If you don't care about a 20% discount, why on earth are you buying the ninth generation iPad?
After all, it’s only a 27% discount over the 10th generation iPad. A drop in the bucket according to you.
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iPad Smart or stupid to buy 9th iPad now?
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After all, it’s only a 27% discount over the 10th generation iPad. A drop in the bucket according to you.
Wow really? It was on iOS 8 and its battery life was poor? Do you know what were its health and cycles at the time? It’s the first time I’ve ever seen somebody say an original iOS version iPad’s battery life got poor with time and not due to iOS updates.
The 6s story you tell is both sad and all too familiar. I had another 6s on iOS 9. That A9 bug on iOS 9 I mentioned? It affected my 6s too, and it was forced into iOS 13. It obliterated it. Abhorrent performance and keyboard lag, unusable battery life. It ruined the device. It lives in a drawer ever since. I still use the iPad because it is still decent on iOS 12, but the 6s isn’t.
Apple not allowing downgrades is trash. They obliterate devices constantly and never provide fallback options. They’re just ruined forever.
OP, the newest iPad with a headphone jack will live a long time on iPadOS 16.
As a said, 50% or more for a second hard renew tech stuff makes more sense. 20% off of original price for a renew outdated model does not sound like a good deal for most people.
Apple’s discounts on refurb in their store are reasonable for what you get in return. At least 50% of is living in fantasyland or wish projection.
Almost all second hand car are at least 50% off. You go to eBay search for a phone it is very likely at least 50% off.
349 cycles. DoM Sept 2016. Full charge 6254 from 7340 or 85.2% design capacity
When I say original iOS I don't know precisely what iOS version was as I never was that bothered. So it might have been newer than iOS 8?
I use my 6S as just a phone but need a couple of apps for emergencies: Uber and Progressive. I also use bank app for depositing checks rarely. Other than that I don't install apps so while it creeks I try to manage that by keeping low power mode enabled all the time.
Somebody posted an "always on" lower power mode hack that I'm trying now.
I am extremely surprised. I have consistently been using original versions of iOS on devices with many years of usage since 2011, and I’ve never experienced any sort of battery life decrease even on multi-year devices on original iOS versions.
However, if Manufacture Date was 09/2016, then you probably purchased it at least in October 2016, which means it had iOS 10. No slide to unlock, is that correct?
Furthermore, iOS 10 should still be good, and 85% capacity with 340 cycles should be nowhere near enough to degrade an Air 2 on iOS 10. If it had slide to unlock and it was on iOS 9, then that’s even more surprising.
For that sort of usage you probably don’t need battery life, so it should be okay.
I have no idea what you’re trying to say. Apple offers refurbished models of their current products as well.
Comparing used items on eBay being 50% off to Apple refurbished being 50% off isn’t even close.
Like, either you’re trolling or you have clearly never used Apple refurbished because it is not what you’re imagining.
Look it up, look at unboxings of refurbished products.
These aren’t MacBooks that were used for two years, beaten up, scraped, pushed to their limits.
These are pretty much new, barely used units.
Brand new fresh batteries, brand new displays, brand new casings, literally the only difference is that the phone was on at one point.
Also, even used Apple products hold their value extremely well, because Apple is a luxury brand. Their products don’t lose half their value in two years.
People still pay $1000+ today for the previous generation Pro phones. They certainly aren't losing 50% of their value.
The real scam is the 64/256 storage configuration jump, which adds $150 to any iPad and gives the whole lineup an unappealing price structure.
My experience with batteries of this age is that they charge to 100% full then hit 70% then it goes to 5% quickly then dies. I had a similar problem with the original 6S battery and Apple ran their diagnostic tool which says the battery is Normal. It's not. There's a flaw in these batteries if they say it's normal and it does 70% then 5%.
I don't think it had the slide to unlock but I used fingerprint unlock so could be wrong.
Unless it was on a newer iOS version (say, iOS 12), I am still surprised. Likewise if the 6s was on an early iOS version. I have a decade-long experience of me using older and non-updated devices and they’ve all been flawless.
In fact, I have an iPhone 6s running iOS 10 with 63% health and it still runs perfectly fine, original battery. No sudden drops like those, even under full brightness camera use (i.e., pretty heavy usage).
Completely agree.
We have several generations of Apple devices in our home, and the difference between the 3GB and 4GB RAM devices is very noticeable. I see the same difference when I test them out at retail stores or friends' devices.
I'm not tech literate enough to know if this is just a lack of optimization and could be improved in future OSs(doubt that Apple will put r&d in 3GB devices as iPad 9 is the only one left in the entire line-up of devices)).
But I consistently see the 3GB devices having to reload nearly every app when switch, in particular those with media and video playing.
However, the 4GB(and bigger) devices reload far less which makes for a much smoother experience even if the CPU and other specs are almost identical.
To me, 4GB RAM is and will be enough for a good number of years. But 3GB is not enough now and will get quite bad in a few years.
iPad 10th Gen., iPad mini and iPad Air (4th) Gen are the only "budget" iPad options I'd consider.
iPad 9 is a great deal on all other specs. But owning one, I can't recommend it because of the (by today's standards) low RAM.
It's really quite the predicament because the core iPad experience is mostly the same across all the various iPad models. So the 9th Gen would be an amazing deal in 2023 if the RAM was just 4GB and not 3GB.
But I guess that's just the struggle of buying Apple products.
refurbished items normally are listed in Apple website for so many days, how could that be a good deal? If it is a good deal then people would fight for it then those refurbished items would be sold out in seconds, not listing there for days.
Apple refurbished iPads (as well as iPhones) come with new housings and new batteries plus the regular manufacturer's warranty. Does your second hand car come with brand new seats and interior with the same warranty as if it was fresh off the lot?
That said, if you're looking for the cheapest model just check for a Best Buy deal or maybe Microcenter. The refurbished models make more sense on the upper end for iPad Pros, maybe for iPad Airs too in higher storage configs that don't usually have retailer deals going on. You can save hundreds there, whereas the base iPad savings are negligible.
All I know is items list in Apple refurbish site are there for days or even a month then still cannot sell it, then most of us consider it is not a good deal at all.
Ok here is a real example
Refurbished iPad Wi-Fi 64GB - Space Gray (9th Generation) - Apple
Powerful. Easy to use. Versatile. iPad is designed for all the things you love to do. Work, play, create, learn, stay connected, and more. All at an incredible value.
www.apple.com
If you need a basic iPad and you have a budget, why not get the 9th gen. It is 30% cheaper than the 10th gen right now, and should last you a while. My son is still using my old 2018 IPP. I think of iPad's as consumables, and 3-4 years for $280 is a good bargain.
My vote goes for the iPad 9, too. Great choice. It will last for several years and then some!
Of course, if you can hold out until September, you may score an even better deal. However, be careful as the old iPad stock could run quickly. Sometimes, it's better to buy on sale just before the new models come out.
Apple refurbs, especially for iPads and iPhones, are a great way to go. You're getting the equivalent of a new device and saving a chunk of change. They are definitely not second-hand. The length of time that an item is available isn't a barometer of its quality. Otherwise, we'd have to conclude that no new Apple product is worth it as they are regularly in stock! Besides, many models, colors, and configurations of the refurbs often sell out quickly.
The iPad Air 2 has been mentioned several times in this thread. I rise to speak in its defense! We're still sporting iPad Air 2s and enjoying them immensely. They are on iOS 15.7.5 or whatever the latest iteration of iOS 15 is. They are speedy, useful, and handle all sorts of tasks well. The upgrade to iOS 15 did shorten battery life a chunk, but that’s not an issue unless you're away from a charger for hours at a time.
We also have an iPad 9 in the house. Works well, too. Its screen is noticeably larger, but not dramatically so. It is also noticeably heavier with a case on. No dramatic difference in using them or switching between them. We do use ad blockers with Safari, which helps.
One of the most compelling points made is that the price is low enough that if you get 4-5 years out of it (or more), it will be well worthwhile — and little money per year!
Of course, if you can hold out until September, you may score an even better deal. However, be careful as the old iPad stock could run quickly. Sometimes, it's better to buy on sale just before the new models come out.
Apple refurbs, especially for iPads and iPhones, are a great way to go. You're getting the equivalent of a new device and saving a chunk of change. They are definitely not second-hand. The length of time that an item is available isn't a barometer of its quality. Otherwise, we'd have to conclude that no new Apple product is worth it as they are regularly in stock! Besides, many models, colors, and configurations of the refurbs often sell out quickly.
The iPad Air 2 has been mentioned several times in this thread. I rise to speak in its defense! We're still sporting iPad Air 2s and enjoying them immensely. They are on iOS 15.7.5 or whatever the latest iteration of iOS 15 is. They are speedy, useful, and handle all sorts of tasks well. The upgrade to iOS 15 did shorten battery life a chunk, but that’s not an issue unless you're away from a charger for hours at a time.
We also have an iPad 9 in the house. Works well, too. Its screen is noticeably larger, but not dramatically so. It is also noticeably heavier with a case on. No dramatic difference in using them or switching between them. We do use ad blockers with Safari, which helps.
One of the most compelling points made is that the price is low enough that if you get 4-5 years out of it (or more), it will be well worthwhile — and little money per year!
Yes air 2 is still functional except some laggy and battery lasts like 2 hours something only. It is totally fine just use it at home. No iPadOS update does not affect anything yet.
Buying a 9th Generation iPad is smart if:
(a) You want to collect what will very likely be the last iPad with a headphone jack, lightning connector, and a home button
(b) You have an accessory ecosystem that requires a headphone jack, lightning connector or a home button that is either crucial to your iPad use, expensive to replace, or both.
Or (c) You absolutely NEED an iPad and cannot afford to spend more than the cost of a 9th Generation iPad.
Buying a 9th Generation iPad is not smart if none of these conditions are true.
If support longevity is of concern to you, the best iPads south of "current generation iPad Pro" territory you can buy are either the iPad mini (sporting an A15 Bionic) or an iPad Air (sporting the 8GB of RAM variant of M1). You might not need the power of either Apple SoC today, but you're definitely going to have support for a good while (and, let's be real: that added processing power just means that the device won't choke as hard on later iPadOS releases and/or will take much longer to inevitably choke on one).
The 10th Generation iPad isn't a bad iPad. Though, given that they've been on an annual fall release cadence for the standard iPad for the last three years, it's likely that the 10th Generation will either be discontinued soon and replaced with some other faster iPad. My guess is that Apple will keep the 9th Generation iPad in the lineup for another year, as they've often done when changing body styles. Though, that won't make it any better of a buy.
This is the worst possible take. Buying a refurbished iPad from Apple is EXACTLY the same experience as buying a brand new one, except the box is white instead of having a picture of the iPad on it. That's the only difference. The support, warranty, unboxing, setup, enclosure, battery and ownership experience is LITERALLY IDENTICAL otherwise. If you're willing to spend 15-20% more for a picture of an iPad on the box, why are you even asking the question in this thread. Just spend the money on it.
I think that, if you can find it at a good price, it definitely is worth it… but only if you don’t mind the old design, and you don’t want to spend a lot.
OP, you say you want a basic iPad, that the 10th gen is too expensive, and at the same time longevity. Well, if you really want to invest on a long term device I would get an iPad Air 5th gen, or even better, a refurbished iPad Pro from 2021 (the one with the M1), because those devices offer a computer-level performance and 8GB of RAM.
But I’m going to assume that you are not willing to spend such money. Then my answer remains the same: the 9th gen iPad is a great value, and a great device. If you think you’ll need 256GB because long term, then look for a sale, depending on what you do, the 64GB model can become a bit tight. But only you can decide this.
Look, I have a 9th gen iPad in home, along with my M2 iPad Pro. I’m not going to compare their raw power because that would be pointless, but for a machine with just an A13, battery, and a screen, is a great device.
My iPad 9 is still on iPad OS 15.7, it runs flawlessly, fast (although without pro-Motion) and smooth. My intention is to update it to 16.5.1 or 16.6, and as far as I know, it runs pretty well.
Taking into account that the iPad 6th gen still supports iPadOS 17, I can see this iPad having support until iPadOS 20 (included). But I wouldn’t worry about it because even if just receives updates for two more years, the iPadOS system is pretty complete and if you enjoy the current multitasking and features, you probably don’t need much more.
Whether you want to browse the web, create Office/iWork documents, play Arcade games, listen to music, read eBooks and Magazines or watch Netflix/Prime/HBO, and do it at the minimum price, this is your device.
OP, you say you want a basic iPad, that the 10th gen is too expensive, and at the same time longevity. Well, if you really want to invest on a long term device I would get an iPad Air 5th gen, or even better, a refurbished iPad Pro from 2021 (the one with the M1), because those devices offer a computer-level performance and 8GB of RAM.
But I’m going to assume that you are not willing to spend such money. Then my answer remains the same: the 9th gen iPad is a great value, and a great device. If you think you’ll need 256GB because long term, then look for a sale, depending on what you do, the 64GB model can become a bit tight. But only you can decide this.
Look, I have a 9th gen iPad in home, along with my M2 iPad Pro. I’m not going to compare their raw power because that would be pointless, but for a machine with just an A13, battery, and a screen, is a great device.
My iPad 9 is still on iPad OS 15.7, it runs flawlessly, fast (although without pro-Motion) and smooth. My intention is to update it to 16.5.1 or 16.6, and as far as I know, it runs pretty well.
Taking into account that the iPad 6th gen still supports iPadOS 17, I can see this iPad having support until iPadOS 20 (included). But I wouldn’t worry about it because even if just receives updates for two more years, the iPadOS system is pretty complete and if you enjoy the current multitasking and features, you probably don’t need much more.
Whether you want to browse the web, create Office/iWork documents, play Arcade games, listen to music, read eBooks and Magazines or watch Netflix/Prime/HBO, and do it at the minimum price, this is your device.
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