iPad Air 2 or iPad Pro 9.7 inch?

[mcdj]

If I were buying my very first iPad, with the intentions of getting absolutely as much mileage as possible out of it, I would buy the newest, fastest, largest capacity iPad available.

The $100 you save today by buying an older model will be negated by the $200 you'll lose by trying to sell an older model when the time comes to trade up.

 

[rui no onna]

The $100 you save today by buying an older model will be negated by the $200 you'll lose by trying to sell an older model when the time comes to trade up.

Honestly, the largest depreciation is in the first year. After that, the drop in value is lower. On Amazon, trade-in values I get are as follows:

iPad 3 64GB Black WiFi: $180
iPad 4 16GB White VZW: $180
iPad Air 16GB Black VZW: $200

If you get Apple refurbs or wait for sales, the savings between latest model and last generation can be bigger.

 

[Spankey]

If I've learned one thing is that people get obsessed with specs and numbers over actual performance. While we'd all like to know there is more RAM under the hood, the increased processor speed makes a bigger difference. Most will never notice the lesser RAM and instead get a tablet that is better in every way than and iPad Air 2 and only in RAM and actual size does the 9.7's big brother eclipse it.

 

[bufffilm]

Tech is my hobby so honestly, I don't really feel the need to justify it to myself. I believe we're all allowed to spend money on what we consider "fun" as long as one can afford it. I'm fine driving 10+ year old Toyotas and Hondas (I don't drive much so hoping I might actually get 15-20 years from them). I rarely buy clothes and shoes. Not one for jewelry either. Tech is my splurge category.

No need to excuse your iPad indulgence.

Years ago, my indulgence was watches. Trust me, you could buy 100 iPads and still not come close to what I spent.

Indulge away!

 

[winxdon]

No need to excuse your iPad indulgence.

Years ago, my indulgence was watches. Trust me, you could buy 100 iPads and still not come close to what I spent.

Indulge away!

The difference is, good watches retain their values pretty well, while the same can't be said for old Tech.

 

[Fuzzball84]

No need to excuse your iPad indulgence.

Years ago, my indulgence was watches. Trust me, you could buy 100 iPads and still not come close to what I spent.

Indulge away!

Ive spent more money on my goldfish! Trust me lol

 

[bufffilm]

The difference is, good watches retain their values pretty well, while the same can't be said for old Tech.

Thing is, when buying new...watches take an immediate 25-30% hit, pre-owned..somewhat less. (I've bought both.)

Doesn't matter if you buy Rolex, AP, VC, PP or something else.

You're right...after a certain point, a good watch will hold some value still (assuming you keep them in good condition w/regular servicing, etc), but nonetheless...the amount of money I spent is eye-opening.

The difference between adults and children is in the price of their 'toys'.

 

[rui no onna]

You're right...after a certain point, a good watch will hold some value still (assuming you keep them in good condition w/regular servicing, etc), but nonetheless...the amount of money I spent is eye-opening.

The difference between adults and children is in the price of their 'toys'.

Given I've already spent somewhere along the lines of brand new Camry or Accord on my tech obsession over the years (Apple stuff is probably 25-30% of that), I can well imagine you might have spent somewhere along the lines of house downpayment in Silicon Valley on watches inflation adjusted.

And yeah, totally agree about the toys thing.

 

[Woodcrest64]

I'm on iPad 3, and from what I've read on this forum, I'll be getting an Air 2/64gb. There's a $250 price jump to get the minimum 64gb I'll need for the next couple years. If I can make an iPad 3 last 4 years, which everyone has said is byfar the most underpowered of the iPad history, then I can absolutely make an Air2 last another 3 (given it is already 1.5 years old).

My previous strategy of not upgrading iOS until years after could probably be used here, too.

I'm still using an iPad 1 for Netflix, tapatalk and twitter . It's unusable with browsing the net and doesn't get updates but the fact that I can make this single core, 256mb of ram iPad last me 6 years is good. Everyones usage will vary. I plan on getting an iPad Air 2 over the iPad Pro as I'm not a power user.

The iPad mini 4 is less powerful compared to Air 2 and that was only just released at the end of last year. If Apple plans on giving the iPad mini 4 updates for next 5 years you can bet the iPad Air 2 will too. i think the 2gb of ram in both the mini 4, and Air 2 could make these iPads the longest running iPads next to almighty iPad 2 from 2011.

 

[rui no onna]

The iPad mini 4 is less powerful compared to Air 2 and that was only just released at the end of last year. If Apple plans on giving the iPad mini 4 updates for next 5 years you can bet the iPad Air 2 will too. i think the 2gb of ram in both the mini 4, and Air 2 could make these iPads the longest running iPads next to almighty iPad 2 from 2011.

Given the iPad mini 4 was released a year after the Air 2, that pretty much means longevity wouldn't be as long as the Air 2's. Indeed, someone who buys an Air 2 today wouldn't enjoy the same longevity as someone who bought the Air 2 upon release as the release iPad already has 1.5 years under its belt.

That said, given the price difference between Air 2 and Pro 9.7 (particularly if looking at Air 2 refurbs), the Air 2 is likely the better buy for most. Even Apple expects the Air 2 to be the better seller.

 

[Fuzzball84]

The Ipad Pro 9.7 should never have been called a Pro. Its confusing for consumers, especially most that will be walking into an apple store the first time. Why is it a pro device?? because it can accommodate an apple stylus and keyboard lol the Surface 3 has a keyboard and stylus (alright, not as good as the iPad Pros and the Surface pro 4) but its not called a 'Pro'. Its just lame and I'm sick of all the variations in apples products. For a marketing company its marketing is pretty confusing and irrational. Ipad, Ipad 2, The new Ipad (3), Ipad with retina display (4), Ipad Air, Ipad Air 2... Ipad Pro 9.7 (but its not really an Air replacement for most normal consumers, we just wanted some of the 2 in 1 market we now believe to be the future! and notebook replacements lol)

I really hope they go to something like the MacBooks and call them all Ipad (in small print somewhere say 9.7, 12.9 and year its released).

Maybe the next iPad will be called the new thinner Ipad Pro Elite 9.7 with 3D touch display Light.Speed (Now with USB3!, but we changed the port to USBC) #NewAccesoriesRequired

 

[RedOrchestra]

?

For your own mental well-being you need to step away from Apple products - you seem tormented.

 

[Fuzzball84]

For your own mental well-being you need to step away from Apple products - you seem tormented.

Very true! lol

see you in a few years!

It felt satisfying to get it all out

 

[Rushmore69]

The 9.7 Pro is faster than the the Air 2, but takes process heavy apps to notice. For most folks though and most current apps & games, most would not notice.