iPad [seeking advice] Best iPad & AppleTV combination for mom

[Populus]

Hi, dear fourm.

Maybe I’m leaning too into consumerism, but I wanted someone to bring me down to earth and help me from spending more money than I should.

The devices on my home are the ones from my signature, except the 2010 MBP that I sold years ago and the OG iPhone SE that died after falling into… let’s say water. Yes, that was mainly water lol.

I am replacing my 11” M2 iPad Pro 128GB with an 11” M2 iPad Pro 1TB + cellular that I found new in an awesome deal. So basically, now I could sell this 11” M2 iPad Pro 128GB for 550€ to 600€ (trust me, I’ve checked prices on my area and those are the market prices for this item, which is in pristine conditions).

My mom has an iPad 9th gen, which works awesomely for her. However… I’m aiming to having all my devices on WiFi6 as she has sometimes complained about bad connection and I bought a WiFi 6 router already. And the iPad 9 is WiFi 5 (ac).

She uses the iPad for: watching movies, playing match 3 games (mom games), reading the digital newspapers (mainstream media is overly biased), podcasts in bed, and communicating with me via FaceTime audio or video. Replacing her iPad 9, which works fine for her, has a couple of reasons: 1) getting rid of the only non WiFi6 device on my home network, 2) getting her used to a non-home button iPad (I’ll have to teach her and see if she gets it).

But there’s one more reason. I’m planning to buy her a TV for her to watch all the movies and series on. You’ll see, because she spends many hours on the couch looking at the iPad, her posture isn’t the best. And I thought on a big screen on the wall she would have a better body posture, and would be more comfortable for her to watch movies. An AppleTV would be a good companion device.

So after removing movies and series from the equation, the iPad mini came to my mind as a great substitute, and it would be easier for her to carry it to the bed to listen to podcasts, or when she travels to the countryside. A lighter and more comfortable device to carry around. But I think she prefers a bigger display, and to read news and type on the keyboard, I think the display on the mini could be too small for her. Also: the mini 7 is 600€ here, and if I manage to sell my iPad Pro for 600€, it would be basically replacing a very good high end device with bigger and better screen, cameras and microphone, for a smaller device with similar or worse specs. I’m not sure it’s a good move.

The second move would be to sell my iPad Pro for 600€ and buy her the iPad 10th gen for around 330€, but again, is going to a similar sized device with much worse specs, although I’d gain almost 300€ to spend towards the TV. But then, the iPad 10th gen is currently quite underpowered, and is soon going to be replaced with much better internals, maybe an A17Pro with 8GB of RAM to enable Apple Intelligence, but it will probably get at least an A16 with 6GB of RAM. So that’s not an option currently.

The third, and most sensible approach to this dilemma, is to give her my 128GB M2 iPad Pro, and see if she enjoys it. Then getting a cheap TV only for the movies. Or, an even cheaper approach: sell my iPad Pro 128 for 600€ and put that money into a relatively good TV, and leave her with her iPad 9th gen, although I wanted to update it to iPadOS 18 (currently she’s still on iPadOS 16) and maybe that iPad feels a bit sluggish on that version. Also, I want all my devices connected using WiFi 6. So… what do you feel is the most sensible solution for my mom, keeping in mind that I want to buy her a TV for her to watch the movies and series from her streaming platforms?

Extra questions: Do TVs come with Bluetooth nowadays to get her a couple of headphones? When a call comes into her iPad, if she’s watching content on the AppleTV, will the tvOS notify her like on the iPhone and iPad? Thank you.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I didn't really see the rationale for buying an AppleTV (and this coming from someone who has an AppleTV attached to every TV in my home). So you might take that money and put it towards "more TV" with the apps I presume you expect her to watch on AppleTV. Many/Most(?) TVs sold these days will have the mix of mainstream streaming service apps including- in many cases- the AppleTV+ app.

Her 9 is not so old so maybe let her just keep using it for the purposes she uses it. It doesn't really matter that her iPad would not be wifi 6 in an otherwise wifi 6 household.

As to wifi issues, that won't necessarily be solved by "getting everything on wifi 6." Instead, I'd explore what is causing the drops... which could be all kinds of possibilities including relative distance to the router to too many people eating up hard-capped wifi bandwidth at the same time and signal disrupting devices between router and where she uses the iPad. If she's in an apartment with many neighbors using wifi around her, you might find changing a wifi channel makes a difference. If she has perhaps shared her wifi password with friendly neighbors (often forgetting that she did that), they may be biting into her wifi on purpose or accidentally without even realizing they are doing it. There's only so much wifi 5, 6, 6e or 7 to go around.

One of the first things I would do is see how many wifi-eating devices I could get connected to the router with ethernet cable, including positioning the router near this new TV (or AppleTV) so that the TV could easily be connected via ethernet, so that that device won't need to bite into the wifi pie at all. Streaming video eats a LOT of bandwidth! Whatever is causing the wifi drops would NOT impact a wired connection unless it is the source of her broadband itself (which would be the same in a wifi 6 household, 6E, 7 and whatever comes after 7).

You could easily get her a bluetooth keyboard case for that 9 to make it more like a laptop OR- perhaps take the 600 and put it towards a base MBair laptop for her. Stepping back even 1 generation from latest can probably get you one for that price or close to it. And then she would have a full Mac, the existing iPad and a better TV than you'll get if you take from the TV budget to buy her an AppleTV too.

Then maybe add the AppleTV next year (or two).

And yes, many TVs will offer ways to listen to audio over bluetooth- just seek that feature out in the one you choose.

Lastly, unlike all Apple tech, a TV is likely to last and be heavily used for 10+ years... so it might be the last place to go "cheap." Buy a good one and enjoy it for a decade+. Apple tech is usually in the "vintaged" window in only about 7 years but we'll pay way up for it anyway... and then buy it over and over again. It seems to make good sense to buy this TV like it is also branded Apple and pay for a good one... especially since it will likely outlast everything else you might buy in 2024.

I hope this is helpful.

 

[Realityck]

I didn't really see the rationale for buying an AppleTV. So you might take that money and put it towards "more TV" with the apps I presume you expect her to watch on AppleTV. Many/Most(?) TVs sold these days will have the mix of mainstream streaming service apps including- in many cases- the AppleTV+ app.

Well if it's a cheap Black Friday special 4K TV, then it likely has a mediocre OS interface. In that context then the ATV4K can turn on and turn off the TV with remote or just use the virtual remote that is in iPadOS control center. You also don't to worry about signing into the cheap 4K TV's method of how to log into its apps, sometimes that is awkward or have privacy issues. Additionally you diffidently have screen mirroring to that same cheap 4K TV also via iPad. I use only a iPad mini to authenticate all the streaming apps if they log out or expire somehow. Yes you can do it on the iPhone also but I keep more streaming apps on the iPad than my iPhones because I don't use the iPhone predominantly for watching streaming content that much.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Yes, not putting down AppleTV at all. I have one on EVERY TV in my home. But OP didn't ask us to rationalize buying an AppleTV- just posted that he has that idea to also give her an AppleTV. If he does, yes, his Mom will enjoy up to all of those benefits too if they are important to her.

However, since OP didn't share any of that as "needed/wanted" by "Mom", my thinking was that he could allocate that $100+ to buy her a better TV. $100 more towards a TV buys a LOT more TV. And yes, the interface won't be an AppleTV interface but it's generally easy enough to run the basic streaming apps that many "Moms" want to run.

OP did offer the idea of buying this Apple tech but then a "cheap" TV and my suggestion basically flipped that into NOT cheaping out on the TV... because Mom will probably use the TV for much longer than anything Apple he may also buy her. Else, the ultimate AppleTV and newer iPad slinging video to a poor TV won't exactly deliver a dream picture.

If "Mom" is mostly indifferent to AppleTV vs. TV interface, perhaps buy the best TV he can get her this year and add the many magical wonders of AppleTV, etc next year.

 

[Populus]

Thank you.

Other possibility was to rely on the AirPlay 2.0 feature to stream directly to the TV (of course, a TV wit AirPlay 2.0), but someone on this forum told me that the quality wasn’t that great so… I guess I’ll try to get a decent smartTV.

What do you think of the SONY KD-43X80L? Is it a decent mid-range? I saw it in person and I liked it.

Mind you, I don’t want OLED, but I think mini-LED TVs are a good compromise. This are the QNED models from LG or Neo QLED from Samsung.

 

[Realityck]

Thank you.

Other possibility was to rely on the AirPlay 2.0 feature to stream directly to the TV (of course, a TV wit AirPlay 2.0), but someone on this forum told me that the quality wasn’t that great so… I guess I’ll try to get a decent smartTV.

What do you think of the SONY KD-43X80L? Is it a decent mid-range? I saw it in person and I liked it.

Mind you, I don’t want OLED, but I think mini-LED TVs are a good compromise. This are the QNED models from LG or Neo QLED from Samsung.

Rtings is a site in the states that reviews TVs in this case a few 43" ones

The 4 Best 40-42-43 Inch TVs - Winter 2025

The best 43-inch TV in the upper mid-range category we've tested is the Samsung QN43QN90DAFXZA. It's an impressive TV that gets very bright, making it more suitable for well-lit rooms than the LG C4 OLED.

www.rtings.com

The Neo QLED from Samsung is https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/samsung/qn90d-qn90dd-qled
Sony example is https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/sony/x85k
This is just to give you ideas as you are the judge.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

You can also do web searches for "best smart TVs for $XXX" and that will generally give you lists. Many of these are biased and even marketing... but they can give you starting points. You can build a short list from there and then seek out objective reviews, written and YouTube, etc.

Last few years, I've seen good things about less mainstream brand names like Sony, particularly select sets from TCL and HiSense. But, it's very important to check individual reviews of TV sets vs. assigning some perception of quality to any brand name. Sony will make some great TVs and some duds. And the same with these.

If you are going to heed the advice of maybe saving the AppleTV purchase for the future, some of these kinds will come with Roku as their UI... which is not so far from AppleTV. Others come with GoogleTV UI which is also not so far from AppleTV. Your Mom would likely find either to be easy to use.

I'd still support an idea that AppleTV is best... but I'd also suggest you could kick that can to the next gen AppleTV and let "Mom" enjoy whatever UI comes with a good smart TV. Yes, AppleTV is only about $100+ but as little as only $100+ can make a meaningful difference in the quality of the TV you buy. And again, that's often a 10+ year use purchase, so I'd strive to make it a good one.

 

[Populus]

Rtings is a site in the states that reviews TVs in this case a few 43" ones

The 4 Best 40-42-43 Inch TVs - Winter 2025

The best 43-inch TV in the upper mid-range category we've tested is the Samsung QN43QN90DAFXZA. It's an impressive TV that gets very bright, making it more suitable for well-lit rooms than the LG C4 OLED.

www.rtings.com

The Neo QLED from Samsung is https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/samsung/qn90d-qn90dd-qled
Sony example is https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/sony/x85k
This is just to give you ideas as you are the judge.

Interesting website! Both of your examples offer as a downside something I really want to avoid: poor viewing angles.

 

[loopy123]

Most smart TV's have a UI from hell.
An ATV 4K is a great addition for someone staying in the Apple ecosystem and well worth the extra cost.

 

[Realityck]

Speaking of smart TVs having a UI from hell
Also make sure the 4K TV you select to use has input switching on the remote to cycle through HDMI ports. I saw many years of Tizen based Samsung that you needed to enter smart TV GUI as a nestled choice, yep awful. Fortunately most other TV vendors don't do that. So you if have a BD player, a set-top-box (Apple TV 4K example), vs live TV it makes like life lot easier. Also buy one that supports eARC for usage with HDMI audio devices in case you need something more then TV speakers. Consider an older more discounted 4K TV that is OLED that offers wide angle viewing if that is really important. A lot of cheaper 4K TVs are narrow angle viewing for optimum color and brightness.

 

[Populus]

Speaking of smart TVs having a UI from hell
Also make sure the 4K TV you select to use has input switching on the remote to cycle through HDMI ports. I saw many years of Tizen based Samsung that you needed to enter smart TV GUI as a nestled choice, yep awful. Fortunately most other TV vendors don't do that. So you if have a BD player, a set-top-box (Apple TV 4K example), vs live TV it makes like life lot easier. Also buy one that supports eARC for usage with HDMI audio devices in case you need something more then TV speakers. Consider an older more discounted 4K TV that is OLED that offers wide angle viewing if that is really important. A lot of cheaper 4K TVs are narrow angle viewing for optimum color and brightness.

The problem is that I don’t want OLED, not for price, but because it is going to be on a place with direct daylight, and also I don’t want to risk with PWM or burn-in. The mini-LED TVs I’ve seen are really gorgeous, especially some Neo QLED from Samsung. In case I end up with a Samsung I’ll keep in mind what you told me.

By the way, from what I’ve seen, some mount an IPS panel, some a VA panel. I was wondering which one offers better vision angles.

 

[Realityck]

By the way, from what I’ve seen, some mount an IPS panel, some a VA panel. I was wondering which one offers better vision angles.

IPS

heres a good article about that

IPS vs. VA displays: Which is best for your monitor or TV?

If you're looking to buy an affordable monitor or TV for gaming or watching content, there's one question you need to ask yourself: Should you buy IPS or VA?

www.digitaltrends.com

IPS panels have traditionally been used for making displays that have high color accuracy and large coverage of wide color gamuts like DCI-P3 or Adobe sRGB. Not only do IPS displays usually look good, but they also look good from wider angles, so you don’t need to look exactly head on at an IPS monitor to get accurate colors.

Color accuracy and coverage can be good on VA displays (even at wide angles), but colors across VA displays aren’t always uniform. Depending on the viewing angle and the distance between the viewer and the display, the center of VA monitors often have more gamma than the edges of the screen, making colors less accurate.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I’m sure you have a reason but the premise of this gift is it is for “Mom.” Presuming she sits in a specific spot to watch TV, are wide viewing angles actually that important? If it’s mostly for her and she DOES sit in one spot, probably not. And if so, you could jettison that filter and choose from a broader mix of TVs that match your other wants.

Also, you seem locked in on a “deal” which is usually going to undermine quality features. If you want great features, pay up for them. If you want a deal, you prob sacrifice some quality to get it. Again, this is typically a 10+ year use life purchase. Buy accordingly.

And rather than seek and consider only one such “best of” list, check many. Most are marketing so you want to check many and find those rising towards the top on several such lists… and then check for individual and likely more objective reviews of those TVs.

Are you married to that approx. low 40" size? Because more mainstream sizes are bigger than that such that you can get a more popular 55"-65" TVs for about the same price range. For example, the original Sony you referenced looks like your budget is upwards of about $899. For $999, you can get TCL's best 65" and that's just one example. If the TV doesn't have to fit within some kind of stand "hole" such that size can be flexible, you may do much better by stepping up to 55" or higher. Mom probably won't complain if the new TV is bigger than 42" or so unless the intended space can only fit up to 43".

 

[Waqas1]

iPhone or iPhad is the latest technology with give the high quality result