frontpage Posted by phoinix | Staff • Last Sunday
Apr 27, 2025 8:20 AM
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frontpage Posted by phoinix | Staff • Last Sunday
Apr 27, 2025 8:20 AM
128GB 11" Apple iPad Air M3 Wi-Fi Tablet (2025, Various Colors)
& More + Free Shipping$499
$599
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Depends on the use case. I returned the iPad a16 and bought the M2 around the holidays. Didn't make sense for my use case (media consumption). If/when AI features start showing up on the Air it may make a difference.
If you are just looking at specs, then the air is a good deal for $200 more.
We probably should trade up from our 4th-gen A-Series processor iPad Air, but I'm not sure my wife uses it enough for it to even matter.
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If you use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and connect it to a monitor, you can basically get a personal computer, not just a tablet.
I honestly could barely tell them apart in a best buy , for just normal browsing etc. the screens are only slightly different (air is laminated) and yeah the air CPU is way faster, but if you are using your tablet for browing / netflix etc, its not even noticeable.
Ended up buying 2 normal ipads, for slightly more than 1 air. Im guessing apple will support them both quite long, so unless you need the m3 cpu horsepower, i felt like it wasnt worth $200+tax more
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I will say, I was disappointed the "magic" keyboard only came in White, so I returned it. The Logi keyboard is great though.
For most people, zero difference.
$400 256gb A16 beats a $500 M3 128gb in real world use besides video editing
M3/M4 iPad is iOS needed. Its better used on Macbook Air for thr horsepower.
its like putting a iPhone chip in the Apple Watch Pro.
Get it, you won't regret it.
For portable, everyday use surfing, emailing and general time-wasting the iPad Mini is a beast.
Seems like the better the processor, the better longevity.
Seems like the better the processor, the better longevity.
256gb is for netflix downloads for roadtrips and airport for 25 movies and games. You dont need an ultra poweful chip for video watching.
128gb holds 8 movies. still useable storage size.
I personally went with $300 iPad 11 A16 128GB with 5% cashback. A16 is similar to M1. A14 256gb was only worth it for under $300, at $350 is a warm deal.
M3/M4 is zero difference since iPad OS can't use the extra performance.
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But like I said, for people who don't need storage, is there a greater benefit in overall longevity of the device in having the more powerful chip?
Anecdote: I have an ipad air 4 and an old ipad 6th gen (7 years old!). I've actually been going back to using the ipad 6th gen for some things and it's perfectly usable for browsing, media consumption, and non-gaming apps.
But like I said, for people who don't need storage, is there a greater benefit in overall longevity of the device in having the more powerful chip?
Anecdote: I have an ipad air 4 and an old ipad 6th gen (7 years old!). I've actually been going back to using the ipad 6th gen for some things and it's perfectly usable for browsing, media consumption, and non-gaming apps.
These A14 and A16 have zero complaint on speed for next few years. the one pain is always storage if have apps, store 4k movie, a more games
128gb is perfectly fine for 1080p movies. small for 4k movie