iPad Air or Pro?

[Deep Thought]

My wife has a 2017 iPad Pro 10.5 and the battery is needing recharged more often than she'd like.

Shes going to buy a new one and sell the old one to one of the buying companies or on Facebook but is in two minds to go for another Pro or for the slightly cheaper Air.

Price seems to be £849 and £719 respectively for the 256GB variants. I guess either would be a step up in terms of performance / display compared to her five year old Pro anyway.

Any thoughts on which she should go for?

[Gilmore]

What does she use it for?

[Deep Thought]

Gilmore said:

What does she use it for?

Reading books, app type games, photographs, netflix occasionally, light internet use.

Gets used quite a lot but not for anything heavy duty.

Its not used for work or typing on to.

[Jenny Tailor]

https://buyersguide.macrumors.com

12.9" Ipad Pro - Caution
11" iPad Pro - Don't buy
iPad Air - Buy Now.



Does this help?

[PF62]

Deep Thought said:

and the battery is needing recharged more often than she'd like.
…
Any thoughts on which she should go for?

None? Just get Apple to change the battery for £99 if it does what she needs it to.

[somouk]

I would look at apple refurbished units if you haven’t already. Does sound like a battery change might be a better option also.

[Jenny Tailor]

PF62 said:

Deep Thought said:

and the battery is needing recharged more often than she'd like.
…
Any thoughts on which she should go for?

None? Just get Apple to change the battery for £99 if it does what she needs it to.

Acutally - this is the most sensible shout.

[Teppic]

The Pro only really makes sense if you need 512Gb of storage or more, as the Air maxes out at 256Gb.

Get the Air.

[abzmike]

I had the same dilemma last week. Thought I’d try and change the battery in my 7 year old iPad, and broke the screen… looked at what I was using it for - same as the OPs good lady. Got a 64Gb Air, and it’s great, really don’t need the Pro for surfing and Netflix on a plane.

[Deep Thought]

Jenny Tailor said:

PF62 said:

Deep Thought said:

and the battery is needing recharged more often than she'd like.
…
Any thoughts on which she should go for?

None? Just get Apple to change the battery for £99 if it does what she needs it to.

Acutally - this is the most sensible shout.

Indeed yes. I've said that but i think she feels its time for a change and wants to treat herself to a new one. I'll pitch again for the battery replacement.

[Deep Thought]

abzmike said:

I had the same dilemma last week. Thought I’d try and change the battery in my 7 year old iPad, and broke the screen… looked at what I was using it for - same as the OPs good lady. Got a 64Gb Air, and it’s great, really don’t need the Pro for surfing and Netflix on a plane.

Yes, and as per the review link above it would seem the new Air is the sweet spot for her needs.

[Deep Thought]

Jenny Tailor said:

https://buyersguide.macrumors.com

12.9" Ipad Pro - Caution
11" iPad Pro - Don't buy
iPad Air - Buy Now.



Does this help?

Thanks, yes. Very useful!

[parabolica]

Deep Thought said:

Gilmore said:

What does she use it for?

Reading books, app type games, photographs, netflix occasionally, light internet use.

Gets used quite a lot but not for anything heavy duty.

Its not used for work or typing on to.

I had the same requirements and bought an Air 2 weeks ago - very happy with it. Pro seemed like overkill - it really is aimed/spec’d for content creators.

[robbieduncan]

How much value does she put on Face ID? It’s only on the Pro. For my wife that would be the deciding factor as Touch ID is not reliable for her

[wyson]

Depends on her storage requirements. How come she needs a 256GB model? She must have loads of photos and / or have thousands of books?

If she can get away with 128GB storage, the Air (256GB) and Pro (128GB) are close in price, so she might be better off getting the Pro and enjoying the better screen and speakers.

Or even better, just get the vanilla iPad, perfect for her needs! She doesn’t have a Pro use case on her list. Mind you, that doesn’t stop the Chelsea tractor brigade in London, so each to their own.

Edited by wyson on Sunday 12th June 23:49

[parabolica]

robbieduncan said:

How much value does she put on Face ID? It’s only on the Pro. For my wife that would be the deciding factor as Touch ID is not reliable for her

yeah actually this is the biggest negative point for me with the new air; really do miss the ease of Face ID; but that really is the only gripe I have about it.

[eeLee]

I went through this two years ago. Actually, I went through it in a strange way......

First off, I balanced off getting an iPad Pro with everything against getting a Windows device; I bought a Surface Pro 7.
I still wanted a new iPad (because my Mini 3 was a bit long in the tooth and not getting new iPadOS releases.

I plumped for an iPad Air 4th gen with 64Gb storage. No regrets at all, I've added an Apple keyboard to it as well as a Zagg pencil (colour match is better). The 5th gen is even nicer, methinks.

I'd also chip in for Apple battery replacements; I have an iPhone X that is on its second battery and it^s still going strong..... also refurbs can be an option.

btw I hate reading on the thing, it's too heavy. I have a Kindle for that.

[Deep Thought]

wyson said:

Depends on her storage requirements. How come she needs a 256GB model? She must have loads of photos and / or have thousands of books?

If she can get away with 128GB storage, the Air (256GB) and Pro (128GB) are close in price, so she might be better off getting the Pro and enjoying the better screen and speakers.

Or even better, just get the vanilla iPad, perfect for her needs! She doesn’t have a Pro use case on her list. Mind you, that doesn’t stop the Chelsea tractor brigade in London, so each to their own.

Edited by wyson on Sunday 12th June 23:49

She says shes maxxing out the 256Gb. Her current Pro is 256Gb so i think she'd match that rather than take a step back.

I dont think she'll go Pro to be honest - the new Air seems the better all rounder in terms of bangs per buck.

[Deep Thought]

eeLee said:

I went through this two years ago. Actually, I went through it in a strange way......

First off, I balanced off getting an iPad Pro with everything against getting a Windows device; I bought a Surface Pro 7.
I still wanted a new iPad (because my Mini 3 was a bit long in the tooth and not getting new iPadOS releases.

I plumped for an iPad Air 4th gen with 64Gb storage. No regrets at all, I've added an Apple keyboard to it as well as a Zagg pencil (colour match is better). The 5th gen is even nicer, methinks.

I'd also chip in for Apple battery replacements; I have an iPhone X that is on its second battery and it^s still going strong..... also refurbs can be an option.

[b]btw I hate reading on the thing, it's too heavy. I have a Kindle for that.[b]

All good info, thanks.

She has like a triangular shaped cushion or the stand she uses all the time, so the weight isnt an issue.

[hotchy]

Deep Thought said:

eeLee said:

I went through this two years ago. Actually, I went through it in a strange way......

First off, I balanced off getting an iPad Pro with everything against getting a Windows device; I bought a Surface Pro 7.
I still wanted a new iPad (because my Mini 3 was a bit long in the tooth and not getting new iPadOS releases.

I plumped for an iPad Air 4th gen with 64Gb storage. No regrets at all, I've added an Apple keyboard to it as well as a Zagg pencil (colour match is better). The 5th gen is even nicer, methinks.

I'd also chip in for Apple battery replacements; I have an iPhone X that is on its second battery and it^s still going strong..... also refurbs can be an option.

[b]btw I hate reading on the thing, it's too heavy. I have a Kindle for that.[b]

All good info, thanks.

She has like a triangular shaped cushion or the stand she uses all the time, so the weight isnt an issue.

My mum has that and it's still an issue. Hates it and wished she got the smaller version. Everyone's different but the weight really annoys her.