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iPad 10 vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Is the $250 Difference Worth It?
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We use our iPad for FaceTime for a huge chunk of its life. Now that iPad 10th Gen has a landscape camera, Apple calls it.. "Landscape 12MP Ultra Wide camera, 122° field of view" ... this feature alone would persuade me to buy the iPad 10th Gen over the current iPad Air. I hate having to remember that the camera is on the left when doing FaceTime calls.
Looking at it as $150 difference isn’t really accurate - you need to look at it as a 33% increase in cost. There are people who can “Afford” $329, or $449, or $599. Are they going to get 1/3 more value for the difference? THAT is the question.
And of course, the answer will be “Yes” for some people and “No” for others.
And of course, the answer will be “Yes” for some people and “No” for others.
Ya, there's a significant price jump between the consumer/pro MacBook lineup so it wouldn't be coming out of nowhere.
Even within the pro lineup. A 16” MBP starts at $2499. The base level Mac Pro starts at $5999.
iPad 9 could be the next iPad SE if sales are good at that sexy price. It remains an excellent pick for old people / kids, those who dont care about tech ot those who just want the basic experience or those on a budget ofc.
But iPad 10 / Air should be same product, price difference is low and it complexifies the line up for details that most consumers don't give a sh*t. Sure we know the differences, but us enthusiasts are a niche category while ipad 10 / air are targeting a mainstream audience.
Ipad Air branding was just here to put something between the entry level and pro. But now since we have iPad 9 and 10, line up make less sense.
But iPad 10 / Air should be same product, price difference is low and it complexifies the line up for details that most consumers don't give a sh*t. Sure we know the differences, but us enthusiasts are a niche category while ipad 10 / air are targeting a mainstream audience.
Ipad Air branding was just here to put something between the entry level and pro. But now since we have iPad 9 and 10, line up make less sense.
It's still insane to me that the iPad Air starts at 64gb
I think I see Apple’s strategy here. There is a device for anyone and everyone in the line-up and they are priced competitively. Want a cheap computer for your kids or grandparents? The 9th gen iPad will do fine. Want a better iPad that works better with a keyboard for work or school? 10th gen. Need some drawing? Air. More power or larger screen? Pros. Need something more flexible with a fuller featured OS? MacBook Air. etc, etc.
All of Apple’s portable ”computing” devices (tablets and laptops) are within a couple hundred dollars of each other, especially when you factor in upgrades. There has never been more choice. Yes, it’s more complicated, but its much easier to pick the device you want or need within a given price range.
All of Apple’s portable ”computing” devices (tablets and laptops) are within a couple hundred dollars of each other, especially when you factor in upgrades. There has never been more choice. Yes, it’s more complicated, but its much easier to pick the device you want or need within a given price range.
Thankfully, I'm too young to remember. But, the current lineup is obviously a mess. They fixed the Mac lineup, and Apple TVs, and messed up the iPad.
AND it comes in green.
Had the iPad Air 5 not come out when I wanted to upgrade, I would have bought the green iPad Air 4. Such a nice color.
I agree with you, but a lot of people really have no clue what they need, and they certainly don’t buy what they need.
There’s nothing wrong with buying what you want, of course. If they’ve got the money, let’em spend it.
But I often wonder why people buy stuff that’s far more powerful than what they need and thus spend a lot more than they have to.
It’s kinda like buying a race car when all you need a car for is driving to the store for your weekly shopping.
Most tech-adverse people I steer towards a $329 iPad, unless they REALLY love the mini. Now, with the 9th and 10th gen, and Air, it’s just confusing for them, and honestly a bit convoluted in my mind as well. It’s almost always price as primary factor, then storage (good luck telling them about ram speeds or laminated glass).
Have the IPad Air 5 all I do do surf the web, emails etc, if like me go for the cheaper option.
I can't speak for you, but I live in a country where the top three best-selling vehicles are all massive pickup trucks that 95% of owners will never use for anything but commuting and grocery store runs, so I'm not surprised so many people buy iPads that are way more powerful than they actually need.
Apple's tablet product category is getting too congested with too many products. They need to slim down this product line.
When you look at them side-by-side like this, the Air is a no-brainer for an extra $150. The base iPad shouldn't have exceeded $399. $369 maybe.
These comparisons are always misleading. There is only a $150 difference in cost between the devices if you assume you loose them after buying them or you keep them forever.
Let's consider the more realistic scenario - you keep the device for 3 years or so, and sell it for 50% of what you paid for it.
You recoup 50% of that $150 difference in price. The cost difference to the buyer is $75 over 3 years.
That's the question - is the difference in features and performance worth $X over Y years?
Yes - if you lose or destroy the device after 1 day of use, you're out $150 no question. And if you keep it for 10 years until it's completely obsolete and useless (hard to imagine given I have a 13 year old MacBook still in use) then it's $150 over 10 years.
This is why I have a used iPhone XS Max, as the risk of total loss is high, and I have a brand new 14" MBP where the risk is low.
These overly simplistic cost comparisons are worthless.
Let's consider the more realistic scenario - you keep the device for 3 years or so, and sell it for 50% of what you paid for it.
You recoup 50% of that $150 difference in price. The cost difference to the buyer is $75 over 3 years.
That's the question - is the difference in features and performance worth $X over Y years?
Yes - if you lose or destroy the device after 1 day of use, you're out $150 no question. And if you keep it for 10 years until it's completely obsolete and useless (hard to imagine given I have a 13 year old MacBook still in use) then it's $150 over 10 years.
This is why I have a used iPhone XS Max, as the risk of total loss is high, and I have a brand new 14" MBP where the risk is low.
These overly simplistic cost comparisons are worthless.
The 9th gen made sense because of its excellent value.
But this new 10th one...no.
At this point the Air is 100% worth the extra money.
But this new 10th one...no.
At this point the Air is 100% worth the extra money.
Less likely to happen giving that the Air was refreshed this year.
They have been doing this with iPad for a long time, I think at certain point, they need to update the whole line-up at the same time.