Whereas most individuals substitute their tech each few years, my 2015 iPad Professional retains proving its price. Despite the fact that I personal the latest mannequin, I discover myself reaching for this ageing pill extra typically than you’d count on.
Why I haven’t retired my historical iPad Professional
My iPad assortment is easy: there’s the unique Professional 12.9-inch beast (A1584) with laughably tiny 32GB storage, plus my present iPad Professional 2TB powerhouse. Logic says I ought to’ve donated the previous one years in the past. However this is the factor—I take advantage of that first-gen iPad Professional a number of instances per week, and it is earned its everlasting spot in my tech lineup.
The unique iPad Professional in 2015 was Apple’s daring assertion that tablets might be severe productiveness machines. Almost a decade later, mine’s nonetheless making that case—simply with just a few extra battle scars and considerably much less out there storage.
My go-to second monitor setup
Jonathon Jachura / MUO
The largest cause I maintain reaching for my previous iPad Professional is that it is the excellent second show for my Intel MacBook Professional. Utilizing Sidecar, it turns into an immediate prolonged desktop. You possibly can join wirelessly or with a wire—I favor connecting it with a cable as a result of it is a extra steady connection and gives pass-through charging.
That 12.9-inch show is ideal for preserving reference docs open, monitoring Slack, or attending conferences whereas I am engaged on the laptop computer.
Might I get a standalone transportable monitor as an alternative? Positive, however at simply over a pound, the 12.9-inch iPad Professional disappears into my bag subsequent to the laptop computer. Plus, Sidecar means zero setup—it connects immediately with none driver nonsense.
Why this beats “cheaper” transportable monitor alternate options
I realized this lesson once I borrowed my good friend’s transportable monitor, which he acquired from Amazon. It had hundreds of five-star opinions and price about $200, so I figured I’d test it out.
It ended up being a complete letdown. With the brightness all the best way up, it seemed horrible subsequent to my previous iPad. The textual content wasn’t crisp, the colours appeared drained, and after 5 minutes of studying, I wished to cease. The actual kicker? That monitor’s battery fully gave up after possibly 5 months.
In distinction, my 2015 iPad continues to be going sturdy on the unique battery. Apple knew what it was doing again then.
The proper kitchen companion
Once I’m cooking, I seize the older iPad with out hesitation. It is the perfect dimension for propping up on the counter to show recipes, and I haven’t got to fret about splashing sauce on my newer $2,000+ iPad Professional. It powers by means of lengthy cooking periods while not having a cost, and the scale works completely propped towards my splashback.
Jonathon Jachura / MUO
Carrying it from counter to counter by no means feels awkward, and I can learn every little thing clearly from throughout the kitchen. Attempt pulling that off with a 6-inch telephone display when your fingers are sticky with flour from kneading bread.
A guilt-free gadget for the children
My 2-year-old and 4-year-old have found the enjoyment of making an attempt to guess my passcode. It is like they’re competing to see who can set off the longest safety lockout interval. Their present file is someplace round 307 minutes, which truly impressed me greater than it pissed off me.
This illustrates one other nice use for an previous iPad: I don’t thoughts in the event that they contact the older gadget as a result of I am not stressing about each bump and scratch. Inevitable drops and grubby fingerprints do not ship me into panic mode like they’d with my costly mannequin. It may truly develop into their gateway into utilizing actual tech responsibly.
It nonetheless does what most individuals want
App compatibility continues to be surprisingly strong on such an previous gadget. All my common apps work simply nice—Netflix, YouTube, Safari, Notes, and extra. Is it blazingly quick? Nope. However for studying articles, watching movies, and dealing with primary work duties, it’s very satisfactory.
This is what actually struck me: most pill customers aren’t pushing their units to the restrict anyway. Electronic mail, internet pages, and YouTube—the same old pill actions work with out grievance.
The trade-offs of preserving previous tech
Jonathon Jachura / MUO
Nonetheless, let’s be actual—the decade-old gadget is certainly displaying its age. Leaping between my two iPad Execs makes the velocity distinction painfully apparent. Apps take their candy time loading, scrolling will get uneven with heavy content material, and multitasking requires precise endurance.
Charging takes without end in comparison with trendy units. I normally plug it in in a single day as a result of making an attempt to high it off shortly through the day is futile.
That Lightning port is totally maddening now. All my different Apple gear has switched to USB-C, which suggests preserving one silly Lightning cable round only for this gadget. Such a minor subject, however it will get annoying quick.
Storage administration is my greatest headache. With solely 32GB whole and iOS taking over a piece of that, I by no means add any further apps to it apart from my present streaming, studying, and recipe functions.
Why promoting doesn’t make sense
eBay, comparable 32GB fashions are going for $100-$150 at most, in the event that they’re pristine. Mine’s acquired just a few dings and scratches, however every little thing works nice.
For what I might get out of promoting it, preserving the iPad Professional as a backup gadget, devoted second monitor, and kitchen pill makes extra sense. The peace of thoughts alone is price greater than no matter I might pocket from a sale.
Plus, there’s one thing satisfying about getting most worth from a tool. This iPad Professional has logged probably hundreds of hours of use throughout a number of roles, and it is nonetheless going sturdy.
This 2015 iPad Professional taught me that well-built {hardware} can outlast each advertising marketing campaign making an attempt to get you to improve. It isn’t successful any velocity contests, however it does not should. The very best tech typically is not the flashiest—it is no matter will get your precise work achieved reliably. You will know when it is actually time to improve your iPad.
