5/14/2024: The iPad Decision Flowchart 2024

The iPad Decision Flowchart, 2024 edition

Plus: A cheaper Pixel, a transformative iPad accessory, and charging cable savings

May 14, 2024

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Apple’s iPad lineup is about to expand in some ways and contract in others.

Last week, the company announced four new iPads:

  • iPad Air 11-inch, with a faster processor, 128 GB of base storage, and a slightly larger display for $599.
  • iPad Air 13-inch, the largest non-Pro iPad to date for $799.
  • iPad Pro 11-inch (M4), with a faster processor, OLED screen, and 256 GB of base storage for $999.
  • iPad Pro 13-inch (M4), same as above, but bigger for $1299.

Apple has also booted the 9th-gen iPad from its lineup and brought the 10th-gen iPad down to $349, same as its predecessor. The oft-unloved iPad Mini is still hanging in there at $499.

All of which means that buying an iPad is a bit simpler now if you just want a basic tablet on which to watch movies, read, play games, and the like. But if you want more cutting-edge performance, or fancy the idea of a jumbo-sized iPad to replace your laptop, the decision has become even more complex.

That’s where the iPad Decision Flowchart comes in.

Longtime readers may recall this creation, which I devised in 2019 and revised in 2022. While it doesn’t convey every little detail about Apple’s iPad lineup, it’s at least more fun than trying to make sense of product comparison charts (though I’ve thrown one of those together for reference as well).

Some notes:

  • For the sake of my own sanity, the flowchart only covers Apple’s official, current iPad lineup. It doesn’t include older models, which historically stick around at third-party retailers long after being discontinued.
  • The bit about “comfortably using Apple’s keyboard dock in your lap” refers to the different keyboards available for each iPad: The 10th-gen iPad’s Magic Keyboard Folio balances more precariously on your lap with a kickstand, while the Magic Keyboard for the iPads Air and Pro sits flat like a laptop.
  • The bit about external monitors is a reference to the iPad’s extended display mode, which allows M-Series iPads to use a monitor as a secondary display. Other iPads can only mirror what’s on their own screens.
  • I’m not accounting for third-party keyboards, cases, or styluses that may change your purchase calculations.

The Apple Pencil Decision Flowchart

Alongside the new iPads, Apple also announced another stylus. The Apple Pencil Pro is a $129 accessory that adds squeeze gestures, rotational controls, and haptic feedback when you squeeze or double-tap on it.

This particular Pencil only works with the new iPads. As a result, Apple is now selling four styluses, each with different features and varying levels of iPad compatibility.

Naturally this merited its own, separate flowchart:

Click the image to enlarge

What’s next?

Apple’s 10th-gen iPad launched in October 2022, and the 6th-gen iPad Mini in September 2021. Per the rumor mill, both models could get minor refreshes later this year. Hopefully I won’t have to respond with too many flowchart revisions.

Other iPad tidbits:

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Need to know

A cheaper Pixel: Google is out with new mid-range phone, the $499 Pixel 8a. The price is $200 less than last fall’s Pixel 8, but has the same Tensor G3 processor and by extension many of the same AI features. With group photos, for instance, the phone will automatically take a series of shots and let you merge together the best facial expressions for each person. You can also translate phone calls, reduce unwanted noise in videos, and move subjects around in photos after you’ve taken them.

Of course, there are compromises. Compared to the Pixel 8, the back of the Pixel 8a is plastic instead of glass, the screen and battery are both slightly smaller, and the camera system is slightly less light-sensitive. Overall, though, it’s a pretty similar phone and even gets the same seven years of software support.

Just be aware that Pixel phone price drops are pretty common. The Pixel 8 has sold for as little as $499 unlocked, equal to the Pixel 8a’s list price, so consider holding out for a deal if this phone’s on your wish list.

Wireless data disclaimers: AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon will have to be a little more transparent about their “unlimited” data plans after being investigated by 50 state attorneys general. As part of a settlement, the carriers must “clearly and conspicuously” note when speed limits may apply. They also have to be clear about what you’re agreeing to (namely, a multi-year service commitment) in exchange for a cheap or free phone.

In practice, this may not change a whole lot, but I do see that AT&T now has a bold “may temporarily slow data speeds if the network is busy” disclaimer near the top of its plan page, where one did not exist a year ago.

Gadget of the moment

A transformative iPad accessory: Rock Paper Pencil is a $40 iPad screen cover that comes with a specialized replacement tip for the Apple Pencil. Combined, the cover and tip make writing or drawing on an iPad feel remarkably similar to paper. Rock Paper Pencil comes in different sizes for each iPad, and versions for the newest models are “coming soon.”

AstroPad, the makers of this accessory, loaned me the iPad Mini version to evaluate, and now seems like the time to write up some quick impressions in light of this week’s iPad news:

  • The paper-like feel truly is uncanny. The added friction between the pen tip and screen cover probably makes my handwriting a little more precise, but it’s also just much more satisfying than writing on glass.
  • There’s a trade-off: The screen cover makes the display appear dimmer and grainier, almost like looking through frosted glass.
  • You can easily remove and reattach the cover—magnets around the edges help it snap onto the screen—but there’s no good place to stow it while it’s not in use. I wish the Rock Paper Pencil offered a protective case so you could put the cover away for movies or gaming.
  • Presumably to leave room for bulky cases, the screen cover doesn’t fully extend to the edges of the display. If you go caseless, you’ll feel the edge of the cover when swiping from the bottom or sides of the screen—a minor annoyance.

I don’t use my iPad Mini for much beyond taking notes during interviews—these days, my foldable phone fills in for most other tablet duties—so the Rock Paper Pencil is perfect for me, and I plan to purchase one myself. But if you’re not using the iPad primarily as a writing implement, you’ll probably tire of having to take the cover off to get the best screen quality.

Now try this

Arc for Windows: Arc is a new-ish web browser with a lot of interesting ideas, and now you can download the Windows version without joining a waitlist. (It’s also available for Macs, with an offshoot iPhone version.) The browser really encourages you to organize tabs into “Spaces,” but what I enjoy most are the smaller things, like one-click cleanup button for unpinned tabs and the picture-in-picture mode that pops up when you click away from a video. I’m wary of using Arc full-time for reasons described in last week’s newsletter, but it’s still worth checking out.

Fall asleep to fake baseball: Northwoods Baseball Sleep Radio is a collection of fictional baseball broadcasts, announced in a near-monotone, with no commercials and low stakes. It’s a neat idea, though the announcer’s tone can sound oddly robotic at times. Listen on the web or by searching for “Northwoods Baseball” in your preferred podcast app. (Via Kottke)

Further reading

Spend wisely

Although Apple has officially discontinued the 9th-generation iPad, it’s still available at major retailers for $250. It’s not a record-low—the price briefly dipped to $230 on Black Friday—but Best Buy does have “Open-Box Excellent” models for $225. It’s still a fine iPad for basic app enjoyment, and is notably the last model with a headphone jack.

Bonus deals: This section of the newsletter is normally for paid members as well. Subscribe to start saving money on tech gear every week.

Also, Woot is having a sale on charging cables and other accessories with the promo code WOOTTECH, with free shipping for Prime members:

  • 10-foot AmazonBasics USB-A to Lightning cable for $2.
  • 4-foot Skullcandy USB-C to USB-C cable for $2.
  • A pair of 6-foot USB-A to USB-C cables for $3.
  • 30W AmazonBasics USB-C charger for $7.
  • 65W AmazonBasics USB-C charger (good for basic laptop charging) for $10.
  • 3-foot AmazonBasics HDMI cable for $1.

Note that the discounted price only appears after you enter the promo code WOOTTECH on the final checkout page, right before you click the “Place Order” button.

And a few other notable deals:

Thanks for reading!

Got tech questions for me? Just reply to this email to get in touch.

Until next week,
Jared

Authentic tech advice.

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