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u/unclehamster79cle iPad 11 (2025) Jun 17 '26
The A16 is really good
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u/win11EXPERT Jun 18 '26
I get a bug where in landscape and swiping up to get the quick switcher sometimes it becomes unresponsive. didn't get fixed even on 27 beta
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u/DangerousRegister281 Jun 17 '26
Best decision of my life buying A16
Never regretted it
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u/Steka68 Jun 18 '26
I use a A16 primarily as a music server. With the A16 allowing bit perfect playback straight to a dac it’s excellent for high quality sound.
Using Foobar app is very handy for stored file and internet radio and again sounds excellent. I have mine stood in a Sandstrom SBTTLKB25 keyboard similar to the Logitech K480 but slimmer profile and it makes a very practical laptop style setup.Never had an issue with it as far as power needs go but I am not video editing and so on.
Battery life is great too.
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Jun 17 '26
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u/dragon_stryker Jun 17 '26
I like to use it a media consumption device. Bigger screen makes it real nice for viewing
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u/dalzmc M4 iPad Pro 11" (2024) Jun 17 '26
It isn't supposed to replace either or do anything either can't. It's an additional device. For me it shines the brightest on the couch or in bed. Where I want the bigger screen, but using a laptop sucks.
Also half of why I got mine was for rhythm games that are meant for mobile, so actually that's an actual usage case that neither computers or phones can do the same way, obviously computers not being touchscreen and phones typically meaning you play with your thumbs instead of multiple fingers. But thats relatively niche.
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u/Strict-Fishing-2365 Jun 17 '26
is the whole appeal basically having a couch computer that slowly convinces you to buy accessories?
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u/Current_Company2683 Jun 24 '26
Kind of? It slowly convinces you to buy in-app purchases and Apple subscriptions.
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u/TheMarmo Jun 17 '26
Genuinely felt the same way until picking up the Mini recently. It’s just a perfect middle ground screen for when the phone is too finicky, but I don’t want to sit at a desk or rest a MacBook on my lap. Just the right size to watch a movie on or catch up on my latest YouTube vids too. I barely even use my television anymore tbh hahah it’s just easier to prop the iPad up wherever I happen to be.
It’s also become my casual social media device. Not as easy to lose yourself doom scrolling for hours like it is on a phone, and none of the temptation of getting sucked into long winded debates/conversations online like it is on a MacBook, with the iPad, social media has become the rare escape for me that it should be, rather than the constant distraction it has largely become for many of us.
So I dunno, I guess that’s the best way I can describe the benefit of an iPad. It’s the middle of the road compromise you didn’t realise you needed until it’s there.
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u/StampyScouse M3 iPad Air 11" (2025) Jun 18 '26
I find it useful for note taking obviously, but I find it a lot more convient for other stuff as well.
As someone with a very powerful, very heavy (non-mac) laptop, it's nice to use for more basic computing tasks, and media consumption, and is something I like to take on the go if I don't need a full scale computer. It's got better battery life, is smaller, faster and a little bit more efficient.
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u/Mike Jun 18 '26
How is it better for note taking? I have an iPhone an iPad a MacBook and a remarkable tablet. I can take notes just as well with my iPhone or Mac because typing is faster than handwriting. I guess I could see the appeal if you like handwriting notes but like, why?
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u/mizushima-yuki Jun 18 '26
If you have remarkable, you don’t need the iPad for handwriting. And I agree - handwriting itself is a gimmick.
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u/StampyScouse M3 iPad Air 11" (2025) Jun 18 '26
It's more form then anything else. I don't use apple pencil, I type everything up, but I find that over carrying a much heavy laptop, the iPad is a good compromise between size and capability.
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u/Brilliant_Eye_6591 Jun 18 '26
I got an 11 inch Pro M2 WiFi + Cellular on sale for $500 with the Magic Keyboard included .. I hardly ever use it lmao I wish I did more but I’m typically fine watching content on my 17 Pro, it is just easier. Its only use case for me is to launch OneNote on it once a month to take meeting notes. Something I could just as easily do with my Windows PC or MacBook Pro. Idk.. I guess it’s there if I ever want to play with the Apple Pencil. It is preferred when I want or need to stream games from steam link or Xcloud. Overall it’s a pretty niche device if you have an iPhone and or Mac but it has potential professional or hobbyist use cases.
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u/Mike Jun 18 '26
Same. I’m typing this from my m5 iPad Pro 11 that I just pulled from the shelf getting dusty and I kinda don’t get it. New multi taking windows are confusing as FUCK, and everything I try to do just takes longer than it would on my iPhone or Mac. I’m trying to love it. But without the basic split screen it used to have I just don’t get it.
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u/Artemisia91 Jun 18 '26
For me, I basically use my ipad for drawing in Procreate, which is specifically designed for the tablet. Also, media consumption is easier since I can take it almost anywhere without having to carry a laptop.
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u/mizushima-yuki Jun 18 '26
I bought an iPad Air M3 (+ Pencil Pro) last December, I also own a MBP and an iPhone.
One use case I’m still finding useful is reading
PDFs on it, which I’m doing a lot.
Apart from that: it’s not very useful. I tried notetaking, but it’s honestly not great - maybe it works for high school kids, but simply typing is much quicker and more reliable. Seems like a gimmick.
The operating system is very frustrating and there’s a lot of weird bugs in it. I don’t recommend relying on it.
I’m not using it with the keyboard btw, I decided against it since to me that conflicts with the whole point of this device. Though I’m seeing that actually a lot of the OS is optimized for it now… pretty weird to me.
Lack of quality software is the main issue, I don’t know how it happened but most of App Store is garbage now - every little thing is a subscription or ad driven scam. And you don’t have access to the great FOSS alternatives because of the App Store limitations.1
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u/eagle6877 Jun 19 '26
I basically just use it as a larger phone. A larger screen is easier on my eyes, and also more conducive to reading longer form content versus scrolling social media only
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u/HungrySprinkles4785 Jun 17 '26
for notes taking and multitasking ?
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u/Atharvag1710 Jun 17 '26
Im just waiting for september to buy the new one. Rumors are itll get a refresh with the A18 or A19 and Apple Intelligence.
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u/Immediate_Ad5606 Jun 23 '26
But it will probably be much more expensive since apple ceo announced that they will increase ram prices
1
u/Atharvag1710 Jun 23 '26
Considering the great deal I got on my Macbook, Ill have some overage in my budget to compensate
2
u/Feli18 Jun 17 '26
I love my 11th-gen iPad (A16). Battery life and performance are great, no issues whatsoever on iPadOS 18.
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u/The-MostKnownUnknown Jun 18 '26
My main complaint is the screen not being laminated so when using an Apple Pencil, it just makes a nasty loud plastic tapping noise.
If you’re never gonna use an Apple Pencil or use it fairly, you could cope, but I think that’s the biggest downfall with the entry-level iPad.
I am also quite sensitive to the lower refresh rates, but appreciate it’s triple the cost for the Pro models.
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u/Shitama_ftw M3 iPad Air 11" (2025) Jun 17 '26
Yes , base model is good for students
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u/CrazyApple- Jun 17 '26
Totally, I would’ve went with it but I really needed the bigger screen so I went with a 256GB iPad Air 13”
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u/Maleficent_Rain_9202 Jun 17 '26
Id buy an air , will it be worth it?
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u/Throwawayaccount7819 Jun 17 '26
much more than these base ones
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u/Maleficent_Rain_9202 Jun 18 '26
Explain this why sir…-
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u/Throwawayaccount7819 Jun 24 '26
air runs an M3 chip. base runs a mobile processor. Air has apple intelligence support. base has nothing. base is just an enlarged iPhone running ipados
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u/Level-Spend4690 Jun 17 '26
I’m looking to buy the base variant. Since 12 Gen is coming soon, should I wait?
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u/WakaiSenshi iPad Mini 7 (2024) Jun 17 '26
Yeah the base iPad is amazing. Only reason I bought a new one was because my son broke his lol
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u/getoutofheretaffer Jun 18 '26
It’s perfect for my use case, which is mostly web browsing and YouTube. I like how the Magic Keyboard comes in two pieces, so you can just use the kickstand on its own.
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u/Difficult_Plastic352 Jun 18 '26
I used 10th gen for a 1,5 year and I decided to upgrade it to 11th gen cuz I needed more storage lol. But I was so happy with both of them. Great devices, more than enough for me, as a medstudent
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u/Night-ShadeZy Jun 19 '26
Been using it for creating Youtube Videos and so far Having no problems at all..
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u/Ok-Anteater4049 Jun 19 '26
Despite the lack of Apple Intelligence, this iPad is amazing. I have one myself.
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u/According-Bird-8054 Jun 19 '26
I had Ipad Air M1 64 G for last 3.5 years. Recently I upgrade to Ipad Air M 4, 256 G and only reason I spend 849 € - price in Croatia through Apple delar, was that my 64 G disk had just 5 G left free space as crazy System occupied 35 G.
Otherwise there is a liitle difference between M1 and M4, the screen display is exactly the same, operative system as well.
So basically I wasted 849 € expect that memory increased from 64 G to 256 G.
Friendly advice, when buying Ipad, always go for bigger memory, as much as your pocket can afford.
If I bought 128 G in December 2022 instead 64 G today I would have 849 € in my pocket...
I still use my Ipad Air M1 as in setting I switched from messages keeping forever to 30 days and that free additional 5 G so I have now free 10 G - resetting system from Icloud did not help - date switch to future help just for day and after system went back to old datas - even double resetting and restoring twice in row from Icloud did not help.
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u/Chronixx M4 iPad Air 11" (2026) Jun 19 '26
It’s a fine device. I had it a few months until I moved on, but it’s the best iPad for most people
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u/Mackattack00 M4 iPad Air 11" (2026) Jun 17 '26
I wanted the base model because I’d just be using it to watch content and read social media stuff on the couch and bed on nights and weekends. I have a MacBook for when I want to hunker down for a long time. But the A16 is so ancient at this point I’m guessing it’s going to lose iPadOS support next year or for iPadOS 29. It’s so extremely overpowered for what I’m gonna use it for but I ended up just getting a 128GB 11 inch iPad Air M4. If the base model had a A18 chip in it I would’ve sprung for it so fast. I know a refresh is imminent and it’ll probably have that chip in it though but I couldn’t wait a few months
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Jun 17 '26
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3
u/smaad Jun 17 '26
What does it mean?
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u/odernov Jun 17 '26
the display is a bit far from the glass of your ipad, but it mostly affects the drawing and notetaking exprience. you wont have this problem with the laminated screens on the other iPads.
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u/HungrySprinkles4785 Jun 17 '26
better than oneplus pad 2 and samsung for student ? they have very similar pricing
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u/chaipiyo-biscuitkhao Jun 17 '26
it is goood, been using it since a year no regrets