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All iPads Another iPad air 2 sale... But possible first time mini user

T

torchflameon

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 9, 2008
32
1
Earlier this week, I ordered a mini 4 lte, but just realized with tethering it just isn't worth. I was originally going to discard my phone plan and live off the tablet data because i use google voice a lot. However It would be an extra 110 dollars plus 10 bucks a month or 120 dollars.

So I decided to go 64 gb wifi. It's coming in tomorrow. But... There is this sale happening.

http://9to5toys.com/2015/09/29/apple-ipad-air-2-ebay-deals-2/

It's pretty much the staples deal after tax.
490 for ipad air 2 vs ipad mini 4 at 540.

So I am torn. I have an ipad 3. It's getting slower, but is still useable. I read a lot .. especially comics. I realize the mini is small for that but I read in portrait. I even scaled it down to what an ipad mini would be and it was fine. Smaller but fine.

So yeah, I'm paying more for a smaller tablet unless I take it back before that sale ends. I am torn though. I am interesting in playing with a mini. I have never done it before, and store impressions just make me feel awkward because most of them don't have the apps I need to test it.

So some thoughts would be helpful.
 
Coming from an iPad 3 and going to a smaller screen tablet will be underwhelming.

The smart move is to get the iPad Air 2 which is less money and more powerful than iPad Mini 4
 
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Well... I went with... the ipad air 2. I am excited to see what it feels like compared to my 3 and the other features.

I bought a 100 dollar keyboard case that was discounted for 50 bucks. Ultimately I actually saved money. Same specs, just different size. All together it was 35 dollars less and with a fancier case.

Now I just need to get the other ipad minis off my credit card lol.
 
Yeah I just meant comparatively that most tests I have seen have been pretty comparable.
 
torchflameon said:
Yeah I just meant comparatively that most tests I have seen have been pretty comparable.
Click to expand...

In single core test you would be correct but not in multi core tests
 

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Does anyone know anything about Bluetek USA on eBay? This deal looks great and I am ready to buy a 64GB ipad air 2 for $490. But I have never purchased something this expensive from eBay before and certainly haven't heard of Bluetek USA before. Any advice before biting the bullet?
 
They have 119000 ratings with 98.6 approval. I'd say it's probably okay. But you never know. It's probably just an ebay store.
 
torchflameon said:
Earlier this week, I ordered a mini 4 lte, but just realized with tethering it just isn't worth. I was originally going to discard my phone plan and live off the tablet data because i use google voice a lot. However It would be an extra 110 dollars plus 10 bucks a month or 120 dollars.

So I decided to go 64 gb wifi. It's coming in tomorrow. But... There is this sale happening.

http://9to5toys.com/2015/09/29/apple-ipad-air-2-ebay-deals-2/

It's pretty much the staples deal after tax.
490 for ipad air 2 vs ipad mini 4 at 540.

So I am torn. I have an ipad 3. It's getting slower, but is still useable. I read a lot .. especially comics. I realize the mini is small for that but I read in portrait. I even scaled it down to what an ipad mini would be and it was fine. Smaller but fine.

So yeah, I'm paying more for a smaller tablet unless I take it back before that sale ends. I am torn though. I am interesting in playing with a mini. I have never done it before, and store impressions just make me feel awkward because most of them don't have the apps I need to test it.

So some thoughts would be helpful.
Click to expand...

436 with 15% registry at target. You do have to wait one or two days coupon.
 
gogogut said:
How does that work? Is that for the Air 2? Or are you saying 15% off the mini 4 with some registry discount?
Click to expand...

It works for everything hence it works on the mini 4. I couldnt get the cartwheel to stack last week otherwise it wouldve been 385 for me and 392 for you, but oh well.
 
jterp7 said:
It works for everything hence it works on the mini 4. I couldnt get the cartwheel to stack last week otherwise it wouldve been 385 for me and 392 for you, but oh well.
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So the $436 price you quoted was for the mini 4, right? I thought you were some how getting the Air 2 that cheap and wanted to learn more.
 
I own both: Air 2 and Mini 4.

Unless you absolutely prefer the Mini form factor, the Air 2 is the better choice. I didn't intend to have both, and still might return the Mini 4. I have a couple of weeks yet to decide.

In real world terms, having tried many apps, the Air 2 has noticeably better gaming performance in some games. But it's not a huge advantage, in that maybe 95% of games run the same on both. But every now and then a game will run smoother on the Air 2, and choppier on Mini 4 (i.e. Geometry Wars 3 Evolved).

In most other respects they operate about the same. Fort example, I don't notice faster loads on the Air 2 (I've done side by side tests), and the screens are nearly identical in quality (the Mini 4 can go a tiny bit brighter though). The speakers do shake the Air 2, but that doesn't bother me like some people, while the Mini 4 doesn't shake so much. Battery life seems comparable.

The advantage of the Mini 4 is it's easier to travel with due to being more compact and light. However, sometimes text is too small for my bad eyes and I need my reading glasses, and I don't really have that issue with the Air 2.
 
Tapper123 said:
I own both: Air 2 and Mini 4.

Unless you absolutely prefer the Mini form factor, the Air 2 is the better choice. I didn't intend to have both, and still might return the Mini 4. I have a couple of weeks yet to decide.

In real world terms, having tried many apps, the Air 2 has noticeably better gaming performance in some games. But it's not a huge advantage, in that maybe 95% of games run the same on both. But every now and then a game will run smoother on the Air 2, and choppier on Mini 4 (i.e. Geometry Wars 3 Evolved).

In most other respects they operate about the same. Fort example, I don't notice faster loads on the Air 2 (I've done side by side tests), and the screens are nearly identical in quality (the Mini 4 can go a tiny bit brighter though). The speakers do shake the Air 2, but that doesn't bother me like some people, while the Mini 4 doesn't shake so much. Battery life seems comparable.

The advantage of the Mini 4 is it's easier to travel with due to being more compact and light. However, sometimes text is too small for my bad eyes and I need my reading glasses, and I don't really have that issue with the Air 2.
Click to expand...

That's a helpful set of comparisons. Do you notice differences in battery runtime?
 
Tapper123 said:
I own both: Air 2 and Mini 4.

Unless you absolutely prefer the Mini form factor, the Air 2 is the better choice. I didn't intend to have both, and still might return the Mini 4. I have a couple of weeks yet to decide.

In real world terms, having tried many apps, the Air 2 has noticeably better gaming performance in some games. But it's not a huge advantage, in that maybe 95% of games run the same on both. But every now and then a game will run smoother on the Air 2, and choppier on Mini 4 (i.e. Geometry Wars 3 Evolved).

In most other respects they operate about the same. Fort example, I don't notice faster loads on the Air 2 (I've done side by side tests), and the screens are nearly identical in quality (the Mini 4 can go a tiny bit brighter though). The speakers do shake the Air 2, but that doesn't bother me like some people, while the Mini 4 doesn't shake so much. Battery life seems comparable.

The advantage of the Mini 4 is it's easier to travel with due to being more compact and light. However, sometimes text is too small for my bad eyes and I need my reading glasses, and I don't really have that issue with the Air 2.
Click to expand...

I think I am committed to the larger screen. My wife has a mini 2 and that wouldn't work for my movie/game use.
I have the eBay cart ready to purchase the Air 2 64GB for $490, but just can't click. I have eBay anxiety ;)
 
gogogut said:
I think I am committed to the larger screen. My wife has a mini 2 and that wouldn't work for my movie/game use.
I have the eBay cart ready to purchase the Air 2 64GB for $490, but just can't click. I have eBay anxiety ;)
Click to expand...

I've bought so much off eBay, never had anything go wrong. If it's a brand new person to eBay posting this or a ton of bad feedback where people didn't receive items as described, then I'd worry.

If not, it's a good deal and I'd go for it!
 
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Well, I went ahead and bought it through BluTek on eBay. Should be arriving by the end of the week. Will update if all is well or not. Thanks for all your advice!
 
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gogogut said:
Well, I went ahead and bought it through BluTek on eBay. Should be arriving by the end of the week. Will update if all is well or not. Thanks for all your advice!
Click to expand...
Cool! Mine is coming Tuesday. I think you will be okay.
 
I am starting to have last minute thoughts because ive heard rumors that the air 3
will br another resolution bump. Thats when I updated from 1 to 3 was when retina came. Althought i cant really imagine what 4k could really do on a tablet.

So i dont know. I also spent all day searching for cases and came up with no winner. Lol
 
I seriously doubt the rumors of the iPad Air 3 are true. While I'll admit there's a possibility, I have a strong reason why I doubt it will occur. Apple is going to release the iPad Pro which is a full $300 higher in price than the iPad Air series.

In order to justify that price difference, the screen size is simply not enough. They also have to promote the much more powerful processor along with the ability to use a highly integrated stylus. I'd say there's like a 5 percent chance an iPad Air 3 will come out.

Both the iPad Mini and the iPad Air 2 are now the stepchildren of the iPad series. Apple under Tim Cook is more focused on margins than every before, and the iPad Pro should provide margins probably only slightly below the iPhone 6S Plus with 16 gigs of storage.

Enjoy your new iPad, it sounds like you got it for a good price.
 
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businezguy said:
I seriously doubt the rumors of the iPad Air 3 are true. While I'll admit there's a possibility, I have a strong reason why I doubt it will occur. Apple is going to release the iPad Pro which is a full $300 higher in price than the iPad Air series.

In order to justify that price difference, the screen size is simply not enough. They also have to promote the much more powerful processor along with the ability to use a highly integrated stylus. I'd say there's like a 5 percent chance an iPad Air 3 will come out.

Both the iPad Mini and the iPad Air 2 are now the stepchildren of the iPad series. Apple under Tim Cook is more focused on margins than every before, and the iPad Pro should provide margins probably only slightly below the iPhone 6S Plus with 16 gigs of storage.

Enjoy your new iPad, it sounds like you got it for a good price.
Click to expand...


Thanks. Appreciate the reply. I get nervous about buying year old devices. But my ipad 3 is functional but very laggy. Ghost typing.
 
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