Wait a year around the time the new model comes out the soon-to-be-older model often comes up manufacturer refurbished from the likes of Woot or Groupon. With other non-Apple makes more commonly the price drops over time and then product not available. Then sell your old model (2 years old now) on Craigslist.
I’m waiting for the Lenovo Tab4 10 Plus, one of 4 models 8" 10" basic and higher specs.
I currently have a Asus Nexus 7 2013 model which I expect to die by end of the year, and Google Pixel C 10" which I expect to die next year. The N7 is perfect for flights, it is better to drain the N7 battery watching video on HD screen which leaves room on your flight tray to eat, and save your phone battery to be fully charged for the Uber activity on landing. The Pixel C is good for work while traveling, I moved to it from Chromebook as Chromebooks are more fragile (but overall good value for money). I store the N7 and Pixel C at 60% charged and when traveling then fully charge, this keeps them going for longer as usually the battery begins to die from 2 years out.
I just today merged two broken Chromebooks with aid of youtube guides and screwdrivers to make one whole working chromebook. About an hour because of not familiar. My kids break chromebooks about every 6 months, either from someone jumping on a backpack or the mains cord pull problem. As Chromebooks are held together with screws over plastic casing, it is relatively easy to repair them, unlike most tablets with use heated sealed glue and never quite the same after a repair.
I mention this as often this is exactly what has happened to some iPads, they got a little damaged and then returned and someone who repairs the same item often can do a decent repair job. Often its just a factory reset and no physical damage so sometimes you can literally get a brand new iPad which the user noob logically broke and not physically damaged.
Typed on a Chromebook I just repaired.
