iPad model comparison

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Level 2

421 points

iPad model comparison

I’m using an iPad Air, 1st Generation, which I love and use a lot. I use it mostly for web browsing, Numbers (part of iWorks) and that is really all I use it for. It has served me well, though my more complex spreadsheets do lag or crash, and I am quite aware that newer models are available. However, as I live in a small, and rather poor, Latin American country with a local currency tied to the value of the US dollar, importing anything is prohibitively expensive. The price of a new iPad is the equivalent of salary and living expenses for several months. The price is not that much higher than that of a car.

I have tested my device with GeekBench.

I don’t have the faintest idea what most of this information means, but I know it ranks low down on the scale, which I have included there on the left. Too small to read, I know, but the top models are the iPad Pro and Air 3, with scores over 1100 - 4 times the value of my score.

But what exactly does it mean? So the overall score is 3x higher, but this does not mean that I will find my experience to be 3x faster, right? I could probably develop my spreadsheets to be a bit more sophisticated before encountering stability issues, but I will encounter them, as even on a Mac Numbers is not known for handling large data sets well.

I’m having a hard time determining whether or not I should upgrade, and if so, which model I should choose, as both the Pro and the Air 3 score about the same.

iPad Air, iOS 12

Posted on Nov 13, 2019 6:50 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

QuickPost

Level 10

103,389 points

Nov 13, 2019 9:20 AM in response to Bismarck2387

Hello,

The biggest difference will be in the amount of software you can keep in memory meaning your applications will stay open longer as well as allowing you to use several applications at the same time. Newer iPad models running iPadOS 13 can even run multiple instances of the same application which means that you would be able to have more than 1 Numbers spreadsheet open at the same time. It is really great at how well it works! I use Numbers on my iPad as my main spreadsheet application and it is great that I can have 3 spreadsheets open simultaneously. You would also be able to keep larger amounts of information in a spreadsheet without it bogging down the system.

While I do not know what all is in your typical spreadsheet, if you are able to get by on an iPad Air (1st generation) then Apple’s new iPad (7th generation) will be a phenomenal upgrade. If you can afford it you may look into the iPad Air (3rd generation) as it has a slightly larger display with much better computer internals meaning your spreadsheets will function much faster.

Both iPad (7th generation) and iPad Air (3rd generation) work with Apple’s Smart Keyboard so you would be able to input data much like a desktop computer. With iPadOS 13 you can even use a mouse. While I am writing this post I have Safari, Notes, Mail, and a TV window open simultaneously while using a mouse and keyboard. It is truly remarkable at what you can do on an iPad. You can even connect a USB external storage device (such as a hard disk or flash drive) to store your documents.

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Answer 2

Bismarck2387 Author

Level 2

421 points

Nov 13, 2019 7:59 AM in response to QuickPost

In what way though? That is the crux of my question. I know these newer models are leaps and bounds ahead of my current hardware, but I don’t know what to expect if I upgrade, or if I even need to. Will I notice a difference? And if so, in what way?

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Answer 3

Nov 13, 2019 9:32 AM in response to Bismarck2387

Your iPad Air has an A7 processor (this be the first generation 64-bit CPU) and only 1GB RAM; if updated to the newest available version of iOS for your iPad Air, it will max-out at iOS12.4.3. You may have noticed a obvious “hit” to performance as you upgraded from iOS11.x to 12.x.

The biggest contributor to diminished performance is your available RAM. Both the OS and Apps have themselves moved-on considerably over the lifespan of your iPad (originally released with iOS7.x installed - which placed significantly less demand upon CPU and RAM) requiring more of the limited RAM resources in order to run.

Assuming that, insofar as you can, you’ve been keeping iOS up to date, your iPad will be struggling to cope with growing RAM requirements. Additionally, core native Apps, such as Numbers, will be increasingly behind the functional capabilities and features of anything running iPadOS/iOS13.

Current iDevices have at least 2GB of RAM - this being the minimum requirement to run iPadOS/iOS13. Any current device (even the most modest) will significantly outperform your Air - and enjoy the functional improvements of the newer versions of iOS, notwithstanding your ability to keep your device up to date with security patches.

If you upgrade to a newer iPad, you will certainly notice a difference over your current Air; even the simplest of tasks, such as rendering a webpage, will (assuming your internet connection is not a limiting factor) render faster.

My advice, if you update to a newer device, is to purchase the newest version of CPU that you can afford - as this will extend the life of your investment as far as possible. At present, f you choose something with a A12 or later CPU, you should (hopefully) see a support lifespan of 4-5 years before finding yourself needing to consider replacement due to obsolescence.

I hope this insight might prove to helpful. Nobody likes having to update when hardware still, essentially, functional.

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Answer 4

Bismarck2387 Author

Level 2

421 points

Nov 13, 2019 10:15 AM in response to LotusPilot

Thanks to you both. It sounds like I would receive a lot of benefits from upgrading.

To give you an idea of how low wages and prices are in my country, let me say this: I don’t make minimum wage, but it is $1 USD. Based on what I do make, I can support my family of four for about 6 weeks on the $1000 price tag. eBay lists a lot of refurbished devices. Are these worth the risk?

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Answer 5

Nov 13, 2019 10:40 AM in response to Bismarck2387

I understand your dilemma - certainly not a decision to be taken lightly. Consider the possible alternative of a cheap laptop that can perform the majority (if not all) tasks that you can complete on your iPad - and represents significantly less cost/risk if something goes wrong?

If you are importing - and have limited (if any) access to any warranty repairs - is having a warranty, of any length, of relevance to you? If a warranty is of importance, I guess you’ll need to balance the cost saving / reduced warranty period of a “reconditioned” (brown box) iPad - against the longer warranty period of a new (white box) item. If the chances of making a warranty claim in nil, then perhaps go for the cheapest alternative of a reconditioned model?

If buying outside of the Apple Authorised Reseller network, I suggest only buying from a “reputable” source. A lot of stolen devices are reported to appear in auction sites such as eBay.

I wish you all the very best in making your difficult choices.

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Answer 6

Bismarck2387 Author

Level 2

421 points

Nov 13, 2019 11:22 AM in response to LotusPilot

I wasn’t thinking in terms of warranty claims, but more on whether or not I could trust the reliability of a reconditioned device. Of course, all devices are different, so perhaps this is not a question that can be answered.

Most of the iPads listed on eBay are power sellers, who specialize in selling reconditioned devices. I would assume most of those are not stolen. “Private”, single listing sellers, could be.