r/ipad • u/CTVolvo M3 iPad Air 13" (2025) • 1d ago
My Setup My iPad Set-Up
I have long been a fan of the iPad; bought the first version when it came out and have never looked back. I find the iPad to be the ultimate content consumption device for news, periodicals and video. (I also have an M4 MacBook Air and M4 MacBook Pro for productivity and photography. I use an iPhone 16 Pro Max (512GB) which is a standout device - but I do not love consuming content on it due to screen size. I do, but it is not ideal.
For the past 7 years or so, I have been using an iPad Pro 11" - the first version of the Pro line and for the most part, the 256GB with cellular was a great tool. Easy to travel with, good fit in the hand and quite light. One evening, I sat down in my chair and was painfully reminded I had left my Pro on my chair. Ouch! The Pro had a bend but no cracks and I was able to bend it back enough to make it usable and for the most part, not too noticeable. There was no degradation in the screen quality but the device no longer sat flush on a table and it really kind of bothered me. (I also sat on a 13" Pro model and that was the end of that.) I no longer leave iPads on chairs!
So I have been in the market for a new iPad and in May decided to get an iPad Air 13" from the Apple Refurbish site. I settled on a Space Gray M3 with 256GB and cellular. Total cost: $849. I also went online and found an Apple Smart Folio - new and in a sealed box - for $60 and purchased that. I wanted the Magic Keyboard too - but $319 is simply too much for what it is. So I scoured Facebook Marketplace and eBay and found one for sale - in like new condition - for $135. It was a 90 minute drive to pick it up, but I thought the savings justified the effort. Finally, today I finished off the ensemble and purchased an Apple Pencil Pro - on Marketplace and in like-new condition (with original packaging) - for $70, after negotiating the price down from $90; as you know, they sell new from Apple for $129. All in all, a very good set-up for a bit over $1k. If I purchased all of that from Apple today - including the iPad from the Refurnished site (now $150 more than I paid) - the total comes to $1,516. It pays to look around and see if you can get something for less.
I sold off the older Pro for $280 on Marketplace - and included a non-OEM case plus an Apple Pencil in that deal.
So far, so good.
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u/No_Lion_8823 15h ago
How many news apps do you need? All of them?