New iPads: What's the Best Buy for iOS Musicmaking?

ExAsperis99

I'm looking to replace a 2017 Air with 512 GB that isn't even half-full. In fact, I'd keep this one happily if I could upgrade to iOS 16, although heavier apps tend to bog things down. So it's time.

I'm looking for the sweet spot. I'd love to spend less than $500 for something that is going to last and play well with a Mac desktop for at least five more years.

Is the A16 chip in the base level iPad good enough in the long haul?
Is an older Air with an M2 chip going to be a good deal?
Is the M3 really an improvement on the M2?

Thoughts?

jwmmakerofmusic

My subjective opinion is if you want to use an Apple Pencil, go for a Mini 7 with 512gb space and a Pencil Pro. If all you need is just the iPad, the current gen base level iPad with 512gb space should suffice. Ymmv. Just don't skimp on space. 512gb or more, please. 🙏

Raggamuffin73

I have been debating this exact same dilemma. I feel it really depends on your needs. In the video I saw, a musician absolutely loaded-up Logic with a stack tracks all with effects and automations, the m2 iPad, gave up.. leaving artefacts and a CPU warning message, the M3 iPad handled it easily.. CPU hitting 28 maximum..

So, really, I can assume that, with normal use, an m2 processor would last you years but if your a power user, m3 would be the best engine size.

mjm1138

My general attitude is buy the best specs you can afford. The “Mactracker” app is very handy for looking up detailed specs on every bit of hardware Apple has made, more or less. You can compare e.g. the number of CPU cores and amount of RAM in each device. The base iPad is RAM and CPU constrained, I’d definitely go for an M2 air over that. I can’t really speak to the M3 vs M2 question, but I think M series over A series is kind of a must. There isn’t an A series iPad out there that I’d take over my M1 iPad Pro.

MonkeyDrummer

What’s kinda annoying me is that for about the same price as the upcoming M3 IPad Air, you can get a refurb M3 MacBook…
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/G1BV0LL/A/

Yes, it’s not touch, but it also does soooo much more. Not limited to just iPad apps, but will run iOS stuff…

yellow_eyez

I say get either mini or the air m2 with pencil 2

JustinOllman

I'm curious what people who recommend a mini are using it for. I couldn't cope with a screen that small, I can barely cope with my old 10.5"

espiegel123

The Air M2 had a lot of bang for the buck.

jwmmakerofmusic

@JustinOllman said:
I'm curious what people who recommend a mini are using it for. I couldn't cope with a screen that small, I can barely cope with my old 10.5"

For me personally, it's the portability factor. I can hold the Mini 7 in one hand while producing with the other. Great for trips to the DMV, the auto mechanic, the coffee shop, etc.

dendy

i would say there is very small difference between M1,M2,M3 (yeah, maybe very few plugins more on M3 vs. M1, but nothing major).

I think Air M1 is completely ok, and price-friendly solution.

dendy

Bear in mind those above are just plain CPU performance tests .. there is important factor also memory bandwidth, especially if you work a lot with big samples - in that case M* chips do have significant advantage to A* chips cause they have much higher memory bandwidth.

dendy

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mervenca

I had the ipad Pro 2017 10.5" before, bottlenecked it quite often, connectivity is trash, and it felt that maybe iPad doesn't have the power what I need.
Before ditching the ipad, (too many apps ive invested into) i blindly tried M2 Air..
And it is truly amazing, especially comparing the price to hardware or other tech that could do similar tasks. But this is my endless library of portable VA synths, grooveboxes. Plus its usb-c, which is a huge leap on its own, I can attack whatever audio and controller peripherals and it justs works.