I thought I’d discovered a place to get repairs done at a substantial savings compared to replacement with a new device ($350 screen replacement at Radio Shack). However, when I brought the tablet in to them yesterday to set up the service, they presented me with a repair agreement that stated, among other things:

1. NO warranty whatsoever on repairs
2. If they break a new screen while trying to install it, they’ll order another, but I’m obligated to pay for at least one screen even if their inability to attach a new one discourages me from continuing with them.
3. Since they’re not an Apple Authorized service facility, some functions are “turned off” by replacing the screen. Most of these are tied to security, such as Face ID, but not all; e.g., True Tone and Auto Brightness are disabled.

So much for that bargain!

Apple lists a charge of around $550 for repairs, with a 90 day warranty, AND Apple has certified refurbs of my tablet for $639, but I can purchase a new 4th generation model from Costco for $749, and if I wait a week, I can get Apple Black Friday deals (a gift card worth probably $100-$200).

So, my question is whether there’s enough difference between gen 3 and gen 4 tablets to justify the $110 price difference. In the specs, the upgrades seem to be limited to the following:

1. M2 vs. M1 processor
2. Wi-Fi 6e vs. Wi-Fi 6
3. BT 5.3 vs. 5.0
4. (I think) a slightly brighter screen
5. The simple fact that it’s the current shipping model.