Considering buying a iPad? Check out these tips first!
The iPad lineup is made up of four families: the iPad Pro, the iPad mini, the iPad Air and the iPad. These devices continue to remind us that iPads are highly versatile devices that are useful for media consumption, gaming, or even for work in some cases.
If you are in the market for a new iPad, you might be confused by the plethora of available options. To make your life easier, here are nine things to consider before buying a iPad.
1. Cellular capability
All iPad models can be ordered with 4G LTE or 5G capability, which allows you to get online when you’re out of Wi-Fi range. If you’re an iPhone user you may want to forgo the added cost for the cellular iPad and the associated plan as the personal hotspot feature works fairly seamlessly, but it’s a nice option to have.
2. Budget
iPads can vary heavily in terms of pricing. For example, the cheapest iPad (iPad 9th Gen) currently starts at $329, while the highest-end iPad (iPad Pro 12.9-inch) starts at $1,099.
So, to set the right budget, you need to know exactly what type of experience you’re looking for. Then, decide on what you’re going to use the iPad for, how much time you’ll spend using it, and how much you are willing to pay for that usage as a whole.
Extra features such as a high refresh rate display are nice but might not be worth it if you have to increase your budget significantly. You can use the rest of the tips to help guide your budget expectations.
3. Size
Size is important as you might be carrying around your iPad with you a lot. A larger iPad might be better for you because of the bigger screen, better performance, and possibly better speakers.
However, bigger isn’t always better in this case. The iPad Mini might be Apple’s best iPad because of its excellent portability, impressive performance, and long battery life. If you like to read on the couch, in bed, or on the go, the iPad mini is a great size for books, especially comic books. Its relatively small screen makes it easy to type quick social media posts or send off emails, during one-handed use or while standing up. The mini is the best size for kids, but parents may prefer to get the less-expensive iPad.
Instead, you’ll want to figure out how big or small a iPad you are willing to put up with. Again, it comes down to personal preference, as some will prefer the bigger screen experience of a large iPad, while others may prefer the portability of a smaller one.
4. Internal Specs
Your requirements for specs in a iPad depend highly on what you want to use it for. For example, if you want a iPad for more casual use, such as media consumption, you might not care about having more RAM or the latest and greatest processor.
However, if you want to get some serious work done or play demanding games, you’ll want better processing power, more RAM, and a good amount of storage. Therefore, before buying an iPad, you should always check the specs and figure out if they are the right fit for your use case.
You’ll want at least a 2GHz processor and 4GB RAM at the bare minimum.
5. Display Quality
Display quality isn’t something you want to overlook. Whether you’re playing games, getting work done, or just watching videos, you’ll spend a lot of time staring at the screen. If the display quality is terrible, you’ll likely stop using that iPad or replace it altogether.
However, consider that a high-quality and high-resolution screen will cost more money. A high refresh rate OLED display sounds nice, but iPads with such a screen can be expensive. So, you’ll want a iPad with the best possible display that falls within your budget.
6. Storage
The need for storage once again directly depends on your case. For people who want to use their iPads to browse the web, stream videos, and play the casual game every once in a while, lower storage won’t be an issue.
On the flip side, if you’re a digital artist, someone who downloads a lot of content, or even someone who wants to play a lot of games, then you’ll want more storage. Of course, an iPad with higher storage will also usually cost you more money.
7. Durability
An iPad will see comparatively more wear and tear compared to your laptop. This is because you might want to use the iPad while lying in bed, relaxing on the couch, or even prop it up on the kitchen counter while eating. In addition, iPads are more fragile than laptops, so overall durability is more important in this case.
Look out for features like toughened screens, strong, drop-resistant cases, and so on.
8. Design
The design of an iPad comes down to personal preference. For example, if you’re looking for an iPad that you can use for work or for playing demanding games, you’ll learn more about the performance than the design itself.
However, it’s not just about looks. iPads differ in terms of screen bezels, ergonomics, and of course, size. Sure, you’ll want to buy something that looks good, but it’s better to go for form over function.
9. Face ID or Touch ID
There is no iPad that has both Touch ID and Face ID. Your iPad will either have Touch ID or Face ID. There is no model that has both biometric authentication systems as of yet.
iPads with Face ID do not require you to physically touch your device in order to unlock it. But, that doesn’t mean that Touch ID doesn’t have its own merits. For instance, you need to look at your device to unlock it, but, with Touch ID, only a simple fling of your finger is enough to authenticate your device.
In terms of security, both Touch ID and Face ID are extremely secure. You can comfortably use Apple Pay / Apple Keychain without the worry of either system being compromised. It all boil down to personal preference.
If you end up purchasing an iPad Air or iPad Mini for that matter, you won’t be bogged down with the fact that it doesn’t have the Face ID since the biometric authentication is still extremely fast and gets the job done.
iPads Can Now Do More Than Ever Before
There was a time when most of us were concerned about the decline of the iPad market. Fortunately, iPads have gotten better over the years. While some may think they don’t need an iPad, you’ll find that they are highly enjoyable to use when the situation arises.
This is because iPads are great devices for playing games, watching media, or getting serious work done, such as creating digital art or writing content. There are iPads out there that also work incredibly well for note-taking.