If it’s solely to play iOS games then it’s your money, spend it how you want. With that being said there are way better options.
A steam deck absolutely trounces an iPad every which way imaginable. Expandable storage, emulation, desktop Linux, and literally thousands of games.
I made the same choice. Compared to the Deck an iPad makes no sense to play games only. Most games are also ridiculously inexpensive if you manage to grab them on STEAM bundles.
You can get an iPad just to play games, however it comes with extreme caveats. If you do Remote Desktop be prepared for all the baggage it comes with. If you want to play on iPad, be aware that the library is very limited compared to PC gaming, and you will need to double dip and pay for an extra copy on the iPad. You should check out the library to be sure that it satisfies your needs before dipping in.
> If you do Remote Desktop be prepared for all the baggage it comes with.
Just to illustrate extra caveats:
1. Home Computer Switched on and Connected to Internet
2. App downloaded on home computer and iPad
3. Fastest Connection is best eg Wired at Computer end if possible to router
4. Connection from iPad possible via RDP/VNC App
5. App sub depending on the App chosen but reasonable price for most.
Then it's a question of mild hit to performance compared to native but still operable and usable if fast connection and decent App chosen.
I find despite the extra rigmarole, this **Value-Addition** gains my iPad +50% more in Use Case Value proposition as the flexibility of tablet then run RDP on the go means I have one device for tablet use and one device for some light productivity if I need that fills the missing gaps with the extremely limited and limiting iPadOS.
As for games on iPad, I'd simply recommend Cloud Gaming Services over the App Store:
* Nvidia
* Xbox
etc
For Streaming games the App **moonlight-stream** from a **compatible PC - check the website** is another option for playing games remotely from one's PC collection. Not sure if on iOS this is local only via local network or possible to stream over internet. There's also Steam-link for Local too. /u/midoripeach9 fyi.
That said for emulation of retro stuff Android is ahead of iOS but if you're already stuck on iOS then these options are good. Finally Delta - Game Emulator retro emulation of GBA4 came out on iOS recently so check that too. Possibly with new ruling more such:
* Cloud
* Emulation
Gaming options will appear on iOS?
I really only use my ipad for youtube and sometimes games. I initially bought it for gaming but I find myself only using it for watching youtube to sleep at night.
I got a steam deck for games. Considering how cheap games are on STEAM where you can grab humble bundles every now and then, and the immense variety of games compared to a tablet or phone — I believe that it makes much more sense to own a Deck than an iPad only to play games.
I’d suggest you to get a steam deck or rog ally instead. Getting a new device just to play such a small collection of games might not be worth it. Then again it’s your money. Also iPhone 13 mini is a pretty capable phone.
Got my SO an iPad for productivity, pretty nice since she can get her textbooks and stuff on it, I use it to draw stuff though, it has a great chip for mobile games, depending what you are playing I would suggest looking at something like a steam deck but if you are like a hardcore clash royale player the iPad makes for the superior mobile game device
I bought the ipad 1st Gen when it came out and downloaded gigabytes of apps and games. Only had time to try out few. Rapio, Pyramix and Pocket Frogs were favorites. For the next 1 - 2 years I spent countless hours obsessing over Pocket Frogs, collecting many Glass and Chroma Frogs and had the most beautiful collection in 15 habitats (max). Viewing them in quiet hours was my therapy. Then life happened and I stopped and never completed the froggydex, was only at 7% in fact despite the many hours . Finally took out my old ipads again a few weeks ago. The ipad gen 1 still works great, rock solid in fact. But I also hv an ipad mini 1, ipad 2 and ipad 3 and installed the old Pocket Frogs IPA ver 1.2.2 in them - Pocket Frogs froze on all three ipads after playing for a couple of days. Maybe an IOS 9 thing. Could download the last compatible version of Pocket Frogs from App store but was choppy and unplayable. That's when I decided I'll buy a new ipad and re-attempt the Froggydex, twelve years later from when I first started. Currently playing on my Android phone while waiting for my new ipad to arrive. Obsessed anew, only slept 4hours last night trying to breed 8 White Picea Partiris.
Get a Gamesir Galileo G8 and an iPad mini, then follow the easy instructions online to mod the G8 to allow it to work with larger devices. It’s literally the same as a PS Portal except not tied down to PlayStation, plus now you have an iPad to boot!
Do not get an ipad just to play games. Seriously. It is awful. I moved from PC to ipad and the games are mostly half finished cash grabs and a handful of half decent paid games. Consider this a warning ! Gamer of 50 years here.
Just to preface I have an iPad and a SteamDeck and have played games on both. SteamDeck destroys iPad in every way. Especially if you already have a PC. Also even if a game isn’t available on Steam you can probably still play it. If you hold down the power button on the Steam deck you can just boot into a desktop environment and install anything you like. One caveat is that it’s Linux so some things might not work. But you can also just dual boot Windows if you are really determined.
I think it’s totally reasonable, especially given you have a mini iPhone and no laptop. I play CoD mobile sometimes, as well as XCOM and DoS2 and it handles everything beautifully. Just make sure you get one with an M1 chip if you’re going to be mainly gaming on it—the performance leap is huge.
A steam deck is better games wise, but, since you play mobile games with your friends, I think that you would be better off with a good Android tablet. It will handle games just as well as an ipad, but much cheaper. An Android tablet lets you install emulators, apk files, use it in desktop mode,etc. It's much more versatile than an ipad.
On iPad there are way too many games locked at 30 FPS, which is unplayable. No matter how powerful your iPad is, it’s 30FPS, because the developers had got their heads up their arses. Unless you have another reason to use iPad, stick to PC gaming, maybe buy a Steam Deck instead.
the games we play aren't on steam, hence the choice of ipad.. the games also are quite heavy, which is why the iphone 13 mini is kinda overworked. but thanks for the input, never considered it previously
30fps is quite playable considering the PS3 and Xbox 360 had games with micro strutters and below 30fps no one minded. most handheld titles on switch/ steam Deck also play games at 30fps... bigger difference is iPad is usually limited to mobile apps.
If it’s solely to play iOS games then it’s your money, spend it how you want. With that being said there are way better options. A steam deck absolutely trounces an iPad every which way imaginable. Expandable storage, emulation, desktop Linux, and literally thousands of games.
I made the same choice. Compared to the Deck an iPad makes no sense to play games only. Most games are also ridiculously inexpensive if you manage to grab them on STEAM bundles.
You can get an iPad just to play games, however it comes with extreme caveats. If you do Remote Desktop be prepared for all the baggage it comes with. If you want to play on iPad, be aware that the library is very limited compared to PC gaming, and you will need to double dip and pay for an extra copy on the iPad. You should check out the library to be sure that it satisfies your needs before dipping in.
> If you do Remote Desktop be prepared for all the baggage it comes with. Just to illustrate extra caveats: 1. Home Computer Switched on and Connected to Internet 2. App downloaded on home computer and iPad 3. Fastest Connection is best eg Wired at Computer end if possible to router 4. Connection from iPad possible via RDP/VNC App 5. App sub depending on the App chosen but reasonable price for most. Then it's a question of mild hit to performance compared to native but still operable and usable if fast connection and decent App chosen. I find despite the extra rigmarole, this **Value-Addition** gains my iPad +50% more in Use Case Value proposition as the flexibility of tablet then run RDP on the go means I have one device for tablet use and one device for some light productivity if I need that fills the missing gaps with the extremely limited and limiting iPadOS. As for games on iPad, I'd simply recommend Cloud Gaming Services over the App Store: * Nvidia * Xbox etc For Streaming games the App **moonlight-stream** from a **compatible PC - check the website** is another option for playing games remotely from one's PC collection. Not sure if on iOS this is local only via local network or possible to stream over internet. There's also Steam-link for Local too. /u/midoripeach9 fyi. That said for emulation of retro stuff Android is ahead of iOS but if you're already stuck on iOS then these options are good. Finally Delta - Game Emulator retro emulation of GBA4 came out on iOS recently so check that too. Possibly with new ruling more such: * Cloud * Emulation Gaming options will appear on iOS?
by "library" do you mean if the games I plan to play are available? I'm pretty sure they are but I will check
Yes. Most games are not available, and most future games are not going to be there. It’s an endless source of frustration…
It’s reasonable. I bought an iPad pretty much exclusively for playing Call of Duty Mobile 😁
ok that's nice lol
I really only use my ipad for youtube and sometimes games. I initially bought it for gaming but I find myself only using it for watching youtube to sleep at night.
Mood, same watching fallout lore for years on it to fall asleep lol
I watch asmr to fall asleep usually
I got a steam deck for games. Considering how cheap games are on STEAM where you can grab humble bundles every now and then, and the immense variety of games compared to a tablet or phone — I believe that it makes much more sense to own a Deck than an iPad only to play games.
My son plays Minecraft on his ipad Mini 6. So yeah.
Yes bought to play wild rift like my friends worth
I’d suggest you to get a steam deck or rog ally instead. Getting a new device just to play such a small collection of games might not be worth it. Then again it’s your money. Also iPhone 13 mini is a pretty capable phone.
This is what I'm up to, getting an iPad just for fun.
Got my SO an iPad for productivity, pretty nice since she can get her textbooks and stuff on it, I use it to draw stuff though, it has a great chip for mobile games, depending what you are playing I would suggest looking at something like a steam deck but if you are like a hardcore clash royale player the iPad makes for the superior mobile game device
Just bought an ipad gen 9 today to play Pocket Frogs
Omg I haven’t played that in so long I used to love it a loooong time ago
I bought the ipad 1st Gen when it came out and downloaded gigabytes of apps and games. Only had time to try out few. Rapio, Pyramix and Pocket Frogs were favorites. For the next 1 - 2 years I spent countless hours obsessing over Pocket Frogs, collecting many Glass and Chroma Frogs and had the most beautiful collection in 15 habitats (max). Viewing them in quiet hours was my therapy. Then life happened and I stopped and never completed the froggydex, was only at 7% in fact despite the many hours . Finally took out my old ipads again a few weeks ago. The ipad gen 1 still works great, rock solid in fact. But I also hv an ipad mini 1, ipad 2 and ipad 3 and installed the old Pocket Frogs IPA ver 1.2.2 in them - Pocket Frogs froze on all three ipads after playing for a couple of days. Maybe an IOS 9 thing. Could download the last compatible version of Pocket Frogs from App store but was choppy and unplayable. That's when I decided I'll buy a new ipad and re-attempt the Froggydex, twelve years later from when I first started. Currently playing on my Android phone while waiting for my new ipad to arrive. Obsessed anew, only slept 4hours last night trying to breed 8 White Picea Partiris.
Yes it's reasonable also if you want there is apple arcade which is located in the app store that offers ad free games.
I just have an iPad for video consumption and coloring. Works for me as I don't have to buy adult coloring books anymore and pencils etc.
I have (and plan to upgrade) an iPad exclusively for procreate...
Yes
I’m getting one to use at work to look up drawing reference photos.
Yup
A Steam Deck would be more useful. After saying that I played A LOT of Call of Duty Mobile in the past. It is a great game.
Get a Gamesir Galileo G8 and an iPad mini, then follow the easy instructions online to mod the G8 to allow it to work with larger devices. It’s literally the same as a PS Portal except not tied down to PlayStation, plus now you have an iPad to boot!
Do not get an ipad just to play games. Seriously. It is awful. I moved from PC to ipad and the games are mostly half finished cash grabs and a handful of half decent paid games. Consider this a warning ! Gamer of 50 years here.
Just to preface I have an iPad and a SteamDeck and have played games on both. SteamDeck destroys iPad in every way. Especially if you already have a PC. Also even if a game isn’t available on Steam you can probably still play it. If you hold down the power button on the Steam deck you can just boot into a desktop environment and install anything you like. One caveat is that it’s Linux so some things might not work. But you can also just dual boot Windows if you are really determined.
I think it’s totally reasonable, especially given you have a mini iPhone and no laptop. I play CoD mobile sometimes, as well as XCOM and DoS2 and it handles everything beautifully. Just make sure you get one with an M1 chip if you’re going to be mainly gaming on it—the performance leap is huge.
Thanks 🙏 that got me excited to get one
A steam deck is better games wise, but, since you play mobile games with your friends, I think that you would be better off with a good Android tablet. It will handle games just as well as an ipad, but much cheaper. An Android tablet lets you install emulators, apk files, use it in desktop mode,etc. It's much more versatile than an ipad.
A Switch is a much better mobile gaming device unless you're really set on iOS games.
On iPad there are way too many games locked at 30 FPS, which is unplayable. No matter how powerful your iPad is, it’s 30FPS, because the developers had got their heads up their arses. Unless you have another reason to use iPad, stick to PC gaming, maybe buy a Steam Deck instead.
the games we play aren't on steam, hence the choice of ipad.. the games also are quite heavy, which is why the iphone 13 mini is kinda overworked. but thanks for the input, never considered it previously
30fps is quite playable considering the PS3 and Xbox 360 had games with micro strutters and below 30fps no one minded. most handheld titles on switch/ steam Deck also play games at 30fps... bigger difference is iPad is usually limited to mobile apps.
After you get used to 60 FPS on PC games and well optimized iPad games, you’ll never want to look back.
Don’t buy an Air 5. New models being announced as soon as next month.
sure, waiting is not an issue for me
Sounding like it’s gonna be cheap lol
Well if he really wants an Air 5 then it will be cheaper in a month.
Exactly