iPad iPad too expensive now: will you still buy?

[derekheeps]

So after all of Apples price hikes, it seems the iPad is now in a rare place, since it's not an essential device for most people. Laptop or computer? Yeah, that's essential, so people will keep buying it. Phone? That's essential too.

But a tablet? For most people it's a redundant device, so what will happen now? Will sales decline significantly? It's really expensive now to buy, say, an iPad Ai, and even the basic iPad starts at an excessive price now.

Wouldn't buy a new one but might buy used . Same with most other Apple products now .

 

[derekheeps]

I'm out of the norm. Don't use the iPad much but on a recent camping trip I wanted to use the GSP for maps but mine was wifi only, no GPS chip. I upgraded from a 13" pro wifi 256G to a 1TB wifi/cell. Now I can use the GPS and have enough space for all the same photo's I have on the Air. Mainly use the iPad on trips, rarely at home.

You now can get these mobile Starlink devices that cost a one off £30 odds and then give you a fast wi-fi hotspot anywhere = they claim free internet for life - I just ordered one , having been at a car show in a remote location in the Scottish Highlands , and that was what they were using for the card payment gizmo - the girl said it was the best gadget she'd bought in a while .

Should work with a wi-fi only device , and it's a cheap upgrade . Depending how well it works , I might cancel my home broadband if it becomes one more monthly bill I don't need .

 

[derekheeps]

Apple sells more iPads than Macs, though.

That being said, I am looking forward to the delivery of my first MacBook in over a decade, during which I have made quite a lot of use of iPads.

I'd guess they probably sell more iPhones than anything else ?

 

[Ctrlos]

I forgot about the LiDAR sensor. I believe the iPhone Pro line still has this feature. I remember helping my daughter scan a squirrel statue with my iPhone 12 Pro Max to 3D print a replica. Memories 🙂

It does indeed. I always wondered why Apple never increased its resolution.

 

[derekheeps]

As a shareholder I’m fully aware of that.

It’s a testament to the Cupertino companies highly persuasive marketing practices. Slap the Apple logo on and it sells.

I think the one exception was the Newton - good as it was in its day ; I bought a handspring Visor , then a Treo 650 , followed by a 700 and then the iPhone 1 .

 

[derekheeps]

Mighty bold for some of you to proclaim that the iPad can’t replace a true computer. You’re wrong, and many of us have done just that. I’ll never have a need for a laptop again, nor do I have a need for a desktop. So, keep in mind that your opinions are not valid.

Depends what you're doing .

 

[operand]

I use my iPP M4 more hours/day than my MacBook Pro. It's far better for consuming media (like reading newspapers), doing email, and participating in Zoom calls.

I only use the laptop if I'm writing/editing documents and spreadsheets, where I find the full versions of Microsoft Office and Google Docs/Sheets better than the iPad versions.

It's 100% a real computer. Try it connected to a big monitor with a keyboard/mouse; there's no question. (I only wish it had "true" clamshell mode.)

 

[Dirk Pieters]

I enjoy my M3 Air, but I use it primarily as an ebook reader. When it reaches the end of its life I would strongly consider replacing it with a Kindle.

I tried reading on an iPad and it just doesn't work. The light emitted by an iPad isn't very good if you use it just before sleep. There's studies on this.

I bought my first Kindle in 2014 and replaced it in 2024 with a Paperwhite. If I were sent to an uninhabited island and I had to pick a single device: Kindle all day long.

 

[Dirk Pieters]

I do some (but very little work) on my iPad. 90% of the time it's a news/media/video consumption device. Currently on a mini, which is a bit disappointing. I tried my wife's iPad Air and that doesn't convince me either. It's just too large.

On top of that I'm sort of disappointed in the iPad ecosystem overall with iPadOS heading in a direction that I don't need. It just does too many things (or tries to). Bring back the original iPad under 10" without all the multitasking stuff, a cheaper price and call it iPad Neo.

All I want is to read a few websites and watch YouTube.

 

[Fr. Guido Sarducci]

Depends what you're doing .

100% agree, but those of us that use an iPad as a primary device because it meets our needs shouldn’t be dismissed.

 

[Dirk Pieters]

I just updated to an M1 iPad Pro 11". They're not that expensive when you do it that way.

So true.

If all you're doing is some reading and YouTube then M4 iPad whatever is waaaaaaaaay too much power for what you need. Even my 2018 13" iPad Pro can do that.

 

[TechRunner]

I tried reading on an iPad and it just doesn't work. The light emitted by an iPad isn't very good if you use it just before sleep. There's studies on this.

I bought my first Kindle in 2014 and replaced it in 2024 with a Paperwhite. If I were sent to an uninhabited island and I had to pick a single device: Kindle all day long.

The Paperwhite will be my choice when I eventually make the switch.

 

[Andy_2341]

While it’s not essential for some, others have been hoodwinked by the hype, by the relentless push that an iPad can replace their computer.

This generally depends on your needs. I went from a Chromebook to an iPad mini 6. Eventually my needs got more intense and I needed MacOS. I owned a MacBook for a year as well as a Mac mini for the last two, and the iPad mini 6 ended up replacing its replacement , the MBA, after that year. I can accomplish more of what I want easier on my iPad than I ever could on my MacBook. The Mac mini covers true MacOS needs.

 

[Zwhaler]

I mean off the top of my head I use my work iPad Pro for:

- Filming and editing experiments
- LiDAR scanning interior plans
- LiDAR scanning exterior features
- Processing Bambu 3D Prints
- Producing engineering drawings and CAD files in Shapr
- Writing my blog
- Complex image editing in Pixelmator
- Standard boring office stuff (email etc)
- Gaming on par with a PS4
- Recording and publishing a Podcast
- Recording and editing video tutorials
- Writing up complex user guides
- Importing and editing drone footage in the field.

Its true I can do most of this on a Mac, but the cost of a 4K video camera, LiDAR scanner and so on on top of this would be in excess of $5000.

This is actually where an iPad makes sense over a laptop. It truly depends on the user and I’m glad the opportunity exists. It isn’t a catch-all laptop replacement as my experience taught me but it seems perfect for you.

 

[macbookj0e]

With rumours of iPad mini getting an oled this year I was definitely thinking of upgrading. However I always thought the mini represented the worst value iPad considering its size, old tech etc so already had an hard time accepting the old prices.

With further price increases I feel like the value isn’t there for me now. It’s just not worth it. I can afford it but now don’t want to. It’s crazy by the time you bump the ssd and add cellular.

 

[Andy_2341]

With rumours of iPad mini getting an oled this year I was definitely thinking of upgrading. However I always thought the mini represented the worst value iPad considering its size, old tech etc so already had an hard time accepting the old prices.

With further price increases I feel like the value isn’t there for me now. It’s just not worth it. I can afford it but now don’t want to. It’s crazy by the time you bump the ssd and add cellular.

I paid $650 for my iPad mini 6 back in 24. I’d say the amount I’ve been able to do with it has made it worth it. It’s so portable and easy to use. It hits the perfect balance between a larger Mac and smaller iPhone.