Do you know if next years iPad Air will be a major upgrade or just a minor one. I am saving to buy one in a few months and I am deciding if I want to get this years model or wait for next years.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
All iPads Should I buy now ?
- Thread starter christom1174
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
Who knows. We might see an iPad Pro and base iPad update in a few months, so if you’re interested in those models it might behoove you to wait, but if you’re interested in that middle iPad Air spot, then I wouldn’t expect one for another 6 months at the earliest, but could also be much longer. Most iPads seem to fit around a 1.5 year update window, but it’s been pretty variable for a while. That being said, I wouldn't expect a major update. Probably a minor spec update is in store next for the Air 4.
If you have other devices which have the lightning port and maybe the headphone jack is important to you I would get the Air now.
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
This is a good point. The next Air update may remove the lighting and/or headphone ports. If these ports are important to you then you might be better off buying now regardless.
If you can wait a few months I strongly suspect Apple will have some new iPads so hold on for purchasing for a bit yet.
I myself is holding on for a device with Lightning and earphone jack. Right now I prefer the 2017 iPad Pro 10.5 over the Air 3 for my next upgrade should I decide on Sept 10. I have a local shop that can replace iPad screens with legit parts.
For the moment, there's exactly one iPad Air that came out in March - the iPad Air 3.
The original Air and Air 2 were both released in fall.
That said, unlikely than another Air will be released this year although with Apple, who knows (see iPad 3 -> iPad 4).
The Air 3 was just released in March. It won't be updated again in 2019. If you want it's successor, you'll need to wait until at least 2020, likely March 2020. Mini was also updated at the same time, getting them both out of the way for the Pro (the one Apple wants you to buy) and the budget iPad (the one they want you to know about how great value it is).
Now is quite a neutral time to buy the Air 3. It could be left even longer than a year, really. It's not in a prime spot in the lineup, and when it is updated it'll likely maintain the 'good choice', not best ever or best value, but 'good choice' - the middle way, to put it in the way of Buddhists lol
You also can choose an older Pro 10.5 currently, which is a debatably good alternative for the money / size. But personally I sided with the Air 3, it's current.
If I was you I'd go for it. I did on Sunday, and I'm not worried about a new model coming in 2020. Why wait? Well, if you have the budget 9.7" iPad currently on your radar as a serious choice for your needs, THEN wait. Because the new 9.7 (or it's rumoured 10.2" successor) will certainly bring the budget model closer to Air 3. But it won't match or eclipse it, or the lineup won't make sense. It'll probably be a bigger screen (same size, just thinner bezels), faster processor, maybe a GB of extra RAM and maybe support for Pencil 2. But who knows. I'm impatient anyway! But my thought were as more than a 'side device', the budget model should be avoided and Air 3 chosen, and if you're a Pro (with specific needs the iPad Pro can meet best, go for it). Good luck.
Now is quite a neutral time to buy the Air 3. It could be left even longer than a year, really. It's not in a prime spot in the lineup, and when it is updated it'll likely maintain the 'good choice', not best ever or best value, but 'good choice' - the middle way, to put it in the way of Buddhists lol
You also can choose an older Pro 10.5 currently, which is a debatably good alternative for the money / size. But personally I sided with the Air 3, it's current.
If I was you I'd go for it. I did on Sunday, and I'm not worried about a new model coming in 2020. Why wait? Well, if you have the budget 9.7" iPad currently on your radar as a serious choice for your needs, THEN wait. Because the new 9.7 (or it's rumoured 10.2" successor) will certainly bring the budget model closer to Air 3. But it won't match or eclipse it, or the lineup won't make sense. It'll probably be a bigger screen (same size, just thinner bezels), faster processor, maybe a GB of extra RAM and maybe support for Pencil 2. But who knows. I'm impatient anyway! But my thought were as more than a 'side device', the budget model should be avoided and Air 3 chosen, and if you're a Pro (with specific needs the iPad Pro can meet best, go for it). Good luck.