Is an iPad (10th gen) worth it?
The base iPad — Apple's best-selling tablet line.
More than a full workday of your life. 48-hour rule: if you still want it then, you need it.
How long it takes to earn it
Below is what iPad (10th gen) costs in real working hours, depending on what you actually take home. The math is simple: $349.00 ÷ wage = hours.
| If you take home | Hours of work | Workdays | % of year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15/hr | 23.3 hrs | 2.91 days | 1.1% |
| $20/hr | 17.4 hrs | 2.18 days | 0.84% |
| $25/hr | 14.0 hrs | 1.75 days | 0.67% |
| $40/hr | 8.7 hrs | 1.09 days | 0.42% |
| $60/hr | 5.8 hrs | 0.73 days | 0.28% |
| $100/hr | 3.5 hrs | 0.44 days | 0.17% |
Frequently asked
How long to earn an iPad?
About 14 hours at $25/hr. The Pro is more than 3x — $999, or 40 hours.
iPad vs Kindle for reading?
Kindle Paperwhite is $159 (6 hours at $25/hr). The iPad does everything else but is worse for sustained reading. Honest answer: get both, or the Kindle if reading-only.
Worth getting Apple Pencil too?
Apple Pencil USB-C is $79 (~3 hours). If you'll use it weekly for notes or sketching, it's a strong yes. Otherwise, no.
How long do iPads last?
Software support typically runs 6–7 years from release. An iPad bought today should remain supported through ~2030.