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iPad Air iPad Longevity?

Mark Stone

Mark Stone

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 20, 2022
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In its case.
I'm a long-time (5 years - I guess that's a "long time" in the world of smartphones) iPhone user, and one of the most important positives I've discovered is that these little devices last a looooong time. I had an 8 Plus that I used for almost four years that was supported, viable and fast even when I upgraded to a 13.

I'm considering getting an iPad Air, and although I think I already know the answer I'll ask anyway: Can I expect an iPad to remain strong, fast and useful for a 5 year (or longer) span? Or is it gonna be like a Sammy Galaxy Tablet and be slow and outdated 20 minutes after purchase? I don't want to drop over a K on something that becomes useless too quickly. TIA!!
 
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I am still using my iPhone 8+ after four years and zero issues. iPads in general should easily last 5 years. Every year after that is extra gravy. My mother is using a 6 plus years old iPad Air, although she only uses it for simple games. It still functions, but for internet use it’s brutally slow (and it can’t update past iOS 12 something). My current 4-5 years old iPad Pro 10.5 works like new and I use it alot.

It’s not unusual to hear people using 10 year old iPads, but they can be creaky by that point. Generally, though, 5-7 years seems to be when many if not most people trade up. Apple allows numerous updates on the iPads, more than Samsung allows on their devices, which aids the longevity.

On average you can count on the iPad outlasting a Samsung tablet which seem to go maybe 4-5 years.
 
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My 2 base iPad 5's (2017) are still performing well. Batteries are strong and never had any issues. A little laggy at times with older chip (A9) and memory (2gb), but doesn't really impact much based on my usage and needs. Keeping it at iPadOS 14.8.1, expecting maybe another couple years of functionality.

So I'd say yes, they seem to last forever (at least from a hardware point of view).
 
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The air 5 (not the 4) is one of the most future proof iPad you can get. Much more than previous mid-range iPads, which were RAM-contrained and are impacted more and more by updates.

As for Samsung, there is a lot of bias and lack of information about the recent developments in the Apple world, as your comment and other comments show. Things have changed quite a lot recently. The numbers of updates has increased (to 4 guaranteed, + at 5th year of security, Apple does not guarantee updates and could easily cut several generations at once) and their high end tablets have been getting the best SOC available for Android, which is not as fast as Apple's one, but has had more RAM (generally double) than iPads in the past years (at least before the air 5).
It's funny how some people say iPads last more because of more updates when actually it's the opposite, updates have been killing some RAM contrained iPads. Just yesterday I told my sister not to update her iPad 6 from iPadOS 13.4 because it's going to lag and reload even more... And the app compatibility argument is another sign of lack of knowledge (apps remain compatible for longer on Android)
Of course bias goes both ways and in the Samsung/Microsoft world (where I am also present) some anti-Apple people need to be reminded that things are far from being as black and white as they believe....
 
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I typically go with the bottom end iPad every five or so years. By then things are getting laggy. But the new Air 5 looks like it could be a real winner in that regard. It seems like a lot of power there. I think it would be a great long term purchase as long as it’s not being used as a “beater”.
 
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trevpimp said:
You can expect software to stay up to date for easily 3 years or so,

Sometimes say a well known chip like the M1 will stay updated for 5 years or more,
Click to expand...

Based on recent history, I expect Apple will provide firmware updates for at least 5 years and app updates an extra 2 years or more after firmware updates stop.

2014 Air 2 (8 years)
2015 Pro 12.9 (7 years)
2016 Pro 9.7 (6 years)
2017 iPad 5th gen (5 years)
2018 iPad 6th gen (4 years)

Personally, I usually upgrade devices due to performance reasons before Apple stops providing iOS updates.
 
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Mark Stone said:
I'm a long-time (5 years - I guess that's a "long time" in the world of smartphones) iPhone user, and one of the most important positives I've discovered is that these little devices last a looooong time. I had an 8 Plus that I used for almost four years that was supported, viable and fast even when I upgraded to a 13.

I'm considering getting an iPad Air, and although I think I already know the answer I'll ask anyway: Can I expect an iPad to remain strong, fast and useful for a 5 year (or longer) span? Or is it gonna be like a Sammy Galaxy Tablet and be slow and outdated 20 minutes after purchase? I don't want to drop over a K on something that becomes useless too quickly. TIA!!
Click to expand...
Yes you can! I used a 4th gen iPad until last year. Granted the experience was pretty bad but considering it was in its 8 or 9th year I'd say it held up pretty well. Also newer devices seem to last longer with so much performance headroom.
 
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In my experience, iPads tend to last much, much longer than iPhones. I've had my 2018 iPad Pro (A12X + 4GB RAM) for 3 years now and it's just as fast (I do notice a drop in battery however). I wouldn't worry at all.
 
Yes, the iPad can support that longevity but I must say you cannot feel the comfort of using it as the iPhone because of the shape I guess! It's not that easy to go everywhere! It's totally my opinion as I left my iPad at my home and use the iPhone in my hand or outside all day long!
 
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Mark Stone said:
I'm a long-time (5 years - I guess that's a "long time" in the world of smartphones) iPhone user, and one of the most important positives I've discovered is that these little devices last a looooong time. I had an 8 Plus that I used for almost four years that was supported, viable and fast even when I upgraded to a 13.

I'm considering getting an iPad Air, and although I think I already know the answer I'll ask anyway: Can I expect an iPad to remain strong, fast and useful for a 5 year (or longer) span? Or is it gonna be like a Sammy Galaxy Tablet and be slow and outdated 20 minutes after purchase? I don't want to drop over a K on something that becomes useless too quickly. TIA!!
Click to expand...
I can only speak for my experience. I bought the original iPad Pro 9.7 inch back in 2016. I upgraded to a new Pro in 2021. That 9.7 is still going strong in my granddaughter’s hands.
 
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Digitalguy said:
The air 5 (not the 4) is one of the most future proof iPad you can get. Much more than previous mid-range iPads, which were RAM-contrained and are impacted more and more by updates.

As for Samsung, there is a lot of bias and lack of information about the recent developments in the Apple world, as your comment and other comments show. Things have changed quite a lot recently. The numbers of updates has increased (to 4 guaranteed, + at 5th year of security, Apple does not guarantee updates and could easily cut several generations at once) and their high end tablets have been getting the best SOC available for Android, which is not as fast as Apple's one, but has had more RAM (generally double) than iPads in the past years (at least before the air 5).
It's funny how some people say iPads last more because of more updates when actually it's the opposite, updates have been killing some RAM contrained iPads. Just yesterday I told my sister not to update her iPad 6 from iPadOS 13.4 because it's going to lag and reload even more... And the app compatibility argument is another sign of lack of knowledge (apps remain compatible for longer on Android)
Of course bias goes both ways and in the Samsung/Microsoft world (where I am also present) some anti-Apple people need to be reminded that things are far from being as black and white as they believe....
Click to expand...
I don't think my post lacked any information, and I'm curious about your comment. I currently have a Samsung Galaxy Tab 6, released in August 2019 (2-1/2 years ago - I got it in May 2020) that is now, only 23 months old, woefully behind both my Apple and Microsoft stuff. My comments are not because of bias and lack of information, they are based on an Android product in my possession that needs to be replaced already.
 
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jenelemond said:
Yes, the iPad can support that longevity but I must say you cannot feel the comfort of using it as the iPhone because of the shape I guess! It's not that easy to go everywhere! It's totally my opinion as I left my iPad at my home and use the iPhone in my hand or outside all day long!
Click to expand...
I appreciate your comments on its portability. Mine would be carried in a backpack, so for me it wouldn't be an issue - ?
 
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Mark Stone said:
I'm a long-time (5 years - I guess that's a "long time" in the world of smartphones) iPhone user, and one of the most important positives I've discovered is that these little devices last a looooong time. I had an 8 Plus that I used for almost four years that was supported, viable and fast even when I upgraded to a 13.

I'm considering getting an iPad Air, and although I think I already know the answer I'll ask anyway: Can I expect an iPad to remain strong, fast and useful for a 5 year (or longer) span? Or is it gonna be like a Sammy Galaxy Tablet and be slow and outdated 20 minutes after purchase? I don't want to drop over a K on something that becomes useless too quickly. TIA!!
Click to expand...
Get an iPad, it will last just as much or more than an iPhone. I upgrade phones about 2-3 years and iPads/macs as needed which is much longer, right now I have the iPad Pro 11 which to me works like new. I also have a MacBook Pro. 2017 which i don’t plan on replacing soon either.
 
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As satisfied as I am with my iPad Pro 10.5 it has an oddity I have not seen in any other iPad. It’s not a problem and for all I know others experience it, too. And I don’t know if it’s peculiar to the Pro 10.5.

I have my iPad in a Targus Pro-Tek case with a magnetic clasp. Every other iPad I’ve seen goes to sleep when you close the case cover, but mine doesn’t and I can’t figure out why. I’ve gotten used to it by putting to sleep manually before closing the case. I think I’ve heard of one other person with the same issue.

Weird.
 
Gregg2 said:
When you get old, that won't bother you. I can't remember how long I've had my iPad, and I've got the means to replace it if it stops working.
Click to expand...
Ditto. I'm less than a year from 70, have the cash, and am ready - but still, why drop $1000+ on something I'll be wanting to replace sooner than later? ?
 
I have iPad 9.7 Pro, first iPad Pro and it released in 2016 so that is 6 years old now. I am still using it. Battery life obviously not as good anymore but still get 3-4 hours of video streaming before need to charge it again. It still fast enough. I am planning keep it until can't update iOS anymore or it dies, whichever comes first. iPad do have long lifespan.
 
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Mark Stone said:
I'm a long-time (5 years - I guess that's a "long time" in the world of smartphones) iPhone user, and one of the most important positives I've discovered is that these little devices last a looooong time. I had an 8 Plus that I used for almost four years that was supported, viable and fast even when I upgraded to a 13.

I'm considering getting an iPad Air, and although I think I already know the answer I'll ask anyway: Can I expect an iPad to remain strong, fast and useful for a 5 year (or longer) span? Or is it gonna be like a Sammy Galaxy Tablet and be slow and outdated 20 minutes after purchase? I don't want to drop over a K on something that becomes useless too quickly. TIA!!
Click to expand...
The iPad Air 2, which was released back in 2014, is still supported on iOS15.
If you get the current M1 iPad Air, I would say you'll be fine for at least 5 years or longer. And unlike phones, iPads have better thermal headroom, so even the older ones will perform better than an iPhone with the same chip.

As for Samsung Galaxy tab, the impression of them becoming slow is probably on the cheap tablets as they usually use very old SoC and slow eMMC storage. I have a Galaxy Tab S7 FE as my PC replacement, and I don't really feel it being slow, other than Android/OneUI's quirkiness when multi-tasking. I can do a Zoom call on one side and having a browser on the other and it runs fine. The challenge is software updates, and that is where iPads will still win.

Having said all that, I would set your expectation what you want to do on an iPad. If I had $1000 to blow, I would rather spend it on an M1 Macbook than an iPad. But that's me personally.
 
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