iPad Pro Would the Pro be the Better buy than the new air for my situation?

[MacAttackKev]

So I'm constantly going back between the pro and air. I do not plan to have it replace my MBA, so I don't think I'll need the keyboard nor the 12.9" (Regardless of everyone telling me this is a mistake and that I should go for the larger screen). I've had a mini in the past, and I did like the form factor but it wasn't really optimized for note-taking and editing at the time so I ended up re-selling it at a loss.

I'm mostly going to use the pro for saving and editing PDFs/PPTs of lectures (Will be getting an apple pencil) as well as downloading my Textbooks and multitasking between lecture and textbook. I feel like 64 GB should be enough? But then again I have that on my iPhone and I'm already looking to up that to 128GB.


With the educational price of $750 on the pro 11" 128 GB plus the Free AirPods, which I could resell to recoup some of my money, that could end up being cheaper than getting the 256 GB Air (which is denfentily overkill on storage for me).

Unfortunately aside from apple's pro motion and maybe the extra RAM, I don't really care for any of the other features on the pro and it's psychologically making me question the purchase haha.

 

[Marlon DLTH :)]

I have the same problem.

 

[MacAttackKev]

I have the same problem.

Have you thought about going for the 2018 model?
I'm open to that as well and it's potentially cheaper, well not really from what I've been seeing on ebay haha.

 

[ian87w]

Are you going to do a lot of audio recordings? The Pro seems to have more microphones (presumably better audio intake) than the Air, so that might be a consideration.

At these prices, imo just get the Pro. The 128GB base will give you a longer run (especially if you don't rely on cloud storage) than 64GB.

 

[Marlon DLTH :)]

Have you thought about going for the 2018 model?
I'm open to that as well and it's potentially cheaper, well not really from what I've been seeing on ebay haha.

Yes haha, I think we’re both in the same situation.
The problem is that I don’t know of anyone who is interested in buying a new AirPods right now, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to sell them.

My options are:

2020 256gb Air- $700

2020 256gb Pro- $850 or $750 if I resell the AirPods at $100

2018 256gb Pro- $700- $800

 

[MacAttackKev]

Are you going to do a lot of audio recordings? The Pro seems to have more microphones (presumably better audio intake) than the Air, so that might be a consideration.

At these prices, imo just get the Pro. The 128GB base will give you a longer run (especially if you don't rely on cloud storage) than 64GB.

Hmm that's an interesting question, I've gotten so used to pandemic uploaded lectures at this point I forgot that recording lectures might be a necessity later. But frankly, I end up using my iPhone for that (more portable and option of using wired headphones).

Thanks for the advice!
I personally like having everything on the device. But I'm trying to get into the habit of using google drive more often just as an extra backup aside from my external drive.

 

[James Godfrey]

In my opinion the 11” Pro is great value for the additional £200/$200...

However, you have to ask yourself is the better cameras and mics, better speakers, larger brighter 120Hz promotion screen, Face ID, better multi core performance and double storage on the base model worth the extra £200/$200... that’s only an extra £33/$33 for each feature that’s better than the air.

The only benefit I see the air giving is slightly better single core performance, but for that you are giving up quite a lot of features that are in the pro.

Personally, I would go for the pro as I think it’s better value... now had the iPad Air been priced at $499, that would be a much more difficult decision.

 

[MacAttackKev]

Yes haha, I think we’re both in the same situation.
The problem is that I don’t know of anyone who is interested in buying a new AirPods right now, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to sell them.

My options are:

2020 256gb Air- $700

2020 256gb Pro- $850 or $750 if I resell the AirPods at $100

2018 256gb Pro- $700- $800

Man, I hope it won't be too hard to resell those Airpods, I like to think not everyone has them nowadays haha.

Interesting price breakdown! For me it would be much harder to justfy getting an older model at such a low discount. I'd probs pass on the 2018 model in that case.

 

[ian87w]

In my opinion the 11” Pro is great value for the additional £200/$200...

However, you have to ask yourself is the better cameras and mics, better speakers, larger brighter 120Hz promotion screen, Face ID, better multi core performance and double storage on the base model worth the extra £200/$200... that’s only an extra £33/$33 for each feature that’s better than the air.

The only benefit I see the air giving is slightly better single core performance, but for that you are giving up quite a lot of features that are in the pro.

Personally, I would go for the pro as I think it’s better value... now had the iPad Air been priced at $499, that would be a much more difficult decision.

Agree. Had the iPad Air been priced at $499, it would've been an easy recommendation. But at these prices, might as well get the Pro, especially since the OP can get EDU prices.

 

[MacAttackKev]

In my opinion the 11” Pro is great value for the additional £200/$200...

However, you have to ask yourself is the better cameras and mics, better speakers, larger brighter 120Hz promotion screen, Face ID, better multi core performance and double storage on the base model worth the extra £200/$200... that’s only an extra £33/$33 for each feature that’s better than the air.

The only benefit I see the air giving is slightly better single core performance, but for that you are giving up quite a lot of features that are in the pro.

Personally, I would go for the pro as I think it’s better value... now had the iPad Air been priced at $499, that would be a much more difficult decision.

If only I could buy those features indibidually....
I don't think my consumption warrants the multi-core need (I could be wrong on that). Never gotten around to using Face ID (not opposed to it though), defitnely don't care about the camera, mics or speakers (I usually just end up using headphones for audio).

For me, if the Air had that price and just given Pro motion (which I know is more of a luxuary item)
I'd be down. But Right now I am still leaning towards the Pro! If I could just score a cheaper 2018 model I'd be pretty content with that.

 

[AutomaticApple]

I'd probs pass on the 2018 model in that case.

Yeah, get the base model 128GB 11-inch iPad Pro.

 

[Marlon DLTH :)]

Man, I hope it won't be too hard to resell those Airpods, I like to think not everyone has them nowadays haha.

Interesting price breakdown! For me it would be much harder to justfy getting an older model at such a low discount. I'd probs pass on the 2018 model in that case.

Hi again. I found someone interested on the AirPods, so I just bought the 2020 iPad Pro.

I’ll resell them at $150, so it’s a 256gb iPad Pro at just $700 (+tax), great deal tbh.

 

[ejin222]

Congrats on the purchase! I've always thought the Pro was a better purchase than the Air, especially when you are able to sell the AirPods for at least $100.
Overkill for most? Sure. I didn't say it was the BEST purchase, just the better =D

 

[MisterMillz]

Yes haha, I think we’re both in the same situation.
The problem is that I don’t know of anyone who is interested in buying a new AirPods right now, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to sell them.

My options are:

2020 256gb Air- $700

2020 256gb Pro- $850 or $750 if I resell the AirPods at $100

2018 256gb Pro- $700- $800

If you’re fine with refurbished you can find great deals via Amazon renewed. 512GB with cellular are going for ~$799 and 1TB with cellular for ~$849. Purchased 3 of the 1TB models not too long ago. Came with brand new batteries and looked like they just came out of the plastic.

 

[MacAttackKev]

Hi again. I found someone interested on the AirPods, so I just bought the 2020 iPad Pro.

I’ll resell them at $150, so it’s a 256gb iPad Pro at just $700 (+tax), great deal tbh.

Dang, how'd you sell them so high?! haha Congrats!!
I actutually was going to do the same.... until I realized the order waiting list on these.

I ended up buying a used 2018 11" pro 64 GB (Only drawback), which included an Apple pencil and Keyboard Case for $620

So far it's been a godsend for note taking in my chemistry class!