Just want to share a story, as I thought it could be helpful to some ppl in similar situations. I had given my mom (in her late 60s) my OG iPad Air many years ago, and it has over time become her primary "computer". She cracked the screen recently, so I was looking into what made sense for her as an upgrade.
I was thinking about the 9th gen iPad ($329), new iPad Mini ($499), or a 2020 iPad Air 4 (can get new-in-box for around $500 vs the new ones that are $599). I ended up getting her an Apple Refurb 2017 10.5 iPad Pro. There's a bunch of the 64gb base models on the US refurb site for $379 (just $50 more than a new 9th gen iPad). I pulled the trigger and my mom is ecstatic!
- Still Touch ID and Home Button (this was a big one - as much as we're all used to swiping up on our iPads / iPhones for many years, I didn't want my older mom to have to learn a new way of getting to the Home Screen)
- Similar footprint but slimmer side bezels (I forgot how cool this was when it came out, but when you're coming from the OG iPad form factor, it looks beautiful!)
- Fully laminated screen, brighter screen / TruTone, ProMotion (!!!) - HUGE difference for her! I forgot this was the first Apple device ever to have ProMotion (crazy that it came out in 2017, and we only just got it on the iPhones and MacBook Pro in 2021
)
- Quad-speakers (she uses this as her primary media consumption device in bed, and she said this sounds better than her TV and way better than the old iPad Air)
- 4GB ram (this was the first iPad to bump up to 4GB, from 1 and 2GB previously, huge difference in terms of leaving Safari tabs / apps open and not refresh when switching back)
- New battery / completely Apple-refurbished. I had briefly looked into buying this used, but getting a 4-5yr old battery was a concern. Getting Apple Refurb means I get a brand new battery with it plus 1 yr warranty
I used to own the 10.5 iPP (switched in 2020 to my current 2018 11" iPP that I bought new-in-box after the spec-bump "A12Z" version came out), and I have fond memories of how great a device it was.
Anyways, wanted to share as I think it's great value today especially for someone like my Mom who doesn't need power at all (purely using for e-mail / online banking / media consumption), and can benefit from all the other great things (beautiful screen w/ ProMotion that still stands up, quad-speakers, 4gb ram), at a really nice price point.
I was thinking about the 9th gen iPad ($329), new iPad Mini ($499), or a 2020 iPad Air 4 (can get new-in-box for around $500 vs the new ones that are $599). I ended up getting her an Apple Refurb 2017 10.5 iPad Pro. There's a bunch of the 64gb base models on the US refurb site for $379 (just $50 more than a new 9th gen iPad). I pulled the trigger and my mom is ecstatic!
- Still Touch ID and Home Button (this was a big one - as much as we're all used to swiping up on our iPads / iPhones for many years, I didn't want my older mom to have to learn a new way of getting to the Home Screen)
- Similar footprint but slimmer side bezels (I forgot how cool this was when it came out, but when you're coming from the OG iPad form factor, it looks beautiful!)
- Fully laminated screen, brighter screen / TruTone, ProMotion (!!!) - HUGE difference for her! I forgot this was the first Apple device ever to have ProMotion (crazy that it came out in 2017, and we only just got it on the iPhones and MacBook Pro in 2021
)- Quad-speakers (she uses this as her primary media consumption device in bed, and she said this sounds better than her TV and way better than the old iPad Air)
- 4GB ram (this was the first iPad to bump up to 4GB, from 1 and 2GB previously, huge difference in terms of leaving Safari tabs / apps open and not refresh when switching back)
- New battery / completely Apple-refurbished. I had briefly looked into buying this used, but getting a 4-5yr old battery was a concern. Getting Apple Refurb means I get a brand new battery with it plus 1 yr warranty
I used to own the 10.5 iPP (switched in 2020 to my current 2018 11" iPP that I bought new-in-box after the spec-bump "A12Z" version came out), and I have fond memories of how great a device it was.
Anyways, wanted to share as I think it's great value today especially for someone like my Mom who doesn't need power at all (purely using for e-mail / online banking / media consumption), and can benefit from all the other great things (beautiful screen w/ ProMotion that still stands up, quad-speakers, 4gb ram), at a really nice price point.
