Ipad Air 128GB or Ipad Air 2 64GB?

In the USA and elsewhere that Apple offers their refurbished store, there will likely be a crop of refurbished soon as there typically is once a new product is released. That offers some savings but still delivers a device with a full one year Apple warranty (and Apple OEM refurbished get new displays, new batteries and are fully function tested).

http://www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/specialdeals

Amazon also offers their own refurb/certified used devices, and offers their own warranty with those (although I don't know what their refurbishment entails, or who does it for them).

Always best to get the newest device possible, and the most storage your budget allows. Because of activation lock scams thoug, always also best to buy from a reputable place with a clear returns policy in case a seller is dishonest (which is, unfortunately, not uncommon with online private used iOS device sales)

Keep in mind the current offerings - http://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/ along with the new iPad, there were price drops in others as well. So make sure any older, used device you look at is priced appropriately relative to what you could buy new, or refurbished.

A general recommendation is to get the newest model with the most storage space that you can afford. If you do get one from EBay, make sure that the seller removes the activation lock. There have been several posts here of people buying things from on-line sites that are activation locked and the buyer then cannot get in touch with the seller. Then they have to return the item for a refund. Apple just announced their new iPad which might be an option for you.

Due to too many activation lock scams from unscrupulous sellers on eBay, forget eBay for any iDevices!

Stick to Apple's refurb store, Amazon or a local used Apple authorised product reseller or online Apple authorised reseller.

If from the U.S., I use this online Apple authorised reseller for most of my older Apple gear purchases.

They, also, have a real brick and mortar storefront location, also.

https://www.powermax.com/

Good Luck to You!

Given that for around 200 dollars you can purchase a portable hard drive to stream data from, out of your two choices I'd go for the 64 gig, for the same reasons michael stated. Get the newest operating system and while an iPad's memory is not expandable, if you do need more room for media you can get one of those streaming harddrives if you need more room in the future.

None of these streaming capable hard drives will stream any purchased iTunes video content.

Apple coded the ability to ever do this any longer when iOS 8 was introduced.

I had to purchase physical DVDs of all of my iTunes video purchases and rip all of my movies to be able to stream them to my current iDevices from a mobile drive.

The only iDevice I own that will still stream iTunes purchased video content from a remote drive is my 2010 iPad 1 with iOS 5.1.1.

The iPad Air 1 is still supported on iOS 10.

I'd get the 128 GBs storage model over the lower storage iPad Air 2 any day of the week.

Unless, you want or feel the need to have iOS Split screen mode which isn't available to the iPad Air 1.

The 128 model will have storage for a long time, if you don't tend to fill up your devices quickly.

I tend to fill my iDevices more quickly with images and project reiated data and files.

As it is, I have an 128 iPad Pro that is getting full.

I have about 30 GBs left on mine.

dmv501 wrote:

My old Ipad 2 is 32Gb and has served me well without filling up and needing re-organising,

That statement makes is easy to decide. A 64GB device will be good enough for your needs (if it does not change).

You do realize that Apple quietly released a new iPad a day or two ago, right? There's a huge difference in price. Check it out online and at an Apple store in your area.

Air

A7 chip with 64-bit architecture and M7 motion coprocessor

Air 2

A8X chip with 64‑bit architecture and M8 motion coprocessor

The latest model (newer than last year 9.7" iPad Pro but chip is slightly below Pro A9X chip)

A9 chip with 64‑bit architecture and M9 motion coprocessor

Chips are just as important as storage size.

You have received enough responses about which device you should buy, but I cannot emphasize this enough. MichelPM already stated it, but I wanted to copy and paste for even more emphasis.

Due to too many activation lock scams from unscrupulous sellers on eBay, forget eBay for any iDevices!

Stick to Apple's refurb store, Amazon or a local used Apple authorised product reseller or online Apple authorised reseller.

If from the U.S., I use this online Apple authorised reseller for most of my older Apple gear purchases.

They, also, have a real brick and mortar storefront location, also.

https://www.powermax.com/

dmv501 wrote:

Okay, thanks for all the input, very useful. Now, thanks to a surprisingly genial conversation with my wife, I have an option on the new Ipad. Is there a big difference between the Air 2 and the new one?

Hhave a read here https://9to5mac.com/2017/03/22/2017-ipad-vs-ipad-air-2/

The design if the new ipad clearly involved a lot of decisions to substantially reduce the price. Not saying it's a bad design, just a budget oriented one.