Is the iPad + dumbphone combo still viable in 2016?

First off, spend some real quality time at the Apple Store to decide what devices best meet your needs. You might find the iPhone 6+ alone to be able to do what you need.

I've had an iPad 4 and a dumbphone for three years now. The phone is the easy part, buy a Samsung Tracphone from Walmart for 10-20 dollars then every 3 months buy airtime. You get to save your un-used minutes, right now I have 500 minutes waiting for me.

I'd get a iPad Air 2 instead of a Pro. You can get a 16GB Air 2 for 400 dollars right now. The keyboard sounds good but I found I can live without it just fine.

Back to the beginning. Spent enough time at the Apple Store until it's no longer a question of which one but rather, "i'll take that one please.".

You're welcome. So much depends on what you are going to use the iPad for, that's why the quality time. If you never used an iPad have the salepeople show you how then try and do everything you plan on doing on it and see if it meets your needs. Some computer people can't live without the file system and a hp 15 might be what you need.

The iPad Air 2 didn't come with a 32GB if memory serves me well. So the next stop is 64 GB. I'll be right back with the price.

The Air 2 64GB is currently $499, exactly what I paid for my iPad 4 16GB three years ago.

https://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/

As Bob has advised you, spend some serious time at an Apple Store and plan to spend a couple of hours trying out the various iPad models,that may interest you.

If you want to use an iPad as a laptop replacement, as I have done for years, forget any iPad 16 GB models as the usable space is only about 12.5 GBs and, IMSO, not enough storage space to do much of anything.

I feel the same way about the 32 GB models (usable free storage is approx. 27 GBs), but this seems to fine for some.

If you want to really have an almost laptop replacement experience AND have some longevity and future proofing, look at standard size iPad models in 64 GB free storage sizes (approx. 58 GB of free storage space) or the 128 or 256 GB storage models, instead.

The large iPad pro, IMHO, is great, but some users, for some reason, do not like the larger screen or the added weight and the large iPad Pro could be prohibitively expensive for you (again, avoiding the base 32 GB storage model).

If you find you like the features of the iPad Pro, you could opt for the smaller, but still standard sized iPad Pro.

It has a better screen and an iPhone 6 grade rear camera with LED flash that no other iPad has, even the larger iPad Pro has a lesser back camera with NO LED flash.

The iPad Air 2 is another good altenative and only has a 64 GB model and has stereo speakers instead of the four speaker audio systems of the iPad Pro models and is less expensive as the iPad Pro models do not come in a 64 GB storage versions.

The only other storage size options for the iPad Pro models (other than the base 32 GB storage models) are ths 128 GB or 256 GB storage models.

Again, go to an Apple Store and spend some quality time trying out the iPads you are interested in.

Good Luck!

Just wanted to add my two cents to this. Bob gave you great advice so I don't really need to add anything more to what he already told you. I just wanted to add a "me too" to the having an iPad and a dumb phone. I had a dumb phone for several years while I owned and iPad and then an iPad 3rd generation. That combination served my needs quite well. I have an iPhone 5s now and have had it for almost three years. Quite frankly, I don't use it nearly as much as many people use their phones. The screen is too small for me to do anything in the way of creating documents, and doing prolonged typing, but I do like having a smart phone for the just in case scenarios.

BTW, there are a number of active high level members in this community that have Macs, and iOS devices but still have dumb phones. It is quite doable.

BTW,

My wife and I use an El Cheapo BOGO Alcatel Android phones with a cheap Family Mobile (T-Mobile) month to month plan.

My Wife and I use standard 9.7 iPads, plus, I have the large iPad Pro (128 GB storage model) and we get along great with the phones we chose and our family plan is pretty cheap for two phones.

You're welcome. Tomorrow when you're picking out your iPad tell them Bob, Michel, and Demo sent you. They'll either look at you like you're crazy or the person will say, "Wait a minute you're mixpebz aren't you ?"

Either way take advantage of the free set-up and bring paper and pen so you can wright down your Apple ID, password, secret question and lock passcode if you add one.

And when you get it don't be a stranger.

You're welcome. We get so many, "why didn't someone tell me?" questions it's refreshing when someone takes the time to ask in advance. Thank you.

You will be fine with the iPad Air 2.

This is a pretty new (about a year and a half old) iPad model and should last you, at least, 4-5 years, or so.

Forget the 16 GB storage models and go for 64 GB storage model which should give you enough onboard storage.

For your budget, a 64 GB iPad Air 2 would save you $250 over the cost 128 GB 9.7 inch screen iPad Pro.

Apple discontinued the iPad Air 2 in the 128 GB storage model (which I really would have recommended as a former laptop user);

If you are used to a laptop computer with much bigger hard drives, a 16 or 32 GB won't be enough storage space for you to feel "comfortable".

Plus, more storage will give your iPad better future proofing.

Good Luck!

The iPad Air will receive the the regular upgrades and updates for the next 5 years or so.

The iPad 2 (introduced in 2011) is still receiving iOS upgrades/updates.

The real question will be what features will older iDevices get from new versions of iOS as our devices get older?

As iOS gets more sophosticated, older iDevice models won't have the computing horsepower to take advantage of whatever new cutting edge features Apple comes up with for future iOS releases.

My iPad 2 and 3 get very little in the way of the newest, coolest, cutting edge features of iOS since iOS 8 and 9.

Also, don't forget about purchasing extended AppleCare. It extends the iPad's Apple warranty out to two years of warranty protection instead of one year.

Purchase the extra year. Believe me, at some point, you will have something happen with that new iPad and wished you had that extra year of warranty coverage.

If you can't afford to purchase the extra warranty coverage now, Apple only gives you a purchase window of only 90 days after an iDevice purchase to purchase and register for the additional extra year of warranty coverage.

Also, budget for some protection for your new iPad purchase, ss well.

Enjoy your new iPad purchase and Good Luck!

You are going to enjoy your new iPad, a lot!