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iPad Is it a bad idea to buy the iPad air now?

V

vmflapem

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 27, 2013
432
68
I need an ipad for school but it's not like I must have it right now.
The one I'm interested in is ipad air, but obviously, since new one is coming out in October-ish I'm kind of scared to buy it now.
I'm just wondering.. Does apple have a policy where if you buy an old iPad and the new one gets released in a month, you can switch to the new one with some added $$?
 
vmflapem said:
I need an ipad for school but it's not like I must have it right now.
The one I'm interested in is ipad air, but obviously, since new one is coming out in October-ish I'm kind of scared to buy it now.
I'm just wondering.. Does apple have a policy where if you buy an old iPad and the new one gets released in a month, you can switch to the new one with some added $$?
Click to expand...

Just a heads up youre not going to be getting much replies under ipad when the iphones are about to be released haha. I would definetely wait on it. My ipad crashes a lot (ipad air bought 3 months ago) and safari tabs are constantly reloading. Plus, the new one is coming out in only a month or so. And no, apple has no program like that, if you purchased within 2 weeks you can return it. And if youre interested in more than 16gbs the ipad will likely be changed to 64gb for 600 instead of 700. So it literally pays to wait.
 
vmflapem said:
I need an ipad for school but it's not like I must have it right now.
The one I'm interested in is ipad air, but obviously, since new one is coming out in October-ish I'm kind of scared to buy it now.
I'm just wondering.. Does apple have a policy where if you buy an old iPad and the new one gets released in a month, you can switch to the new one with some added $$?
Click to expand...

I think there's a 30 day return policy.

If you can wait then just wait. I wouldn't buy one now unless you're positive that you'll be totally satisfied with the Air after seeing the new iPads next month.
 
CEmajr said:
I think there's a 30 day return policy.

If you can wait then just wait. I wouldn't buy one now unless you're positive that you'll be totally satisfied with the Air after seeing the new iPads next month.
Click to expand...

Apple, Walmart, Target, Best Buy have a 14-15 day return policy.
 
I would also say if you can wait, then wait.

If you have the money ready, then on the day they announce the new ones you can still go buy the old one that day if you don't like the new ones for some reason (which is probably unlikely, they haven't really changed too much other than get faster and better specs each time so far).

Of course the current iPad Air would be a fine tablet for quite a while - but I think it's worth considering that buying now is probably going to shave 10-11 months off the lifespan of how long your iPad will be supported for updates etc.. In that light, you might think the extra month or two wait now will be worth it in the end.
 
Thanks everyone.
I will definitely wait for the new one.

Also just one more question - is it difficult to buy the new ipads on the first few days of its release? I remember seeing all the people lining up in front of Apple store on the first day of release. If I order online, can i still get it on the first few days?
 
vmflapem said:
Thanks everyone.
I will definitely wait for the new one.

Also just one more question - is it difficult to buy the new ipads on the first few days of its release? I remember seeing all the people lining up in front of Apple store on the first day of release. If I order online, can i still get it on the first few days?
Click to expand...

If you order directly from Apple you should get it as soon as they are released and it takes 2-3 business days via FedEx. Buying from a retailer is not recommended if you want it on release day as Apple usually keeps enough inventory to fulfill demand and stores will typically see iPad's start rolling in to their stores 3-4 weeks after release. If you're lucky you might find 1 or 2 at a Best Buy the same week of release.
 
You can probably get a used 16gb one for 300-350. A new 16 gb new version will be 500+ tax. It really depends on how much you need it and how quickly. The new iPads should be out by mid October.

Tho will be much much better or at least give you an extra year of life. I wouldn't buy a brand new Air today. Its like buying a iPhone 5s 2-3 weeks ago. Tho if you get a steal like see people putting their 5s on here for 300. I'd take that deal and skip all the way to school (from excitement)

The iPad is a cool machine but a laptop is way better. Tough to take notes on a iPad. I basically used mine to watch movies and read comic books/books/magazines not really worth the $600 price tag for me tho I got it as a gift. I sold it and got a macbook air which for me fit my needs better.
 
AxoNeuron said:
I personally thought about getting the air. But the retina iPad retina mini has the exact same specs as the air, same resolution, same processor, etc and a more convenient size, for $100 less too.



:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

And let's not forget the inferior display panel! An otherwise great value :)
 
Rodster said:
Apple, Walmart, Target, Best Buy have a 14-15 day return policy.
Click to expand...

action-smiley-057.gif
Target has a 45 return policy for all electronics.

I've got inside information!
mixed-smiley-009.gif
 
AxoNeuron said:
An inferior display panel...?
Click to expand...


rMini
http://http://www.displaymate.com/Tablet_ShootOut_4.htm

And finally… the iPad mini with Retina Display unfortunately comes in with a distant 3rd place finish behind the innovative displays on the Kindle Fire HDX 7 and new Nexus 7 because it still has the same small 63 percent Color Gamut as the original iPad mini and even older iPad 2. That is inexcusable for a current generation premium Tablet. The big differences in Color Gamut between the Kindle Fire HDX 7 and Nexus 7 and the much smaller 63 percent Gamut in the iPad mini Retina Display were quite obvious and easy to see in the side-by-side Viewing Tests. See Figure 1 to compare the widely disparate Color Gamuts and Figure 2 to see the very large Color Errors that result. This all appears to be due to incredibly poor planning. Instead of moving up to the higher performance (and cost) Low Temperature Poly Silicon LCDs, Apple chose to continue gambling on IGZO, which has resulted in both production shortages and inferior products.
Click to expand...


Air:
http://www.displaymate.com/Tablet_ShootOut_3.htm

The Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 8.9 and Apple iPad Air are both even more impressive on another performance level because in addition they deliver top notch picture quality, absolute color accuracy, and accurate image contrast that is not only much better than any other Tablet, they are also much better than most HDTVs, laptops, and monitors. In fact, with some minor calibration tweaks they both would qualify as studio reference monitors. For proof, see the measurements in the Brightness and Contrast and Colors and Intensities sections, plus the plotted data in Figure 1, Figure 2, and Figure 3.
Click to expand...


rMini = 62% sRGB

Air = 108% sRGB

The rMini has a higher pixel density but the color reproduction is vastly inferior.
 
Last edited:
Wayfarer said:
Image Target has a 45 return policy for all electronics.

I've got inside information! Image
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update and it's good to know they are one of the few retailers who allow for returns longer than 14-15 days. I did check their website and it shows 30 days though on all electronic equipment. Not sure if the iPad's fall into that category.

http://help.target.com/help/subcategoryarticle?childcat=Return+policy&parentcat=Returns+&+Exchanges

"All Electronics and Entertainment items must be returned within 30 days for a refund or exchange."
 
vmflapem said:
I need an ipad for school but it's not like I must have it right now.
The one I'm interested in is ipad air, but obviously, since new one is coming out in October-ish I'm kind of scared to buy it now.
I'm just wondering.. Does apple have a policy where if you buy an old iPad and the new one gets released in a month, you can switch to the new one with some added $$?
Click to expand...

Yes. It is a bad idea.

Wait for the new ones. If you don't think they're worth it then you can buy the Air at a discount. Either way you win.
 
s2mikey said:
How so? Mine rocks. What you talkin 'bout?

Nothing wrong with buying the Air right now. Just be sure you get a decent deal on one. Don't pay full price or whatever. The refurbished models are good buys too.
Click to expand...

Low ram, nearly a year old now, bad screen quality control, etc.
 
It is a bad idea because the new iPad Air is likely to be presented within one month. In addition, its release will make the old model cheaper.
 
Do not buy a ipad air right now, wait for the ipad air 2. I have the ipad air and its a hate and love relationship. I use it mostly for college studies. I think this could be possibly the last apple tablet I get before switching to android tablets due to all the problems I have experienced. I have had the ipad 3, ipad 4, and the air my experiences have not been the greatest.
 
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