The iPad Air and iPad Pro Conundrum
90 % of my revenue is earned via my iPad Air (hence my ‘digital nomad’ travels all the time, lifestyle). This week, Apple will announce the new iPad Air. Yet, my mind veers towards the iPad Pro.
This week, we have the Apple Event, and after a long gap of almost two years, the (almost confirmed) rumors indicate that there will a new line of iPad Pros and iPad Airs that will become available. This is exciting for me, because of how my career has shaped over the last few years.
The iPad Air has really become the center of my professional life. Since retiring from developer work in 2021, I have shifted entirely to tutoring, coaching and business consulting/startup coach/freelance coach. All these are ultimately about logging into a zoom call and talking to my clients.
Of course, every now and then, (like write now, as I type this blog post), or when I have to write some code for my students, I still need to use either my ageing MacBook Air or the brand-new basic Lenovo Windows Laptop. Of course, I have my expensive PCs and Macs, all 5 of them, waiting in my storage, ready to unpack if the occasion calls for it.
Still, the iPad Air is now my primary, weapon of choice, professional work device to earn money.
My romance with iPads goes back to 2017. I remember buying an iPad Mini, using a high interest loan. The bizarre thing is, that iPad Mini, is still running in 2024! used by some kids in my extended family. Since then, I must own or gifted or handed out at least half a dozen iPads.
Right now, I have an iPad 9th Gen and iPad Air (both purchased less than 12 months ago). The basic iPad model is my entertainment and reading/studying device (I am currently pursuing a BA in English). the iPad Air is the one I use for my main work videos calls, with its fantastic camera, high powered M1 processor and incredible sound and general powerful performance and speed.
Usually, I wait about 3 to 6 months, after any apple product announcement to buy Apple products. In India, thanks to high import duties, the already expensive Apple products are even more expensive. However, after 3 months, where in the rich people are done with their shopping of new things, the distributors in India, start passing on some discounts.
For example, the iPhone 15 is about 80,000 INR (roughly a 1000 USD) on the official apple website. However, you can grab the same for 71,000 INR (roughly 900 USD) from Amazon or at the local mall. But, these discounts, as mentioned before, do not kick in until after a few months have passed.
Hence, my delayed purchases of Apple Products. My plan is to shift the iPad Air (M1) to the status of a consumption device. Buy a new iPad Air to become my main work device. What happens to the basic iPad then? I am not sure. I usually just give it to somebody in the family, or just keep it in storage like the other computing devices I have in my storage space. Or, make it my dedicated learning tablet.
Meanwhile, as I have a bigger budget this year, I am considering the iPad Pro. However, a look at the comparison chart on the apple site reveals that, except for a few differences with display technology, there is not much to explain how or why the iPad Pro is better than an iPad Air.
I have spent hours/days/weeks (as I do with any purchase) mulling over these two devices. Now, the clock is beginnin to run out. I will be buying the new iPad Air or iPad Pro within the next few months.
I just don’t know, which one it will be.
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