The concerns of low-cost iPad users

Once popular for casual use and kids' games, cheap iPads are slowly becoming obsolete.

Although Apple quietly discontinued iPad models with 3GB of RAM in May 2024, the iPad 9 is still widely used. However, support for the device is under threat as mobile game developers raise the bar on hardware requirements.

iPad 9 is no longer powerful enough for popular mobile games

PHOTO: APPLE

Popular games like Fortnite and Roblox have highlighted the limitations of older iPad models with 3GB of RAM. These devices are no longer powerful enough to handle modern mobile gaming demands, forcing users to consider upgrading sooner than expected.

Fortnite requires a minimum of 4GB of RAM to run, while an iPad with 3GB of RAM can install the game, but it won't launch. While Roblox has slightly lower hardware requirements, players have also encountered performance issues running on an iPad 9, even getting a "low memory" warning when playing despite having free space, because the warning is related to RAM, not disk space.

According to Roblox's support documentation, this warning appears when memory is full, usually due to a memory-intensive experience or background activity. Players can choose to exit the game or risk crashing. Devices with limited RAM will continue to experience this, and users may need to lower graphics settings or upgrade to a newer model with more memory.

Notifications iPad 9 users receive while playing Roblox

PHOTO: ROBLOX

iPad 9 has 'reached its final limit'

At the moment, no model in the iPad lineup has less than 4GB of RAM. However, the iPad 9 will be available until mid-2024, starting at around $299. While it’s still plenty powerful for video calls, streaming, and basic tasks, it really can’t keep up with modern mobile gaming.

The return of Fortnite to the US App Store in May 2025 highlighted this shift. Combined with Roblox’s increasingly demanding requirements, it became clear that the low-cost iPads of years past were no longer up to the task of high-performance mobile gaming.

Users can still use these devices for light applications and everyday tasks, but if you want to experience top games without interruption or warnings, an iPad with at least 4GB of RAM is essential.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/noi-niem-cua-nguoi-dung-ipad-gia-re-185250617212834074.htm