I currently use a fifth-generation iPad Air with 64GB of storage, and I'm constantly running into space limitations. Once I reach around 60GB used, apps crash, files disappear or behave unpredictably, and I have to spend a lot of time deleting things before I can work again.
I mainly use the iPad for digital painting, writing, entertainment, and travel. I can only keep a few paintings with their layers, so I have to delete older projects even when I'd like to edit them later. I also avoid installing games, downloading movies for trips, or using Microsoft Word and PowerPoint because I'm worried about running out of space. Managing my photos has been difficult too: when I previously connected them to cloud storage, my photos and videos appeared to download onto the iPad instead of freeing space, and I ended up losing track of important files. A writing-app cloud sync also scrambled my folders and caused me to lose documents, so I'm reluctant to try that again.
I already own a capable laptop, but it's uncomfortable to carry on trains and planes. I'd like the iPad to function as a more portable work and entertainment device. I can afford a refurbished iPad Air with an M2 or M3 chip and either 256GB or 512GB of storage, although the money could be useful elsewhere. Is upgrading worthwhile, and would 256GB be enough, or should I pay extra for 512GB?
5 Answers
For your use, upgrading sounds reasonable. A 64GB tablet is very restrictive for layered artwork, downloaded media, photos, and office documents. I’d choose 256GB rather than 512GB unless you specifically want to keep a very large local library. External storage or cloud storage can hold finished paintings, videos, and older documents, while 256GB should give you much more room to work comfortably.
Before buying a new device, it may be worth getting help configuring photo storage correctly. In the Photos settings, an option such as “Optimize iPad Storage” should keep smaller versions on the iPad while retaining the originals in the cloud. You can also offload unused apps and move large files to external storage. That said, if cloud syncing has already caused you to lose files and you don’t feel comfortable troubleshooting it, a larger-capacity iPad would remove a lot of frustration.
A laptop or desktop is still better for heavy file management, but that doesn’t solve the portability issue you described. Since you already have a good computer and specifically want a lightweight travel device, replacing the 64GB iPad makes more sense than buying another computer. Just make sure important documents are backed up in at least two places before changing any sync settings.
An external SSD connected through the charging port could help you archive paintings, photos, and videos without replacing the iPad. It’s a cheaper option, but it does mean remembering to carry and manage another device. If convenience is the main goal, paying for more internal storage may be worth it.
You don’t need an iPad Pro for these tasks. The Air should handle painting, writing, Office apps, and travel use well; the main problem is your current storage capacity. A refurbished Air with 256GB seems like the sensible balance. Go to 512GB only if you want to keep lots of movies, photos, and large creative files directly on the tablet and don’t want to manage external storage.
I share a 1TB cloud plan with my family, but when I connected Photos, the cloud library appeared to download everything onto my iPad, including videos. It was a nightmare to clean up, so I’m hesitant to try it again. I only have a few optional apps installed already, so there isn’t much more I can remove.