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hagr182

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 6, 2010
192
29
So, I´ve finally saved up and I guess its time to finally update my aging 2011 16gb iPad 2; just about nothing runs anymore and I can´t even install certain modifications to try and squeeze a bit more out of it. I had a blast with the thing and it actually got me through lawschool (even had its own zagg folio case and all) with my macbook pro 2009.

Now as a corporate lawyer I´m looking at upgrading to an ipad that would help me with my everyday job and also provide for some enterainment (streaming), social networking and some gaming on the go (gamepass and apple arcade titles).

On the workside of things I´d be mainly reviewing word and pdf documents, drafting emails and making annotations and processing signatures.

On the play side, I´d be happy if things ran stable and smoothly, nothing too fancy.

I may also be doing some photo edits on the go, mainly of raw files, but not many of them.

My idea is to have a device that could replace my laptop if needed (I.E. leaving the laptop on the firm and just taking my ipad with me). Thing is with my budget, I have 3 options available at very close price ranges:

  1. Ipad 9, 256 gb, LTE, including logi combo touch and gen 1 apple pencil.
  2. Ipad air 4, 256 gb, wifi, thats it.
  3. Ipad pro 11, 128 gb, wifi, thats it.
If I get the base ipad, i´d be set from the get go with everything I may need, but the other ipads are very tempting given their upgraded specs, accesory wise I might get both keyboard (not apples) and pencil some months down the line. If you were me, which option would you choose?

I´m looking for an investment that would last me 4 or 5 years.

Thanks in advance,
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,920
13,265
Charging the Apple Pencil 1 is a pain and sooner or later, I expect the entire lineup will move to the Apple Pencil 2.

Since you mentioned using it outside the office, if possible, I highly suggest the Air 4 or Pro 11 with cellular.

Where are you located? In the US, you might be able to get an Apple certified refurb 2018 or 2020 iPad Pro 11 with cellular for around the same price as the Air 4 256GB wifi.


 

1BadManVan

macrumors 68040
Dec 20, 2009
3,285
3,446
Bc Canada
If your main usage is out of the office, the cellular models will be a better fit. Honestly the ipad 9 would be more than suitable for your needs And gets you all the accessories you want in your budget.

if it was between the air and pro, the pro wins hands down when they are that close in price. Brighter and high refresh screen, double the ram, faster storage, a beast of a processor, quad speakers, better cameras front and rear etc. You get a lot for the $50 increase between the 256 air and 128 pro. Unless you truly need that extra storage.
 
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