I'm in the market for a new iPad and I was wondering if I should buy the 2018 9.7 entry-level iPad ? I'm going to be using it mainly at home for web browsing, reading books, social media, a little light gaming (I don't play heavier games like PUBG or Fortnite). I'm also going to be using it for note taking at uni sometimes. I live in Europe, so the prices are a bit higher than in the US. The 2018 iPad goes for roughly $350 where I live and it's rarely on sale. I was hoping that Apple will refresh the entry-level iPad this March but that obviously didn't happen. So, should I just wait a little while longer for a refreshed iPad or should I just get the 2018 now ? How does the A10 in it hold up in 2019 ? I'm hoping that whichever iPad I buy will last me 3-4 years, so I'm a bit worried about the A10, it is a 2016 processor after all. The new iPad Air seems very nice but that's a bit over my limited budget.
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iPad Buy iPad 9.7 2018 or wait ?
- Thread starter yoanaidarov
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Any iPad or Apple product on sale today will get software support for a few more years for sure. I don’t think you’ll run into issues with the entry level iPad.
Since you mention notetaking in the Uni, I suggest you either increase the budget to buy the refreshed iPad Air or wait, as you may need to also buy Apple Pencil for taking notes. A12 really can hold on long enough for a couple of years.
I live in Europe and can well understand your problem. It's not just the price of things as compared to the US or Western Europe so much as the unfortunate reality of having to work much longer and harder for the same items. I had a girlfriend at a university in Poland. Damn, it was hard. If I were you, I would hold off for a few months to see if there's a refresh. How long? Perhaps July or August if you can wait. In any event, if you were to purchase the current model, you'd still be just fine for a few years even if a new device were to be introduced the very next day. It is an excellent tablet just as it is.
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I'd be surprised if the entry level iPad gets updated before 2020.
The A10 is OK, and the 2 GB is OK for basic use. It will last several years, but the 2 GB RAM configuration IMO is at the end of its life, considering all 2019 iPad models, and all 2018 iPhone models now come with at least 3 GB RAM.
My pure speculation is that the entry level iPad will get updated in 2020 with A12 and 3 GB RAM.
The 2018 iPad also supports Pencil.
The A10 is OK, and the 2 GB is OK for basic use. It will last several years, but the 2 GB RAM configuration IMO is at the end of its life, considering all 2019 iPad models, and all 2018 iPhone models now come with at least 3 GB RAM.
My pure speculation is that the entry level iPad will get updated in 2020 with A12 and 3 GB RAM.
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I'd suggest the new Mini. The 2018 has been out a year already so you'd be paying about full price for a device that's already had a year of it's projected lifespan removed from it. Mini is also way more portable and powerful.
YMMV, but a few people have commented that the mini is just too small for comfortable note taking using Pencil.
I guess that makes sense, since handwriting size is relatively fixed in size, so normal handwriting will be gigantic on a mini.
I respectfully don't agree, not given these parameters:
"I'm going to be using it mainly at home for web browsing, reading books, social media, a little light gaming (I don't play heavier games like PUBG or Fortnite)."
I imagine that he's (she's?) going to much prefer a bigger screen. In any event, in most cases I'd only recommend the mini as a subsidiary device.
The sales tax, the doubled legal warranty requirement, all come with a cost. The US price is ex tax which many other countries do not allow and the tax included price must be shown.
I think I can wait a few more months to see if the base iPad gets refreshed. I'm in no rush to buy a new iPad currently, I don't need it urgently. Maybe Apple will refresh it at WWDC 2019. They did unveil the iPad Pro 10.5 at WWDC 2017, didn't they ?
About the iPad Mini - I'll probably go to the store and check it out in person soon. I hadn't really considered it before now. The price is acceptable and it has an A12, 3GB RAM and True Tone. But the 7.9 inch screen doesn't sound that much bigger than my iPhone XR's 6.1 inch screen. I guess I'll have to mess around with them side by side in person to decide.
About the iPad Mini - I'll probably go to the store and check it out in person soon. I hadn't really considered it before now. The price is acceptable and it has an A12, 3GB RAM and True Tone. But the 7.9 inch screen doesn't sound that much bigger than my iPhone XR's 6.1 inch screen. I guess I'll have to mess around with them side by side in person to decide.
It actually is around twice the size. Compare them side by side. The difference lies in the aspect ratios, long and skinny vs the 4:3 aspect ratio of the mini.
No (real point) or need to wait. Go ahead and get one.
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For your proposed use, the new mini beats the XR and the XS Max all day long.
It feels much bigger due to the 4:3 aspect ratio. The 6.X inch screen of the iPhone XS Max mainly comes from elongation of the screen due to removal of the top and bottom bezels. You get more vertical space but that's it.
I don't dispute that, and there's nothing to suggest in my original post that I do. What is, is. No gainsaying that.
It is a significantly bigger screen than your XR. I have both. It's also a better aspect ratio for the things you mentioned. The XR is too skinny IMO.
Edit: Here's a video showing a larger iPhone than the XR next to the Mini.
My pure speculation says if Apple does update the budget iPad 7th Gen in 2020 it will get the A11 and 3 GB of RAM. Currently there is a two generation gap between the budget iPad A10 and the iPad Air/Mini A12. Anything less than 3 GB to run iOS 13 forward is going to feel the pinch.
Yes. 3 GB I’m more confident about but A11 does make sense.
My point still stands. Either spend a bit more money to get a better iPad or wait. And it looks like OP choose to wait.
I think that Apple has abandoned the A11 SoC as it is as costly to manufacture as the A 12 but less power efficient. We will not see another product with the A 11.
Yes that's why they didn't keep the iPhone X as a lower cost option and they didn't use it in the iPad pros too.