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iPad 4th Generation iPad Still Worth It?

powerbook911

powerbook911

macrumors 601
Original poster
Mar 15, 2005
4,009
397
I'm considering upgrading from my iPad 3rd gen. to an iPad 4th gen. I would get some performance boost while still being able to use my favorite case, plus subsidize the cost of the upgrade by selling my 3rd gen. If I get an Air 2, I won't want to sell the iPad 3 because I won't have one from that era, I don't mind selling the 3, if I get a 4th gen. Same exterior more or less besides lightning.

How were the screens on the 4th gen? Better than all the Air 2s I read about? My 3rd gen looked great. Being a sealed eBay unit probably, I won't be able to be picky about the screen.

Thanks.
 
Depends on the price of course. Having an iPad Air and now an iPad Air 2 using an iPad 3 feels sooooo heavy now... But going from a 3 to a 4 it is the same weight so you don't really realize the difference.

Scenes are about the same, the 4 is just faster and has the Lightning connector that is a plus especially if you have a newer iPhone and can share cables again.
 
Thanks!

Yes, I will still get an Air 2 or whatever the latest iPad is someday. I thought for the time being, to get a bit of a performance bump, and then have my iPad from this generation (iPad 2 through 4th gen form factor) be a faster one would be nice.

I wonder how much I should pay up to for a 32 GB sealed in box? Maybe up to $375 or so?
 
Unless it's dirt cheap its a waste of money. I have the 2, 3, 4, Air, Air 2. Put your money into an Air or Air 2. The Air 2 is a much better product in my opinion.
 
powerbook911 said:
Thanks!

Yes, I will still get an Air 2 or whatever the latest iPad is someday. I thought for the time being, to get a bit of a performance bump, and then have my iPad from this generation (iPad 2 through 4th gen form factor) be a faster one would be nice.

I wonder how much I should pay up to for a 32 GB sealed in box? Maybe up to $375 or so?
Click to expand...

Well you could get a 32gb Air for that or less (in fact I did for my Dad when Staples had them). I wouldn't go more than $250 for a new 32gb iPad 4 now.
 
Thanks! I didn't go for it, at least not yet. It would have been probably $380.00. Of course, I might have gotten around $180 for mine, to cut it down to $200.00.

If I get an Air 2 right now, I won't sell the iPad 3, that is the problem for me, I won't want to give up my only example of that 2, 3 & 4 form factor.

With the 4th generation, I would be comfortable selling my 3.

I'm just not sure even if I wait until I would be ready to get an Air 2, the 4 would have been a better example of that older generation than the 3 to have around should I ever need an extra iPad for something. Oh well.
 
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powerbook911 said:
Thanks! I didn't go for it, at least not yet. It would have been probably $380.00. Of course, I might have gotten around $180 for mine, to cut it down to $200.00.

If I get an Air 2 right now, I won't sell the iPad 3, that is the problem for me, I won't want to give up my only example of that 2, 3 & 4 form factor.

With the 4th generation, I would be comfortable selling my 3.

I'm just not sure even if I wait until I would be ready to get an Air 2, the 4 would have been a better example of that older generation than the 3 to have around should I ever need an extra iPad for something. Oh well.
Click to expand...

What is it about the form factor of those earlier gen units that you are so fond of? Just curious. The heftier feel?

I can't see why you wouldn't at least go to an Air. Mine has been a beast for me and I came from an iPad 2. It ps another and day difference in just about every category possible.
 
I undestand him. The 2/3/4 gens felt so solid. The laminated display of the new air helps but still it isnt there in solidness. The new ipads probably wont ever feel like that again seeing how thin they are.
 
Don't wast your money on the iPad 4th gen!!!!! If you want the best longevity get the air 2. If you are looking to save a little money buy the air. The speed and performance is well worth it. I even think the iPad air 2 with 2gb of ram is quite the upgrade.
 
Interesting. I owned a third-gen, and I was (lovingly) happy to say goodbye as soon as the Air appeared; it just struck me as the "true" iPad -*what I imagined they wish they could have made from the get-go.

The performance difference is noticeable even between the Air and Air 2 – in your position, I don't imagine I'd upgrade from a third- to a fourth-generation if I was going to end up with a current model anyway.
 
matraco said:
I undestand him. The 2/3/4 gens felt so solid. The laminated display of the new air helps but still it isnt there in solidness. The new ipads probably wont ever feel like that again seeing how thin they are.
Click to expand...

I agree with you, matraco. The 2/3/4 gens have a solid feel to them that the iPad Air just doesn't have.

My wife has an iPad Air and while it is an awesome device, for some reason I just the feel of the iPad 4.

We still have an iPad 2 in our household that is chugging along just fine on IOS 8 right now. So I don't see an issue with any of the generations of iPad right now.

One of the benefits of having a gen4 over a gen3 is the connector. The gen4 used the lightening connector so if you are on an iPhone 5 or later you can standardize cables.
 
i have the 128 gb iPad 4 with the latest iOS. I gave it to my wife/kids. Very little difference between that and my Air 2 especially since it is used mainly for web surfing, streaming movies and games.
 
powerbook911 said:
I'm considering upgrading from my iPad 3rd gen. to an iPad 4th gen. I would get some performance boost while still being able to use my favorite case, plus subsidize the cost of the upgrade by selling my 3rd gen. If I get an Air 2, I won't want to sell the iPad 3 because I won't have one from that era, I don't mind selling the 3, if I get a 4th gen. Same exterior more or less besides lightning.

How were the screens on the 4th gen? Better than all the Air 2s I read about? My 3rd gen looked great. Being a sealed eBay unit probably, I won't be able to be picky about the screen.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I had the same situation and was contemplating upgrading from iPad 3rd Gen to iPad 4th Gen, partly for Duet Display use. I ended up trading in my 3 and a bunch of other stuff to Amazon and then using the credit to get an iPad Air 2. I'm waiting for it to come on Tuesday. I considered the residual value of a 4th Gen once a new iPad and the uncertainty of whether the next iOS would run smoothly on it. Decided it was time for a newer iPad.
 
Thanks everyone. I may go for an Air 2 after all the advice, but I won't want to give up the iPad 3 then as a keepsake of the 2/3/4 generation. I believe the Air 2 would blow me away. I've purposely never held an Air, so that I would get the full enjoyment when I finally upgrade.

Perhaps it's time to put that unused Apple TV 2 on eBay.
 
powerbook911 said:
Thanks everyone. I may go for an Air 2 after all the advice, but I won't want to give up the iPad 3 then as a keepsake of the 2/3/4 generation. I believe the Air 2 would blow me away. I've purposely never held an Air, so that I would get the full enjoyment when I finally upgrade.

Perhaps it's time to put that unused Apple TV 2 on eBay.
Click to expand...

Awesome! Let us know what you think.
 
HuRR said:
Awesome! Let us know what you think.
Click to expand...

Sure. I couldn't wait. My Air 2 arrived today. I like it, but I don't think the fourth generation would have been a bad choice for me.

The smaller bezel is taking me some getting used to.

The main difference is the performance. I like the all out speed. However, in my hand, the third gen doesn't feel cheap nor particularly inferior. It has a good feel. Honestly, the air 2 got me thinking that my third gen might last until fall.

See, as much as I like the Air 2 1/3 of screen is yellow and there minor backlight bleed, so not sure I should keep it.

Overall, it's great to have a current iPad. Performance is great but I'm still seeing how much I gained from the upgrade.
 
powerbook911 said:
Sure. I couldn't wait. My Air 2 arrived today. See, as much as I like the Air 2 1/3 of screen is yellow and there minor backlight bleed, so not sure I should keep it.

Overall, it's great to have a current iPad. Performance is great but I'm still seeing how much I gained from the upgrade.
Click to expand...

It's defective, return it until you get one without the yellow & backlight bleed. I have neither of those. I still have my other iPads, including the iPad4 and the Air 2 blowers it away in all aspects except battery life (charge life).
 
Just upgraded to the iPad air 2 64gb SG from the original air 16gb. Got what I feel was a great deal on the 64gb air 2 from staples for $539 before taxes..I was going to get the 16gb but for the sales going on I chose the 64gb. Now to find a case SMH LOL. Just wanted to chime in on buying the newer version as the price was justified in my situation! Happy hunting
 
In your situation I would probably search for an Air but the iPad 4 is still pretty good and fast for regular tasks.
 
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