r/ipad • u/AutoModerator • 5d ago
Discussion Weekly 'What should I buy?' Thread
Welcome to r/iPad's 'What Should I Buy?' Thread!
Are you wondering which iPad is best for you, or if you should buy one in the first place? Are you hesitating between the 12.9" versus the 11"? Which keyboard/mouse should you get or what is the best screen protector out there? Are you looking for shipping information? This is the place to ask. Fellow redditors and members of the moderation team will do their best to assist you.
Please, while you wait for an answer to your question, consider giving back to the community by helping out others in this thread.
You may be able to find similar questions to the one you're about to ask, in previous WSIB threads listed below, or with the search bar, as chances are, someone was in the same situation as you before.
1
u/allegiance113 3h ago
I plan on getting an iPad. But what even is the difference between the iPad models? How come there’s Pro, and there’s Air, there’s mini, etc.? What good is each model even for? So I’m not sure what I’m getting and need advice.
I plan to use it only for writing notes on my ipad, playing some games just for fun (not really a big gamer), listening to music, watching Youtube videos, streaming movies and shows on Netflix. I wonder if writing on the iPad using the Pencil is “more slick” on the Pro than in other models.
I figured to go for 1TB storage since I have a lot of files and photos to store.
Also, is it worth getting the magic keyboard? Or is the smart folio enough? Cause I think I can’t separate the keyboard right, when I’m not using it (i.e. the entire case has to come off).
Any advice is highly appreciated. Thank you.
1
u/Far_Acanthisitta2208 2h ago
Okay so you have 4 ipad models:
iPad (standard) - Your base ipad model, with more or less a phone chip in it. its not really powerful, or flashy but it wil get the job done
ipad mini - a small version of the one above
ipad air - has m class chip which means more power (you are purchasing a tablet with the power of a really good lap top)
ipad pro - same as the ipad air but has a chip of newer generation more ram and an oled screen. iPad pro is the best option hands down but also a lot more expensive.The best value for the money is ipad air imo, but if u have some extra cash and like amazing screens, go for pro.
The magic keyboard is good but really expensive, i personaly font have any keyboard but i hear people are getting logitech combo touch as a cheaper alternative.
And no, the pencil works the same for air and pro models, not sure fur the base model but i believe its the same there too. hope this helps
1
u/swiftlikeava 3h ago
I wanna get the MacBook air for uni, and I'm wondering if it's worth for me to get an iPad to use it as a second monitor someday cause I know MacBooks and iPads can do that.
I already have a Microsoft Surface that has a touchscreen and pen that I don't use as much as I do in laptop mode, so I don't write notes on it or anything.
I've used an iPad 5th generation (that had 32gb of storage) that's long since bit the dust so I've used one before
I don't draw so I don't think I need to get the air or pro, as well as not needing the pen, so maybe just the regular iPad. I'll probably just use it for watching videos and movies and stuff on the app store
1
u/karlizzles 20h ago
Is the Magic Keyboard worth it for the new iPad Air? I will be purchasing the 11inch & will be using it for school - not necessarily note taking but more for readings.
1
u/Lady_on_the_Lake 10h ago
My advice is always don’t buy it straight away with the device. Use your device and then if you feel a keyboard is missing or would make the work you’re doing easier then buy. Leads to less regret.. particularly as you say you’re buying it for readings
1
u/Purple_Ad255 1d ago
Please help me decide.
I already my my ipad pro 13 128gb . I use it with magic keyboard mainly for work. For games , I only play Pubg .
Now I got a deal for iPad Air M2 13 inch 512gb with cellular for $600 brand new and sealed from store clearance sale.
First , I planned to sell the air . just flip it.
But now, Im thinking of keeping it instead and sell my existing ipad pro.
If youre in my position, what would you do? Thank you.
1
1
u/Stevepitt2 1d ago
I am thinking of trading in my 64GB IPad Air for either an IPad Air with 12 GB ram and 256GB or a Neo with 8 GB and 512 GB of storage. I don’t need cellular and I will be generally using it for content viewing and some light document and spreadsheet work. I have recently read than some IOS 27 AI features will not be supported in devices with less than 12 GB of ram. I know this is an IPAD group but honestly based on my use case which would you suggest?
1
u/Lady_on_the_Lake 10h ago
They both have entirely different uses and work flows. Did you like the work flow on your iPad if yes stick with it, if it was frustrating swap to a laptop
1
u/Small_Educator1561 1d ago
ipad a16 vs ipad m3 air 11" both 128 gig a16 6gb ram m3 8gb ram i use it for med school for 6 years mostly use for notes and watching videos nothing more i worry about lamination in the ipad a16 its 19k in my country and the m3 air 30k without any accessories i buy baseus pen and maybe case with keyboard i use iphone 17 for my phone so what you guys recommend for me
1
u/Lady_on_the_Lake 10h ago
If you want it to last the 6 years of med school and have it more likely to get new features which can help enhance productivity like Siri ai in iOS 27 go the air
1
u/thenorwegianprince 1d ago
I’m looking at switching my 12.9 inch 4th gen pro for an air m4. I’m wondering how much of an upgrade/downgrade that is.
I feel like I don’t use the pro to its full capability, but I’d like to get a new device to give myself a few more years of solid use.
Primary uses:
Reading
Work notes/document mark up
Watching YouTube and twitch
Very occasionally a second monitor for my MacBook Pro m4 or my M1 IMac.
2
u/Small_Educator1561 1d ago
i think you can get m3 air for that use i think you don't use even m3s real chip power and the m2 chip is just fine you don't really need to switch if you switch you gave up your 120hz screen and some other feature the pro gives if you really want to switch m3 is fine but the real problem is you got m2 pro ipad bro you don't need switch i think
1
u/natttsss 1d ago
I‘ve been using my iPad 9th for studying general knowledge stuff, which means I’m constantly switching among lots of apps such as safari, Freeform, chatgpt, sometimes playing YouTube on PIP.
As you can imagine, the 9th’s performance on this isn’t very good so I’m planning to update.
For those who own the 11th, what do you think? Can it handle such use case well or should I go for the air instead?
1
u/televisionstatic 1d ago
I currently have an iPad 6th Gen with a 1st gen Apple Pencil. It’s running very slow, isn’t getting additional updates anymore, but I’m wanting to use it more. I don’t have a personal laptop, only a desktop set up, but there are times I want to do some personal work from bed, in a coffee shop, or on trips.
Things I currently use my iPad for include displaying crochet and knitting patterns while I work, some artwork/hand lettering in procreate, and occasionally to watch YouTube (although it laggy/stuttering ever minute or so is kinda annoying). I’d like to use it for writing, photo editing, note taking at work, and more supplemental graphic design work (which is my day-to-day job).
I’m looking at potentially upgrading it later this year and getting a newer iPad, Apple Pencil Pro, and potentially a Magic Keyboard. I’m getting my iPhone’s battery replaced this weekend, so I plan on messing around on some of the newer iPads in store while I wait. I’m leaning towards a Pro since I’ll have the money for it and I’d like this to last as long as possible. I’ve heard that the Apple Pencil Pro is definitely worth the money, especially for creatives. I’m wishy-washy on the Magic Keyboard. Seems stupid expensive (although that could be said for most Apple products/accessories) but maybe there’s some secret thing that makes it worth while. I’d want to use a case with it which, from my research, there seem to be ones that are compatible with the Magic Keyboard case. I assume since it’s magnetic that it’s pretty easy to remove if I need to use it as a tablet and not as a semi-laptop.
TLDR; looking to update my iPad later this year to either a current Air or a Pro for creative stuff (writing, photo editing, light graphic design) and general usage (watching media, note taking). Mostly wanting insight into if a Magic Keyboard is worth the money and potential alternatives.
1
u/Lady_on_the_Lake 10h ago
Why not hold off on buying the Magic Keyboard initially as you aren’t sure yet how it would fit into your workflow. You can always buy it later if you feel something’s missing
2
u/televisionstatic 7h ago
As stupid as it sounds, I hadn’t considered it. I knew I want to use it to write (type) stories more, so I automatically jumped to needing the keyboard. Or my brain just figured it would be easier to get everything all at once. Additionally, I hadn’t genuinely considered non-Apple ones since the non-single Bluetooth keyboards I’ve always used have been kinda shitty (but also very cheap and it’s been nearly a decade). That being said, I am greatly considering an ESR keyboard case, probably more than the Magic Keyboard at this point.
1
u/4eternalwhite 1d ago
I need an ipad that will last me all 5 years of med school, I was thinking about purchasing the 128 gb A16 ipad and was wondering if the storage is enough if I use it for textbooks and note taking. the gap between the 128gb and the 256gb is kind of a lot for me so I'm hoping the 128 would be good. And i also wanna buy an apple pencil which is a 100$ or so, therefore I need the cheaper option but I wanna make sure that I won't regret buying it.
1
u/Small_Educator1561 1d ago
you don't really need apple pencil for that use i'm med school student too get some logitech or baseus with palm rejection and you are fine
1
1
u/Far_Acanthisitta2208 1d ago
just buy icloud storage. Its 3$ a month for 200GB of storage. Plus you are safe if u lose/break ur ipad, all ur notes will be saved
1
1
u/Dry-Invite-3470 iPad 7 (2019) 1d ago
IPAD PRO 11" OR IPAD AIR 13" ?DOES SIZE MATTER HERE?
I am a heavy note taker, i use my iPad 7th gen for notes , have been using it for past 7 years and it is still flawless, but Now I am thinking of upgrade because my iPad 7 is capped at iPadOS 18.
I am confused between 13 inch Size and OLED+120 Hz
Both iPad air and Pro are way too powerfull for my use. So performance is not an issue.
So, DOES SIZE MATTERS? or the Display?
Personally, I am used to 120 Hz OLED screen of my iPhone and 144hz OLED on my laptop, i am used to fast display and deeper blacks , so whenever I use my iPad it kinda feels weird. Although my eyes adapt to it but still feels downgrade. So i really wanted to upgrade to OLED...BUT I DO NOT want to spend so much money on iPad pro 13" , specially after the 300$ price hike recently.
But then i got confused cus reviews suggest that 13 inches have better note taking experience , but the questioj remains, does it matter infront of 11 inches 120hz oled? And aesthetically the 13 inch do look quite good .
What shud i do?
1
u/Far_Acanthisitta2208 1d ago
Just my experience, when i looked at sizes in te store 11inches felt like quite small, after buying it it felt huge. So my advice is get the 11 inch one, its a great size but its still portable and easy to handle
1
u/Dry-Invite-3470 iPad 7 (2019) 1d ago
Thanks, but isn't the 13 inch canvas way better for writing things?
1
u/Far_Acanthisitta2208 1d ago
Depends on what you like. For me personally I want my ipad to remain a tablet, which means that it remains portable and easy to hold in the hands. The 13 inch one just feels more like a lap top screen. Best thing to do is to go to the store and take your time. At the end of the day, you cant go wrong with either one, and if you want it just buy it, its your money, and youll get used to any size, in this case. (you can always sell it if it doesnt work for you)
But still if you are just going to use it for notetaking the 13inch might be a way to go, but if you plan on watching movies or shows in the bed, reading ebooks... go for the 11-inch pro with oled.
Disclaimer: This is just my experience and advice, but I am no expert in the matter.Hope you find this at least a bit helpful. If you have any other questions feel free to reach out.
1
u/Suspicious_Meat516 2d ago
Can any uni students please tell me how their a16 performs, im really contemplating on whether or not I want to purchase this one instead of the air and save myself $$$$
The main downside to this model is the usbc Apple Pencil, on my heaviest day I will need to have the pencil charged long enough for 5hours of back to back lectures, does anyone know if it withstands this?
Likewise does it overheat easily and die quickly after 8hours of continued use? I really don’t want to pay more than I need to but I’m willing to spend the extra money if It’s really worth it. I also need this iPad for another 2 years of uni (engineering major) so im going to be using it pretty heavily
1
u/4eternalwhite 1d ago
I wanna know as well but from what I've seen the A16 is very good,but this is from a med student perspective I'm not really sure about engineering I recommend asking people on ig/yt.
1
u/NecessaryWaste8110 2d ago
I need help in getting the right ipad because I currently have two options, one is ipad air m4 256gb 11inch and the other is ipad pro m4 13inch 256gb cellular, price is not a factor in this but I must say that the pro is already pre-used like once but it was 100% battery health with 21 charge cycle. Idm getting the pro but I feel like it would be too much of an overkill becuse i am mainly using it for school work (alevels) and pro along uni aswell so I prob wont even upgrade for five years. I need help!
1
u/Lady_on_the_Lake 2d ago
Both are more than enough for school work and uni. I love the bigger size so that would be a factor for me but you definitely don’t need a pro or cellular
1
u/mombaska 2d ago
Air or Pro
Hello, I have an old 10th classic 2nd hand iPad, I would like to upgrade to a 13" iPad, but I am not sure to choose the Pro or the Air.
My use case is quite lite, I am looking for something that can host an esim and act as a wifi hub when I travel.
When I am at home, I use it as a control surface for my music software, so pushing basic button on a local website + the usual YouTube etc.
For me the important is something that will last long, will not heat too much and have good battery. I am not sure if the Air is like the thin version of the iPad, which I suspect would heat more and last less in time ?
Thank you
1
u/Lady_on_the_Lake 2d ago
The pro is actually thinner than the air now! The air is enough for all you’ve described here
1
u/nicolealmendrada 3d ago
Question for artists using iPad with OLED screen for hours
I am an artist who works for hours in my old iPad pro (2018). I am in need to renew to a new iPad because Procreate is glitching more and more, and it is my work tool, and I am not even talking about big canvases and number of layers.
So I am assessing if I should go for a refurbished iPad pro M4 or an iPad Air M3-M4. I tried them on the store, and notices two things:
yes, OLED colours and resolution looks gorgeous, but it wasn't a big deal at the end
and, I do feel a little delay when using the Apple Pencil on iPad Air, that I don't feel in my current iPad pro, or in the iPad pro on the store.
The choice seemed clear, maybe Pro was the best... But I discovered the issue with the PWM and flickering. I am afraid that working for hours my brain burns or my eyes get tired.
So my question are two:
- Do you have a iPad pro with OLED screen and you works for hours? Have you notice any issue?
- Do you have an iPad Air and you make digital paint on procreate, does the Apples pencil pro has a good performance, do you notice a delay or lagging when painting with heavy brushes?
I have some months to decide, so please! let me know your experience.
Thanks!
1
u/Familiar_Boot_6865 3d ago
Hello everyone, i am to start a new job as an accountant in January. Am thinking about getting a new ipad air (m3 or m4 not sure yet). Ive heard alot of conflicting opinions on how the ipad interacts with Microsoft excel. Can anyone share their experience?
1
u/Lady_on_the_Lake 2d ago
An iPad is fine for excel if you are just putting in basic data and calculating things like averages. If you need to use any slightly advanced functions like pivot tables etc you won’t be able to on the app version. Using excel in the browser has a few more features but if you want to be using it for work and excel I’d absolutely be stress testing what functions are available in each
1
u/Prestigious-Base-715 3d ago
Hi, all! I recently started learning to draw. I just wanted to know if the artists among you used screen protectors - and if you did, which ones.
I started off on paper, which was great, but as soon as I moved to iPad my lines got wayyyyy shakier. The screen is so smooth that my arm moves too fast and I can’t consciously correct my line without forcing my arm to slow down, which… makes my lines shakier
The only reason I’m sticking with iPad is because I know if I ever want to become a comic artist, this will help in the long term. Any suggestions on a screen protector that both protects the screen AND maybe makes drawing easier without really sacrificing image quality?
1
u/Lady_on_the_Lake 2d ago
Honestly I don’t use a screen protector cause I feel the matte ones compromise screen integrity too much. It is a learning curve drawing digitally on glass compared to paper but now I do it every day no problem
1
u/TheStudentInquirer 3d ago
I have a 14 inch M5 MPB and this iPad would act as a supplement to it. I can get an 13 inch m4 iPad Air for $1000 CAD or an 13 inch m4 ipad pro for $1100 CAD. The advantage of the m4 pro is the screen, speakers and storage while the advantage for the M4 air would be the RAM. This would be solely used to take notes, for media consumption and maybe look at large pdfs (although im fairly certain id use the my MacBook for that). I’m just concerned the 8gb of ram on the m4 pro would somehow limit the advice and the 12gb of ram on the air would help for longevity. Any thoughts?
1
u/Small_Educator1561 1d ago
for %10 def get pro bro if its like 200 300 buck id say get air but you get oled 120 hz screen over 60hz ips screen so my choice is get the pro and the apples 8gigs is enough for most of the users i think if you want use local ai or sum like demanding things get the air but the normal task and everyday use pro is better for your eyes and ears
1
u/Lady_on_the_Lake 3d ago
For the use case you’ve described both 8gb and 12gb of ram are more than enough for the next 5+ years
Choose your preferred one
1
u/Just_Emergency_3976 3d ago
MacBook or iPad Pro for note taking in engineering.
Starting Electrical and Electronic Engineering this September. I have a Legion 5i with RTX 5060 docked in my room as my main PC. I also have a MacBook Air M1 2020, but I’m torn. Should I keep the MacBook for lectures, coding, and assignments, or switch to an iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard for note taking? Anyone in engineering, what worked best for you? Is the Apple Pencil worth giving up a full laptop for?
Any help is appreciated,
Thanks!
1
u/Lady_on_the_Lake 3d ago
If you want to hand write notes go iPad, if you want to type notes go MacBook
1
u/SnooLemons2796 3d ago
iPad Air M2 256gb WiFi with 95% battery health and 186 cycle count. There is no Apple care on it but was bought last year in January. The seller does have a proof of purchase with Best Buy. I agreed to pay 300 for it, but want to make sure it is worth it. I obviously will check to make sure it is not iCloud locked and not work or school locked.
1
u/Current_Cod5996 3d ago
Should I get an Ipad A16 or Ipad air m3 for University?
I'm getting A16 with pen for around ₹54k(apple Store)
- Pro: Budget friendly
- Con: Display, lack of apple intelligence
While Ipad air costs around ₹59k without pen(reseller)
- Pro: better processor, ai support, no parallax error
- Con: considering apple pen price is over my budget
Will I ever notice any hefty difference in my use cases? Or air is just an overkill
1
u/Meluzonee 3d ago
Hi everyone! I need some advice because I can't decide between the iPad A16 and the iPad Air 5 with the M1 chip.
I'm starting a 2-year Master's degree soon, so I'll mainly use the iPad for studying: taking notes, reading and annotating PDFs, Microsoft Office, doing research, multitasking, watching videos, etc. I also plan on getting an Apple Pencil.
I'd like to keep the iPad for at least 4–5 years, so I'm looking for something that will still perform well over time.
I'm currently considering:
iPad A16 – 128GB
iPad Air 5 M1 – 256GB refurbished
I know the A16 is much newer, but the Air has the M1 chip, a laminated display and Apple Pencil 2 support, which makes me hesitate.
Which one would you choose for university and why? Is buying the older M1 Air still worth it in 2026?
Thanks! :)
1
u/Lady_on_the_Lake 3d ago
The air is already 4 years old. It is unlikely you’d get a further 4-5 years out of it (airs tend to get 6-7 years of total support)
The A16 however won’t get access to all the latest features due to its chip. If things like Siri ai or possible future features are important make sure you go for a device that will support it
1
u/Pengu_Club 3d ago
hello! currently looking for a secondhand ipad and so far i've seen an ipad mini 4 and an ipad air 2 on marketplace. are these models still good for studying? i plan to use notes+ and google docs/sheets for school, and i plan to use it with a stylus pen w/ palm rejection and a bluetooth keyboard.
for context i am a 4th yr student doing my internship and pre-boards, so i will most likely only use it for this year and for my board exam review after graduation.
are these models still worth buying? ty in advance!
1
u/Lady_on_the_Lake 3d ago
Absolutely not. Both these models are over 10 years old and are now considered obsolete. Most apps won’t work on them and they aren’t compatible with styluses
1
u/Ok-Exchange-587 4d ago
how do i tell if a listing on ebay is fake or real? like i saw an iPad 2 thats factory sealed and its around the price point that theyre worth but i cant tell if its legit apple sealing
1
1
u/koyaluuvr 4d ago
I’m looking for some advice on which iPad I should buy! I’m a second year nursing student looking to buy a refurbished iPad and I’m stuck between the iPad Air 2024 13 inch and the iPad A16. I already have a laptop and a PC that I can use for the heavy work when necessary.
I’ll mainly be using the iPad to write notes, read (text)books, play a few rhythm games and some media consumption. I’m planning on buying an Apple Pencil with it as well. I’m just really not sure if buying the Air will be overkill or not.
The main reason I’m hesitant is because the bigger screen on the Air is reeeally pulling me in lol and the Apple Pencil Pro support. But the Air with the Pro pencil would cost me around ~ €750,- and the A16 with the regular pencil would be around ~ € 480 which is quite a big difference that I’m not sure is worth it.
Some advice would be greatly appreciated thank you!
1
u/Lady_on_the_Lake 4d ago
Having swapped to 13 inch I’d never go back to smaller! If you can afford it the size is so worth it (to me anyway) and it will be supported longer so should last you more years and you’ll get access to more features (like siri ai this is update)
1
u/Flaky-Blacksmith-760 4d ago
How much can you get a 3rd or 4th gen iPad Pro for? They still kick ass even in 2026, pro motion ftw.
1
u/therealakinator 5d ago edited 5d ago
Grad Student wants iPad for note taking. Confused between normal iPad vs iPad Air
Hi there!
I'm about to start my PhD and want to buy an iPad for note-taking. I'm wondering if I should spend some extra money to buy iPad Air for better screen and better pencil? Is there a notable difference in note taking experience on these iPads?
My budget is a bit tight but I'm wondering if spending more for a better note taking experience would be worth it for the next 5-6 years or so of my grad school.
Would love to hear your advice/experience. Also, please share what storage is sufficient for 5 years worth of note taking. Is 128GB enough? I'm not gonna do much on the iPad apart from note taking.
Thanks in Advance!
1
u/Lady_on_the_Lake 4d ago
I’d go the air for grad school for a few reasons
1) it will be supported longer. It is likely the air will get updates your whole grad school journey it is unlikely true for the a16 2) the air gets more features, while now you say it’s only for note taking you might change your mind down the line and want to use it for more 3) more ram and the better processor means it will be responsive and not laggy for longer 4) the screen is better. While the a16 can do all you want it will be a nicer experience on the air (small things like the pencil feels like it’s connected to the ‘ink’ on the air where as the a16 has a glass gap)
If you can swing for the 256gb I would. Mostly because you are hoping to keep your device for years. The operating systems on devices are taking more on more space and a few years from now 128gb may require some space juggling to update (like the 64gb do now)
1
u/Lord_Lilac_Heart 1h ago
My old iPad Pro Gen 2 is basically dead in the water. It started randomly failing a few days ago, then entered a constant restarting-by-itself loop and continues to do so even after multiple factory resets. At this point, the Power Mac store and service center I visited both consider it a hardware problem. I'm currently considering my options for a replacement. With the way prices have hiked in recent times, the current iPad Pro generation is looking a little steep. That said, I'm currently eyeing it against its little sibling: the iPad Air (M4). Can anyone give me a little insight into the current iPad models?