iPad New iPad Air M2 vs refurb Pro M2

[Gpulvi]

Hi! Looking for some advice here. I want to replace my iPad Pro 11' (2nd gen) for a new one, but I can't decide if I should go with a new Air M2 or a Best Buy refurbished or open box "Good" Pro M2. Both are in the same price tag, 550 - 600.

Thanks for your help, really appreciate it!

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I would go for the Air, both have nearly identical specs and you are guaranteed longer support with the Air. If Apple decides to support the M2 Pro to match the M2 Air is iffy although they could but we're talking Apple here.

The only thing to consider with the M2 Pro is that it has a 120Hz refresh rate whereas the Air is 60Hz.

 

[Gpulvi]

I would go for the Air, both have nearly identical specs and you are guaranteed longer support with the Air. If Apple decides to support the M2 Pro to match the M2 Air is iffy although they could but we're talking Apple here.

The only thing to consider with the M2 Pro is that it has a 120Hz refresh rate whereas the Air is 60Hz.

Thanks for your help. Thought about both things, maybe coming from a Pro my eyes will note the difference in the refresh rate, I have to try both at the store.

 

[Isamilis]

I would go with the Pro. Lots of “comfortable” features in Pro, like Pro motion, speaker, face id that you will be missed as your previous one is also Pro. But also check the quality of refurb in Best Buy, whether is it same with refurb from Apple.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

But also check the quality of refurb in Best Buy, whether is it same with refurb from Apple.

It certainly is not.

Apple refurbs have a new housing, screen, and battery and come with a one-year warranty, to which you can add AC+ within 60 days if you want.

Best Buy refurbs are essentially "Used" so you get what you get... and the warranty is based on the ORIGINAL date of sale, sometimes a week ago and sometimes several months ago.

That's not to say a Best Buy refurb is "Bad" - it's essentially unknown, Caveat Emptor. Apple refurb is consistent quality.

 

[Gpulvi]

Finally bought a refurb M2 Pro, have to pick it up next Sunday. I plan to check battery health and how it looks, and if it's not ok, return it and go for a M2 Air instead.

 

[Gpulvi]

Update: Picked up the Pro M2 at Best Buy, great purchase: 98% battery health, mint condition, not even a scratch, the screen looks gorgeous and is really zippier than my previous one.

Thanks for your help and advice, guys!

 

[JPack]

It certainly is not.

Apple refurbs have a new housing, screen, and battery and come with a one-year warranty, to which you can add AC+ within 60 days if you want.

Best Buy refurbs are essentially "Used" so you get what you get... and the warranty is based on the ORIGINAL date of sale, sometimes a week ago and sometimes several months ago.

That's not to say a Best Buy refurb is "Bad" - it's essentially unknown, Caveat Emptor. Apple refurb is consistent quality.

Apple refurbs do not come with a new screen/display.

 

[Student of Life]

Update: Picked up the Pro M2 at Best Buy, great purchase: 98% battery health, mint condition, not even a scratch, the screen looks gorgeous and is really zippier than my previous one.

Thanks for your help and advice, guys!

Glad you like the pro, see if you have the option to add apple care. When i got my refurbished pro it gave me the option to add apple care monthly which i took full advantage of.

 

[Populus]

Apple refurbs do not come with a new screen/display.

Oh? I thought Apple refurbs were practically new, only they get manufactured with differently sourced pieces… or maybe some reused elements but that look like new. I always got the impress that Apple refurbs were almost new, not being able to tell them apart from new ones (aside from the white box).

I cannot speak for myself tho, as I’ve never purchased an Apple official refurb.

Finally bought a refurb M2 Pro, have to pick it up next Sunday. I plan to check battery health and how it looks, and if it's not ok, return it and go for a M2 Air instead.

Congratulations! Even tho I’d have purchased it new or from Apple refurbished store (which looks like new and come with a new battery), the M2 iPad Pro is definitely the better purchase over the M2 Air if you aren’t interested on the Apple Pencil Pro, which is exclusive to the M2 iPad Air. Or if you make a lot of FaceTime/Zoom, the front camera is now centered if you use it in landscape.

Other than that: Face ID on the Pro vs Touch ID on the Air, better display, better speakers, better port (Thunderbolt 4 vs regular USB 3?), better graphics (10 core GPU vs 9 core GPU)…

 

[outlawarth]

Oh? I thought Apple refurbs were practically new, only they get manufactured with differently sourced pieces… or maybe some reused elements but that look like new. I always got the impress that Apple refurbs were almost new, not being able to tell them apart from new ones (aside from the white box).
…

I am curious about this also. Are we 100% certain refurbished iPads from Apple don’t have new screens?

 

[rui no onna]

I am curious about this also. Are we 100% certain refurbished iPads from Apple don’t have new screens?

They may or may not.

If the iPad they’re refurbishing has a cracked display, then they’ll need to replace the display.

 

[JPack]

Oh? I thought Apple refurbs were practically new, only they get manufactured with differently sourced pieces… or maybe some reused elements but that look like new. I always got the impress that Apple refurbs were almost new, not being able to tell them apart from new ones (aside from the white box).

I cannot speak for myself tho, as I’ve never purchased an Apple official refurb.

Apple only states you get a new chassis and battery with refurbs. Other parts can be used or new, we don’t know. Cracked displays can have a new glass cover laminated on while keeping the LCD.

 

[Gpulvi]

Oh? I thought Apple refurbs were practically new, only they get manufactured with differently sourced pieces… or maybe some reused elements but that look like new. I always got the impress that Apple refurbs were almost new, not being able to tell them apart from new ones (aside from the white box).

I cannot speak for myself tho, as I’ve never purchased an Apple official refurb.


Congratulations! Even tho I’d have purchased it new or from Apple refurbished store (which looks like new and come with a new battery), the M2 iPad Pro is definitely the better purchase over the M2 Air if you aren’t interested on the Apple Pencil Pro, which is exclusive to the M2 iPad Air. Or if you make a lot of FaceTime/Zoom, the front camera is now centered if you use it in landscape.

Other than that: Face ID on the Pro vs Touch ID on the Air, better display, better speakers, better port (Thunderbolt 4 vs regular USB 3?), better graphics (10 core GPU vs 9 core GPU)…

Been waiting for a 128 GB WiFi to be available in the Apple refurbished store, but no luck… that’s why I went to Best Buy.

 

[TechWhisperer]

Refurbished can be tricky. I would always go for a brand new one.