iPad longevity and value

[Richard8655]

I suspect Pro owners will replace on roughly the same cycle as the standard iPad.....maybe even more often. As a consumer group, Pro buyers are more likely to be attracted to technology improvements and be early adopters of the latest device. So, they will tend to replace their iPads more often.....as a general rule. YMMV.

I think this is a good point. Pro users tend to not be satisfied with older technology, and will likely upgrade as fast or faster than non-Pro users even if they aren’t forced to by laggy performance. I’m also guessing a Pro iPad might add another year or so of life compared to the non-Pro iPad. I can’t imagine going much past 5 years of IOS upgrades, even for a Pro.

 

[dsr2]

I have to echo everyone’s sentiment here: it depends on how you use it. I mostly consume content and do not use it for any work retaliated things and find it has pretty much replaced my MacBook totally. It runs like a top and does everything I need it to do with the apple keyboard.

I have the 10.5 with cellular service and it’s the perfect size to use at home or if I need to take it on the road. Unless it totally slows down to a crawl with IOS 11 I could probably keep it for several years. However, I like to upgrade every year and trade my old one in, so depending on what’s in the pipeline, I may or may not keep this one but if I trade it in, it would not be because it doesn’t suit my needs.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

I suppose if all you do is play simple games and keep notes and telephone contacts, any device could last forever. I think this question was aimed at the typical user who uses internet, email, latest applications, video, music, YouTube, maps, etc. I can’t see how a 6+ year old iPad (such as iPad 1) could function even reasonably well for those typical uses.

Well iPad 1 is 7 years old, and is a bit of a different story. True there are still some being used out in the wild, but there was a pretty big leap form iPad 1 to 2. Remember iPad 2 was sold for like 3 years I think. iPad 2 was much faster and thinner. It also lasted up to iOS 9 whereas iPad 1 only made it to like iOS 5.

These iPad 2 and 3 are still being used for internet, email, netflix, youtube, and facebook. Again I think the biggest factors are how frequently the devices are used (I think quite infrequently) and how tolerable you are to sluggishness.

 

[nightlong]

I’ve had 2 iPads replaced under Apple care - an iPad Air, which lasted 6 months, then the screen developed a yellow shadow - and 12.9 iPad Pro first gen, for battery failure, after one year.

Balanced against - iPad 2 still working, still used by a family member; ipad 4 and iPad Air 2, still perfect.

I hope my new 12.9 and 10.5 will last long like the second half of my iPads.

 

[sracer]

Well iPad 1 is 7 years old, and is a bit of a different story. True there are still some being used out in the wild, but there was a pretty big leap form iPad 1 to 2. Remember iPad 2 was sold for like 3 years I think. iPad 2 was much faster and thinner. It also lasted up to iOS 9 whereas iPad 1 only made it to like iOS 5.

These iPad 2 and 3 are still being used for internet, email, netflix, youtube, and facebook. Again I think the biggest factors are how frequently the devices are used (I think quite infrequently) and how tolerable you are to sluggishness.

Every iPad I've bought has remained in the family and is still in regular use.

My iPad 1 serves as a "picture tube" for a vintage TV that I gutted and converted into a case for the iPad 1 that plays an endless loop of vintage TV shows and commercials. I've got it jailbroken so that pressing the power button goes right to the video player (bypassing the lock screen).

My iPad 2 is used every week at church for image projection, but will soon be put to dedicated use in my iCade cabinet running iMAME.

The resale/trade-in values on these are so low that I prefer to keep them and repurpose them.

 

[Richard8655]

I’ve had 2 iPads replaced under Apple care - an iPad Air, which lasted 6 months, then the screen developed a yellow shadow - and 12.9 iPad Pro first gen, for battery failure, after one year.

Balanced against - iPad 2 still working, still used by a family member; ipad 4 and iPad Air 2, still perfect.

I hope my new 12.9 and 10.5 will last long like the second half of my iPads.

Wow, that’s pretty scary and sorry to hear that. I hope their quality control hasn’t gone down over the last few years. My iPad 3 and iPad Air lasted perfectlly until trading them in recently.

 

[Atomic1977]

I have had my iPad mini 2 since January of last year. This year 2018 I will have it one year. All though it’s been around several years according to Apple.

 

[Richard8655]

I’m starting to come over to the entry-level as the best bang for the buck philosophy, especially if advanced features are’t needed or not wowed by them. This in light of the few years life span of the device.

 

[maflynn]

This in light of the few years life span of the device.

I think you'll get more then a few years on the tablet. The only thing I'd be concerned about with an aging iPad (or any iDevice) is to refrain from updating, so it will be generally as quick as you expect it too.

 

[Macalicious2011]

The only thing I'd be concerned about with an aging iPad (or any iDevice) is to refrain from updating, so it will be generally as quick as you expect it too.

Totally. I have switched off auto software update and given my girlfriend strict instructions about not updating the software or any apps unless she's spoken to me.

 

[Richard8655]

I think you'll get more then a few years on the tablet. The only thing I'd be concerned about with an aging iPad (or any iDevice) is to refrain from updating, so it will be generally as quick as you expect it too.

Totally. I have switched off auto software update and given my girlfriend strict instructions about not updating the software or any apps unless she's spoken to me.

This is really good advice which I had also thought about doing. The only issue I see are those annoying upgrade warnings from Apple every few days when an upgrade is overdue. How do you guys deal with that? Or are those messages disabled when turning off auto update?

 

[sracer]

This is really good advice which I had also thought about doing. The only issue I see are those annoying upgrade warnings from Apple every few days when an upgrade is overdue. How do you guys deal with that? Or are those messages disabled when turning off auto update?

The backdoor workaround is to install tvOS 10 Beta Profile on the iOS device that you don't want to get upgrade-nagged. This basically tells Apple's upgrade servers to ignore your device for upgrade nags. When you want to upgrade, simply delete the profile.

I've installed it on my iPhone SE and will remain with 10.x for as long as I can. But I've updated my 12.9 iPad Pro to iOS 11 to take advantage of the new features.

The biggest challenge with remaining at an older version of iOS has to do with the apps. For the most part, things will be ok, but I've experienced a few times where updates to the macOS version of iWork required updates to the iOS version in order to maintain the ability to cross-edit/manage documents. That's a pretty specific use-case, so shouldn't affect many.

 

[Richard8655]

The backdoor workaround is to install tvOS 10 Beta Profile on the iOS device that you don't want to get upgrade-nagged. This basically tells Apple's upgrade servers to ignore your device for upgrade nags. When you want to upgrade, simply delete the profile.

I've installed it on my iPhone SE and will remain with 10.x for as long as I can. But I've updated my 12.9 iPad Pro to iOS 11 to take advantage of the new features.

The biggest challenge with remaining at an older version of iOS has to do with the apps. For the most part, things will be ok, but I've experienced a few times where updates to the macOS version of iWork required updates to the iOS version in order to maintain the ability to cross-edit/manage documents. That's a pretty specific use-case, so shouldn't affect many.

Looks like a great solution, thanks. The nags would be hard to tolerate. Question... shouldn’t it be IOS 11 Beta Profile?

 

[sracer]

Looks like a great solution, thanks. The nags would be hard to tolerate. Question... shouldn’t it be IOS 11 Beta Profile?

I don't believe so. I don't think it is a matter of the particular iOS version but the "beta" indicator that suppresses upgrade nags. That profile is supposed to be used by developers who are testing with that particular version of iOS and they need to stay at that version for their testing.

 

[Macalicious2011]

The backdoor workaround is to install tvOS 10 Beta Profile on the iOS device that you don't want to get upgrade-nagged. This basically tells Apple's upgrade servers to ignore your device for upgrade nags. When you want to upgrade, simply delete the profile.

I've installed it on my iPhone SE and will remain with 10.x for as long as I can. But I've updated my 12.9 iPad Pro to iOS 11 to take advantage of the new features.

The biggest challenge with remaining at an older version of iOS has to do with the apps. For the most part, things will be ok, but I've experienced a few times where updates to the macOS version of iWork required updates to the iOS version in order to maintain the ability to cross-edit/manage documents. That's a pretty specific use-case, so shouldn't affect many.

I would also add that some banking apps force app updates for security purposes and at times, understandably require the latest iOS in order to offer the best security.

 

[Richard8655]

I would also add that some banking apps force app updates for security purposes and at times, understandably require the latest iOS in order to offer the best security.

That’s a good point. The solution I’d think is just use Safari web access for banking needs.

I’m also thinking sracer meant one of the IOS beta profiles (10 or 11), since TvOS is intended for Apple TV.

 

[sracer]

That’s a good point. The solution I’d think is just use Safari web access for banking needs.

I’m also thinking sracer meant one of the IOS beta profiles (10 or 11), since TvOS is intended for Apple TV.

No that is not what I meant. I specifically meant tvOS.

 

[gobikerider]

Totally. I have switched off auto software update and given my girlfriend strict instructions about not updating the software or any apps unless she's spoken to me.

Dude updating apps isn’t going to hurt anything???

 

[sracer]

Dude updating apps isn’t going to hurt anything???

The possibility exists. Considering how difficult it is to revert back to a previous version, it is better to be cautious and deliberate.

 

[Richard8655]

I think I’ll just initially try turning off software updates in iTunes & App Store settings, and delete any pending updates in storage as they occur. I’m hesitant to install any beta developer profiles.

 

[biscuitsxluv]

We still have the first generation mini iPad. It's still working great. I have the iPad Pro that came out this year. Since getting the X I have been using the phone more.

I have a question though, how often do you see someone with a tablet? I rarely see anyone out with a tablet. It's either their phone or laptop. Anyone else noticing this? I visit many coffee shops, bookstores so maybe it's just the environment I'm in. What are your thoughts?

 

[960design]

As we’re seeing and buying pretty expensive iPads these days approaching $1k or more, I wonder what the practical longevity of these are? Is it worth spending that kind of money if it’ll lose much of its value in a few years? Or stick with base and less expensive models and just replace more frequently?

For example, before starting to get sluggish and difficult to use, I’m thinking a regular 2017 iPad (A9 chip) maybe 4-5 years. iPad Pro (A10x chip) 5-6 years? Maybe that’s too optimistic. Any thoughts?

We have a planned three year refresh for iPads. We have several that are five years old and still barely usable, but still working.

For an individual, I could see an iPad that was purchased right when the newest model gets released, to hold onto it for four years for no problem. Five years and you would need to start looking for the next sale.

Many people forget about the resale of Apple products in their calculations. Purchase a dell laptop and in three years it will be worthless. Purchase a chromebook and in three years it will be worthless. Purchase a Mac and in three years it will still have 50% of its original value or more. Overall, you will spend less money to ride with the Mac and sell it for a new one every three years. Same goes for iPad. Three years in and they are still worth something. Fours years and their value is quickly heading for zero.

 

[Richard8655]

We have a planned three year refresh for iPads. We have several that are five years old and still barely usable, but still working.

For an individual, I could see an iPad that was purchased right when the newest model gets released, to hold onto it for four years for no problem. Five years and you would need to start looking for the next sale.

Many people forget about the resale of Apple products in their calculations. Purchase a dell laptop and in three years it will be worthless. Purchase a chromebook and in three years it will be worthless. Purchase a Mac and in three years it will still have 50% of its original value or more. Overall, you will spend less money to ride with the Mac and sell it for a new one every three years. Same goes for iPad. Three years in and they are still worth something. Fours years and their value is quickly heading for zero.

Yeah, I think this is very true. Definitely not an investment in terms of resale value. Usability even worse in just a few years. This is partly why I’m leaning toward buying the minumum model needed or wanted, and take less of a hit over the next few years. The other approach as mentioned by others is freeze future IOS updates, which we know will bog the iPad down eventually with every new release. But then this is all more for the frugal types, I think.
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We still have the first generation mini iPad. It's still working great. I have the iPad Pro that came out this year. Since getting the X I have been using the phone more.

I have a question though, how often do you see someone with a tablet? I rarely see anyone out with a tablet. It's either their phone or laptop. Anyone else noticing this? I visit many coffee shops, bookstores so maybe it's just the environment I'm in. What are your thoughts?

That’s a good question. Maybe because iPads are more fragile than laptops, while not as portable as smart phones? Business folks stopping in somewhere for a coffee and finishing some work might also likely be doing that on their laptop.

 

[JennyG1000]

I went and looked at all of our Ipad purchases, wondering if I should get last year PRO at $200 discount or 2017 Pro. Decided to get the new one. Looks like they are pretty responsive for us up to 3.5 years of use. I just loaded ios11 on my AIR, and it is definitely slowed down. Time to give it to one of my kids, as his pass me down 3rd gen is now 5.5 years old and some apps no longer work.
Our 2nd gen was retired last year as a really nice screen for the security cameras monitor in the kitchen and it is still perfect for this.
Basically for our family it is 3.5 yrs use for grown ups + 2 years use pass down to kids.

 

[biscuitsxluv]

Yeah, I think this is very true. Definitely
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That’s a good question. Maybe because iPads are more fragile than laptops, while not as portable as smart phones? Business folks stopping in somewhere for a coffee and finishing some work might also likely be doing that on their laptop.

Let’s say they’re in a different environment. Maybe at work or business meeting? Or traveling. Do you see them with their tablet? Just curious.
I’m thinking that the tablet may be phasing out. Recently, MR came out with an article saying that the laptop sales has gone up. I can see why. Laptops are more practical and you can do everything with it. And now they come in many sizes.