Best iPad for a 70 year old who wants it to last

Not sure if it helps, but was in a school today with some Apple tech fellas. We were talking about the way iPads become obsolete. They said a 2018 iPad is as far back as will cope with new software, and this is normal, so assume 5 years effective use.

Does it need to be Apple?

Does it need to be Apple?

Sounds like it...

Technical level,
Bought a new to him car and refuses to learn how to use the sat nav. His adoption of technology has mostly been driven by online bridge over the pandemic.

If it's just opening and using a few apps/bookmarked websites, why pay for the looks and bells&whistles of an iPad?

Our 17 yr old daughter wanted an iPad for school work, but I suggested a Chromebook

She tried it and has never mentioned an iPad again. Proper keyboard, touchscreen etc

I would honestly go for the base model, it’ll be cheaper and lighter, as well as coping with his uses easily. <br /><br />

 No. As long as he buys a current model, not new/old stock which a lot of retailers punt out cheaper. 

Regular iPad probably fine. Air is a bit more powerful but otherwise v similar. Pro has a slightly bigger screen, much more powerful, much more £££

If he got the 11inch iPad Pro for £899 then yes, it would probably last longer than the latest generation normal iPad as it’s got the M2 chipset rather than the A15 bionic.

Pro models tend to be supported for a year or two longer too with OS updates.

Generally you can expect 5 years OS support and a couple more years security updates. Obsolescence tends to happen around 8 years.

Buying an M1 powered one today should last a fair while. But probably not as long as a base (9th gen) £300ish iPad, and £500 left in the bank to buy another in 5+ years time.

Pro models tend to be supported for a year or two longer too with OS updates

they’ve not really been around long enough yet to call that conclusively! (Only the very first gen Pro is obsolete at this time!)

I'd stick with Ipads if they are used to the apple OS, it's just easier at that age, and you can still put team viewer or simmilar on it for remote support (if needed).

I've currently got my late nans ipad which I bought for her, and aside from the apple OS being utterly infuriating, it's a very decent tablet,  (9th gen ipad, OS version 16.6.1).

You'd probably want to go for a newer model than that for OS support... and an 'air' if you want a light weight one, as the standard ones are quite clumbersome, I find...but then you are talking ££££'s.

Thanks!

Does it need to be apple- yes.

Dad bought mum a cheaper android tablet, it never got used. Bought a second tablet, doesn't get used. Dad can't help Mum when she gets stuck so she doesn't use it.

Buying an M1 powered one today should last a fair while. But probably not as long as a base (9th gen) £300ish iPad, and £500 left in the bank to buy another in 5+ years time.

That's probably the answer my dad is after 😃 thanks!

I have a late 2014 Air 2 (so 9 years old). It's just prompted to install 15.8 so still receiving updates.

You can save a few bob by getting Apple Refurbished.

FWIW, I have a 10.5” iPad Pro that I bought new when they were launched, in 2017, which makes it 6 years old, and it’s running iOS 17.0.3. For what the gentleman is likely to be using the device for, so long as it’s still running fine, and getting security updates, which it will, it could probably still be perfectly usable in eight or nine years time. He ain’t going to be rendering hi-rez graphics or editing 4K videos, is he, so a decent size model ought to do him nicely. Speaking as a 69yo…

Uses

So his requirement here isn't spec, it is a device which isn't 8 years old.

His question is will an £800 ipad last longer before it refuses to be upgraded than a £500 iPad.

No.

Any current iPad will have a similar support life for updates and the like. <br /><br />

sometimes there are current models in the refurbished store on Apple.com this can save a few £ over the retail price. 

Have a look or chat with Hoxton Macs. Very helpful and some genuinely good deals of well specced refurbs. 

We have found its apps that stop working before the iOS stops an iPad working

ie we have a very old iPad on an old iOS . It still works, just most apps don’t  as they require later ios

I would stick with iPads though they just work and are simple

9th gen) £300ish iPad, and £500 left in the bank to buy another in 5+ years time.

yes. This.

Another on an Air 2 here, not as crippled as the iPad 3 I also have but still fine for the stuff I use.

I dislike the Apple way but iPads are brilliant bits of kit with a lot better support than most Android equivalents.

I dislike the Apple way

For these type of devices there shouldn’t be too much emphasis on future proofing - often they will be dropped and sat on before they become too old. Get something which has support for next 3 years and save the extra. <br /><br />So far the Apple iOS devices have been easy to upgrade from 2-3 generations older models. Even my 70 year old parents managed upgrade to newer iPad  with all the bank apps by themselves. Which was impressive considering their nonexistent tech skills. 

iPad air 2 (2014) user here.

It's getting slow when browsing now but still works. Some videos crash the app it's on.

I've had 9 years use from it and am looking for a new one in the black Friday sales hopefully.

Probably one with either an M1 or M2 chip. That should see it through another 8-9 years.

We have found its apps that stop working before the iOS stops an iPad working

Yeah this. I've had a 2012 IPad Mini since, well, 2012 I guess. It still clanks along on its ancient OS and will still run Mail, Podcasts, Kindle, Safari and The Guardian apps, but most contemporary apps are simply not compatible with its existing iOS, which obviously can't be upgraded. Theoretically if my banking app were still compatible with the iOS, it would (just about) be fine. As it is, it's mostly a glorified podcast player, while a current basic iPad, which is fine, does the tablet stuff.

In honesty, I'd probably still be using the Mini if it weren't for the insane, storage-eating tendencies of the Apple podcast app and just living with the multiple limitations, but then I wouldn't be able to use a banking app on it and I don't have very high expectations.

But basically, just get a base level, current iPad and you'll be fine, developers etc permitting.

I dislike the Apple way but iPads are brilliant bits of kit with a lot better support than most Android equivalents.

I'm curious, what support are you requiring? I think the only times I've needed support since getting my first mobile phone in the 1990s was either "it's broken, send me a new one" or "it's shit, send me a new one." I dealt with Apple several years ago and the service was indeed excellent, but from reading posts on here others' experiences haven't been as favourable of late.

Android updates vary wildly by manufacturer, but that's what Pixels are for. 😁

selling a great product at a fair price, that lasts for ages?

Selling a great product at a vastly inflated price that lasts as long as anything else if you paid equally stupid money for it.

I think I'm about ready to retire my tablet, not least because I no longer really have a use for it. At home I'd rather use a full-sized device and on the move (as much as I've championed the opposite for years) my phone is perfectly serviceable. The tablet is about the same age as the OP's dad's.

Selling a great product at a vastly inflated price that lasts as long as anything else if you paid equally stupid money for it.

technology rule no 1: pick a side and be a dick about it.

It's Commodore vs Spectrum all over again 😃 And just as mature 😂

I’m curious, what support are you requiring? 

I believe they are talking about O/S updates, as IoS devices  (historically) update for 6-8 years, whereas Android devices (according to google) only receive them for 3-5 years. Obviously it doesn't stop either device working but the piece of mind of having security updates is a reassurance, in these days of hacks and so many scams

PS: I would suggest the 9th Gen, ipad, which might last a year or so less than the latest 10th gen, but is a good chunk cheaper. I don't understand why ppl would suggest the Pro model for an 70year old, who will only ever need to access basic apps & the internet, going from what the OP posted

Get a Pro

We got my mother-in-law a 9th gen iPad last year, and I’d say either that or a 10th gen standard iPad is probably still the best value if you don’t need an Air or a Pro for their features.

weird that only people who haven’t ever used these products long-term have that opinion though 🤔😂

One cannot compare two products without experience of both. This is equally true for Apple and non-Apple fans.

Apple products are excellent kit but come at a premium price, it's objectively ludicrous to hold up cost as a plus point. If you spent Apple money on non-Apple products you could get something at least as good, the fact that cheaper products also exist has no bearing.

It’s Commodore vs Spectrum all over again 😃 And just as mature 😂

Username checks out.

Get a Pro

He's probably a bit old for that, might give the fella a coronary.

Saucy 😛

You'd probably have to pay extra for that.

 as IoS devices  (historically) update for 6-8 years

Although past history is nothing to go by and it seems that Apple now offers support for 5-6 years in general.

Chrome OS devices now receive 10 years of updates.The following link also lists the update life for each product via manufacturer:

https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366?hl=en

That's ChromeOS not Android which is what the tablets run on. That's got less than 3 years of OS updates.

https://endoflife.date/pixel

One cannot compare two products without experience of both. This is equally true for Apple and non-Apple fans.

Apple products are excellent kit but come at a premium price, it’s objectively ludicrous to hold up cost as a plus point. If you spent Apple money on non-Apple products you could get something at least as good, the fact that cheaper products also exist has no bearing.

Yeah, remind me what the price difference is between a Pixel and an iThing?

Also tablets are superior for books or comics and full size if you are reading reference material.

Yeah, remind me what the price difference is between a Pixel and an iThing?

My Pixel was about £300. A quick google would suggest that a 2-year old iPhone 13 is twice that and an entry level current-gen iPhone 15 is £800, going up to £1200 for the posh one.

Pixel tablet? Compare apples with apples please.

Pixel tablet is 500, so is an iPad 10.

Between the two I'd get the Apple because the support is far longer, even accounting for the fact you would need to spend closer to the Pixel SRP for equivalent storage.

And on the topic of phones, a Pixel 8 is 700 quid. Not that far off tbh.

In October 2023, it was announced that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will guarantee both Android version updates and security updates for seven years, offering full support until October 2030.

😬

Edit: holy thread hijack. Any advantage in going for more memory on a 9th gen? Usage is streaming netflix and browsing.

OMFG.

That is for a Pixel 8 and Pixel Pro, neither of which are a Pixel Tablet.

This is a thread about tablets, can we please discuss tablets?

OMFG, who said this:

And on the topic of phones, a Pixel 8 is 700 quid. Not that far off tbh

🤣

Yes, in response to Cougars point about price difference, yours was completely irrelevant, you might as well talk about Google nest updates at that point.

What? You said something in response to another post, and I responded to that? But you responding to another post is in some way different to me doing so?
Right-o
Anyway, back to tablets 🙄
Anyone know if it's worth going for more memory in a 9th gen iPad or not?

The fourth post in this thread suggested a Chromebook as a suitable alternative to consider, so chill out, it is all reasonable to be discussed and, therefore my comment and others about ChromeOS being supported for longer than suggested is relevant!

Oh, I wasn't actually bothered by your comment, I assumed you'd just got the wrong end of the stick. As for @del blame cougar, he went off on a tangent for whatever reason trying to justify his out of date anecdote and I dunno, just annoyed me.

Anyone know if it’s worth going for more memory in a 9th gen iPad or not?

Depends on use case, if you're going to load it up and travelling then yes. If you're sitting in the house and only faffing then maybe? Lower storage on iPads has never gone well for me so I'd go for the 128gb.

Crap answer I know but I took the 256gb option on my definitely not a tablet but only mentioning for context Pixel 8 as 5 years is a long time and I'd rather play it safe.

it's just for home use so i'll take it that the 64Gb one is ok for netflix streaming etc.

i know literally nothing about apple stuff other than it's OS' origins lie in unix so any advice is useful, thank you.

That would probably be fine, mine tends to get loaded up and stuff doesn't get deleted, mostly because the extra hassle of iTunes makes it annoying.

blame cougar, he went off on a tangent

I answered your question. Ain't my fault if it was a shit question.

I have a 10.5” iPad Pro that I bought new when they were launched, in 2017

Yeah, thought this was interesting.. cos mine is older
05 May 2016
"86060702 New Apple iPad Pro, A9X, iOS, 9.7", Wi-Fi, 128GB, Space Grey £619.00

So they released a slightly larger screen version a year later, the swines. Would love a bigger screen.
Mines on iOS 16.7.2 and apart from the reduced battery life, is still a fab thing.

I answered your question. Ain’t my fault if it was a shit question.

Really?

Did I really need to provide absolute context when we were already talking about tablets? Are you actually a 10 year old?

Your initial point iPads are significantly more expensive than the Pixel equivalent was wrong. Don't try and argue your way out, you're better than that

The 32GB base on earlier ipads was a bit limiting, but the 64GB base on the 9th gen is enough for most people. iPlayer/netflix/etc downloaded video for offline viewing is about 600MB an hour so you can have quite a few apps/games and plenty of video to watch offline while you travel.

If he can wait it looks like updates to the iPad range are coming pretty soon. 

https://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#iPad-Air

Lol, as I said I'm on 16gb but appreciate someone who actually knows weighing in.

Did I really need to provide absolute context when we were already talking about tablets?

This is a misunderstanding rather than intentional subterfuge. I was talking about "products" generally, you referred to "iThing" and I had no idea that a Pixel tablet existed.

Your initial point iPads are significantly more expensive than the Pixel equivalent was wrong.

I just had a cursory google. Seemingly the word "from" is doing some heavy lifting on both manufacturers' websites. The Pixel tablet is £500-600 depending on memory loadout. The iPad is from £500 also, up to well into four figures.

Plenty would disagree with you on that point.

Get a room

oops, posted in wrong thread!