Alright, so you’ve been glued to your monitor the past few hours, drooling over the new iPad’s ridiculous screen, crazy camera, and insane apps. Now you’re just wondering which iPad model you should buy. Are you torn between Wi-Fi only and LTE? Or maybe the decision between the black and white model is too hard for you to make on your own. Don’t worry. We’re here to help you out and find the absolute best new iPad for you.
Black or White?
This is the decision I grapple with the most when purchasing a new Apple device. The White looks so cool. It’s an Apple classic, and fingerprint smudges aren’t as visible on the white background. Then there’s Black, and it’s always classy, never goes out of style. While this option might come down to personal preference, we still recommend getting a black iPad. The black bezel disappears into that background when you’re using the iPad, whereas when using a white iPad you’re always cognizant of the white border around your video. To enjoy your games and videos more fully, we think the black iPad offers the best overall experience.
Decision: Black
How Much Storage Do I Need?
That 64GB iPad is staring you down. Winking. Telling you that you need all its delicious gigabytes to be happy in life. With a Retina display iPad you’re going to need more storage space than usual because apps are going to be bigger than ever. It’d be a travesty to have a new iPad without keeping a couple HD movies on the device just so you can drool all over the screen. The average file size of an HD movie is about 1.5GB. 16GB is definitely too paltry, but we think 64GB is overkill because you’re never going to use up all that storage unless you’re a digital hoarder. 32GB is the sweet. It’s just enough space to have some extra room when things get tight, but it’s not too much, and it certainly won’t break the bank to upgrade to that amount of storage.
Decision: 32GB
Wifi-only or LTE/3G?
There are so many amazing apps on the iPad, but a lot of the great ones require a data connection to have their content updated. It sucks when you’re away from your house and decide to cruise Flipboard, Devour, or Netflix on your iPad but can’t find an open Wi-fi hotspot. Tethering to your iPhone is one option to avoid paying the extra $129 to upgrade to an LTE model iPad, but tethering is tedious, and it drains your iPhone’s battery quicker than Charlie Sheen consumes angel dust. Spending the extra $129 to ensure you’ll always have a data connection is worth it more than ever with the addition of 4G LTE. But before you dash out to buy your LTE-equipped iPad, make sure you live in an area that has 4G coverage, otherwise you’ll just be wasting your cash.
Decision: LTE/3G
Which Carrier?
Ok, you decided to go with the LTE/3G iPad, and your last decision to make is which carrier do you go with. This depends on where you live. Right now AT&T’s LTE network is only launched in 28 markets. If you don’t live in a big city then you’ll have a hard time getting LTE with AT&T. On the other hand, Verizon’s LTE network is currently available in 196 cities, covering more than 200 million Americans. When it comes to 4G LTE, Verizon is the clear winner right now.
Decision: Verizon
Wrap up
The new iPad is going to be one of the best visual experiences technology can bring to you. Take advantage of all the new pixels by storing and streaming more high-def videos on a 32GB LTE and keep it classy by going with the black model.
Conclusion: 32GB LTE iPad in black.
Agree? Disagree? Let us know which new iPad you’ll be buying in the comments!
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
19 responses to “Which New iPad To Buy? Here’s The One You Should Pick [Buyer’s Guide]”
I actually decided I’m going to try and get the Black 64GB 4G version… but I’m torn between AT&T and Verizon. While it’s true that AT&T’s LTE coverage is nowhere near what Verizon’s currently is, I’ve seen numerous reports that it’s actually faster than Verizon’s LTE. Also, I’ve seen plenty of stories in recent months of Verizon’s LTE network going down for no apparent reason. I’m thinking I may stick with the AT&T version because, after all, it will be available in my market at some point and I plan on keeping this device for several years.
Any idea on what the monthly cost is for 4G?
Just preordered this exact version
Just preordered this exact version
I just preordered that exact version, lol
I got the White 64GB Verizon at 13:15 PDT
$50 for 5GB…a bit too much when I’ve got an iPhone.
Going with wifi 16gb + apple tv. with iCloud and tethering the only things that will be stored on the iPad itself is just applications (which i doubt will pass 10gb’s at a given time)
You are failing to factor in the additional $600 per year in fees that the 4G version will cost. So the actual cost difference for the first year is $129 + $600 = $729. This rises to $1329 after 2 years.
White 16 gigs AT&T. Unlimited 4G data ahoy!! :D
64GB (I wanted 128, dammit) WiFi (The new Clear 4G Voyager Spot is excellent, and the coverage is perfect for me, plus I can use it with my MBP, my iPhone and can let seven other users connect) iPad in black
Went with the 32GB LTE in Black on AT&T’s network for 2 reasons – 1. HSPA+ is faster than Verizon’s EV-DO 3G system, and it is much more wide spread than LTE by either carrier. 2. While AT&T isn’t as wide spread as Verizon’s is now, that won’t last too much longer and, like someone said above, all the tests I’ve seen by both carriers makes me believe that AT&T’s flavor of LTE with be faster overall.
There’s no contract so you can’t assume the additional cost…
Pre-ordred the 32Gb Black 4G. Though I dont think LTE has arrived in the UK…We’ll have to put up with grotty ‘ole 3G. Also took the plunge with the HD Apple TV. At least its cheaper than a tank full of petrol…
32 GB White wi-fi version for this guy!!
I’d check your information. AT&T doesn’t have unlimited data. And their claims to have it before were false. That’s why they’re getting sued.
I would say that the storage question comes down to how long you plan to keep your iPad. If you are the type that will always get the new one every year then no you probably don’t need the 64 GB. But if you are the type that might or might not, keep in mind that over time many apps are getting bigger so you might find you need more storage just to keep the same apps on your iPad. So perhaps the 64GB is a good way to go.
64GB, just as before. Every iPad, every iPod touch, every iPhone… you should always get the max amount of space available. What happens if you’re on a train and can’t get a data connection? Don’t rely 100% on the cloud. It’s a good feature, until it doesn’t work.
This is the best online Buyer’s Guide I have found! I am going with a Black 32GB version but am undecided between AT&T and Verizon. I already have AT&T for everything else and like the idea of bundling (media,laptop,cell phone). This will be my first iPad.