All iPads When is the best (or a good) time to buy an iPad?

[Rorosbutt]

I'm going in for a price check and getting some money back from BB! I love the 9.7 pro!

 

[unibility]

I'm going to need a new iPad by early November of this year, which unfortunately means I can't wait until Black Friday.

It doesn't have to be the latest model, but I do want a new one as opposed to a used or refurbished one.

Is there any time between now and the beginning of November when Apple or any retailers (online or in store) have good deals on iPads, such as clearance prices on old models when new models come out?

NOW!!!

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/promo/s...D=1&siteID=TnL5HPStwNw-MMHkFYs.Q1nkQB4owL8mEw

 

[The Catalyst]

The best time to buy an iPad is today. Best Buy one day sale:

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-9-7-pro-32gb-349-128gb-449-and-more.2060175/

e: beaten.

 

[Broadus]

The best time to buy an iPad is today. Best Buy one day sale:

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-9-7-pro-32gb-349-128gb-449-and-more.2060175/

e: beaten.

Indeed. I just returned from BB with a 128GB 9.7 Pro and Apple Pencil, with our state's tax-free weekend helping make a good deal a little better.

 

[Act3]

Honestly, I just bought a 12.9 and haven't really come across any upscaling issues on the apps that matter to me. Some of the older stuff, yes, but I mean 32-bit stuff that will go belly up on iOS 11's arrival anyway. Long term 10.5 is here and devs will have to update just like they have for all of the various iOS screen resolution changes. Most of the stuff has been optimized and, actually the WSJ app is so much more enjoyable on the larger screen it's like night and day.

Well I went with the 10.5, 64 gig. Got $200 trade in for an Air 2 16gb at apple store.. I'll give my 64 gb Air 2 to my wife. She'll like having the extra storage. My college kid can have the beats headphones.

Ended up getting the 10.5, beats headphones and applecare for $528 out the door using the education pricing. $200 seemed decent for the old air 2 trade in. Best buy offered $124 for it and Gamestop offered $145 for it. $200 is about what they go for on swappa.

I added applecare just because the out of warranty replacement is $449, I think, for a cracked screen. Adding applecare to iPad also covers my existing airport.

I seriously considered just getting Best Buy deal on the 9.7 pro, but it seemed to make more sense to me, imo, going with the newer one with larger screen, more ram, promotion and more horsepower. Especially after comparing the air 2 and the 10.5 hand in hand in the apple store.

 

[Act3]

Well I went with the 10.5, 64 gig. Got $200 trade in for an Air 2 16gb at apple store.. I'll give my 64 gb Air 2 to my wife. She'll like having the extra storage. My college kid can have the beats headphones.

Ended up getting the 10.5, beats headphones and applecare for $528 out the door using the education pricing. $200 seemed decent for the old air 2 trade in. Best buy offered $124 for it and Gamestop offered $145 for it. $200 is about what they go for on swappa.

I added applecare just because the out of warranty replacement is $449, I think, for a cracked screen. Adding applecare to iPad also covers my existing airport.

I seriously considered just getting Best Buy deal on the 9.7 pro, but it seemed to make more sense to me, imo, going with the newer one with larger screen, more ram, promotion and more horsepower. Especially after comparing the air 2 and the 10.5 hand in hand in the apple store.

**Update**. After 12 hours or so of use and using it side by side with air 2, the 10.5 is going back. In the end it is just an iPad and the features to me aren't worth the premium over the regular iPad for my usage. And I actually prefer 9.7 size better. To go from air 2 16 gig to iPad 2017 32 gig will be a net $109 and save me close to $400 as I'll skip the apple care on it. If I can't handle the non laminated screen, I'll give that one to my old lady and I'll use the air 2.

For what I use it for, mainly consumption, the pro just isn't worth it for my case.

 

[Rorosbutt]

BB has it for $200 off now (was $250 off) stock is VERY limited

 

[akash.nu]

**Update**. After 12 hours or so of use and using it side by side with air 2, the 10.5 is going back. In the end it is just an iPad and the features to me aren't worth the premium over the regular iPad for my usage. And I actually prefer 9.7 size better. To go from air 2 16 gig to iPad 2017 32 gig will be a net $109 and save me close to $400 as I'll skip the apple care on it. If I can't handle the non laminated screen, I'll give that one to my old lady and I'll use the air 2.

For what I use it for, mainly consumption, the pro just isn't worth it for my case.

This is exactly why I didn't even consider the pro while thinking about upgrading my iPad. Although after buying found out that Apple is still selling the refurbished 9.7 pros from last year at almost similar price range.

 

[Act3]

Indeed. I just returned from BB with a 128GB 9.7 Pro and Apple Pencil, with our state's tax-free weekend helping make a good deal a little better.

Heck of a deal. Wish I would had done that before wasting my time with the 10.5 while all the 9.7 pros sold out on BB

 

[Broadus]

BB has it for $200 off now (was $250 off) stock is VERY limited

I noticed that, too. Best Buy stores cleared out a lot of their iPads yesterday.

**Update**. After 12 hours or so of use and using it side by side with air 2, the 10.5 is going back. In the end it is just an iPad and the features to me aren't worth the premium over the regular iPad for my usage. And I actually prefer 9.7 size better. To go from air 2 16 gig to iPad 2017 32 gig will be a net $109 and save me close to $400 as I'll skip the apple care on it. If I can't handle the non laminated screen, I'll give that one to my old lady and I'll use the air 2.

For what I use it for, mainly consumption, the pro just isn't worth it for my case.

I held a 10.5 and 9.7 at Best Buy yesterday. I like both but had a renewed appreciation for the 9.7. Reading apps have to be optimized with crisp fonts, so I chose to keep the 9.7 Pro. They were a bit blurry on the 10.5.

I was impressed with the screen of the 2017 iPad, but I'm not a fan of the non-laminated screen (I have that on my original Air). $450 and no tax on the 9.7 Pro made the price difference over the 2017 iPad minimal, so I went with it. Had I an Air 2, I probably would have simply continued with it.

 

[Act3]

I noticed that, too. Best Buy stores cleared out a lot of their iPads yesterday.




I held a 10.5 and 9.7 at Best Buy yesterday. I like both but had a renewed appreciation for the 9.7. Reading apps have to be optimized with crisp fonts, so I chose to keep the 9.7 Pro. They were a bit blurry on the 10.5.

I was impressed with the screen of the 2017 iPad, but I'm not a fan of the laminated screen (I have that on my original Air). $450 and no tax on the 9.7 Pro made the price difference over the 2017 iPad minimal, so I went with it. Had I an Air 2, I probably would have simply continued with it.

Only reason I got rid of wife's air 2 was that it was a 16 gig model. So she will use my 64 gig air 2 and I'll give the 2017 iPad a try with the non laminated screen.

 

[Geekbabe]

I have a 64GB Air 2, want a 10.5 inch Pro but hesitate. I like the 64GB size & the screen on this one is lovely. Thinking I might wait to see iOS 11 in action before making a decision.

 

[Broadus]

I have a 64GB Air 2, want a 10.5 inch Pro but hesitate. I like the 64GB size & the screen on this one is lovely. Thinking I might wait to see iOS 11 in action before making a decision.

That's not a bad idea--waiting to see iOS 11 in action, that is. I really like the 10.5 size, and the screen is noticeably larger than the 9.7. The 9.7 size is very good, but the 10.5 is a little better to me as far as sizes go.

 

[The Catalyst]

BB has it for $200 off now (was $250 off) stock is VERY limited

I noticed that, too. Best Buy stores cleared out a lot of their iPads yesterday.

Yea they did, we bought 2.

 

[G-Ziss]

Any particular reason you don't want a refurb? Especially if you aren't buying the latest version - they're virtually brand new in almost every way, even down to the warranty... except they're called refurbished and are cheaper

I may consider a refurb if that's the case. Is this if I buy them directly from Apple?

Also, what's the difference between new and refurbished?

 

[akash.nu]

I may consider a refurb if that's the case. Is this if I buy them directly from Apple?

Also, what's the difference between new and refurbished?

Yes if you're buying a refurbished then buy it from apple.

The refurbished ones are mostly devices that were either returned within 14 days return period or had developed some faults that Apple has checked and fixed and have put through the same or better quality assurance process before selling them. So they're as good as new, just not brand new straight off the manufacturing line.

 

[Sunshoopa]

I noticed that, too. Best Buy stores cleared out a lot of their iPads yesterday.




I held a 10.5 and 9.7 at Best Buy yesterday. I like both but had a renewed appreciation for the 9.7. Reading apps have to be optimized with crisp fonts, so I chose to keep the 9.7 Pro. They were a bit blurry on the 10.5.

I was impressed with the screen of the 2017 iPad, but I'm not a fan of the laminated screen (I have that on my original Air). $450 and no tax on the 9.7 Pro made the price difference over the 2017 iPad minimal, so I went with it. Had I an Air 2, I probably would have simply continued with it.

FYI the Air 1 does not have a laminated screen. Air 2 does though. The difference between the Air 1 screen and the 10.5 is massive as far as blacks go (because of the laminated screen).

 

[Act3]

FYI the Air 1 does not have a laminated screen. Air 2 does though. The difference between the Air 1 screen and the 10.5 is massive as far as blacks go (because of the laminated screen).

blacks between my air 2 and my 2017 iPad look exactly the same. One screen is laminated , other isn't. I'm looking at them side by side as I type. If anything the colors "pop" more on the 2017 iPad due to lack of anti reflective coating.

 

[Broadus]

FYI the Air 1 does not have a laminated screen. Air 2 does though. The difference between the Air 1 screen and the 10.5 is massive as far as blacks go (because of the laminated screen).

Actually, I'm well aware of that. That's why I'm examining carefully the iPP 9.7 and iPP 10.5. I don't want another "non-laminated" screen.

It's just that I've typed "laminated" and "non-laminated" in so many posts that I'm bound to write one when I mean the other.

 

[KUKitch]

I may consider a refurb if that's the case. Is this if I buy them directly from Apple?

Also, what's the difference between new and refurbished?

Yes if you're buying a refurbished then buy it from apple.

The refurbished ones are mostly devices that were either returned within 14 days return period or had developed some faults that Apple has checked and fixed and have put through the same or better quality assurance process before selling them. So they're as good as new, just not brand new straight off the manufacturing line.

And to reiterate as well, they have the same factory warranty as a brand new iPad - and now even the packaging on their refurb products is generally the same as new I believe.

 

[Dingster101]

Another vote for refurbished here, although i got a good deal on an open box at BestBuy.

 

[G-Ziss]

I took a look at the refurbished ones on Apple's site. They are selling the 128GB iPad Mini 4 for $340 which seems like a bit much. A couple of weeks ago, Best Buy had new ones on sale for $300. Now maybe that type of sale is rare, but it seems like I'd be better off just waiting for Best Buy to put them on sale again. I've been told that stores like Best Buy have them on sale every couple of weeks.

 

[Geekbabe]

That's not a bad idea--waiting to see iOS 11 in action, that is. I really like the 10.5 size, and the screen is noticeably larger than the 9.7. The 9.7 size is very good, but the 10.5 is a little better to me as far as sizes go.

I watch a lot of movies on my iPad & am eager to step up to the 10.5. I considered the 12.9 inch Pro ( beautiful device ) but a tad too big to carry to chemo. I use my mini for reading & my Air 2 for movies so the 10.5 seems like a good balance. The size will increase my enjoyment but not be too bulky to handle easily
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Only reason I got rid of wife's air 2 was that it was a 16 gig model. So she will use my 64 gig air 2 and I'll give the 2017 iPad a try with the non laminated screen.

Good choice in getting rid of the 16GB model. I have the 64GB Air 2 & just know your wife will love it ❤️

 

[Broadus]

I took a look at the refurbished ones on Apple's site. They are selling the 128GB iPad Mini 4 for $340 which seems like a bit much. A couple of weeks ago, Best Buy had new ones on sale for $300. Now maybe that type of sale is rare, but it seems like I'd be better off just waiting for Best Buy to put them on sale again. I've been told that stores like Best Buy have them on sale every couple of weeks.

Outside of a really good sale, Apple refurbished are good buys. I've bought a few refurbished Apple products (iPad Air, 2012 rMBP, four Apple Express), and they've all been great.

I know nothing about iPad Mini 4, but I doubt there will be many more, if any, widespread 9.7 iPP super sales. At Best Buy, Saturday's big one-day sale seems to have depleted most of their 9.7 iPP's.

 

[44267547]

Outside of a really good sale, Apple refurbished are good buys. I've bought a few refurbished Apple products (iPad Air, 2012 rMBP, four Apple Express), and they've all been great.

With Apple replacement devices, they replace the display, battery and casing. In some cases, I feel Apple refurbished products are great in someways over a new product, because they're less likely to experience issues from being straight out of the factory, as the technicians inspect them thoroughly.