Even a child knows that the best tablet is the Apple iPad. But when the question arises about buying an iPad, we can’t decide for a long time “which iPad is better to get? iPad mini, iPad Air, iPad Pro? In this Note I will tell you how to choose a tablet from Apple.

Select iPad. Which one is better to buy?

The first thing you need to start making a choice is to answer one simple question to yourself: “Why do I need an iPad?” and “Do I even need an iPad?” Maybe your answer will already suit you, and you won’t have to waste time reading this Note.

The next question is of a financial nature, but if you have already decided to buy an Apple tablet, then it is probably not so important for you, and you are ready for relatively small additional costs. But more on that at the end.

A short introduction

All modern iPads on the market are very powerful, and even the currently weakest iPad mini 2 is comparable to the iPhone 5S. Both of them have the same filling, and differ only:

• display size;
• camera (the iPhone 5S has a better camera than the iPad mini and iPad Air);
• the presence of a 4G modem (Cellular);
• and most importantly purpose.

Therefore, I see no point in describing the technical characteristics of the entire line of Apple devices, because they are all powerful enough that even the cheapest ones will not cause you any inconvenience in terms of their speed.

All modern Apple devices have a Retina display.

The size of RAM and processor power are more than sufficient to operate the corresponding device.

We choose the Cellular option (for connecting to cellular networks) based on their needs and financial capabilities. The option costs about 10,000 rubles, but the tablet won’t get any worse without it. Personally, in several years of owning an iPad, I have never used it, and I don’t plan to use it in the near future. As a last resort, you can always distribute the Internet from your phone via Wi-Fi.

Therefore, the choice given to the buyer, namely us, is quite narrow:

• selecting display size;
• selecting the size of disk space or “memory”.

The guys from Cupertino took care of everything else.

When we decide what exactly we need an iPad for?, then it won’t be difficult to decide on the size of the display, the memory, and the presence of a 4G module.

Mobility. iPad mini vs iPhone

One of the most important parameters of your future gadget is its mobility.

Everything is simple here, if you are always on the go, love to travel or lead an active lifestyle, then even the mini size of the iPad can cause you a lot of inconvenience, you should seriously think about purchasing an iPhone, which copes with any task with a bang and, sometimes, even better than the iPad mini.

Most applications on iOS require a constant Internet connection, so the iPhone wins here too, allowing you to connect to high-speed cellular networks without additional fees.

But the iPhone has limitations on memory size, and when shooting 4K video on the iPhone SE, 16GB only lasts for 12 minutes! Therefore, if you want to film your travels on an iPhone, be prepared to shell out a tidy sum for a model with a large volume. The iPad is a little more profitable in this regard, although only the iPad Pro 9`7 has support for 4K video; its price is comparable to the iPhone SE 16GB, and it comes with a minimum of 32GB.

But still, if your choice of such a portable device falls on the iPad, choose mini and you won’t go wrong.

Entertainment. iPad Air vs iPad mini

If you have firmly decided that the iPhone is not suitable for you for one reason or another, then you should think about how you are going to have fun with your tablet.

Let's say right away that the iPad is an entertainment device, and with less than 32 GB of memory you will experience severe discomfort after several months of using it.

The iPad mini is definitely the right choice for your gaming gadget.

Games on iOS require quite a lot of space, so the gaming device must be at least 64 GB, and if financial capabilities allow, we take 128, and, preferably, it should be a top iPad in its line, for example, mini 4 or higher, so that you can play any new games without lags for the next few years.

But this doesn’t mean at all that you can’t play games on the iPad Air or iPad Pro, it’s just that on the mini your fingers can reach any point on the display, which is mega convenient for active games. And the weight of the mini tablet is almost 150 grams lighter than the iPad Air, which will be very noticeable after half an hour of dynamic shooters. You can hold such a tablet with one hand and not experience any discomfort.

For more relaxed entertainment, iPad Air has no competition. Watching a movie in the kitchen or bathroom, playing strategy games, surfing the Internet, studying cooking, reading books on the train or before bed will bring more pleasure if the tablet screen is wider.

The memory size for such a bedside tablet may not exceed 32 GB, and it will not need the Cellular option if you have Wi-Fi in your home.

You will only need the tablet's memory for photos and in those moments when you are offline, for example, traveling, on a train or plane, download a few movies for the duration of the trip, music, and relax in comfort.

If you want to use the iPad Air for gaming, go for 64 GB or higher, Cellular option as needed and financially feasible.

What is iPad Pro?

Why don't I compare the Pro version of the iPad with the Air or mini? It's obvious from its name that Pro is designed to get work done.

Its size and weight are not suitable for active entertainment at all.

You can’t hold it and use it with one hand, your fingers simply won’t be able to reach even the middle of the screen, and the keyboard on it is comparable to the keyboard of the MacBook 13. And the chance of dropping it while holding it with one hand is many times higher, and we don’t want that at all. Repairing such a gadget will cost half its cost.

If you do not hold it with both hands, then you need to place it on the table or on your lap, then your hands will be able to reach the entire surface of the display.

You won’t be able to watch movies comfortably while lying down, placing the iPad Pro on your stomach and resting it on your knees; you’ll be looking at the display at an angle, which doesn’t really affect the picture. The solution is to buy a case that will fold into a stand, and it costs a lot. For such a piece of elastic with a magnet, Apple asks us to pay about 10,000 rubles.

The optimal use of the iPad Pro is sitting at a table with the device in front of you - which seriously makes us think about buying a MacBook!

Of course, if you are considering buying an iPad Pro, then it should be in the maximum 12.9" configuration and with an Apple Pencil, otherwise what's the point?

The only thing is, on March 21, 2016, there was a presentation of the new iPad Pro with a diagonal of 9.7 inches, and with the opportunity to buy it with 264GB of memory. This display size is recognized throughout the world as the most optimal size for a tablet, but the price of this device is steep, although yes, it is the most powerful of all existing tablets, and it is possible to have a “normal” size screen, shoot 4K video and use an Apple pencil. But for those who really need Apple pencil, they will take the version with a 13-inch screen. Therefore, my verdict for the iPad Pro with a 9-inch screen is a major option. If you want to show off and you have the means to do so, go for it. This is really a very cool show off. But processor power does not affect the speed of watching a movie or the Internet. For a bedside device, the Air is still an ideal device.

iPad Accessories

It seems that we have figured out for what purposes and what kind of iPad we need, but here’s another small paragraph about additional costs. Future iPad Pro owners will be interested!

The audience of iPad Pro users is not so large, and finding a case for such a tablet or protective glass can cause you a lot of inconvenience. For example, glass on an iPad Pro costs about 2,000 rubles, and sticking it on a 13-inch display costs another 1,000 rubles, which is almost 2-3 times more expensive than similar accessories for iPad Air or mini.

There are no problems with accessories for 9 inch and mini. Any supermarket has it in stock and in assortment. But I found behind the protective glass on the iPad Pro only in a neighboring city, where it was in a single copy. To order glass, wait a week. It is impossible to glue it evenly, all the glass is Chinese and crooked, the error is 2 mm or more, almost not noticeable, but still visible. In fact, small glasses also have an error, but much less than on 13 inches.

There is no case from Apple that would cover the entire body of the iPad Pro, like the iPad Air or mini. There are two separate ones, Smart Cover in front and Case in back. Each of these accessories costs almost 10,000 rubles. It’s not available in stores, and if it is, it’s in a different color, so we immediately order all the necessary accessories when purchasing the iPad Pro 12.9.

The most important device for the iPad Pro is the Apple Pencil ~ 10,000 rubles. A very large overpayment for a very small piece of plastic.

Therefore, choose an iPad keeping in mind that you will need at least two more accessories for it.

Summarize

Display:

iPad mini: Convenient for use even with one hand, mobile. The ideal gaming device for iOS.

iPad Air: Convenient for watching videos and relaxing entertainment. The ideal bedside tablet.

iPad Pro: The giant is designed for stationary work. It has the highest price tag for both the tablet itself and its accessories. When transporting, you will need a bag that is not small. Its only advantage is an additional accessory in the form of the Apple Pencil stylus, which only works with the iPad Pro.

Memory:

16GB: The initial size is enough for approximately 3-6 months of active use of the tablet. If you wish, you can fill in the memory in a day. If you don’t have enough money for a larger one, then it’s better not to buy one at all. A highly undesirable option.

32GB: Minimum size. Enough for 6-12 months of active use of the tablet. Suitable for your first iPad. Perfect for home use and still has enough memory to play several games. The latest iPad models have been replaced with 64GB.

64GB: Golden mean. Your tablet will serve you faithfully and for a long time. You can install all popular applications on it at once. Perfect for gamers. You may never experience low memory problems.

128/256GB: Maximum option. Over several years of use, I was never able to fill all the disk space completely. Suitable for Pro version. For Air2 and mini4 this is overkill.

P.S.

I found a video on the Internet that was released a month later than my article, but the author has a similar opinion to mine. Here's the link if anyone is interested: “Which iPad should I buy in 2016?”

In the next article about Apple equipment, I will tell you where it is best to buy it and how to return Apple equipment back to the store.

Are you planning to buy an iPad tablet? At the moment, Apple offers a choice of four models. Of course, this is many times less than among Android tablets, but an inexperienced buyer will be confused here too. Which iPad is better to buy: the fourth-generation Retina iPad, the thin Air, or something from the mini? Which one will be best for you? What should you spend your money on?

Let's take a closer look at the current situation. We can choose from two mini iPads and two 9.7-inch tablets. We used to complain about Apple only offering one tablet model, but today some people are scratching their heads over which iPad is the best one to buy.

What all four current models have in common is the inclusion of a Lightning connector, long battery life, and the ability to connect to LTE networks (if you pay $129 more). But, besides the sizes, they also differ in what is hidden “under the hood”. The iPad Mini's screen isn't high resolution, and its A5 processor is a thing of the past. The larger iPads and the Retina Mini have much more in common.

iPad Mini (non-Retina) – $299

This is the cheapest iPad. Although this model appeared in 2012, its characteristics are in many ways similar to the iPad 2. Now you can only buy a model with 16 GB of memory. The option with LTE support costs $429, and without it is $129 cheaper. The 16GB iPad Mini costs the same as a 32GB iPod Touch and $200 less than the cheapest iPad Air.

This is the thinnest and lightest device in the Apple iPad family, but its display does not have the proud Retina prefix. If you are looking for a lightweight iOS tablet, then this option would be a good choice.

Lower screen resolution means smaller video files optimized for it. This means that in terms of the number of films stored in memory, it is not much inferior to its older brothers with a price twice as high.

This is the only non-Retina tablet (1024 x 786 screen resolution) from Apple you can buy these days. Considering the smaller diagonal, this is not so bad. But text on this screen looks less crisp than on any other retina iPad.

It also uses the least powerful processor. The A5 was already outdated when the iPad Mini came out. Other Apple tablets you can buy today use A6X or A7 processors.

Buy if: You want the cheapest, no-frills iPad and don't intend to use it as an e-reader.

Don't buy if: you need something else.

iPad with Retina Display (4th generation) – $399

As with the iPad Mini, you can only buy a 16GB version today, and you'll have to shell out $529 for the LTE version.

But it does have a Retina display, just like the iPad Air. You can save $100 by getting a screen with the same 2048 x 1536 resolution, the same 264 pixels per inch, and the same picture quality.

This is the heaviest of the tablets reviewed. It will probably fit into your bag without any problems, but you will notice the difference from the Air or any Mini when you pick it up.

The A6X processor isn't as fast as the A7, but it's a big step up from the A6. After all, this is the processor used in the iPhone 5. For the vast majority of high-definition games and movies, you don't need much more.

This tablet will accept cases, keyboards, and many other accessories from older models, with the exception of anything that plugs into the connector. If you have something like this lying around, then you can breathe a second life into it by buying an iPad 4.

If, when considering the question of which iPad is better to buy, you do not lose sight of the camera, then know that this model has it as good as the Air. All you lose is the 3x zoom when shooting video.

Buy if: Screen quality is important to you, but you want to save money.

Don't buy if: You want a lightweight tablet.

iPad Mini with Retina Display – $399

For the same price as the 16GB iPad 4, you can buy the Retina Mini. But if you're willing to pay more, you can choose from models with 32, 64 or 128 GB of memory and/or LTE.

The A7 processor in the Retina Mini is said to be slightly slower than the one found in the iPad Air, but the iPhone 5S uses the same one. It features improved graphics performance.

Compact and Retina ready. On paper it's a little heavier than the non-Retina Mini, but in actual use it's barely noticeable. The display of this model has a diagonal of 7.9 inches, and the number of pixels is the same as that of the “large” iPads, so there are 326 pixels per inch. When working with text, we get an incredibly clear picture. Color saturation is slightly lower compared to the iPad Air and iPad 4, but only perfectionists will notice this.

This model has a lot in common with the iPad Air: M7 coprocessor, 64-bit operation, improved Wi-Fi and LTE antennas. But it is smaller and cheaper than Air.

For many, this is the ideal combination of price and tablet performance. But the video experience here isn't as enjoyable as on larger screens, and accessories like the keyboard or case aren't very convenient to use with this iPad.

Buy if: You want a better-featured iPad for less money, or you want a high-performance but compact tablet.

Don't buy if: You want the perfect Retina display, or you use the tablet primarily for watching videos/working with photos, or you want to use a tablet with a keyboard as a laptop replacement.

iPad Air – $499

This is the flagship model of the Apple iPad. Is it worth paying that kind of money for it? Well, in return you get the most advanced hardware and a 9.7-inch diagonal screen. But the difference between this model and the Retina Mini seems smaller at first glance.

It is very light and looks its best. Its dimensions are somewhere in between the iPad 4 and Mini. That is, you will have to buy new cases and other accessories. And this means additional costs.

The difference between the A6X (iPad 4) and A7 (iPad Air) processors is large, but not catastrophic. The biggest difference is the support for 64-bit operations. Only a few applications take advantage of this, but this will change over time. As I mentioned, the Wi-Fi and LTE antennas are improved here and on the Retina Mini.

If you want to buy an iPad that will stay modern for the longest time, then the Air is exactly what you need. But you will have to pay at least five hundred dollars for it.

Buy if: You want the best iPad and price is not an issue for you, and if you don't want to look for a replacement in the near future.

Don't buy if: you want to spend less.

A huge iPad Pro with a 12.9-inch screen for impressive presentations to prestigious partners? Small and remote iPad Mini, which is so easy to take with you? Or maybe the “golden” mean - a 9.7-inch diagonal - in the most powerful iPad Pro or the good old iPad Air? What iPad is yours? In this article we will help you decide!

Today the following models of iOS tablets are on official sale:

• iPad Pro 12.9 and 9.7 inches
• iPad Air 2 9.7-inch
• iPad Mini 4 and iPad Mini 2 with 7.9-inch diagonals

All of these models are available in versions with and without a cellular communication module. In the latter case, the iPad can only work on Wi-Fi networks. Separately, we emphasize that models that are not equipped with cellular communication modules also do not have GPS and GLONASS modules. That is, if the user is not connected to a Wi-Fi network, he will not be able to work even with location services.

Big and small, but all look the same

Apple has a rather interesting approach to the issue of tablet design. It’s difficult to understand whether the company is lazy to develop a new iPad style, or whether they believe that they have found some kind of “golden” design and are afraid to take risks, but the fact remains that all the models listed on official sale today are the same, although the sizes are very different .

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is a true giant in the tablet world. The model was conceived as a successful alternative to a laptop for work meetings - and, however, it is easier to carry it with you than a full-fledged laptop, and it is more convenient to display presentations or other materials - the picture is large, the device can be easily passed into the hands of a partner, the keyboard will not get in the way. Well, if you need to make some changes, there is an on-screen keyboard, a smart stylus Apple Pencil and a keyboard case (connected via a special Smart Connector) to help - it can be easily put on and turns the device into almost a full-fledged computer.

But no matter how cool the 12.9-inch Pro is for solving work tasks, for everyone else it is still too bulky - well, really, if you want to watch a movie on the subway on the way home, you will take up half the car (there must be a joke here about the fact that owners of i-devices do not travel by metro).

Apparently, Apple quickly realized this fact and six months after the huge Pro released its compact version - the iPad Pro 9.7 inches, which, by the way, also has a special Smart Connector. The iPad Air 2 also “protrudes” in the same diagonal, but it does not have the above-mentioned connector. That is, it turns out that the 9.7-inch iPad in the Pro version can also become, although compact, a very good alternative to a laptop, but in the Air version we are dealing with a classic tablet - a good screen size, a comfortable solution to any problems and can be carried with It won't be a big deal.

And finally, the iPad Mini 2 and iPad Mini 4 - Apple's most compact tablets - can easily fit into the inside pocket of a jacket or a small handbag. The diagonal of the iPad Mini is 7.9 inches. On the one hand, the size is very good, on the other, if your smartphone is an iPhone in the 5.5-inch Plus version or some 6-inch Android, purchasing a mini iPad is probably not a very good solution from a practical point of view. It’s another matter if you think that gadgets should not be too bulky and you have a smartphone with a modest 4-inch diagonal by today’s standards, then a 7.9-inch tablet is just right.

iPad Pro smart display

So, everything is clear with the display sizes, but what about the quality?

All iPads are equipped with classic Retina displays. Retina translates as “retina,” and the screens developed by Apple have this name for a reason—their clarity is so high that the human eye cannot distinguish individual pixels on the display.

You are also unlikely to find fault with other characteristics - brightness reserve, color rendition, saturation, viewing angles - all the tablet heroes of this review have these parameters at their best. And although these characteristics are improving from year to year due to various kinds of software improvements, rest assured that even the iPad Mini 2, which was released on October 22, 2013 and is older than the other tablets we are considering, will pleasantly surprise you with its excellent display quality.

However, it should be noted that the above-mentioned mini does not have a special anti-reflective coating, and therefore on a bright sunny day the picture on it will be slightly worse readable than on other models.

We also need to say a few words about the iPad Pro display in the 9.7-inch version; it supports extended color gamut and True Tone technologies, the first is responsible for a more natural transmission, and the second allows the display to adapt to ambient lighting, not only in terms of brightness, but and in terms of comfort of perception. In bright daylight the picture will be cold, and in low light conditions the display will make it warmer.

And instead of a heart, a fiery A9

The Pro tablet in the 9.7-inch version, released in March 2016, is currently the latest iPad, and therefore the most powerful. But that's just for now. Judging by the rumors, the new iOS tablet was supposed to be released in September 2016, but they did not materialize; the next expected date is the end of March 2017.

What power does the iPad Pro 9.7 inches contain? Very impressive - at its heart is the A9 chipset (the cooler A10 is so far only “carried” by the current flagship iPhone 7), working in combination with the M9 motion coprocessor. The same couple works on Pro in the 12.9-inch version. Although, it is worth noting that the A9 in the compact Pro has been improved due to various software algorithms and in fact produces slightly more power than the similar one in the 12.9-inch tablet. But the latter wins in terms of RAM reserves - it has a 4 GB module, while the 9.7-inch Pro has two gigabytes.

iPad Air 2 and Mini 4 are equipped with an A8 processor and an M8 coprocessor (2 GB RAM), and in the Mini 2 we are dealing with an A7/M7 combination (1 GB RAM).

It turns out that “on paper” the iPad Mini 2 is the weakest, but in reality the word weak is not entirely correct to apply to this device. It copes well with all the everyday tasks that the average user puts before the device.

And, nevertheless, tablets with A8/M8 in their “hearts” will be about 1.5 times faster, and those running on A9/M9 will be 2.5 times faster.

What does all of this mean? And the fact is that if you use an iPad Mini 2, you will most likely be satisfied, but if you suddenly get your hands on, say, one of the Pros, you will definitely feel the difference!

And a separate line about the built-in memory. Let us remind you that all Apple equipment does not have slots for SD cards, so you can only work with the built-in capacity.

iPad Mini 2 is available only in the 32 GB version, Mini 4 and Air 2 - in 32 and 128 GB versions, and both Pro can be purchased with modules - 32, 128, 256 GB.

To film or not to film: that is the question?

Agree, not many people find it convenient to shoot on a tablet; it’s much easier to take a smartphone out of your pocket. However, a top-end device must be top-end in everything - that’s why the 9.7-inch iPad Pro has a cool 12-megapixel sensor with f/2.2 aperture and True Tone flash. The latter makes it possible to correctly assess the color temperature of the shooting location and select the most suitable flash intensity from 1000 (!) possible options! In general, the pictures will come out great in any conditions.

The iPad Mini 2 is significantly behind in this regard - it is equipped with a 5-megapixel camera, while other tablets have 8-megapixel sensors. Otherwise, all cameras are very similar - aperture, filters, focusing capabilities, stabilization, etc. almost identical.

The front camera Pro in the 9.7-inch version is again the coolest - 5 MP sensor, automatic HDR setting, flash. The other “heroes” of the review are content with 1.2 MP FaceTime cameras without flash, HDR is activated manually (the iPad Mini 2 does not have this mode for the front camera at all).

As for video shooting, here the Mini 2 again “distinguished itself” - it cannot shoot slow-motion video, while other iPads support this cool option.

Batteries are different, autonomy is the same

Surprisingly, the battery capacities, processors, display sizes of the tablets discussed in this review are different, but, according to the Apple website, they all have identical battery life - 10 hours on Wi-Fi networks and medium load, 9 hours at the same load. load, but in cellular operator networks. Well, we have no choice but to believe the “apple” giant, which miraculously manages to maintain such a balance.

Choose any one for yourself: according to your taste and wallet size

Well, the comparison on the main parameters has been completed, which means it’s time to make a decision. Let's immediately discard three criteria - autonomy, display quality and design - in this regard, the tablets are almost identical. We will choose based on size, power, cameras and... of course, price!

So, if you need a compact gadget, and you are not going to use the device in aggressive mode, then the iPad Mini 2 will completely suit you, and its price will pleasantly surprise you (as, of course, the price of a gadget with an “apple” on board can pleasantly surprise you). In the version without a cellular networks module, this device will cost 23,000 rubles, but if you absolutely need this module you will have to add another 10 thousand.

But, remember, the second generation Mini has a 5 megapixel main camera, which, of course, does not promise excellent quality pictures. So if you plan to use the tablet as a camera, take a closer look at the “four” - an 8 megapixel sensor, a little more power and the price is only 10,000 more expensive. The 32 GB version without a cellular module will cost 33,000 rubles. Want more memory and/or cellular connectivity? Open your wallet wider.

Let's move on - what to do if the 7.9-inch diagonal is too small for you? Check out the Pro 9.7-inch and Air 2. It's not hard to choose between them - Pro for those who need cutting-edge power, Air 2 for those who just need good performance. Those who are demanding, of course, will have to spend money - the Pro version 9.7 inches Wi-Fi 32 GB will cost 50,000 rubles, Air 2 in the same configuration costs 33,000 rubles. The additional payment for the cellular communication module in both cases will be 10,000 rubles.

And finally, in a separate line - the giant Pro 12.9 inches. This is, indeed, an ideal tablet for work if, as part of your job, you often have to communicate with partners and show them certain materials. But gamers will also appreciate it, this tablet can easily handle the most “heavy” games, but at the same time it is not necessary to “hunch over” a PC or laptop, you can lie on the sofa. But, as you understand, you have to pay for pleasure and spectacular performances in front of partners - for the 32 GB Wi-Fi version you will have to pay 65,000 rubles. And, bad news, there is no Wi-Fi + cellular network model with 32 GB of memory, 128 GB comes right away and it costs... 85,000 rubles! And here, of course, I would like to say, “think for yourself - decide for yourself,” but one cannot help but add that a tablet for almost a hundred is still too much!

In recent years, Apple has significantly expanded the list of available models of its best (and probably the best in the world) tablet iPad. Just imagine, today on the company’s official website you can find four different tablet models. In addition, each of the available models has versions with only Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi plus a module for cellular communication. And if you also take into account the different colors of the case and the different amounts of storage space, then it becomes clear that the choice of iPad models is indeed very extensive.

If you've decided to buy a tablet from Apple, then such a large offer can easily confuse you. Therefore, you need to select some criteria that will help you narrow down the range of models. In our material today we will talk to you about how to choose the right Apple iPad. Let's get started.

By and large, choosing and purchasing a tablet from Apple comes down to the following points:

• Decide on a model - choose one of four models.
• Select display diagonal – you have the opportunity to choose a model with a screen diagonal from 7.9 inches to 12.9 inches.
• Internal Storage Size – The internal storage size range can be from 32GB to 256GB.
• Whether you need an additional cellular module or not, all basic versions of the tablet have a Wi-Fi module, but there are also options with an additional 3G or LTE module.
• Choose a case color – Apple tablets are available in silver, space gray, gold and rose gold. In addition, color options may vary depending on the model.
• Performance – Different versions of Apple iPad have different performance.

At the moment you can buy the following Apple iPad models:

• iPad Pro 12.9 inches
• iPad Pro 9.7 inches
• iPad (5th generation)
• iPad mini 4

Now let’s take a closer look at some aspects of buying a tablet from Apple.

Which iPad Pro to choose: 9.7 inches or 12.9 inches?

The iPad Pro model is the most powerful tablet from the Cupertino giant. There are two options in the Pro line: the large one is 12.9 inches and the smaller one is 9.7 inches. Of course, the larger version is very powerful and fully loaded, but the smaller model also has its advantages.

So, if you are looking for a large and powerful tablet that can match the performance of even laptops, then you should go for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Although this model was developed more with an eye on the corporate segment, it is also well suited for home use. For example, thanks to the presence of four powerful speakers and a large, high-quality display, watching movies on it is a real pleasure. A powerful processor will help you easily perform multiple tasks simultaneously.

If you're a little put off by the large size of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, then take a closer look at the 9.7-inch model. Don't worry, smaller size doesn't mean less performance. On the contrary, the 9.7-inch model has a few tricks up its sleeve compared to the 12.9-inch. Firstly, it has the best main camera, which is not much inferior to the cameras in the iPhone. Secondly, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro display supports True Tone technology, which provides significantly wider color reproduction compared to the larger model.

It is worth noting that both models support the same set of accessories – a smart keyboard and a special iPen stylus.

iPad 5th generation

The 5th generation Apple iPad replaced the iPad Air 2. However, nothing much has changed in the new model compared to the old one (except for the shortened name). By and large, we have before us the same iPad Air 2, but with a slightly better processor. So, in the 5th generation iPad you will find the familiar 8 megapixel camera module, a fingerprint scanner and a 9.7-inch Retina display. But most importantly, the price of the new model is significantly lower than the iPad Air 2. In addition, the new iPad has the same processor as the iPhone 6S, which makes this tablet not only the most affordable tablet from Apple, but also powerful enough to solve everyday problems .

iPad mini 4

We consider the iPad mini 4 to be the strangest model in Apple's line of tablets. Essentially, this is a regular iPad Air 2, but with a 7.9-inch screen diagonal. Of course, if you're looking for the ultimate portable tablet that you can operate with one hand, then the iPad mini 4 is your choice. In all other respects (display technology, camera, processor) it’s still the same iPad Air 2. And considering that the price of the mini is comparable to the price of the 5th generation iPad, the advisability of purchasing it is very doubtful.

Buying a refurbished tablet from Apple

Apple directly on its official website offers its customers to buy its officially refurbished products. Remember that officially restored equipment has been repaired by specially trained company specialists. In addition, problem units are not restored during the repair process, but are completely replaced with new ones. The company also provides a 1-year warranty on refurbished equipment.

We highly recommend that you look for refurbished iPad Pros. With this purchase, you can save up to 30 percent on the cost of a new model. But we do not advise you to buy a refurbished iPad Air 2. Due to the complexity of repairs and the high price of spare parts, the price for a refurbished model is not much different from the price for a new one. Plus, by adding about $10 to your iPad Air 2 budget, you can buy the new and better 5th generation iPad.

Selecting storage capacity and wireless modules

The minimum amount of information storage in Apple tablets is 32 GB. We do not recommend that you buy tablets with this amount of storage. On a 32GB tablet, you will often have to rack your brain about what you can keep from your files and what you need to delete. If models with 128 GB of storage memory are too expensive for you, then buy the 64 GB version. We believe that today this is the minimum amount that should be enough for all occasions.

The Wi-Fi module is responsible for the wireless connection in all iPad tablets. If your usage model requires constant availability of Wi-Fi to access the Internet, then you don’t have to shell out extra money for a 3G or LTE module. But if you want to constantly have access to the Internet no matter where you are, then you absolutely need to buy models with an additional cellular access module.

Results

If you decide to buy an Apple iPad, then you will definitely be faced with the problem of choosing a fairly large number of models. In our material, we tried to give you guidelines that will help you narrow down the circle of candidates for purchase and choose a truly successful model. If you ask about our preferences, then we can recommend that you look at the iPad Pro series - these are the most powerful tablets with a fairly large diagonal (9.7 and 12.9 inches). But we consider the 5th generation iPad to be the most successful purchase. Today this is the most balanced model at a very attractive price. We hope that our tips will help you successfully buy a brand new iPad.