iPad buying advice.

rjk · 30 Sep 2013 at 15:21

Hi Guys

total apple newcomer here, looking to buy an iPad for mrs rjk at Christmas.

I have done a fair bit of googling but cannot seem to find any decisive info,

essentially, i am wondering if a new model is due any time between now and christmas. don't really want to go and spend £400+ and it not be the latest model. not looking to buy any time yet but wanted a definitive answer really.

thanks in advance for any help or advice.

Vertigo · 30 Sep 2013 at 15:32

Yep, new full size and mini due soon. Most likely announced next month but will definitely be before Christmas so hold fire for now.

tom_e · 30 Sep 2013 at 15:34

From a quick Google mid October seems to be when new models are announced so you should know for definate in a couple of weeks.

rjk · 30 Sep 2013 at 15:37

ok brilliant. i assume apple will do what they have historically done and put the new model in at the pricing of the current gen unit?

tom_e · 30 Sep 2013 at 15:39

I'd be very surprised if they didn't.

rjk · 30 Sep 2013 at 15:42

that suits me down to the ground then.

thanks for the info guys.

last question, any sites you guys would suggest for keeping an eye on things like this?

not an apple guys so a bit clueless when it comes to all this.

kefan77 · 30 Sep 2013 at 15:50

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

but there's always buzz, when new apple product is introduced. really hard to miss.

Marky · 30 Sep 2013 at 15:58

A Media Event is rumoured for 15th October, which I would say is fairly concrete...

New iPads will be announced and released within the week.

Vertigo · 30 Sep 2013 at 17:22

Yeah I think it'll be event on 15th, pre-orders from Fri 18th with delivery on Fri 25th.

Prices are generally like-for-like with old models but the 5 and 5S prices did creep up a little so the iPad may too. There's also speculation whether they may drop the 16GB model which could see the prices for the higher capacities drop a little. All conjecture atm though.

Somnambulist · 30 Sep 2013 at 17:28

There's enough parts leaked to mean it can't be long till the actual thing is released - right now the main questions are more along the lines of stuff like "will the Mini 2 be Retina?" (seems unlikely if the rumour mill is to be believed), and whether the fingerprint scanner will make an appearance on both models (more likely). The next gen-iPad takes design cues from the Mini so thankfully it'll be thinner, lighter and with less of a bezel.

rjk · 30 Sep 2013 at 18:05

awesome. thanks again. the macrumors thing is very helpful

Vertigo · 30 Sep 2013 at 18:25

If you haven't spotted it, there's a roundup of all the rumours here: http://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipad/

BeanBandit · 1 Oct 2013 at 13:14

Don't forget that Apple do the black Friday deals, its about the only time you'll get a discount from Apple. They usually include the iPad plus you can get it engraved if its for a present.

Megahackerd · 2 Oct 2013 at 20:41

Wiat for the ipad mini 2 and the ipad 5(i didnt wait, now it will soon be outdated)
Mhd

rjk · 28 Oct 2013 at 11:33

sorry to bump the thread again.

am I correct in thinking the iPad Air is the new flagship product for the foreseeable future?

GBH4 · 28 Oct 2013 at 11:42

I'm not sure how long the foreseeable future is as far as Apple are concerned! I'm certainly looking forward to the new Air as my iPad3 is getting on a bit.

I'd not bet against an iPad Air2 in March with the fingerprint stuff like the new phone has. It seemed like quite an omission that it wasn't on the Air.

malachi · 28 Oct 2013 at 11:55

rjkoneill said:
sorry to bump the thread again.

am I correct in thinking the iPad Air is the new flagship product for the foreseeable future?

If they did another model, yeah it would include the fingerprint stuff and might have A7x CPU. So it would be a small upgrade to the Air which is due out this week.

I be picking an Air myself has my Ipad 3 battery isn't as good as it used to be.

Sash · 28 Oct 2013 at 14:07

I'm waiting to see Three UK's prices and plans for the iPad Air and Retina Mini. As far as I can see the Retina will have a better pixel per inch so text might look better. Decisions, decisions.

lamboman · 28 Oct 2013 at 17:25

To be honest I doubt you'll see a huge difference between the two in day to day usage (and possibly not even when they're side by side). We don't yet know if there are any hidden differences (RAM, speeds etc), however it is unlikely/differences will be negligible.

This year it comes down to whether you want a bigger or smaller display. Even though the resolutions are the same, there is still a good case to have a bigger device.

Vertigo · 28 Oct 2013 at 18:39

malachi said:
If they did another model, yeah it would include the fingerprint stuff and might have A7x CPU. So it would be a small upgrade to the Air which is due out this week.

I be picking an Air myself has my Ipad 3 battery isn't as good as it used to be.

It's looking very much like the Air does actually have an A7X but just badged as an A7.

As for replacements, I can't see Apple releasing a replacement in under a year tbh. They did it with the iPad4 simply because it was what the iPad3 should have been to start with, the latter only being released "prematurely" because of market forces/reasons, when the hardware wasn't quite up to the job. That's not the case with the Air.