Inbox: Should I wait to buy an iPad?
We get some great mail into GeekLift from readers looking for a little advice on gadgets. In the Inbox this week, we received a very timely email from Greg, who asks:
Our workplace is starting to use iPads to send out their internal documents. So I’ll need to get one. Should I wait to buy an iPad or is now the time? They’re always coming out with new models and I don’t want to buy one and have it obsolete in a month or two. Just wondering if there’s any strategy in waiting because I don’t need it for a few months.
This is a great question and extremely timely. And Greg, you’re lucky you don’t need it tomorrow. The answer is hold off on buying an iPad for now! There has been a lot of news from Apple lately. New iPhones, a new iOS, new computers and yes, there is a new iPad in the works.
iPad 5 to be announced in a few weeks
According to AllThingsD and their people in the know, the iPad 5 could be unveiled at Apple’s October 22nd event (the event was first reported by Current Editorials). This is very important for people like Greg for a number of reasons:
- New version. The iPad 5 should be unveiled in a few weeks. The iPad Mini 2 should be announced as well.
- Price drop. Almost always when Apple unveils a new product and starts taking orders, older models drop in price.
- Mad Scramble. When a new Apple gadget comes out, people will do almost anything to get rid of their old devices.
- Holidays. They’re right around the corner. Deep discounts are sure to be on the mark.
As for the new iPad 5’s features? It’s hard to say at this point, but ATD did have this to say with their recent news:
“The fifth-generation iPad is expected to feature a thinner, lighter design akin to the iPad mini’s, and an improved camera. It will run Apple’s new 64-bit A7 chip. The second-generation iPad mini will be upgraded with a retina display and also likely see the A7 incorporated into its innards. It’s not clear whether Apple’s new iPads will feature the Touch ID fingerprint sensor that recently debuted on the iPhone 5s, though that has been rumored.”
Sounds like iPad lovers can expect some nice upgrades to the new iPad 5 and iPad Mini 2.
Again, this should happen at Apples invitation-only event on October 22nd. Sources declined to mention where the event will be held. That doesn’t necessarily matter because most of you (and I) are not invited. But it’s nice to have some information to work from.
The verdict
So to answer your question, Greg, it’s not a good time to buy an iPad because according to reports, the iPad 5 is about to be unveiled, prices for the iPad 4 and iPad 2 will likely drop, people will be clamoring for the iPad 5 so they’ll be offloading older (and nearly-perfect) devices and the holidays are around the corner which means retailers want their best on the shelves and want you to buy up their old inventory (which, for most of us is just fine!).
Good luck and enjoy the new iPad 5 (because we all know you want the latest device from Apple!).
Images: Ali Karagoz, Unbox Therapy, SlashGear
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