[Pre Order] iPad Pro M4: 11" $1529+, 13" $2029.01+ | iPad Air M2: 11" $919+, 13" $1219+ @ Apple on Campus Stores (e.g. AEU)

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Newest M2 iPad Airs and M4 iPad Pros announced, reminder that the cheapest way to get them is from AOC, slightly cheaper than the proper Apple Education Store - they do not check student ID when purchasing for delivery.

Important Note:
Purchase Quantity
Those eligible to purchase from the Apple Store for Education will be allowed to purchase the following quantities of products per year. Not all products have special Education Pricing.

Desktop: One (1) may be purchased per year
Mac mini: One (1) may be purchased per year
Notebook: One (1) may be purchased per year
iPad: Two (2) may be purchased per year
Accessories: Two (2) accessories with Education Pricing may be purchased per year

Available from 15 May.

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Comments

  • +70

    As much as I think iPads offer a great user experience, I can't help but feel that the they (particular iPad Pros) have just been about "cool display tech" over the past few generations (since the M1 iPad Pros, to be honest).

    I just can't quite figure out who the target market for the more expensive iPads are anymore - ultimately, there's nothing that the iPad Pro / iPad Air can do that the $550 base model iPad can't do (particularly now that it's got the latest design). For the price of a 13" iPad Pro, you could get a MBA and a base model iPad for the "best of both worlds".

    • +31

      Sold my iPad for a Samsung Tab S9 (for the OLED display), I thought it would have been hard to since I use everything Apple. But the limited iPadOS really made it easy. The only use case of high-end iPads I can see is in extremely niche cases, digital artists or people who refuses to use MacBooks to edit.

        • +1

          Haha, it's alright; I know I will get negged to oblivion. To some people, it's like joining the dark side by buying an Android tablet. I only use it for YouTube, so I don't really care much. iPads are more refined with far better resell value, I know that. Hope they really up the ante with the new iPad OS announcement during WWDC

          • +3

            @RobBoss: Rejoice for you don't need to pay $33 a month to watch youtube without ads on your android tablet

            • @Bacons: You don’t need to do that on iPad either

              Source: Me. I don’t pay anything for ad-free YouTube on my iPad. Or iPhone. Or laptop.

              • @linkindan: oh, how?

                • +1

                  @Bacons: download adblock for safari from app store, go to youtube.com on safari on iPad, watch videos ad free.

                  • +1

                    @itsme56: oh figured, browser youtube on mobile is not a great experience but better than ads i suppose

                    • @Bacons: iPadOS is not mobile.. Safari on iPadOS is desktop class browser and loads all sites the same as any desktop.

                      The app on andriod has adds too… so its literally the same.

                      • +6

                        @itsme56: now now let's get the facts straight, an iPad is a mobile device

                        yes iPadOS may use the desktop viewport (meaning it loads all the sites the same as a desktop)

                        BUT my point is unchanged, browser youtube is an inferior experience to the youtube app because it's not touch optimised.

                        The youtube app is built to be used by a touch screen (gestures, swipes pinches and all that) but you forego a lot of that if you're loading a desktop youtube website on an iPad.

                        for android you can use RVX which has adblock, background play, sponsorblock and I can customize the UI a lot, or just leave it so it looks like the regular youtube app

                        "literally the same" "I don't notice any difference whatsoever"

                        I haven't negged anyone here btw

                      • @itsme56: I hear people say 'desktop class' but are you telling me that Microsoft Office and Google sheets really work just the same with keyboard and mouse on an iPad as in windows and Mac OS?

                    • -5

                      @Bacons: Free adblocker or DNS and web-based YouTube or app and I don’t notice any difference whatsoever

                      But neg away people 🙃

                • +2

                  @Bacons: Or download Brave browser which has built in ad blocker

                  • @lunartemis: I just tried brave and it works well. Safari with adblockers works sometimes only.

            • +6

              @Bacons: What Ozbargainer is paying $33/month for YouTube?

              I pay less than $3/month for a family plan with 6 people on it, which also gets everyone YouTube Music. There are long running deals on here if you go look.

              No faffing about with ad blockers or DNS for each and every device.

              • @dontpanic: yeah i'm aware of them and you're right, i was trying to make it sound better to RobBoss (and myself) by quoting pedestrian price

                • +2

                  @Bacons: That was close, I'll call off the OzB Badge Security for now…

          • @RobBoss: Don't worry, Apple fanboys always react negatively to anyone who dare suggests an alternative.

            • @SvcKpc: has been the other way around for ages. Just follow the sales, a good product tends to sell more. Android tablets don't sell much for a reason.

          • -1

            @RobBoss: Being able to watch any show or movie for $4 a month through stremio and real debrid is worth it alone, something you can't do on iPad OS.

            I spent $300 for a tablet that has a better display than the last generation iPad Pro.

      • +5

        The Samsung/android just has a different set of limitations to an iPad.

        • Yes, a significantly smaller set of limitations that allows far more user freedom.

      • +5

        My first iPad lasted 8 years of use. My Samsung tablet lasted 3 years and Lenovo lasted 2 years. So went back to iPad.

        Used iPhone 4 in 2010, then Samsung till 2023 end and switched to iPhone. Pay $8 per month for family plan and get free music, fitness+ and 2TB shared storage. No bloatware. Went with iPhone 15 due to security and hope it last 5 years before I decide whether to go with iPhone or Samsung.

        Laptop is still windows.

        • +3

          I hear you. Used to run Apple everything, then went to Android about 5 years ago and am currently on a Samsung S23 Ultra which is the best phone I've ever had. Still have a MacBook Air from 2013 which still runs great (albeit with no more OS upgrades) which my wife uses, a newer M1 Air, and a Lenovo Legion for work and light gaming. Kids have older iPads. All of my machines do their job well. I'd probably prefer to have all one ecosystem just for continuity, but there are some things that are better on other platforms. Whatever works for the individual is what's best.

          • +1

            @TheFunkySalsa: Similar case here. Been apple most of my life had nearly every iPhone but jumped to s23 ultra and have no intention of moving. Just a perfect device.
            Having proper adjustable split screen where I watch sports on YouTube plus surf the Web.. Is just unmatched. Everything else is amazing, the screen, battery etc but even looks to me the s23 ultra just feels incredible
            I did order the base model ipad air for my kid. Nearly 1000 for an LCD screen is just wild in 2024.

          • @TheFunkySalsa: My 2014 MacBook Pro still runs amazingly well. I used an adaptor to increase storage to 2TB and used OCLP to install Sonoma (latest OS) on it. Runs super smooth still for general purpose stuff.

        • No bloatware

          Samsung

          that's par for the course with Samsung though.

          So many people assume the only Android phone is Samsung.

        • +2

          How do you pay $8 per month for 2tb storage, music and fitness?

          • +1

            @FujinShu: Found someone on ozbargain who was sharing their family plan.

            • @Commenter: Are you sharing your family photos with them too? But for some reason they won't share their photos to you…

        • Will love to know how you pay $8 a month. I pay $42 for the same thing

      • +1

        I agree about the amoled screen. Prefer my old Samsung Tab S5e over my iPad Pro because of it. One thing I appreciate about the Apple iPad is support and performance. Hopefully the new Samsung flagship extend their support like they have with their phones. The prices Samsung ask for tablets nowadays, 7 years of support should be the standard on their flagship devices.

      • +1

        One of my family members has the 12.9 inch iPad Pro. She uses it to zoom in on photos when painting.

    • +3

      Yeah, it's honestly ridiculous.

      I still have my 2018 iPad Pro which basically looks identical to the new one. It's also still really fast, given there's only so much you can even use that speed for on an iPad. There's absolutely no reason to upgrade.

      • +3

        Both good for Cocomelon, I have both the 2018 12.9 and the latest M2 12.9, both are really well but editing 4k videos (Final Cut Pro) there is massive difference.

        But if you just plan to watch Cocomelon, yeah not bad, and no reason to update.

        • +10

          Who is actually editing video on their iPad?

          • -1

            @maybe a bot: Why would you unless you were filming it on the iPad (and the camera isn't good enough for professional work).

            • -5

              @abc: Hahahahahaahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahaahahahahahaha

              BRUUUHHHH!!! Who TF edit videos from the phone/ipad camera recordings!!! Use memory card and USB-c reader from SLR camera. Lol

              • +1

                @Fredfloresjr: You can connect a mouse, keyboard and external SSD to an iPad now. I don't see how it's significantly different to connecting those things to a laptop or desktop?

              • +3

                @Fredfloresjr: This is a bit of a pile-on, but you know who's editing videos from iPhone recordings?

                Apple

          • @maybe a bot: The plumbers? Bot is better nowadays you must know better. That is the reason why they introduced the Final Cut pro to ipad

          • @maybe a bot: Marquees Brownlee

          • @maybe a bot: I have done it a bit in the field (disaster response)

          • +1

            @maybe a bot: I edit 4K travel videos on my iPad. If you use Lumafusion, you will understand how intuitive it is to quickly edit clips and adjust your timeline with an Apple pencil. Its insane how well my 2018 iPad Pro works for this. I do agree with the general sentiment in this thread though, a lot of this horsepower is untapped thanks to iPad OS. They need to set the iPad free!

            Give us a choice to boot into MacOS or iPadOS on the iPad. Like the Steam Deck lets you do with desktop mode.

        • Pretty much sums it up. It's still a toy not a computer.

      • +7

        It's interesting, with the iPad Apple has pretty much developed a 'perfect' piece of technology, and at the same time denied themselves an ongoing market.

        Most of the uses people put iPads to are pretty simple: web browsing, email, ebooks, watching videos, kid's games. And these features don't really require ever-increasing CPU power.

        My workplace still has many iPad 2's and original Airs performing perfectly as well as 8-10 years ago. There has never been a need to upgrade, and for our purposes, even the battery life has remained sufficient.

        And in my experience, reliability and durability has been excellent.

        Of course there will be outlier users who need extra power; graphic artists, ummmm… can't think of many others… ummmm… But history has conclusively shown that the overwhelming majority of people prefer a laptop design to a tablet design when it comes to general business computing, and it is only a tiny niche (and professional computer reviewers) who get wet at the prospect of super-powerful iPads or Surface Pros or whatever.

        The sales and continued development of iPads is nothing like that of phones. It seems to have plateaued fairly early, saturating the market, finding a solid, but smallish user base, but then not requiring constant updating. This is a credit to the company, but obviously, also a limited growth opportunity for them.

        The iPad to me is somewhat like a Porsche 911; classic and totally fit-for-purpose.

        • You make sense. I have an iPad 2 that still can browse and read pdf’s and some books. The battery is fine, Mrs uses it all the time.

          Like everything in life, we can just leave things the same or develop and change. The new iPads do that. Yes for many they don’t need the power, thats why Apple still leave older high end models in the line up.

          Problem then is that others complain that these are old models and they want newer models. So instead of assessing on what they need they think it’s like bread, it has to be fresh not stale.

          The different approaches by different manufacturers is hard for someone used to the past different approach. Like those who bought beetles (VW’s) rather than the latest Detroit makeovers. Vive L’ difference

        • +3

          Until you find apps not available on older iOS like I couldn’t watch youtube on my iPad 4 anymore. You can use the website but the experience is not the same, especially for the kids

      • +2

        Yes the prices are ridiculous on these new models. And yes the longevity of iPads make the newer models look less appealing especially with increased prices of them.

      • -1

        Maybe not identical
        I suppose from the other side of the room.

      • +2

        The 2018 iPad Pro was an absolute beast, there are so many of them still getting around because of how capable they were.

        I use mine a lot and there's nothing any of the newer ones do that I can see adds much value.

        • yep. like even the battery life on my 2018 is still really impressive. the battery life on the new ones despite the new chips is still just 10 hours too.

        • This is why tablet sales have declined massively. For what most people used them for they don’t need the latest and greatest. You can expect 8-10 years of use out of iPads.

    • +1

      The weight loss is nice. The old 12.9 inch Pro was pretty heavy.

      And it's nice that the new M2 Air is basically the old 12.9 inch Pro in shape, Apple's website says the old Magic Keyboard case will work on the M2 Air. Good upgrade path for current Pro owners who want to use the Apple Pencil Pro without needing to pay for the iPad Pro. That gyroscopic pencil looks cool af.

      • Is there any reason the new Apple Pencil Pro wouldn't work with older iPad Pros? Nope! Apple is an absolute jerk in their strategies to get users to upgrade unnecessarily.

        • Well the spot it sticks with magnets and charges has been altered, to accomodate the new camera I guess, and Apple really didn't want you to have to charge and mount the pencil on the other side I suppose.

    • +1

      I think the high end ipads are supposed to be for Creative/content creators but I cant imagine anything more painful that using an ipad for this over like a laptop or a nice PC with 32" LCD

      Cheapest current gen base iPad = 90% of humans

      • +1

        Again true, as I said above, some think new model, means old is stale like bread.
        New models eventually become the mainstream standard and then at a price point.
        Like First class in a plane 10 years ago is now the standard of business or even premium economy

      • You can use this on a train, but using a laptop and a graphics tablet is kind of a handful. Plus cheap graphics tablets don't have the features the Pencil Pro does, not for cheap anyway.

    • +7

      My kids high school requires an Air or Pro for BYOD, and yet they do nothing on them that couldn't be done on a base model. I try to fight it but have lost the argument each time.

      • +5

        That is messed up.

      • +1

        How do they know what your kid has? The pencil?

      • The base model is so much better for durability too.

    • +1

      They're for people who use them for work, lots of people use them for illustration for example.

      Some people have huge projects running on their iPads, with lots of layers, images, etc. Also the upgrade to the Apple Pencil is a game changer (relatively), it has rotation support now.

      I just draw as a hobby, but I can see the benefit for that small group of users.

      • Also the upgrade to the Apple Pencil is a game changer (relatively), it has rotation support now.

        Wow they finally added a feature Wacom has had for 20 years?

    • Ultra portability is all I can think of. It’s easier to carry, using while standing, even taking a shit. Can’t do that with a MacBook Air.

      I feel devices these days have simply nestled themselves into specific use cases and less general purpose usage.

      • +4

        Confirmed my MBA has proven to not be very shit resilient.

        • Resilient or resistant?

      • +1

        You shit while standing?

    • The nice thing about the M1 iPad pro is that I have zero intentions of upgrading since I bought one, and think it will last me another 3 years. That is a lot of ROI.

    • and that's why i only bought the iPad 10th gen. Even waited for a discount that came yesterday.

    • I sold my iPad Pro 12.9 M2 because there's no reason for it. My iPad Air with LTE is much better as a mobile device and my Mini as a bedside device.

  • +11

    Hopefully software will get an major update to fully utilise all that power. Otherwise an M1 ipad is good enough.

    • They lost the ultrawide camera on the new model.

      E: LiDAR was moved to where the ultrawide was, so thought it was the LiDAR that was removed at first.

    • +1

      People have been saying this every year, and it never happens. Ipad is consumption device, apple is not interested in it being laptop replacement and it will forever be crippled compared to a laptop.

      • haha

        ipad will get to be a full computer about the same time the Tesla has FSD sorted :-)

  • Does anyone know if you need refund/exchange,claim warranty or whatever, whether they need a student ID?

    • +1

      No need

    • They currently don’t. Doesn’t mean they can’t if they realise enough people abuse it and even enforce it as it’s within the agreement you’ve accepted.

  • +10

    Incredible price for a 128gb non-expandable tablet (apple pencil pro, keyboard not included) 🤓

    • +1

      When people stop buying they'll drop the price

      Supply and demand.

      • +3

        But Apple doesn't drop prices with low sales, most people aren't buying the Vision Pro either and it's still exorbitantly expensive

        • +1

          Apple would never lower the price of their own products on their own store, but just look at the sheer number of discounts from other retailers, especially with how deep those discounts can get, and you can see that the iPhone actually has less demand than before.

        • Vision pro is an exception, its a first gen product and they are happy to sell to a low number of rich "beta-testers"

      • +1

        Like how they did it with Android tablets?

  • +2

    I can not tell the price difference btw AOC Vs Regular Education store in Pro 13..

    • +1

      Yeah not sure what I'm missing here, the prices are the same 🤔

      • It's about 2$ for the 256 GB version.

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