I've never really paid attention Apple products and their sales, but now I have to get an iPad. So I've waded through the models and generations, I think I've settled for the iPad Air Gen 5 (correct me if that's a crap choice)
So my real question is should I buy it now and take advantage of any sales (if any) or wait a month or two and hope for better deals?
I might be look wrong, but it seems the price for iPads is very similar everywhere - no real bargains or sales?
yeah fair call. I really meant that after so long playing in the Android pool I have to go Apple now.
Saying that, looking at the prices they don't seem to change much until a new model comes out.
iPad Air 5 came out this year; you can't go wrong. Can go through the Education store and use Apple gift cards that you get in those points deals via Coles and Woolies to try reduce the price. You might want to get an Apple Pencil 2.
What are you going to use it for?
It's really for my wife, she needs It for graphic design and photo manipulation. Apparently there's a software package that is iPad only that art peeps swear by. If it was available on Android then I wouldn't be having this problem :)
Wouldn't a Macbook be better for graphic design and photo manipulation? You'd need to get an Apple Pencil 2 in that case.
Yeah probably.
She got a new laptop last year and is happy with Adobe stuff on that, so the tablet would be to use along side that set up.
I think she likes the idea of using in on the bus and in class without having to drag around a laptop.
graphic design
so the tablet would be to use along side that set up.
i cannot believe it is 2022, the m1 chip goes with not even half the potential used…and adobe STILL dont have an ipad version of indesign SMH
Affinity is working on their one but still going to be a while yet.
@Jimothy Wongingtons: I'd settle for Adobe on Android.
I have a pretty high spec Android tablet and no Creative Suite. Yeah they promise a web version but that's like eating meatloaf and calling it steak.
meatloaf and calling it steak.
fwiw i like meatloaf over steak ..i grew up poor (and am still relatively).
At the moment I use Jump RDP from ipad to use access my PC for adobe indesign..which is a total joke - but does get the job done in a pinch, just stupidly slowly.
My partner got an M1 iPad Pro 12.9 pretty much just for Procreate and loves it. Now she uses it for just about everything. I think the new Air is better value, personally, but the screen is really great on the Pro. The kids love using Procreate on their 9th gen iPads as well, but it's much nicer on a bigger and better screen.
Echoing kerfuffle, what are you going to use it for? There are plenty of older models on Facebook marketplace / gumtree for quite cheap that still work quite well and most are even still supported with updates.
yeah I thought of second hand, but I want this to last for at least 3 or 4 years without having to panic that it's no longer supported.
It needs to pen as well, if that makes a difference.
And the killer seems to be that we have so many USB-C cables in our life I really don't want to get lightning just for this one device.
Get a 1 year old model, it will still have updates for 4+ years but be several hundred cheaper
okay cool, thanks.That's very good to know.
@wallet72: Don't do this. The latest iPad Air 5 includes the M1 chip which is the only chip supported for the new Stage Manager feature. Now that Apple has started excluding features from a model they sold only a couple of months ago (iPad Air 4) they're likely to continue making new features available only on the M chip models going forward. It's not worth the saving potentially kneecapping your features for the next 5 years…
@stirlo: Good points, thanks for highlighting. I'd normally agree with Quantumcat's sentiments though.
Yes I try and avoid Lightning and Micro USB as much as possible.
The Apple Pencil 2 which works with the modern Airs and Pros is preferable to the first gen due to its magnetic charging.
MacRumors website is your best source.
https://buyersguide.macrumors.com/
I am also planning to buy an iPad but since it is not urgent I will wait for M2 release end of year, although M1 chip is already an overkill for most tasks.
I will most likely buying an iPad Pro 11inch 128GB which is cheaper than iPad Air 256GB. iPad Pro has better speakers and ProMotion 120Hz display refresh rate.
I think iPad Air 64 GB is too small for installing apps.
Yes, awesome resource.
I'd only only buy an Air or a Pro, s the 10.2 9th Gen is still Lightning.
I am still using my ipad 6th gen - mainly for PDFs and for note-taking via Goodnotes - am keen to upgrade as well - but wasnt sure which one to go for.
9th gen space grey is $50 10% off on Amazon now. Ordered one myself.
https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B09G98J83H/ref=ppx_yo_d…
Thanks, Dealmans, , for sharing this discounted IPad. I am using IPad 5th gen with 32GB , the storage is a bit insufficient so I have to pay extra $1.49 monthly to get storage up to 50GB. Am I hesitant now to buy this one , however my present one is still o.k. with me; just hate to pay the monthly fees to Apple.
Well we pay for 2TB for family, user pays. My dad has a gen 5 it's a slow old dog but still works.
Worth looking at Costco, too, if you are a member.
I think the iPad Air 5 would be fantastic. I use the Air 3 and it still runs like a champ so you'd have no dramas with the 5!
Have just about every iPad version since day one, recently purchased a new iPad 12,9" Wi Fi, Cellular version, it really was so easy to transfer data from iPad to IPad, it's super fast but this huge super thin screen is awesome, images just jump out and crystal clear. It will take some time to master tis model due to a hoard of additional features and adjustments. One thing I noticed as the flyer inside explaining the finger key pad use, the text is grey in 6 point impossible to read.
If you have to get it now, get it. If you can wait around for a better deal, than wait.