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iPad Argument: what can the iPad Air 2 do that the iPad 3 can't?
- Thread starter Traverse
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3 years seems to be the self life of the iPads.
Unless you leave it on iOS 6/7. Apple will discontinue support for it. I am afraid to upgrade ios 8 on my iPad 3. It's getting long in the tooth since I got it launch day in spring 2012.
Just simple things like restarting ipad take so much longer than my iPad Air (I have iPad Air 2 but haven't had time to open it yesterday). Work paid for ipad air 2. Ha ha.
Now. I really can't find a reason to upgrade from iPad Air 1 to iPad Air 2! That's why I haven't opened the air 2 that's sitting in a ups box in my house.
Unless you leave it on iOS 6/7. Apple will discontinue support for it. I am afraid to upgrade ios 8 on my iPad 3. It's getting long in the tooth since I got it launch day in spring 2012.
Just simple things like restarting ipad take so much longer than my iPad Air (I have iPad Air 2 but haven't had time to open it yesterday). Work paid for ipad air 2. Ha ha.
Now. I really can't find a reason to upgrade from iPad Air 1 to iPad Air 2! That's why I haven't opened the air 2 that's sitting in a ups box in my house.
Completely agree with everything op is saying! I have an iPad 3 and feel I can't justify paying for an Air 2 when my current iPad can still do 99% of what the newer iPad can do just slower and heavier... It has the same screen and still works perfectly fine! The only time I will want a faster iPad is when there is a better os to make use of that speed, and iOS 8 isn't it!
Give us a full os on an iPad and then we can start worrying about fast hardware...
Give us a full os on an iPad and then we can start worrying about fast hardware...
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I got a good 2 1/2 yrs out of the 3, so the cost over that time period justifies me getting an Air 2 now that will last at least as long - I'm guessing three years from now.
So with the benefits of speed, much less weight, form factor, less reflectivity, etc, it was a big enough jump to justify the cost to myself even though my current 3 could do a certain percentage of my needs. It just works better.
So with the benefits of speed, much less weight, form factor, less reflectivity, etc, it was a big enough jump to justify the cost to myself even though my current 3 could do a certain percentage of my needs. It just works better.
You don't have to justify every purchase you do.
The iPad is a media consumption device. It's for fun and convenience. If you want a new iPad each year for the smoothest experience, go ahead.
Ignoring the few new things, are you frustrated by the speed of weight of your iPad 3? Do games stutter? Is it fatiguing to hold for a while? Do you want AirDrop?
Life is short and iPads are relatively inexpensive. If you want the new shiny and can afford the new shiny, get the new shiny. A used Air 1 is also a noticeable upgrade from your 3 and much less expensive.
Once you sell your iPad, the obvious answer to the question is, "I don't have an iPad 3".
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The iPad 3 is a kind of bad example. It was a great device (my first iPad), but the iPad 4 less than a year later really puts it to shame that can stand up with current pressing GPU demands of some intensive apps. I'd say that the iPad 4 would be enough to last the next few years unless you absolutely need a lighter tablet.
However, I mean, boiled down: it's still the same old iPad, which hasn't really seen a real good use of iOS yet. So, the iPad itself really isn't that much better aside from thinner, lighter, faster, with better specs. Same goes for any iOS device these days.
To me, the weight of the original iPads were extremely overwhelming and downright uncomfortable, so, for me, the weight alone would be worth the upgrade. In your case, I would say that there's no real reason to upgrade because you still have a pretty great device. Don't let Apple try to tell you that you need something when it's pretty clear that you might not have a use for.
An iPad for someone is only as good as someone makes their need for it to be.
However, I mean, boiled down: it's still the same old iPad, which hasn't really seen a real good use of iOS yet. So, the iPad itself really isn't that much better aside from thinner, lighter, faster, with better specs. Same goes for any iOS device these days.
To me, the weight of the original iPads were extremely overwhelming and downright uncomfortable, so, for me, the weight alone would be worth the upgrade. In your case, I would say that there's no real reason to upgrade because you still have a pretty great device. Don't let Apple try to tell you that you need something when it's pretty clear that you might not have a use for.
An iPad for someone is only as good as someone makes their need for it to be.
Thank you all for the replies!
I've never had that issue on my 3, I can hold 5/6 tabs I think.
Heh, thanks. I appreciate this. Yes, I do have the funds. I was adopted and raised in a very low income family so I appreciate the value of money. I'm in school, but cover my own bills and just received an unexpected small scholarship for my academic standing. I gave my parents money and realized that I could take some of what's left and combine it with gift money I've saved for years and afford a new iPad.
Not necessarily. I use it extensively for school. A combination of Office, PDF Expert, and other not taking apps.
This is where I'm conflicted, and I realize that only I can make the decision, but I appreciate everyone's feedback. My iPad 3 does lag, bad. Especially in Safari which is my most used app. It will freeze scrolling or just show white page for several seconds before rendering. I wanted to play around with photo extensions, but some of them would never load after three attempts. I would appreciate the reduced bulk. Just yesterday I was studying for my AIS exam in a crowded hallway. Granted the iPad 3 isn't huge, but a reduction in overall mass would always be welcomed.
It's an upgrade in every way. And even though I can afford it, I feel guilty. Aw well, I guess I have to think a little more about it.
I've never had that issue on my 3, I can hold 5/6 tabs I think.
Heh, thanks. I appreciate this. Yes, I do have the funds. I was adopted and raised in a very low income family so I appreciate the value of money. I'm in school, but cover my own bills and just received an unexpected small scholarship for my academic standing. I gave my parents money and realized that I could take some of what's left and combine it with gift money I've saved for years and afford a new iPad.
Not necessarily. I use it extensively for school. A combination of Office, PDF Expert, and other not taking apps.
This is where I'm conflicted, and I realize that only I can make the decision, but I appreciate everyone's feedback. My iPad 3 does lag, bad. Especially in Safari which is my most used app. It will freeze scrolling or just show white page for several seconds before rendering. I wanted to play around with photo extensions, but some of them would never load after three attempts. I would appreciate the reduced bulk. Just yesterday I was studying for my AIS exam in a crowded hallway. Granted the iPad 3 isn't huge, but a reduction in overall mass would always be welcomed.
It's an upgrade in every way. And even though I can afford it, I feel guilty. Aw well, I guess I have to think a little more about it.
If you have an iPad 3 and don't have access to an iPad 4 or newer then you won't feel you are missing out on anything. It probably does everything you need it to. As soon as you try a newer iPad, it's over. You'll never want to wait 3 minutes for a web page to load again or sit there for an hour when you bring up the multi tasking view and swipe across applications.
Yes I'm exaggerating the times but it's just about how fast everything happens on the newer models and that's a big part of user experience.
Yes I'm exaggerating the times but it's just about how fast everything happens on the newer models and that's a big part of user experience.
The question could have been extended to iPads in general - what does an iPad do that an iPhone doesn't? That too can be a nebulous question but in practice it's obvious that the experience is very different between the two. Between the iPad 3 and the Air 2 it won't be quite so extreme but it will be noticeable. If you appreciate the improvements that a faster, more responsive computer brings, you'll really appreciate the upgrade.
The biggest change for me in going from the iPad 4 to the Air was the form factor. Prior to the Air every iPad felt just a bit too bulky. The Air with its lighter weight, slimmer profile and reduced bezels finally felt to me like what the iPad was envisioned to be from the beginning. I still think it needs to lose another 1/4lb or so to be perfect but these devices are closing in on it fast!
The biggest change for me in going from the iPad 4 to the Air was the form factor. Prior to the Air every iPad felt just a bit too bulky. The Air with its lighter weight, slimmer profile and reduced bezels finally felt to me like what the iPad was envisioned to be from the beginning. I still think it needs to lose another 1/4lb or so to be perfect but these devices are closing in on it fast!
Use more than 5 tabs in Safari without reloading, using several heavy apps without reloading...
I've just upgraded from the iPad 3 and must say its like night and day for speed and smoothness. Everything just loads quicker and runs faster. The screen is much improved and the ergonomics are better now. Also love the extras like the Touch ID , etc etc. Glad I finally made the jump. Now to sell my trusty iPad 3, which has given me great service over the years.
This is going to come off the wrong way, but here me out. "If you have to ask how much it costs, then don't ask". This doesn't have to do with money but the reality is still the same though right?
There's value in it being about half the thickness of the iPad 3. There is value in it being however many X's above the iPad 3.
If the differences aren't something you can notice or explain to your friend then honestly the answer would probably be that it isn't a notable upgrade for you.
That isn't a dig at anyone. People see value differently. I've owned many of the iOS devices that have been out. Why? Because faster, use case specific devices make sense to me. I'm not everyone though.
Right now I'm running an iPhone 6 Plus, an iPad Air 2 LTE, and a Macbook Pro 13 Retina in my bag. It isn't for the thrills of having someone ask me "oh is that the new blah blah blah..." It's because for me personally the time it takes to get a specific task done within the situation I'm in is incredibly valuable.
Two months ago I was using an iPhone 5S, iPad Mini Retina, and iPad Air, with the same Macbook Pro 13. Why? I can do quick messaging and very very light reading on the iPhone 5S, iPad Mini is fine for doing more extensive edits to documents and is one heck of a reader at night, iPad Air gives me 10 hours of battery life with excellent productivity applications always connected to Verizon. Why am I down one device? Simple, my phone was being used less and less because I couldn't do many productivity tasks on it anymore. iPhone 6 Plus has an incredibly comfortable keyboard for typing things out when I'm in line for things I can get as much done on my Plus then on a Mini. Reading at night on a 6 Plus is fantastic. The iPad Air 2 is still near and dear to me. I wish the screen was about an inch or two bigger, but I've been able to get work done on the side of a road without any issues. iPad Air 2 has let me work away from my desk for nearly a week without any complications.
It comes down to what you do. It's easy to look at any upgrade and say "that's a waste of money". The truth? Not every upgrade is for everyone. That doesn't mean the use is wrong, it's just different.
There's value in it being about half the thickness of the iPad 3. There is value in it being however many X's above the iPad 3.
If the differences aren't something you can notice or explain to your friend then honestly the answer would probably be that it isn't a notable upgrade for you.
That isn't a dig at anyone. People see value differently. I've owned many of the iOS devices that have been out. Why? Because faster, use case specific devices make sense to me. I'm not everyone though.
Right now I'm running an iPhone 6 Plus, an iPad Air 2 LTE, and a Macbook Pro 13 Retina in my bag. It isn't for the thrills of having someone ask me "oh is that the new blah blah blah..." It's because for me personally the time it takes to get a specific task done within the situation I'm in is incredibly valuable.
Two months ago I was using an iPhone 5S, iPad Mini Retina, and iPad Air, with the same Macbook Pro 13. Why? I can do quick messaging and very very light reading on the iPhone 5S, iPad Mini is fine for doing more extensive edits to documents and is one heck of a reader at night, iPad Air gives me 10 hours of battery life with excellent productivity applications always connected to Verizon. Why am I down one device? Simple, my phone was being used less and less because I couldn't do many productivity tasks on it anymore. iPhone 6 Plus has an incredibly comfortable keyboard for typing things out when I'm in line for things I can get as much done on my Plus then on a Mini. Reading at night on a 6 Plus is fantastic. The iPad Air 2 is still near and dear to me. I wish the screen was about an inch or two bigger, but I've been able to get work done on the side of a road without any issues. iPad Air 2 has let me work away from my desk for nearly a week without any complications.
It comes down to what you do. It's easy to look at any upgrade and say "that's a waste of money". The truth? Not every upgrade is for everyone. That doesn't mean the use is wrong, it's just different.
Thank you for this. It was a very thoughtful post.
After two weeks of serious thought I have decided to get one. I hesitate because I never want to be ungrateful for the stuff I have, but I've used my iPad 3 heavily for 2.4 years and it's served me well. I use it extensively for school and although the iPad 3 does fulfill my needs, I think the experience will be worth it. I hold my iPad a lot, the reduced weight will be greatly appreciated. My 3 has slowed noticeably to where it stutters and lags a lot while browsing.
I explained all this to my friend and they agreed that the package as a whole was nice, even if there were few specific features that it had over the 3. After carefully evaluating my usage and the funds on hand, I think it will be a nice enhancement. Plus, my friend is in school, but is in worse financial shape than me. All she has is a 5 year old windows PC and a 4 year old iPod. I'm going to surprise her with my iPad 3. She'll be delighted to have it and that makes the decision easier.
I also went from a 5S + iPad mini retina (outside) + iPad Air (at home) combo to 6 Plus + Air 2.
Let me give you my story just so that you can have some perspective and decide for yourself.
I too thought it is about time to update from my iPad 3 to a new one, after I felt it was getting too slow on ios 7 and was just scared to make it unusable under ios 8.
The most annoying thing about iPad 3 was browsing experience, as Chrome or Safari felt really sluggish to load pages, switch between tabs without reloading content or just plain reload times of pages. Generally, everything else in my old iPad worked great, battery life, basic apps, but increasingly it was becomming frustrating to digest any web content on the device without feeling it is just not fast as it could.
So spontaneously I went to a retailer, bought the Air 2 and... Returned it the next day... I was a bit underwhelmend, as OK, it was lighter, had the finger scan, felt faster, browser did not reload and felt much faster but I felt, that this does not justify the 600 Euro cost.
The next 1-2 days after that I came back to iPad 3 and I just could not use it anymore. My first impression with Air 2 was "Meh, can live without it" but once I came back to iPad 3, I just did not want to come back to iPad 3... So I bought it again, and intend to keep it.
If you think iPad Air 3 is not a big upgrade from iPad 3, you are wrong (my opinion). If you think iPad Air 2 can't do much more than iPad 3, you are right, it can't, but it can do many new things and the rest it does faster.
So let me point the biggest and most meaningful changes for me:
Speed... Speed is the most important factor for me, when I decided to buy it back. Speed is everywhere, starting from general navigation through IOS and ending on swift www browser. I do not mean meaningless benchmarks which do not reflect user experience, I mean just the overall use. You will notice it mostly in browser, where tabs load much faster, do not reload thanks to more RAM and the browser does not slow down as much as it did for me in iPad 3.
Weight... 30% lighter than iPad 3, narrower, slimmer... This alone is a big thing as it allows you go hold it longer without straining your hand. Unfortunately I don't like the new Smart Cover, it unfolds easily, is too big to hold in hand for me and in comparison to the old one, 4 section, it is inferior.
Screen... Seems brighter and although I have not noticed it yet, is less reflective. Same retina screen, just better in certain aspects
Speakers... Are definitely louder and clearer than on iPad 3 which is a great update, as my gf likes to use iPad for streaming shows and music and iPad 3 speakers were often just too quiet
Extra software... iMovies, GarageBand and Apple's iPad office software is free, which is a nice add on. I think I had to pay for it if I wanted to use it on iPad 3.
Future proof... Extra CPU speed, GPU power and RAM amount will make it future proof for next 2-3 IOS updates, I hope.
I cannot judge other things yet, as battery life, because I have it one day, but by the looks of things, it should be at least as good as old iPad 3, but possibly better.
Did I notice any issues? Well, there is nothing wrong with the screen that I would notice, and the sound issues where the whole iPad "shakes" is not a real problem for me. I find it funny and not really something disturbing.
Hope this helps someone.
I too thought it is about time to update from my iPad 3 to a new one, after I felt it was getting too slow on ios 7 and was just scared to make it unusable under ios 8.
The most annoying thing about iPad 3 was browsing experience, as Chrome or Safari felt really sluggish to load pages, switch between tabs without reloading content or just plain reload times of pages. Generally, everything else in my old iPad worked great, battery life, basic apps, but increasingly it was becomming frustrating to digest any web content on the device without feeling it is just not fast as it could.
So spontaneously I went to a retailer, bought the Air 2 and... Returned it the next day... I was a bit underwhelmend, as OK, it was lighter, had the finger scan, felt faster, browser did not reload and felt much faster but I felt, that this does not justify the 600 Euro cost.
The next 1-2 days after that I came back to iPad 3 and I just could not use it anymore. My first impression with Air 2 was "Meh, can live without it" but once I came back to iPad 3, I just did not want to come back to iPad 3... So I bought it again, and intend to keep it.
If you think iPad Air 3 is not a big upgrade from iPad 3, you are wrong (my opinion). If you think iPad Air 2 can't do much more than iPad 3, you are right, it can't, but it can do many new things and the rest it does faster.
So let me point the biggest and most meaningful changes for me:
Speed... Speed is the most important factor for me, when I decided to buy it back. Speed is everywhere, starting from general navigation through IOS and ending on swift www browser. I do not mean meaningless benchmarks which do not reflect user experience, I mean just the overall use. You will notice it mostly in browser, where tabs load much faster, do not reload thanks to more RAM and the browser does not slow down as much as it did for me in iPad 3.
Weight... 30% lighter than iPad 3, narrower, slimmer... This alone is a big thing as it allows you go hold it longer without straining your hand. Unfortunately I don't like the new Smart Cover, it unfolds easily, is too big to hold in hand for me and in comparison to the old one, 4 section, it is inferior.
Screen... Seems brighter and although I have not noticed it yet, is less reflective. Same retina screen, just better in certain aspects
Speakers... Are definitely louder and clearer than on iPad 3 which is a great update, as my gf likes to use iPad for streaming shows and music and iPad 3 speakers were often just too quiet
Extra software... iMovies, GarageBand and Apple's iPad office software is free, which is a nice add on. I think I had to pay for it if I wanted to use it on iPad 3.
Future proof... Extra CPU speed, GPU power and RAM amount will make it future proof for next 2-3 IOS updates, I hope.
I cannot judge other things yet, as battery life, because I have it one day, but by the looks of things, it should be at least as good as old iPad 3, but possibly better.
Did I notice any issues? Well, there is nothing wrong with the screen that I would notice, and the sound issues where the whole iPad "shakes" is not a real problem for me. I find it funny and not really something disturbing.
Hope this helps someone.
Thank you for that, it was very helpful.
I've never used any iPad besides my 3 (except for fleeting seconds in an Apple Store), so I don't really "know" what I'm missing, but I know it's an upgrade. The #1 thing I do on my iPad is browse the web. (Battery usage shows Safari at 68%). In iOS 8 Safari is so slow. I use Reading List extensively and RL is slow to sync and I can never delete anything from it on my iPad because I get a "Bookmarks are syncing" notices.
I also use it for school and light gaming as my main entertainment devices. I think i will upgrade this week. Your story really drove that point home.
I can even swipe between my 4 pages of apps without stutter!
Damn, I forgot one more important thing...
Wireless AC! Network speed thanks to AC is around 2-4 times faster on 5 GHz, so if you have a nice AC router and upload or download files in your network, it will definitely speed things up. It did for me tremendously!
And yes, even swiping between tabs in safari was slow, not to mention between apps.
Now this is the device I want to use again. When I Bought iPad 3 I started using it more than my PC for web browsing, mail, movies in bed. Than, it got slower and slower with updates to a point where I almost stopped using it. Now I think I will be coming back to iPad again, because the experience has become pleasant yet again
Wireless AC! Network speed thanks to AC is around 2-4 times faster on 5 GHz, so if you have a nice AC router and upload or download files in your network, it will definitely speed things up. It did for me tremendously!
And yes, even swiping between tabs in safari was slow, not to mention between apps.
Now this is the device I want to use again. When I Bought iPad 3 I started using it more than my PC for web browsing, mail, movies in bed. Than, it got slower and slower with updates to a point where I almost stopped using it. Now I think I will be coming back to iPad again, because the experience has become pleasant yet again
2GB of RAM. a year or two from now, the difference will be REAL obvious. Especially once the iPad3 maxes out on iOS9 or 10.
