A Guide to Selecting an Apple iPad
Like Apple’s Macbook computers and iPhone, the iPad is a desirable choice for its proprietary hardware and operating system. You’ll notice that you can purchase an Android tablet for much less than an iPad. But an iPad might be worth the investment. Because Apple doesn't let you install unapproved apps on their iPad, it has better security features to prevent you from installing malware. And there is greater uniformity of performance with an iPad, with a smoother, more stable operating system. The electronics of an iPad are usually more sturdy as well, being able to provide you service for as long as six years or more!
We’ll go through some of the most popular iPad offerings nowadays. You’ll see that the Best Reviews Guide will feature both state-of-the-art models, as well as previous models that have been refurbished. You’ll get a good idea if the iPad is a worthwhile investment and which one is best for your needs!
Types of Apple Ipads
Presently, there are 4 main models of iPads, but you can still find the older generation versions as well on Amazon. Here is a brief comparison of each product:
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iPad–The first iPad was marketed in 2010, and is up to the 10th generation as of October 2022. It is the least expensive of the four iPad products, making it a nice entry-level choice for someone who wants a durable tablet. But, the downside is that it has the weakest processor chip and display compared to the others. It has a 10.2” screen, an A14 processor chip, 64 GB of storage, and it can accept the USB-C cable instead of Apple’s own proprietary Lightning connector. It has an 8 MP rear-facing camera and a 12 MP front-facing camera. In the latest generation, the front-facing camera is along the long edge, which is better for making video calls. It’s adequate for videos, reading books, web browsing, and texting. It uses the 1st-generation Apple pencil (other products can use the 2nd-generation Apple pencil).
Apple 2021 iPad
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iPad Mini–This product first started appearing in 2012, and now in 2022 it’s up to the 6th generation. It’s the smallest iPad model, with a 7.9” or 8.3” display–so small that it can fit in the palm of your hand! Both the front-facing (selfie) camera and rear-facing camera have 12 MP. It uses an A15 processor chip, with a 6-core CPU that is 40% faster.
6th-generation iPad Mini vs. 4th-generation iPad Mini (right)
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iPad Air–As the name implies, it’s a lightweight version of the iPad, weighing 462 grams (1.02 lbs) and 6.1 mm in thickness. (The latest iPad is 477 grams and 7 mm in thickness.) This has similar electronics as iPad Pro, but with a 10.9” display, and the latest 5th generation product as of 2022, is significantly less expensive, running for $599. It uses an M1 processor chip, while the iPad Pro uses an M2 processor chip. You can get an iPad Air with 256 GB storage, while the iPad Prod can have as much as 2 TB storage.
iPad Air 2
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iPad Pro–This is the most advanced iPad device, but also the priciest, with a new 12.9” model with 128 GB of storage going for as much as $1293. It also is available in an 11” display. It has the most powerful processor of any iPad, using the M2 8-core CPU. The screen quality is the best, being the only iPad capable of recording 4K video. People like the large display so that they can watch a video on one half of the screen while working on another application on the other half of the screen.
2022 12.9" iPad Pro
What reviewers say
We went over some customers’ impressions of the iPad that they bought:
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Problem with battery life on refurbished items: Customers who bought refurbished iPads were impressed with the quality of the display, which was as good as if they bought a brand-new product. But some were disappointed with the lower battery life. If that’s the case, it’s always possible to connect an iPad to a USB AC adaptor, even though you’ll lose the portability feature of a tablet.
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Great for note-taking: One customer who bought an iPad was pleased with using the iPad for taking notes. Instead of carrying around bulky notebooks that would get thrown out when the school year finished, he could keep all his notes in electronic form. You can also copy and paste images from textbooks, and put them in the middle of your notes! That’s something you won’t be able to do easily with a regular notebook or looseleaf binder!
Important Features
Here are some features that are worth looking for when selecting an iPad:
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Renewed models: Many of the iPad offerings on Amazon are “renewed” or “refurbished” models. For example, you can purchase a refurbished iPad Air 2, which was released back in 2014, while the newest model as of 2022 is the 5th generation. Although the electronics are 2nd generation, you may be able to upgrade to the latest iOS operating system.
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Keyboard: You may find it tedious to type with one finger on your iPad’s screen. Apple makes a keyboard that connects to select iPad models. The latest iPad Smart Keyboard will work with the 7th-generation iPad and up, the 3rd-generation iPad Air and up, and the iPad Pro.
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Apple Pencil: The Apple Pencil is another nice accessory that allows artists to draw directly on their tablet. It reproduces the feel of a real pencil, in that pressing harder results in a thicker line. But you should take note if your iPad model can work with a 2nd generation Apple Pencil, or if it requires a 1st generation Apple Pencil.
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iPad Cases: A protective case for your iPad is practically a must. Ensure that the case that you buy is compatible with your iPad model and make, so that the case will have holes in the correct places for front-facing and rear-facing cameras.
Final Verdict
We surveyed some of the present iPad offerings available, both new and refurbished. All things considered, a refurbished iPad will be comparable in cost to a typical Android tablet. But, since Apple products tend to have a longer lifetime, it can very well work out better to buy a refurbished, or even new iPad. Consider what you need a tablet for the most: web surfing, texting, photography, or reading. Then, look over the Best Review Guide’s list of iPads. You’re sure to find something adequate!
