, I also thought about the 11 Pro M1. Tried it at the store and it just flies. It's an amazing device to replace a laptop too, but it may be overkill just for web browsing, wouldn't it? Even if it could last me 6/7 years easily.

 

[rui no onna]

Yeah, I also thought about the 11 Pro M1. Tried it at the store and it just flies. It's an amazing device to replace a laptop too, but it may be overkill just for web browsing, wouldn't it? Even if it could last me 6/7 years easily.

Really depends on you.

Personally, I don't mind spending more if it's something I'll be getting a lot of utility from and it improves my user experience. I normally have at least 20+ tabs open, often going up to 100+ so to me, the extra RAM is quite helpful avoiding reloads and occasional freezes. Besides, been planning to upgrade to 1TB storage since 2018.

Meanwhile, my mom, dad and sibling all seem to be perfectly content still with 2GB RAM (Pro 9.7, 5th gen & 6th gen). Honestly, it feels like they're more than happy to keep their existing iPads until Apple stops providing firmware updates.

 

[DenisK]

Not noticing any performance deficiencies on 6 - compared to 2020 Pro 11, except for screen sizes/quality differences. My use of both is about Goodnotes (taking notes with Pencil), drafting/content generation, web, and email. I use Pro for occasional video editing with Luma - something I haven't tried on 6, but all in all - I don't see any drastic drastic difference, I just understand that 6 is an older device with lesser performance bandwidth. Goodnotes, for example, crashes from time to time on 6 (while saving stuff to the last second) - only for me to realize I have a gazillion of tabs open on Safari and a ton of other apps running - leading to my having to havin to close apps I don't use.
PS: just bought latest Airs for my fam (for school and notetaking use mostly), and all i can say is that the screen size makes it a much better device than 6, an equal to my pro while a few grams lighter even, but yet the 6 is still a good all rounder, especially considering the costs involved.

 

[1BadManVan]

If budget allows for it and you plan to hold onto it for awhile, then obviously the pro will age the best. Double the ram of the air, pretty big processor bump, overkill for now but will definitely be useful as they advance. For me, i went with the pro which is overkill for sure but it means it will be something i can pass down later to the wife or kids.

If you think you’ll move over in a couple years, the base model will do great

 

[Six0Four]

Faster Processor, More ram, Laminated display, modern looking, usb c.

I had 4 iPad 7th & 8th gens and all had dust under the non laminated display.

 

[omzig]

Air will be more futureproof, and I want to keep the device for (hopefully) 5/6 years

that is probably not really feasible due to battery degradation. also, perhaps it is easier to buy a cheaper ipad each 2-3 years, than more expansive one with the expectation for it to last longer..

 

[babyexercise]

monitor display quality is different, you can compare side by side.

 

[Username-already-in-use]

There’s no wrong decision since both are good value for what their features provide. I would go Air for A14 over A13, 4GB over 3GB RAM, USB-C over lightning, Apple Pencil 2 support over Pencil 1 and laminated display over non-laminated.

However I can understand if the cost differential is meaningful. It depends if it is more meaningful to you than the difference in spec.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Not noticing any performance deficiencies on 6 - compared to 2020 Pro 11, except for screen sizes/quality differences. My use of both is about Goodnotes (taking notes with Pencil), drafting/content generation, web, and email. I use Pro for occasional video editing with Luma - something I haven't tried on 6, but all in all - I don't see any drastic drastic difference, I just understand that 6 is an older device with lesser performance bandwidth. Goodnotes, for example, crashes from time to time on 6 (while saving stuff to the last second) - only for me to realize I have a gazillion of tabs open on Safari and a ton of other apps running - leading to my having to havin to close apps I don't use.
PS: just bought latest Airs for my fam (for school and notetaking use mostly), and all i can say is that the screen size makes it a much better device than 6, an equal to my pro while a few grams lighter even, but yet the 6 is still a good all rounder, especially considering the costs involved.

Same here. I have a 6th Gen and recently purchased a 9th Gen. For my needs the 6th Gen is still plently fast. The 6th Gen still chews up a heavy Ad website like CBSSports.com. I purchased the 9th Gen from Walmart for $269 plus tax. That’s almost half price of an Air.

 

[Nismo73]

Same here. I have a 6th Gen and recently purchased a 9th Gen. For my needs the 6th Gen is still plently fast. The 6th Gen still chews up a heavy Ad website like CBSSports.com. I purchased the 9th Gen from Walmart for $269 plus tax. That’s almost half price of an Air.

The 9th gen for $269???

 

[Moneymiike420]

The 9th gen for $269???

Ikr that's impossible?? the cheapest Walmart had it was 299 for preorders and students

 

[Heat_Fan89]

The 9th gen for $269???

Yes it was 299, minus 10% for Walmart employees plus tax. That comes out to $269 plus tax.

 

[Moneymiike420]

Yes it was 299, minus 10% for Walmart employees plus tax. That comes out to $269 plus tax.

Oh my mistake, sweet deal nice

 

[Nismo73]

Yes it was 299, minus 10% for Walmart employees plus tax. That comes out to $269 plus tax.

Oh ok nice. I had Best Buy match Walmart for the 299 price.

 

[Nismo73]

The one thing I would've liked is dual speakers so in landscape mode you’d get good stereo but the 9 has a pretty decent single speaker.
I would’ve gone for the Air at this time if the lowest storage was 128gb for the price of what they are charging for the 64gb then it would’ve been worth the price difference.

 

[Devvy]

Regarding pencil 1 vs 2: In my experience, the difference between the iPad9 + pencil 1 and the Air4 + pencil 2 is not as big as the difference between the Air4 and the iPad pros; even though the iPad9 isn't laminated. The higher refresh rate on the pros is much more noticeable than the display gap, at least for me.

 

[Vivian125]

Regarding pencil 1 vs 2: In my experience, the difference between the iPad9 + pencil 1 and the Air4 + pencil 2 is not as big as the difference between the Air4 and the iPad pros; even though the iPad9 isn't laminated. The higher refresh rate on the pros is much more noticeable than the display gap, at least for me.

Dear, its not. Having no laminated display somehow affects the display and bit of quality colors and it seems like you are drawing on a plastic on non laminated. I have iPad Pro m1 and my mom has iPad 9 the lack of laminated display is much more noticeable than refresh rate itself even when the screen is turned off its just visible all times. Like a cake layering.

And also dear, the poster asked about iPad 9 and iPad Air 4 he didnt asked about iPad 8 or Pros and the gen 1 pencil. The next time you give opinion read the statement first if its related to topic to avoid a long discussion on this thread. Thank you.