iPad Anyone buy the new iPad Air?

[OtinG]

Anyone buy the new iPad Air? I’ve never owned one of the Air models. I currently have an old original iPad Pro 9.7 and the iPad mini 5. I love my mini 5 for reading, but it is a bit too small for heavy internet browsing. I find myself now using my iPad Pro 9.7 for most of my internet browsing, and not using my MacBook Pro for browsing as much as I once did. The iPad Pro 9.7 is getting pretty old and the technology is showing its age. I found out I can trade-in the Pro toward a new Air and get $185 for it, so I’m tempted. I’m not sure the Air is a good enough upgrade though, but the newer Pro models are out of my reach now. I would mostly use the Air for internet browsing and some video watching. I know it isn’t 4K and a doubt it can handle HDR, but perhaps the display will still look better than my old Pro does.

[pwalker8]

The specs don't really seem to show much of a difference between the air and the smaller iPad pro. You might want to check to see if Apple has a keyboard/cover for the Air. I use that on my bigger iPad Pro and it makes life a lot easier.

[downeaster59]

If you're looking at the new Air, you might want to consider this keyboard...

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by downeaster59

If you're looking at the new Air, you might want to consider this keyboard...

Thanks, looks good but it was for the older iPad Air 3, not the newer iPad Air 4. It doesn’t look like they have a version for the new Air yet. The thin bezels all around the new Air might be problematic for that keyboard’s design, but maybe they will release a newer version soon.

[downeaster59]

Got my Airs mixed up! Brydge may well have a keyboard for the Air 4 soon! No indication yet on their website.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by downeaster59

Got my Airs mixed up! Brydge may well have a keyboard for the Air 4 soon! No indication yet on their website.

I bet they are working on it. It takes awhile after a new model is released to get the new accessories designed.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

The specs don't really seem to show much of a difference between the air and the smaller iPad pro. You might want to check to see if Apple has a keyboard/cover for the Air. I use that on my bigger iPad Pro and it makes life a lot easier.

The biggest difference is the processor. The iPad Air has a newer processor and will be supported longer before it's EOLed.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The biggest difference is the processor. The iPad Air has a newer processor and will be supported longer before it's EOLed.

True, indeed, but I think they last refreshed the iPad Pro models in March 2020, so there might be new ones coming out in three months are so. I made the mistake of buying my iPad Pro 9.7 a month before they released a newer models. I should have waited as I would have gotten a better iPad Pro for about the same price! However, I cannot justify paying the extra money for a Pro model this time around, so I'll go with the new Air model if I decide to get a new iPad. I'm still thinking about it and trying to rationalize the expense.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by OtinG

True, indeed, but I think they last refreshed the iPad Pro models in March 2020, so there might be new ones coming out in three months are so. I made the mistake of buying my iPad Pro 9.7 a month before they released a newer models. I should have waited as I would have gotten a better iPad Pro for about the same price! However, I cannot justify paying the extra money for a Pro model this time around, so I'll go with the new Air model if I decide to get a new iPad. I'm still thinking about it and trying to rationalize the expense.

I'm very good at rationalize the expense of techno toys.

In general, I allocate $X for techno toys a year. This year, it's probably going to be a new TV, since my main TV died a couple of months ago (no more LG TV's, that one died in less than 5 years). I could keep using the smaller, older set that I'm currently using, but I liked the larger 4K TV.

I got the iPad Pro a couple years ago and the new iPhone in 2020. Tech isn't moving so fast these days that I feel a strong need to upgrade again anytime soon. Before the TV went out, I was thinking about getting one of the new mac mini's and turning it into a content server.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I'm very good at rationalize the expense of techno toys.

In general, I allocate $X for techno toys a year. This year, it's probably going to be a new TV, since my main TV died a couple of months ago (no more LG TV's, that one died in less than 5 years). I could keep using the smaller, older set that I'm currently using, but I liked the larger 4K TV.

I got the iPad Pro a couple years ago and the new iPhone in 2020. Tech isn't moving so fast these days that I feel a strong need to upgrade again anytime soon. Before the TV went out, I was thinking about getting one of the new mac mini's and turning it into a content server.

I hear you! Me too. It is trying to determine how to spend my limited "new tech" budget that is difficult.

I'm still using a 12 year old Sony Bravia 40" LCD HDTV! It is really old now, nothing "smart" about it at all, doesn't even have WiFi, but it is still producing a great picture. I would like to get a decent 4K TV that produces good color and HDR, but they are pretty expensive. It looks like there is quite a lot of 4K HDR content available now, so I'm ready to upgrade, but I can't afford the better models. As an amateur astrophotographer I use techniques to produce some stunning HDR images, so I know how much better good HDR can look compared to SDR, so I'm anxious to get that on a TV too! Good HDR can bring out an unbelievable amount of detail in the shadows. Plenty of cheaper 4K TVs available from questionable brands which might not last too long, but the good models are still rather pricey even on the low end.

[OtinG]

Quick update, I decided to stick with my old iPad Pro 9.7 for now. $600 for an iPad Air seems rather steep, and I don't think it would be worth that just for surfing the web and watching videos, especially since I don't watch many videos on an iPad anyway.

What sealed the decision was that Amazon had the Sony X800H 49 Inch 4K HDR TV with an offer to pay it out in 5 months interest free. So I decided I would take that deal since I will use it way more than an iPad, and it will likely last several years longer than an iPad too. The Sony X800H series doesn't have local dimming zones, but I don't think that will be a big issue as I know Sony quality is typically top notch. My current 12 year old Sony TV is still working great, though lacking in modern tech. At any rate, I trust the Sony brand whereas I don't really trust some of the cheaper brands like TCL, Vizio, etc. Besides, the new TV will be a quantum leap up from what I have now and finally get me into the 4K era.

I made the mistake of jumping on the HDTV bandwagon in 2000 and then had to wait a long time before the TV industry adopted, or rather, until the FCC made them adopt to it, several years later. It was a long wait. So with 4K I made myself wait until there was a sufficient amount of streaming in 4K. I still remember my first Sony HDTV. It was crazy expensive, weighed close to 300 lbs because it had the CRT design with thick flat glass, only 32", and was difficult to move around. It was big and bulky! You had to get your buddies to come help if you wanted to move one of those. Kind of cool that even a 65" inch LED TV will weigh only around 50 lbs, and take up hardly any space front to back. A friend bought one like mine right after I did but got a 36" model. When we moved it onto his TV cabinet it took three of us, and then his cabinet broke and collapsed under the weight! We've come a long way since then.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by OtinG

Quick update, I decided to stick with my old iPad Pro 9.7 for now. $600 for an iPad Air seems rather steep, and I don't think it would be worth that just for surfing the web and watching videos, especially since I don't watch many videos on an iPad anyway.

What sealed the decision was that Amazon had the Sony X800H 49 Inch 4K HDR TV with an offer to pay it out in 5 months interest free. So I decided I would take that deal since I will use it way more than an iPad, and it will likely last several years longer than an iPad too. The Sony X800H series doesn't have local dimming zones, but I don't think that will be a big issue as I know Sony quality is typically top notch. My current 12 year old Sony TV is still working great, though lacking in modern tech. At any rate, I trust the Sony brand whereas I don't really trust some of the cheaper brands like TCL, Vizio, etc. Besides, the new TV will be a quantum leap up from what I have now and finally get me into the 4K era.

I made the mistake of jumping on the HDTV bandwagon in 2000 and then had to wait a long time before the TV industry adopted, or rather, until the FCC made them adopt to it, several years later. It was a long wait. So with 4K I made myself wait until there was a sufficient amount of streaming in 4K. I still remember my first Sony HDTV. It was crazy expensive, weighed close to 300 lbs because it had the CRT design with thick flat glass, only 32", and was difficult to move around. It was big and bulky! You had to get your buddies to come help if you wanted to move one of those. Kind of cool that even a 65" inch LED TV will weigh only around 50 lbs, and take up hardly any space front to back. A friend bought one like mine right after I did but got a 36" model. When we moved it onto his TV cabinet it took three of us, and then his cabinet broke and collapsed under the weight! We've come a long way since then.

Interesting. I had decided to go Sony and was debating between getting the X750H and X800H, i.e. is the X1 4k HDR processor rather than the X1 4K processor worth the extra bucks.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I'm very good at rationalize the expense of techno toys.

In general, I allocate $X for techno toys a year. This year, it's probably going to be a new TV, since my main TV died a couple of months ago (no more LG TV's, that one died in less than 5 years). I could keep using the smaller, older set that I'm currently using, but I liked the larger 4K TV.

I got the iPad Pro a couple years ago and the new iPhone in 2020. Tech isn't moving so fast these days that I feel a strong need to upgrade again anytime soon. Before the TV went out, I was thinking about getting one of the new mac mini's and turning it into a content server.

I'm waiting until the new iPads are released.My iPad is old and I'm finding more and more sfotware no longer working. But I just cannot justify getting a 2020 model in 20201.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I'm waiting until the new iPads are released.My iPad is old and I'm finding more and more sfotware no longer working. But I just cannot justify getting a 2020 model in 20201.

I'll be somewhat surprised if the iPad gets refreshed before September. Both the iPad and iPad Air had new releases in September, the iPad Pro came out in March. The iPad mini is the only model that didn't get updated in 2020.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Interesting. I had decided to go Sony and was debating between getting the X750H and X800H, i.e. is the X1 4k HDR processor rather than the X1 4K processor worth the extra bucks.

I see they list the X800H models with the “4K HDR PROCESSOR X1” and the X750H models with the “4K PROCESSOR X1”. I never noticed that before, but I guess it means the X800H models processor can process HDR to improve it, theoretically anyway.

Here is a decent comparison review of these two models. I think these guys tend to put too much emphasis on HDR brightness though in their reviews. They are obsessed with it.

The X800H has higher peak brightness of SDR and HDR, but I’m not sure if that will make a big difference. The X750H peak brightness is about the same as the TCL Class 5 series. But the X750H has a VA panel whereas the X800H has an IPS panel, making the 750 more contrasty and giving the 800 a wider viewing angle.

To be honest, I’ve spent a few weeks watching countless review videos until my head feels like it will explode. Most of the reviews I watched show tests that have little to no meaning to me. Most reviewers show their biases. My conclusion is that in my price range the TVs will do well with 4K and so-so with HDR. To get the great HDR models I would have to pay significantly more, probably twice as much or even more, which I can’t afford. I think the improvements over my 12 year old HDTV that I will see with most of the lower end models I looked at will still be very significant and blow me away.