I can get a pretty good deal on an iPad 10.5 right now. I was going to get one to give as a Christmas present closer to a December anyway. I don’t think I’ll get a better deal on Black Friday. So if I buy one now and keep it in the box until Christmas, will it hurt the battery? I know that some electronics, if the battery discharges and is left uncharged for an extended period, the battery will go bad and not hold a charge. Any reason to wait or should it be fine?
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Will buying an iPad now as Christmas present hurt battery?
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If you are buying this now (for a December gift-giving), I'd strongly suggest you open the box now to make sure it is defect-free.
If you do that, then you might as well charge it fully...say a week before the giving.
Explain this all after the unwrapping, of course.
If you do that, then you might as well charge it fully...say a week before the giving.
Explain this all after the unwrapping, of course.
If he wants to charge it, he would have to take the wrapper off, and that is a no-no with unpacking new Apple gear, that is the new owners privilege
You can turn it on, look at the screen, see if it is OK, the charge it has should be plenty in 2-3 months time.
It shouldn’t hurt your battery but opening it up will be wise. In case you get a dud, you’ll be able to exchange it.
Opening it beforehand really depends on who is receiving it (i.e. would they care that its open?)
Besides the battery it would also benefit from installing iOS 11 if it isn't already on it (to speed up the setup on Christmas day).
Although I really don't think there should be an issue with the battery.
Besides the battery it would also benefit from installing iOS 11 if it isn't already on it (to speed up the setup on Christmas day).
Although I really don't think there should be an issue with the battery.
Of course it will be fine, IPAD sit on the shelf for months and months with no ill affect. The bigger question is Share Where You Got The Good DEAL!
Staples or Office Depot will shrink wrap the box for you for few $.
When you get home, use a hair dryer to take out any imperfections and wrinkles in the plastic wrapper.
When you get home, use a hair dryer to take out any imperfections and wrinkles in the plastic wrapper.
If you have not bought it yet, hold off till the holidays. Apple gives you a longer return period and you might find better prices.
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That's good advice but I wouldn't charge it fully. LiOn batteries don't like to sit at full charge - somewhere in the middle is best, around 60-80%. This is also why you never receive LiOn electronics with a 100% charge.
iOS devices come charged anyway. It's probably already been in a box for months already and you won't be able to do anything with it eg. update to iOS 11 without setting it up with your Apple ID first. That will register the device in your name. I assume that is not your intention. It will be covered by Apple warranty anyway so let the new user have the pleasure of opening and setting it up.
Exactly this. This truly is a non-issue. Some people worry about the strangest things.
No problem for the battery.
But I suggest you to wait until November to benefit of holiday return policy.
But I suggest you to wait until November to benefit of holiday return policy.
A lot of Apple products sit on shelves for months before being sold (in certain stores). It’s really not an issue.
I bought an iPhone and iPad that waited to be gifted for a couple of months in unopened boxes. No issues.
And I wouldn’t open it. If it’s a gift, that privilege should go to the owner. It comes with a warranty. In the unlikely event that something is wrong, the new owner could just have it fixed (as far as I know, iPads under warranty get replaced if something is wrong anyway)
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Sure, but the OP said they got a really good deal, so that may not be the best option.
The only two cons is stripping the end user of the option to get AppleCare+ if you get it now and only about 9 months of warranty. Battery will be fine.
Or wait another month to buy it when extended holiday return period kicks in, that will give a buyer longer to return it for whatever reason.