iPad Pro Would you keep it or return it for the price?

[Sheepish-Lord]

I’ve been on/off about iPads since their existence and as a casual I truly do use them as a big iPhone at home and use a 13 Mini on the go. That said Apple ruined, IMO, my fav iPad (Mini) leaving the 11” Pro as my only preferred borderline portable option. While I’ve owned Pro model’s before I always sold them because at full price it was crazy to justify it as a weekend warrior or paperweights.

However, I recently purchased a new M2 IPP 11” base model tax free for $599 and I’m still struggling to justify it BUT I’ve never seen that much off on an IPP ($150 off was my previous best find). Part of me wants to keep it because of the deal but the other part knows iPadOS is just meh and it will never be more than a big phone to me.

What would you do?

 

[rui no onna]

I mean, this is really subjective. If you don't think you'll get good use out of it then it seems you're better off returning it.

For me, I don't need a full blown desktop OS for 90% of my usage. The iPad suits me just fine plus I can use it with more comfort (e.g. lying down in bed or on the couch) so I enjoy using them a lot. iPadOS is well suited for touchscreens unlike Windows-based tablets so I'm more than fine with its limitations.

 

[sracer]

I’ve been on/off about iPads since their existence and as a casual I truly do use them as a big iPhone at home and use a 13 Mini on the go. That said Apple ruined, IMO, my fav iPad (Mini) leaving the 11” Pro as my only preferred borderline portable option. While I’ve owned Pro model’s before I always sold them because at full price it was crazy to justify it as a weekend warrior or paperweights.

However, I recently purchased a new M2 IPP 11” base model tax free for $599 and I’m still struggling to justify it BUT I’ve never seen that much off on an IPP ($150 off was my previous best find). Part of me wants to keep it because of the deal but the other part knows iPadOS is just meh and it will never be more than a big phone to me.

What would you do?

I would never buy an iPad Pro for that price, so I wouldn't have bought it in the first place.

But the question is... is a "bargain" really a bargain if the device isn't going to be useful or helpful? Wouldn't those 6 bills be better put to use for some other fun gadget?

I've been there before... a deal too good to pass up... that happened back in December 2022 when Amazon ran a killer deal on Kindle Scribe bundles. Although I was looking to dabble in e-ink tablets, I wasn't completely sold, so I held off. My interest grew in the Scribe since then, so when Amazon ran the same deal in March, I jumped on it... and I'm quite delighted with it.

Moral of the story: If in doubt, do without. Deals come and go, so when that deal returns, you may feel more strongly one way or the other and the decision will be clear.

 

[*~Kim~*]

I’d return. Per sracer, deals will come and go and it seems clear that a Mini 7 is coming. That might be more to your tastes. If you bought a Pro, you obviously don’t dislike the non-home button form factor. All it will take is for the right Mini to come along and you would be left with an expensive mistake.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

I’d return. Per sracer, deals will come and go and it seems clear that a Mini 7 is coming. That might be more to your tastes. If you bought a Pro, you obviously don’t dislike the non-home button form factor. All it will take is for the right Mini to come along and you would be left with an expensive mistake.

You’re correct in if there is a Mini Pro with proper ui/ux thats my end game device.

 

[KaliYoni]

What would you do?

I'm a financial markets person. So if I was facing a similar decision, I would think about:

• Do I have a better use for the money spent on the returnable iPad?
• As soon as the return period ends, the money spent on the iPad becomes a sunk cost (in other words, the money has been spent and there isn't any way to get it back).
• Will the iPad provide a sufficient return, in monetary and psychological benefits, to justify its purchase?

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

I'm a financial markets person. So if I was facing a similar decision, I would think about:

• Do I have a better use for the money spent on the returnable iPad?
• As soon as the return period ends, the money spent on the iPad becomes a sunk cost (in other words, the money has been spent and there isn't any way to get it back).
• Will the iPad provide a sufficient return, in monetary and psychological benefits, to justify its purchase?

Good input and there’s money always better well spent I feel. It’s not a necessity but if everyone lived their life that way we would all live frugal grey lives ha. Guess it’s down to what makes people happy…their bank account or their stuff ha. For me, I think I’m leaning towards bank account this time and if Apple develops my dream iPad Mini then we’ll see. Kinda getting tired of the constant life of gadgets and media consumption anyway.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

 

[cupcakes2000]

It’s a little off the wall asking another persons view when as another poster mentioned - it’s completely subjective.

Boils down to if you will make enough use of it to warrant the cost, or else if you can afford the cost and don’t mind splurging on something you won’t necessarily use to its full potential.

To answer the question, I wouldn’t look for an 11” iPad, I prefer the largest size. But if I was interested in that size I would keep it. I have to say though, from what you said you should take it back.

 

[floral]

I’ve been on/off about iPads since their existence and as a casual I truly do use them as a big iPhone at home and use a 13 Mini on the go. That said Apple ruined, IMO, my fav iPad (Mini) leaving the 11” Pro as my only preferred borderline portable option. While I’ve owned Pro model’s before I always sold them because at full price it was crazy to justify it as a weekend warrior or paperweights.

However, I recently purchased a new M2 IPP 11” base model tax free for $599 and I’m still struggling to justify it BUT I’ve never seen that much off on an IPP ($150 off was my previous best find). Part of me wants to keep it because of the deal but the other part knows iPadOS is just meh and it will never be more than a big phone to me.

What would you do?

I suggest you keep it. You may not be able to "justify" it, but there isn't a need to. I bought the same model just to not have to upgrade my iPad for a while because it has ridiculous specs for a tablet and for my uses, meaning I'm probably going to get 10 or more years of use, ignoring update support. :)

Sometimes you just need a device with breathing room, and the deal you got is very good. An iPad Air with a similar storage amount would theoretically cost around $100 more.

So for $100 less, you got:

Face ID
ProMotion
Pencil Hover
M2 chip instead of M1 (2 extra GPU cores)
Tri-camera system found in the last-gen iPhone Pros (versus SE-style cameras)
USB4 support
LiDAR
Surround sound (versus stereo)

I'd say that's a great enough deal to hold onto :D

 

[Devyn89]

I bought an 11” at full price and didn‘t regret it at all. Your mileage may vary though. I would keep it at that price.

 

[okkibs]

I'd keep it and simply sell something else, like older iPads, or at least one thing I don't use often anymore. My rule is that for every new device in the house, one other has to go.

I recently got a new device and used that as an opportunity to get rid of something. Ended up giving away the older switch lite I had sitting in a drawer, and selling an older iPad. Despite having bought something new there is now one less device in the household.

Don't really care about the account balance or whether I absolutely need it. On that basis I could downgrade or get rid of many devices as few of them are crucial. As long as you have an actual use for the iPad and plan to keep it for a long time I don't see why you shouldn't keep it. I'll assume you didn't buy it to keep it around as a paperweight...

 

[Mac... nificent]

This isn't a "keep it" or "return it" question. It all comes down to what apps you use and how you plan to use the device.

I bought a 11" iPad Pro with the pencil and I use it more than my computer.

 

[Gregg2]

If there is something else that you are giving up because of this purchase, then evaluate which one means more to you. If there's not, and still plenty of money in your bank account, keep it and enjoy it.

 

[jerryk]

I’ve been on/off about iPads since their existence and as a casual I truly do use them as a big iPhone at home and use a 13 Mini on the go. That said Apple ruined, IMO, my fav iPad (Mini) leaving the 11” Pro as my only preferred borderline portable option. While I’ve owned Pro model’s before I always sold them because at full price it was crazy to justify it as a weekend warrior or paperweights.

However, I recently purchased a new M2 IPP 11” base model tax free for $599 and I’m still struggling to justify it BUT I’ve never seen that much off on an IPP ($150 off was my previous best find). Part of me wants to keep it because of the deal but the other part knows iPadOS is just meh and it will never be more than a big phone to me.

What would you do?

How did you get an 11 inch new iPad Pro for that little?