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alextda617

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 20, 2023
2
0
Hi all! I have found two options for my requirements: one is at refurbished store and one is at educational one. What would you choose to buy if the price difference was $20? iPad Pro 12.9 M1 256 or iPad Pro 12.9 M2 128?
What is more important for the same price - new processor or memory?
 

sparksd

macrumors G3
Jun 7, 2015
9,166
29,094
Seattle WA
For me, the memory. I have a 512GB M1 12.9 and have found the M1 processor to be more than adequate for even large image and 4K video editing processing.
 
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Student of Life

macrumors 6502a
Oct 13, 2020
689
738
Hi all! I have found two options for my requirements: one is at refurbished store and one is at educational one. What would you choose to buy if the price difference was $20? iPad Pro 12.9 M1 256 or iPad Pro 12.9 M2 128?
What is more important for the same price - new processor or memory?

I would consider the 12.9 iPad Pro M1 version and save the money unless storage is important in this case. 128 gb should be good for most people but if you are a heavy user then get 256 or more. Both links below are for new iPads with cellular and both are eligible for AppleCare. Hope that helps, personally im tempted to get the ebay one since it's cheaper but my 12.9 2018 iPad Pro is still working perfectly so it's hard to justify the buy.

12.9 iPad Pro new from Woot for 809

12.9 iPad Pro new from eBay for 780
 

BugeyeSTI

macrumors 604
Aug 19, 2017
6,870
8,728
Arizona/Illinois
I'd go with the M1 256gb as the difference between the M1 and M2 isn't noticeable. IMO the larger storage is more important than the small bump in processor performance
 
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svish

macrumors G3
Nov 25, 2017
9,797
25,708
I would go for the 256GB. Difference between M1 and M2 on iPad Pro is not noticeable. Larger storage may be useful in the future. I have a 256GB 2020 iPad Pro. So glad that I went with 256GB instead of 128GB
 
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xxFoxtail

macrumors 6502a
Nov 8, 2015
503
726
NY
I would consider the 12.9 iPad Pro M1 version and save the money unless storage is important in this case. 128 gb should be good for most people but if you are a heavy user then get 256 or more. Both links below are for new iPads with cellular and both are eligible for AppleCare. Hope that helps, personally im tempted to get the ebay one since it's cheaper but my 12.9 2018 iPad Pro is still working perfectly so it's hard to justify the buy.

12.9 iPad Pro new from Woot for 809

12.9 iPad Pro new from eBay for 780
I've been on and off about the Woot deal for the last month or so. They keep on bringing it back. To me, I think that's a pretty good price, then I remember the M1 iPad Pro has been out for 2 1/2 years. It's still an excellent device and probably worth it especially for a cellular model. And I can't find a price cheaper than that brand new even for just a wi-fi model. I can imagine it being supported in 4-5 years still. (Edit: I probably won't get it because I sold my M1 iPP a few months ago and replaced it with a MacBook Air - which I'm happy with. But I have so many 12.9" iPad accessories around the house still (magnetic mounts, USB-C docks, Pencil, Magic Keyboard, etc - husband still has a 2020 12.9" iPP) I'm very tempted, but I know the MacBook will be sidelined and probably become a dust collector)

On the other hand, the M2 iPP will probably be supported for 1-2 years longer than the M1. So the trade off is storage space for longevity. You won't notice a speed difference from day to day tasks between the two. And unless you really want Apple Pencil hover support, I'm not sure the M2 iPP makes too much sense.
 
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