iPads lifespan

[Ausmumof3]

iPad people...

 

How long did your iPads last? Ours is exactly three years old and has issues anyway but the battery is basically dead. It will hold a charge that lasts around five minutes. New battery is $110 and that's non genuine so no guArantees? replacement cost isn't crazy high but we probably won't replace it right now as it is mostly a kid educational device but I've found it's used more for entertainment than education anyway.

[Amira]

I replaced my original iPad from 2010 a few months ago. I had zero issues with it, it just couldn't be updated anymore or handle most apps. We still use it.

 

I think three years for a tablet is a reasonable lifespan, if only because it'll be outdated. I wouldn't replace the battery on one that old.

[Julie Smith]

My original one still works, but I updated it several months ago because it was becoming to outdated. As in it couldn't be updated, all new apps required an updated iPad before I could download them. Also YouTube videos also required me to update before YouTube videos would work. My socket was also very dirty and couldn't be fixed even when my brother cleaned it. This made it hard to download movies onto it because contesting it to my computer was iffy.

 

My Dh still uses it for web surfing and downloading books.

[fraidycat]

Mine is from March 2012 and still works. Battery is fine on it. But, it is slowing down. Apps and even internet seem to take longer on it than any other devices. It doesn't get used much anymore.

[DawnM]

Depends.

 

We have 3 iPads that I actually may be selling.  My kids don't use them anymore.

 

The iPad 2 is still working but really can't be updated.  I think it is 6 years old?

 

The iPad 3 is fine, although it is ATT data based and the data stopped working.  They told me the antenna died.  It would be over $200 to fix, so we just use it with wifi.

 

And I have a 3 year old iPad mini that I just found out my son doesn't use anymore, and hasn't for months.  It works perfectly though.

[Guest]

I hate it when electronics die. In my head I think they should last practically indefinitely. I tend not to replace them until they will not work at all.

[happypamama]

I've had my iPad 2 for almost four years, and I wasn't the first owner. It still holds a charge really well, no problems there. It's still good for a lot of things and has the latest OS, but it's a little slow now for things like web surfing. Some of the more complicated games are a little slow, and it crashes randomly sometimes. But overall, it still works pretty well.

[crazyforlatin]

I have 2 ipad 2 from 2012 and 2013. I did everything to get it to work faster in order to avoid buying a new one. I finally gave up last month and bought an iPad Air. I've read that upgrading iOS at a certain point would slow it down but I didn't know that until I did it and had to research the problem. There's no going back to a previous ios.

 

So I've given myself 3-4 years until the next one.

[umsami]

We are at a similar spot.  Our iPad2 has a cracked screen but it's not really worth fixing it as it is becoming obsolete.

 

I hate how expensive the IPads are, though.  We bought DD a Samsung Tablet and I'd probably move to that if we hadn't bought so much in the app store.

[catz]

Wow, we've had 4 iPads since our first gen one and they're all still running no problem.  The older 2 are obsoleting and are slower but we can still run old stuff on them. 

Edited August 10, 2016 by WoolySocks

[amy g.]

We have an iPad 1, an iPad 2 and an iPad Pro. All are still working great and have never had any issues at all.

[KungFuPanda]

I'm still using an ipad 2 and it does everything I need. I surf the net, check emails, watch netflix, organize and run the music for my dance classes, and use a few favorite apps (mostly notability and The Amazing Slow Downer). I also use it to access my son's video lessons and manage that website. I haven't updated it in a while and I'm not big on collecting lots of apps. It must be 6 or 7 years old now. I tend to use things until they die and find they work longer than most people expect. I'm still using an iPhone 4!

 

I think when it comes to cars and technology, people tend to estimate lifespans very conservatively to justify the expense of a new one. For me, a new ipad would mean I have to crawl out of my comfortable rut and learn a new machine, so I have no incentive to retire mine. For a toy, I'd likely replace the battery for kid use. For myself, I might hire the bullet, get a new one, and hope it lasts as long as this one.

[AK_Mom4]

I have an original iPad that developed battery issues after about four years of use. It can't handle today's apps well either, so I has become a magnificent Alarm Clock on my nightstand. I can read books on it at night and listen to music or audio books no problem and it just stays plugged in all the time.

 

My new iPad is nearly three years old and going strong (typing this post on it). I figure it is good for at least one more year as it gets regularly updated and has heavy use. I use it for work as well as school stuff and take it with me everywhere.

 

3-4 years is my expectation on small electronics.

[City Mouse]

I have an iPad 2 that 5 1/2 years old. It has had a cracked screen for about 4 year. It doesn't have much memory and the processing speed in much slower that the iPad mini 4 that I got last November. It is hard to play newer games in it as it runs too slow, but it is fine for streaming video and for the Barton app.

I have been planning to restore it and wipe the memory to see if that improves function, but I haven't yet.

[TABmom]

I have an iPad 2. It's maybe 5 years old? Not sure. It doesn't download newer apps anymore, but I still use it to surf the net, email and watch Netflix. Netflix is what I use it for the most. I can carry it around and watch while I am in the kitchen or folding laundry or in bed at night after dh is asleep.

[3 ladybugs]

My son has one of the original iPads and uses that thing EVERYDAY and he has no issues with it. My in-laws got it, technology changed, so they gave it to him. It actually has lasted better then my netbook, or the Kindle. I have been impressed!

 

My 3 year old has my iPad (air) and my DH has the iPad mini. Both were purchased at the same time and are going strong as well. But then again they are a lot newer then DS iPad. Notice how I don't have an iPad right now. :rolleyes: I am hoping for an apple laptop soon. ;)

Edited August 10, 2016 by 3 ladybugs

[Guest]

Battery life has declined a bit but both my first and third generation iPads we all going strong. The main issue is the lack of update support for the system, so some apps don't work anymore. We just use them to hold books and media for the kids.

 

Since my first iPod back in 2003, we have only had ONE smaller apple device essentially die - my husband's 4S iPhone. He used it every day with and without a plug, and the battery now lasts maybe three hours. But he just replaced it with a new model and I believe moved it to our second daughter. She only uses it for the occasional games and pictures so the lesser battery life is no big deal.

 

Even my ancient iPod brick still works beautifully.

[mamaraby]

My iPad2 is still working, though slowing down definitely and has no problem holding a charge. I would not replace the bettry with a non-OEM part. I'd wait to to replace the device, imo.

Edited August 10, 2016 by mamaraby

[Spy Car]

I still have an original iPad from Spring 2009. 

 

Works fine for most thing. Can't run many current apps. Safari often crashes. But still working after 7+ years of hard use.

 

Bill

[TechWife]

Our 1st and 2nd generation iPads are still going strong, no problems whatsoever. Not all apps will run on the 1st gen, though. We also have an iPad mini that I don't like quite as much as the full sized iPad, but it is lighter than a book (although it is heaver than a Kindle Paperwhite). We've had no problems with the mini, either. 

[Annie Elle]

My iPad 3 is still going strong with no problems after 4 years. But I am nervous about doing the latest update on the iOS.

[Ausmumof3]

I hate it when electronics die. In my head I think they should last practically indefinitely. I tend not to replace them until they will not work at all.

Yeah this is kind of my issue... My laptop won't internet anymore so it was only the iPad and now it's only my phone. The phone works for so much stuff it feels extravagant to get a new Laptop or iPad but there's a few things I just can't do with it.

[Ausmumof3]

I am super impressed that so many iPads have lasted so well, makes me think I maybe is worth doing the battery replacement. I really need to sort something out for testing for the kids and printing worksheets and stuff. It would be the cheapest way short term but I need to get at least another year out of it to pay for the replacement battery.

[Guest]

We have done replacement batteries from Apple with excellent results, multiple years more of use. It's absolutely worth it if you aren't otherwise planning an upgrade.

[AmandaVT]

We have an ipad2 from 2011 I think? Still works great. DS has an ipad mini that grandpa got him a couple of Christmases ago and it still works like new. 

 

My more impressive apple lifespans are my ipod from 2005 which is still working perfectly and my laptop that DH found at the dump of all places. It's a 2006 and my dad fixed it up for us and it still works great 10 years later!

[Julie Smith]

I just did the math. My iPad, which Dh now uses is over seven years old. I got it for my birthday so I'm able to figure out how old it is.

[Julie Smith]

I just did the math. My iPad, which Dh now uses is over seven years old. I got it for my birthday so I'm able to figure out how old it is.

 

My iPad also had no case for the first few years, and has been dropped from standing numerous times. It was also dropped down half a stair case, twice.

[StaceyinLA]

We still have an iPad 2 that works, and holds a decent charge.

 

My grandkids have 2 original iPad minis and 3 iPad mini 2s between them. The original minis are pretty slow running apps, but since they are mainly for the babies on long car rides, and just need to play downloaded Mickey Mouse episodes, they still do okay for us. The mini 2s are hanging in there pretty well. All 5 of these hold a charge for a long time.

[Carrie12345]

Our original iPad was still kicking a few months ago... until ds dropped it on a tile floor.  

[Ausmumof3]

Grr... Well I took the otter box case off and realised there is some kind of corrosion or something in the charging port and also the plug isn't going all the way in. Plus what I thought was minor screen cracking is worse and pieces of glass are coming out so I would need to do the screen as well. It's disappointing but it has been very well used as its been shared by five people in the family. I will look into a small laptop for school only but the kids won't be able to use it (as they are responsible for most of the damage to the ipad).

[Forget-Me-Not]

I have a mini from Nov 2012 that is definitely slowing down.  It's basically used as a Kindle now.  I'd like to upgrade it but can't justify the cost at the moment.