Will buying an iPad now as Christmas present hurt battery?

[Ethosik]

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.

Also, let it get to 50% then store it for the few months. Apple recommends this: Store it half-charged when you store it long term. https://www.apple.com/batteries/maximizing-performance/

 

[Mlrollin91]

Put the sealed box in the fridge (not the freezer!). Low temperature slows down the aging process of the battery.

Low temperature can also permanently damage a Lith-Ion battery. Room temperature is the best.

 

[Codeseven]

There’s no reason to believe there will be an iPad hardware update until, say, Spring 2018, is there?

 

[Mlrollin91]

There’s no reason to believe there will be an iPad hardware update until, say, Spring 2018, is there?

Unlikely until WWDC at the earliest next year.

 

[Mlrollin91]

never too hot or too cold
I left my phone in the dash of my car once, it shows shut down until the temperature go back to normal

Yeah, when your phone auto-shuts down because its too hot, you are within the limits of permanently damaging your battery. That means your battery reached 130F, which is terrible for a battery.

 

[praterkeith]

Nope, buy it.

 

[Mlrollin91]

just let it cool down, and it will be all right

No. It will not be “all right”. You can severely damage and permanently ruin the battery.