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iPad Repair 9.7" iPad Pro or buy new?
- Thread starter QuiteSure
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rui no onna
Contributor
Buy new on sale. A9X+2GB RAM isn’t doing so good now on latest iPadOS and will probably be dropped sooner rather than later.
The firmware has gotten quite a bit bloated compared to before and I don’t see things changing course anytime soon.
The Air 5 is pretty great especially if you can get it on sale for $499. Certified refurb Air 4, 2018 Pro or 2020 Pro are also good options. 9th gen ($269 on sale) if you want to keep spending to a minimum but that one, you’d probably have to replace sooner than if you get something with more RAM (for 5+ years of use, I highly recommend opting for 6-8GB).
The firmware has gotten quite a bit bloated compared to before and I don’t see things changing course anytime soon.
The Air 5 is pretty great especially if you can get it on sale for $499. Certified refurb Air 4, 2018 Pro or 2020 Pro are also good options. 9th gen ($269 on sale) if you want to keep spending to a minimum but that one, you’d probably have to replace sooner than if you get something with more RAM (for 5+ years of use, I highly recommend opting for 6-8GB).
MisterSavage
macrumors 603
Is it your primary device? I use mine for the same reason when my 11" one has a dead battery but I can't imagine using just that. It feels small and clunky.
FeliApple
macrumors 603
Yeah, if you are going to update it to iPadOS 16 - or if it is already on iPadOS 16 - battery life has been obliterated by iOS updates, and there is nothing a new battery will fix. It’s too much for that device. I’d keep it and buy a new one, if the price you can sell it for doesn’t convince you.
I have one on iOS 12 and I’ve kept it when upgrading to the iPad Air 5, but even if it was forcibly updated to iOS 12 from the marvellous iOS 9, and even if battery life has severely degraded after the forced update, it is still half-decent. I doubt you can call a 9.7-inch iPad Pro’s battery life half-decent on iPadOS 16.
I am especially fond of this iPad because it is the best iPad with the original design language, the 9.7-inch screen with a home button, but that’s just me.
I have one on iOS 12 and I’ve kept it when upgrading to the iPad Air 5, but even if it was forcibly updated to iOS 12 from the marvellous iOS 9, and even if battery life has severely degraded after the forced update, it is still half-decent. I doubt you can call a 9.7-inch iPad Pro’s battery life half-decent on iPadOS 16.
I am especially fond of this iPad because it is the best iPad with the original design language, the 9.7-inch screen with a home button, but that’s just me.
Actually, I seldom use it, but I like to have it for travel and as a secondary device. But now, with the battery so poor, it doesn't even function for that purpose.
Right now I have it on iPadOS 14. Not sure that I would upgrade to iPadOS 16, but I'd like to have that option. It also has a smart cover with a keyboard, which I like. However, having just bought a Macbook Air with the M2 chip, I don't think I'll do much typing on this iPad.
That’s true, but it’s a perfectly usable machine, so I hate to just let it go.
FeliApple
macrumors 603
Yeah, if it is fairly updated, and not only that, you plan to update it further, I don’t think it’s worth it. I’d keep it as-is and upgrade.
FeliApple
macrumors 603
How bad is the battery, exactly? Is it not enough even for light use? How many hours of screen-on time are you getting? While I don’t think $160 is worth it for an updated model, I do think that it is a perfectly usable iPad, even if battery life isn’t good. Like I said, I use one on iOS 12, and even though it isn’t iOS 9 in terms of battery life (unfortunately) it is perfectly usable. This model is too perfect to sell, imo.
After running diagnostic
After running diagnostics it appears the battery is in average condition. But if I lay it down it's drained in a few days, even without any use, and that's frustrating when I just want to pick it up to do something.
FeliApple
macrumors 603
I haven’t used an older iPad on any version of iPadOS, but @rui no onna has mentioned that starting with iPadOS 13, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro’s standby time has been horribly affected. I’m inclined to blame that.
Do you have any numbers of screen-on time when you’re actually using it?
In my extensive experience with iOS devices, and despite the vast majority making claims to the contrary, battery health is completely irrelevant. The best way to predict battery life is by taking into account usage, brightness, and the iOS version installed.
The irony is that I seldom use this device, largely because the battery is always drained when I reach to pick it up, hence my dilemma. As a result, I really don’t have any data on screen time, etc.
FeliApple
macrumors 603
rui no onna
Contributor
Shut it down or turn on airplane mode if you’re not going to be using it for a while.
Standby battery drain has been awful for me particularly on Pro 9.7 and Pro 10.5 since iOS 12 (probably iOS 11, too, but I skipped that update). My Pro 9.7 and 10.5 drains anywhere from 15-25% per day on standby. I still get around 5-8 hours onscreen time from full charge though.
Alternately, charge it via 5W adapter and connect to a Smart Plug and let it charge for 30 minutes - 1 hour everyday.
my 9.7 pro is definitely showing its age, problem is apple isn't selling anything that would replace it for me.
with a mini-led macbook pro and oled iphone, any lcd tech i have lying around looks immensely washed out by comparison. that leaves the 12.9 pro as the only ipad that feels up to date technology-wise, but too large and cumbersome for what i'm looking for in a tablet. 🙁
with a mini-led macbook pro and oled iphone, any lcd tech i have lying around looks immensely washed out by comparison. that leaves the 12.9 pro as the only ipad that feels up to date technology-wise, but too large and cumbersome for what i'm looking for in a tablet. 🙁
There's always been a part of me that years for the iPad mini, but i'm just not sure I'd use it enough to justify the purchase.
FeliApple
macrumors 603
Showing its age in terms of battery life or performance? Or both? I ask because people have different requirements and expectations, of course.
You don't have to let it go. Use it as a music streaming device some other secondary task.
That's a great idea. Would love to find other secondary uses for an old iPad. Off to Google...
Put it in low power mode to stop the stand-by battery bleed; thats what I do with my old 9.7" iPP. It's mostly a music player for the birds who particularly like the Apple Music funk channel.
Very late to this thread but if you’re on a budget £209 gets you an apple refurbished iPad 7th gen base model with new case, battery and more years of iPad OS. Obviously if you want to stay in the ipad pro line then the 2018 model is still on sale from Apple as refurb.
My basic premise is the old soc won’t get anywhere near as many more years of support than a newer refurb would get you.
Nice article about reuse cases for old iPads.
My basic premise is the old soc won’t get anywhere near as many more years of support than a newer refurb would get you.
Nice article about reuse cases for old iPads.