Damaged your iPad, and it’s in need of a repair, but you aren’t sure if it’s worth it? It can become difficult to determine when the right time is to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new, and end up holding onto something that is well past its prime. So, when is it time to upgrade instead of repairing your iPad? What are the signs to look out for?
Here, we will go through the key signs that suggest that it’s time to upgrade your device instead of repairing it. We will also cover a few things that do not necessarily mean that an upgrade is inevitable (yet), even if any other people will tell you otherwise.
Warning Signs to Keep in Mind
Below are three common warning signs that you need to keep in mind if you are starting to think about whether you should upgrade or repair an iPad. These are not the be-all-and-end-all, but definitely something to take note of for future reference, as it attests to the age of the device.
The Battery Performance is Poor
The first warning sign that your iPad is getting older is all about battery performance. Before you start panicking, please remember that it is 100% normal for tech batteries to get replaced every 1–2 years, depending on use and charging. No battery will last forever, and its performance will gradually go down.
However, you can easily get a replacement battery for your device to work around this issue. If you have had to replace your device’s battery a few times over the last several years, then it’s a good indicator that you should start thinking about an upgrade, but don’t let this alone be a deciding factor.
There Are Display Issues
Display issues like dead pixels can be problematic and often reflect the age of a device, but again, this is not a deciding factor if you are contemplating upgrading. Like a battery, you can get a new screen fitted to work around any issues you might be experiencing.
Just remember that screen replacements can get very costly, depending on the device you have. For example, here are a few screen replacement costs for different iPad models at imFixed:
- iPad Pro (12.9”) 1st Gen – £180
- iPad Pro (12.9”) 2nd Gen – £450
- iPad Pro (12.9”) 3rd Gen – £285
- iPad Pro (11”) 2nd Gen – £220
- iPad Pro (11”) 3rd Gen – £300
- iPad Air 1st Gen – £55
- iPad Air 2nd Gen – £130
- iPad Mini 2nd Gen – £55
- iPad Mini 3rd Gen – £85
- iPad 3rd Gen – £55
- iPad 4th Gen – £55
- iPad 9th Gen – £85
- iPad 10th Gen – £200
Hardware Buttons Are Unresponsive
Finally, another warning sign is that the hardware buttons are unresponsive, or are not as responsive as they used to be. Like the other two, this issue can be fixed, but does say a lot about the age and general condition of your iPad.
When is it Time to Upgrade Instead of Repairing Your iPad?
With that out of the way, when is it time to upgrade instead of repairing your iPad? Below, we will go through the key signs that your iPad is past its prime, and you should start looking for an upgrade as soon as possible.
New Accessories Are Not Compatible
Apple comes out with new accessories every year, and it’s normal to want to enjoy them, too. However, when an older iPad is no longer compatible with these accessories, it makes sense to start looking at a replacement.
New accessories might require different functions and features in a device, and your iPad not being able to use them goes a long way to showing how obsolete it is. This can be especially important if you use a lot of accessories and like to rest products, but we understand that not everyone will care too much about it, depending on personal preferences.
You’re Constantly Running Out of Space
If you are constantly running out of space even after deleting data from your gallery, files, or anything else, you need to think about getting a new device. This is one of the most obvious ways to tell when the time has come for an upgrade, because all the updates, apps, and everything else on your device takes up every bit of room on it, leaving nothing left.
This is inevitable if you keep an iPad for too long, and it doesn’t matter how much you delete to free up space, that space will be almost impossible to get back.
Apps Crash All the Time
Another sign that you should look for an upgrade is that your apps crash constantly. This could be due to the fact that apps are no longer supported on your older device, and therefore cannot properly function, or that there are other internal issues to consider.
Usually it will be the former, as companies need to update their apps in line with new iOS and general security updates to work properly.
You Can No Longer Update iOS
Finally, continuing from the above, you need to start looking for a replacement device when your iPad can no longer get the updated iOS. Without an updated iOS, your iPad won’t be able to run the necessary systems and functions, and it also won’t be able to get the security updates and fixes it requires in order to keep your data secure.
Things That Are Not Signs That an Upgrade is Needed
If you are worried about upgrading your iPad because of age or damage, you will be glad to know that these factors don’t always mean that the time has come.
Below are a few issues that do not necessarily mean that it is time to upgrade your iPad, even if many other sites will claim otherwise:
- Broken or faulty screen – replacing or repairing a broken iPad screen is worth it 99% of the time. While it can be expensive, it isn’t as costly as purchasing a whole new device. A screen repair can extend the life of your device by protecting the internal components, but this is only the case if there is no other damage or signs that the iPad should be replaced.
- Broken cameras (front or back) – like the above, a broken front or rear iPad camera is perfectly fixable, but not always the cheapest. However, it is not an indicator that the whole device should be replaced, and accidents happen all the time.
- The device is considered ‘obsolete’ by Apple – this refers to Apple products that are more than even years old. Not all obsolete devices lose their purpose and value, and while Apple won’t repair obsolete devices and push an upgrade on you, the iPad could still fulfil its use for the time being.
Looking for Repairs or Replacements? Come to imFixed
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide when to upgrade your iPad. You can get an upgraded device after a year or two, or wait 10 years to get a new model – there are no right or wrong answers.
However, please remember that the longer you have an obsolete device, or a device that is no longer supported by Apple (can’t update iOS), the higher risk it is. No updates mean no security updates and fixes, and this can compromise your personal data.
So, when is it time to upgrade instead of repairing your iPad? When your iPad can no longer get iOS updates, constantly runs out of space, is not compatible with new accessories, and crashes, then it’s a good idea to upgrade instead of repair the device.
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Address - 101 Tonge Moor Road, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL2 2DL
Phone - 07754854869
Email - info@imfixed.co.uk
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